Alba discovered swing and blues dancing in 2007. Since then, she has been a full-time professional dancer for over 13 years. Her background in pharmacy, specifically in the field of medical information, gave her an analytical approach that she has successfully integrated into her dance instruction as a powerful communication tool.

 

Thirteen years ago, she founded the Big Mama Swing school in her hometown of Madrid alongside her dance partner, Gastón Fernández. Since then, she has had the privilege of teaching regularly throughout Europe at leading festivals such as Herräng Dance Camp, Lindy Shock, Rock That Swing Festival, and The Snowball, as well as in other countries including China, the United States, Australia, and Thailand.

 

Alba is deeply aware of the responsibility that comes with being a transmitter of African American culture—what is known in the jargon as cultural surrogacy. She understands dance as a cultural manifestation, an expression born from a people’s worldview. For this reason, her passion for dance has also led her to delve into African American history, with the aim of better understanding the context and profound meaning of these dances.

 

She continues to train constantly, and also learn related disciplines—such as tap, boogaloo, or African dance—and through extensive reading. In her classes, she not only teaches movement but also instills a respect for the context and a love for the culture and people who gave rise to these dances. Her goal is to ensure that those who join the community do not disconnect the dance from its roots.

She is currently training in PCI (Integrative Body Process), which has reinforced her interest in the body as the central axis of the human being, not merely as a container. The body holds memory, directly influences the psyche, and finds in movement a means of expression and emotional release. Furthermore, dance becomes a key tool for regulating the nervous system: grounding, rhythm, and presence in the moment activate the parasympathetic nervous system. All of these elements are deeply present in blues and swing… and hardly coincidental.