The Danzón That Changed the Course of My Life
And how did I end up here
I was expelled from almost every school I attended. Looking back, I can’t remember a single happy moment from my years in the classroom.
Then came one of life’s hardest questions —the same one so many people face: What are you going to study?
The truth is, I had no desire to keep studying. Why would I? The mere thought of sitting in another classroom, following rules that never made sense to me, felt unbearable. So, after finishing high school, I walked away from education.
For nearly a year and a half, I took whatever jobs I could find. I sold food, worked as a waiter, and did just about anything that paid the bills.
Then one day, riding the bus home, something happened that changed the course of my life.
If you’ve ever traveled by bus in Mexico, you know the radio soundtrack depends entirely on the driver’s mood. That day, a commercial caught my attention. A danzón played softly in the background, while a woman announced, “The School of Photography in Cuernavaca.”
In that moment, something clicked. Years later, I learned that the danzón was called A su merced, composed by Jesusa Rodríguez and performed with singer Liliana Felipe. This was back in 1996.
Now let’s jump ahead to 2015. San Miguel de Allende. A narrow street where garages seemed more decorative than practical, because getting a car into one was almost an act of heroism.
There I was, trying to reverse into a garage, blocking traffic while two women waited patiently in their car behind me. Can you guess who they were? Jesusa Rodríguez and Liliana Felipe.
The very women behind A su merced, the piece of music that had unknowingly set me on the path to photography almost twenty years earlier.
Was it destiny? Magic? Coincidence? I still don’t know.
Now let’s jump once more: Madrid, Summer 2026. How did I end up here? Because of a danzón.
Today I divide my time between my work as a performing arts photographer — documenting theatre, dance, and live music — and writing about food, cooking, and sharing recipes. But there has always been something missing.
For years, people have asked me about photography. Beginners looking for guidance, enthusiasts trying to improve, and professionals searching for a different perspective. Over the years, I realized that what I enjoy most isn’t simply taking photographs. It’s helping others find their own way of seeing.
That’s why I’m launching this new project on Substack. I want to build a community for people who love photography. We’ll explore creativity, study the work of great photographers, recommend books, films, and exhibitions, and share stories that inspire us.
If a single danzón could change the direction of my life, who knows where a good conversation about photography could lead?
Find out what’s happening on my new photography Substack.