“As a very dear teacher told me, it was demonstrated here that if we join our wills to be better human beings, better citizens, we can also watch over and work for children, for the elderly…and to take care of every inch of our beloved homeland,” Maika reflects.
SANTO DOMINGO – “This has been very emotional for me because I didn’t want to dance, and my daughter Cecil was the one who convinced me that I couldn’t miss the opportunity to have a Guinness World Record medal. She encouraged me, telling me that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, that I am a champion.” That was the hook that caught Magia Ortiz, who today proudly displays her Guinness medal.
She, a real estate advisor for Time Homes, along with Maika Maldonado, Violeta Saint-Hilaire of Premium Real Estate; and Wanda del Orbe of Keller Williams Realty, have set the standard in the sector as part of the 489 couples who, on Saturday night, helped the Dominican Republic enter the “Guinness World Records” with the world's largest bachata dance.
“"The emotion and commitment unleashed by the audacity of breaking this record for our country are indescribable. Passion for dance, discipline, and the humility to be guided were the key to this achievement, which belongs to all Dominicans," expressed Violeta, who danced alongside Melquisedec Santos Márquez.
Three months of intense rehearsals were required to achieve the desired results. Costumes, quantity, choreography, performing in pairs, simultaneously and uninterruptedly for a minimum of five minutes, were the rules that the couples fully complied with to achieve the feat, as certified by Susana Reyes, adjudicator for Guinness World Records.
Wanda danced alongside Alexis Jiménez Luciano, and for her, it was an unforgettable experience. “This has meant so much to me, the emotion we felt in those five minutes when we heard we had finished and how perfect it all turned out. But it's also feeling the responsibility of representing our country on your shoulders.”.
As in any life process, there were obstacles along the way, but determination overcame adversity. Just ten days before, Wanda found a partner with whom she finally connected through dance, and she is grateful for his dedication, respect, and discipline. Before him, her life was marked by ups and downs, but this woman of faith and determination refused to be defeated and entrusted the helm to the Almighty.
In every group, there are leaders who inspire, who rally the troops, who persuade others to make decisions. And Maika Maldonado proudly carries the Dominican flag, which is why she never hesitates to involve her colleagues in social responsibility activities. Wanda wants to highlight this because “it’s impressive how she constantly preaches to her colleagues the best practices that agents should follow; she was the one responsible for us being part of this.”.
Hoarse from exhaustion and celebration, the natural leader describes her feelings upon achieving her second Guinness World Record: “It was another wonderful experience, much more exciting than the first time, because when we want to, we can. It was demonstrated here that there is strength in unity, and when a people unites, nothing and no one can stop them. So many people, so different from one another, and here we were all simply Dominicans,” Maika recounts, her voice filled with emotion
Magia added the valuable element of having had the opportunity to share with agents from different real estate agencies, in an environment where alliance and unity prevailed, never competition. Her brother Freddy Ortiz accompanied her, and that fact, along with seeing her colleague Alenny Garabito arrive with her daughter Cecil, holding signs of support, sealed her magical night.
Violeta is overcome with emotion because, although she loses her composure when she hears music, she never imagined that her passion would lead her to participate in such an important competition. She extends a message of solidarity to the Venezuelans and Haitians participating in the event.
Wanda took the opportunity to reaffirm her commitment to the country and called on real estate agents to make a difference by getting involved in charitable causes that enhance the nation's image. “Our job isn't just to find someone a house; we have to get involved in these kinds of things, because every time a Dominican contributes, the whole world will learn about the Dominican Republic. I feel incredibly happy and proud of so many disciplined people who are so eager to do things right.”.
“As a very dear teacher told me, it was demonstrated here that if we join our wills to be better human beings, better citizens, we can also watch over and work for children, for the elderly…and to take care of every inch of our beloved homeland,” Maika reflects.
Kimbara Dance Academy
Maryelin Difo and Vladimir Medrano, a married couple, coached the agents, and their school trained the most couples at the event. “They are such a dedicated couple that they were still training new people on Thursday to add more couples. They gave their time and their school to make sure everything went well and that when the time came, we would do our best. We feel very proud to have been among their students,” Wanda noted.
