Check Out Joel Alvarez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Alvarez.

Hi Joel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Before opening the studio, I was a very quiet and shy person. I was attending Pierce College, and one day I walked by the north gym and heard salsa music playing. I had always wanted to learn how to dance salsa, but I was too shy and embarrassed to put myself out there and risk looking foolish in front of other people.

That day, something made me follow the sound. I ended up at the studio door watching the students practice, and out of nowhere Denise Gibson, the teacher, came to the door and asked me, “Are you enrolled for this class?” I said no and was about to walk away, but she asked if I wanted to be. She pulled out a pink slip and told me that if I didn’t have another class, I could go to Admissions and Records and get enrolled right then. I still don’t know why I said yes, but I did, and I’m incredibly grateful I did because that moment became the start of everything.

At that time in my life, I was lost. I was grieving, carrying pain, and honestly unsure of who I was or where I was heading. Dance came into my life at a time when I needed something bigger than myself. It gave me a place to focus, to grow, and to slowly reconnect with who I was.

As the years passed, I dedicated myself deeply to training, performing, and teaching. I always felt like I was meant for something greater, but I was also carrying a lot of anger from life. Over time, the idea of building my own dance company started living in my heart. I began writing down different names until Motion On 2 came to me and stayed. For me, Motion means movement, “On” represents continuation, and the “2” represents the duality of life. We only understand joy because we’ve also experienced pain. Life gives us both, and we choose how to move through it. For me, dance became one of the most powerful ways to express that.

I’ve now been teaching and performing for over 13 years, and Motion On 2 Studio has only been officially open for about three months. Getting here has been a journey. I’ve been blessed to attract the right people into my life who helped make this dream real. At the same time, owning a business has challenged me in ways I expected and in ways I didn’t. The creative side has always come naturally to me, but running a studio has taught me a lot, and I’m still learning every day.

One truth about becoming a business owner is that you quickly see who was cheering for you when you had nothing, but goes silent once you start building something real. That teaches you a lot. It shows you that not everyone truly believed in the vision. Still, I wouldn’t trade this path for anything because I’ve built a community I genuinely care about, and I feel that support.

What Motion On 2 stands for is bigger than dance classes. It stands for resilience, expression, growth, and community. It’s a place where people can come in as they are, with whatever life has handed them, and keep moving forward.

What people may not always see on social media is that I have doubts too. I know fear. I feel pressure. I want to do a great job, and I feel a real responsibility for every person who walks through our doors. I know I won’t be able to make everyone happy, and that’s something every leader has to accept. But I do my best, and I care deeply about the people who trust us with their time, energy, and growth.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been the personal side of the journey—working through grief, self-doubt, and the pressure of trying to build something meaningful while still figuring myself out. Dance gave me direction, but that does not mean the road was easy. There were many moments where I questioned myself, felt overlooked, or wondered if everything I was working for would actually become real.

On the business side, opening a studio has been rewarding but also most challenging things I have ever done. The creative side of dance, teaching, and building community comes naturally to me, but running a studio requires a completely different level of leadership, discipline, and problem-solving. You are not just creating classes—you are managing responsibility, people, finances, systems, and the pressure of keeping the vision alive every day.

Another challenge is that when you start building something real, you quickly learn who truly believes in you. Sometimes the people who used to cheer for you when you had little to lose become very quiet once your vision starts becoming reality. That teaches you a lot about people, but it also teaches you to keep going without depending on outside validation.

One of the hardest lessons has been realizing that not everyone who claps for you in the beginning truly believes in your growth. As the dream becomes real, you learn who is genuinely for you. Still, every challenge has made me stronger, and it has made Motion On 2 what it is today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a choreographer, instructor, and creative director, and at the core of my work is building dancers through structure, discipline, and creativity. One of the things people often recognize first about my work is my choreography. I care deeply about creating pieces that feel intentional, musical, and meaningful, but I also care just as much about the process behind the work. For me, it is not only about making something look good on stage—it is about using choreography as a tool to help dancers grow.

What I am most proud of professionally is my teams. More than anything, I am proud of the kind of people Motion On 2 attracts. We attract individuals who genuinely want to learn, improve, and put in the work beyond rehearsal time. That matters to me because growth does not come from talent alone. It comes from commitment, discipline, and the willingness to keep showing up even when no one is watching. Seeing dancers push themselves, sharpen their craft, and develop both skill and character is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

What sets my work and Motion On 2 apart is the standard we have created for our community and teams. We have built a culture around accountability, respect, and commitment. We value people’s time, energy, and effort, and that shapes the way we train. The expectation is not just to show up, but to come ready to work, ready to grow, and ready to respect the process. That standard has become a big part of our identity.

I think that combination of creativity and discipline is what defines my professional life. I want strong choreography, but I also want strong dancers. I want people to leave not only as better performers, but as more focused, more confident, and more grounded individuals. That is the part of the work that means the most to me.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I know this book came out a long time ago but. One of my favorite books is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It was one of the first books that truly pulled me in to the point where I did not want to put it down. I just kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. It stayed with me because of how emotional, human, and layered the story felt. It was one of those books that made reading feel immersive for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.MotionOn2.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motionon2
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotionOn2
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/108560918/admin/dashboard/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@motionon2
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/motion-on-2-sherman-oaks-3?osq=Motion+On+2
• Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=motion+on+2+%7C+salsa+%26+bachata+classes+in+la+reviews

Image Credits
image credits to jth multimedia and palenzia productions