As a child in front of the TV, at block parties, at school; Manuela Sanchez loved to dance. Then when she discovered she could pursue her passion as a career, her life changed. And even as her identity as an Afro Dominicana strengthened her love of dance, she struggled — as an arts pioneer in her family and in the largely white world of her profession.

Host and producer: May Ortega

Lead producer: Luis Antonio Perez

Editors: Erin Jones, Andrew Villegas

Mixing: Patrice Mondragon

Additional producers: Rebekah Romberg, Jo Erickson, Ana Campbell

Theme music by Pedro Lumbrano; additional music courtesy Universal Production Music

Cover art: Mia Rincón

Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale

Thanks also to Hart van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Matt Herz, Kim Nguyen, Brittany Werges and CPR's Latino Audience Working Group.

QuienAreWe.org

Twitter: @MAyVOrtega, @COPublicRadio