A 14 year old boy who gave this ultimatum to his mother – “sign the papers or I’m paddling my way to achieve the American dream” – is about to see his dream come to fruition this Saturday in Rhode Island.
Rogelio Garcia was only a teenager when he told his mother he was leaving Cuba to start his own business and a family of his own. His mother refused. She didn’t want her son to repeat his father’s harrowing journey to America. But Rogelio insisted that she either sign the papers to let him go, or he would jump on a raft, just like his father did.
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So, his mother gave in and they began the paperwork that would eventually bring Rogelio to America. Two years later at age 16, he renounced his Cuban citizenship and arrived in Miami to begin his life as an American.
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And this Saturday, a Cuban-born entrepreneur, determined to get to America, will officially achieve his dream as he and his wife host the grand opening of their new Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Warwick, Rhode Island (grand opening details below).
How It All Began:
Rogelio didn't know any English upon arrival but that didn’t stop him from graduating high school with his peers as an 18 year old. Though at the time he believed his next step would be college, a move north to Connecticut produced a life-changing opportunity.
Rogelio was an accomplished Salsa dancer in Cuba, but had never thought of dancing professionally until his cousin in Glastonbury, CT informed him that the local Fred Astaire Dance Studio was holding auditions for dance instructors. Rogelio was confident that he could land one of those positions. And he did.
Over the next decade, Rogelio worked his way up from instructor, to manager, and eventually co-owner of Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Connecticut. He danced competitively with a partner who last month became his wife. Now, the 31-year old Rogelio will celebrate the opening of his family business this Saturday.
Grand Opening Festivities:
(Friday, December 7th, 6 pm – 9 pm)
120 Lambert Lind Hwy, Warwick, RI 02886
- Free admission to a professional dancing exhibition by Fred Astaire World Dance Finalists Olaf Pries & Mona Hofmann
- Dancing demonstrations by Rogelio and his students
- Prize raffle for a beginner lesson package (4 Private Lessons, 2 Group Lessons and 2 Parties)
- Hors d'oeuvre, Champagne and other refreshments
