Dancing is healing, that is what one Albuquerque veteran will tell you. When he came home, he discovered the positive effect hosting salsa dancing classes and socials has on himself and others.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Dancing is not just good for your physical health but also your mental health.
“Being able to dance, you know, it keeps you it keeps your mind busy,” said Gabriel Ogaldez, the owner of On the One Latin Dance Promotions.
Aside from keeping Ogaldez busy, dance was a step toward healing for him.
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“I am a veteran of the US Armed Forces, 22 years in the military, and having a very stressful job. Going through a very difficult time in my life, I was looking for an out. I was looking for a way to relieve depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD,” he said.
For Ogaldez, dance was the answer. After taking a few lessons, it was clear there were options to learn salsa dancing.
“But there weren’t a lot of venues that provided a place for people to go dance,” he said.
Ogaldez didn’t miss a beat. He started “On the One Latin Dance Promotions” to bring the community together through dance.
First, he needed a venue.
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“I initiated by creating marketing proposals and going to different venues that I felt would be good places to hold these salsa dances that provide safety, that provide solace, that provide a place for people to come dance and feel comfortable about it,” he said.
Ogaldez then met DJ Gabriel Goza, who had taken over the turntables for these socials.
“When I play music, it’s to transmit healing frequencies. It’s to create unity and to induce joy. So whenever you’re at our events, that’s what that’s what you expect,” Ogaldez said.
Sobremesa Brewery and the Q Bar Lounge at Hotel Albuquerque opened their doors for these socials. People can socialize and even learn some moves from local dance instructors.
“I love that it is a place to destress. It’s a place to fully escape the world because we all have stressful lives. This is the one night of the week that we can take a step back,” one eventgoer said.
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Almost every week, there are events where people can not only dance salsa and other Latin dances. People can also learn the basics of dancing and its health benefits.
“We’re not a nightclub, we’re not a place to come get drunk and cause problems. We’re not a place where there are fights. On the One Latin Dance Promotions is a place of solace, a place of safety, and a place of peace,” Ogaldez stated.
Just like the dance that brought him peace Ogaldez hopes to keep doing that for others for may years to come.
During the events, On the One offers free Uber rides to anyone who may need them.
If you’d like to learn more about On the One and their events, click here.
NM FAST (New Mexico Federal and State Technology) is now accepting applications for a free space-sector accelerator cohort designed to help New Mexico-based technology companies compete for federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The cohort targets founders and researchers pursuing grants from NASA, Space Force and related federal agencies, with programming set to launch July 21.
The cohort will admit six to 10 New Mexico companies and run for 10 to 12 weeks, meeting in weekly sessions of approximately one and a half to two hours. Programming covers the full arc of federal commercialization strategy, including space-sector SBIR/STTR opportunities and federal funding pathways, proposal development for technical narratives and commercialization components, federal procurement positioning and agency discovery, capital strategy and follow-on funding options, and transition planning from Phase I to Phase II awards. Participants also receive targeted one-on-one advisory support throughout the program. The cohort is offered at no cost to accepted companies.
The program is open to companies at both the pre-award and early-award stages. The majority of cohort seats are designed for Phase 0 companies preparing to submit Phase I SBIR/STTR applications to NASA or Space Force. A limited number of seats are available for Phase I awardees working toward Phase II readiness and Phase III transition planning.
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“New Mexico has a deep base of research and a growing pipeline of founders ready to translate that work into companies that can compete for federal R&D dollars,” said Carlos Murguia, director of the Technology and Innovation Gateway at Arrowhead Center. “This cohort focuses specifically on the space sector, pairing New Mexico companies with Larta’s expertise in SBIR and STTR commercialization to give founders a clear, structured path from early-stage research to federal award.”
Larta Institute, NM FAST’s commercialization partner for this program, will lead the full design and delivery of the accelerator curriculum. Larta has supported startups that have collectively raised more than $23.7 billion since 1993 and brings that track record to founders working in New Mexico’s growing aerospace and space technology sector.
The cohort aligns with the aerospace priority sector named in the New Mexico Entrepreneurship Programmatic Support Grant and is relevant to companies working at the intersection of advanced computing, bioscience and advanced energy applications in space-related contexts.
NM FAST is administered by Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University and operates statewide, serving founders in Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Los Alamos and rural communities across New Mexico. Over more than a decade of programming, NM FAST has supported more than 470 New Mexico startups and helped companies secure nearly $28 million in federal SBIR awards. Targeted outreach is directed to rural, women, veteran and minority entrepreneurs.
The program is sponsored by the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Technology and Innovation Office through the New Mexico Entrepreneurship Programmatic Support Grant, which supports continued statewide programming for SBIR/STTR-eligible companies in the four priority sectors.
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Applications are open now and will be accepted through July 14, 2026. Interested companies can apply at forms.gle/CqSwEL7LahqB5pGu9. Space is limited, and selected companies will be notified before the program launch.
SANTA FE, N.M. – Santa Fe County and Edgewood approved a new agreement and ordinance that secures ongoing fire and EMS services for Edgewood residents.
According to a joint announcement from the Town of Edgewood and Santa Fe County on June 19, the two governments negotiated and adopted a new Joint Powers Agreement and ordinance to keep the Santa Fe County Fire Department serving the town.
County and town representatives drafted the agreement together. The town adopted the ordinance unanimously at a special meeting on June 16, putting an end to weeks of uncertainty.
Santa Fe County District 3 Commissioner Camilla Bustamante said, “I believe we are all relieved to know that the people of Edgewood will continue to have the fire and EMS services necessary to protect their homes, their families, and their community. This community deserves nothing less.”
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The announcement said the ordinance takes effect five days after final publication. The statement also said no further action or approval is needed to guarantee continued fire suppression, fire prevention, and EMS services for Edgewood residents.
Both governments noted the agreement will continue indefinitely unless either side ends it with five years’ notice.
