Salsa Squared

Latin dancing fills the streets in Harvard Square 

a crowd of people dancing in a street

Join the festive Salsa Squared dance event on July 25.  | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE HARVARD SQUARE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

On July 25, DJ D. Martinez transforms Harvard Square into a huge nighttime dance party. The 11th annual Salsa Squared features music, dancing, and lessons in Brattle Square. Organized by the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA), the event typically draws a few thousand people. Experienced dancers come every year and easily mingle with visitors who happen to be in the square, “and then the next thing they know, they’re swinging their partners and swinging their hips,” says HSBA executive director Denise Jillson. “It’s a very welcoming crowd.” Take public transportation, arrive early for dinner, then join in the festivities. Adult beverages will be available, along with complimentary chips and salsa. Lastly, note that there’s no alternative date—come rain or shine, the dancing must go on.

Click here for the July-August 2025 issue table of contents

Read more articles by Nell Porter-Brown

You might also like

On the Margins

Filmmaker John Armstrong’s “outdoor adventures” find the human spirit.

Pony Plunges

Scrapbooking a woman who rode horses into the sea

Sister Acts and Cyanotypes

Julia Rooney’s paintings cross the analog-digital divide.

Most popular

House Committee Subpoenas Harvard Over Tuition Costs

The University must turn over all requested materials related to tuition and financial aid by mid-July. 

Global Reach

A new center in Shanghai reflects Harvard’s growing engagement with the People’s Republic.

The New Gender Gaps

What to do as men and boys fall behind

Explore More From Current Issue

Can an Orange a Day Stave off Depression?

A research study digs into the gut microbiome.

Harvard Commencement 2025

Harvard passes a test of its values, yet challenges loom.

David Leo Rice on 'The Berlin Wall'

David Leo Rice explores the strange, unseen forces shaping our world.