Carina del Valle Schorske reads from her essay Dancing Backup: Puerto Ricans in the American Muchedumbre (which published last month on Longreads) about a lineage of Puerto Rican backup dancers in American entertainment from Rita Moreno to JLo.

Carina is then joined by the Longreads Editor Danielle A. Jackson for a conversation focusing on the piece.

This episode is a production of Longreads and Charts & Leisure, produced by Mike Rugnetta, with help from Danielle A. Jackson and Jason Oberholtzer. Hosted by Catherine Cusick.

Mixed and scored with original music by and Michael Simonelli.

Longreads' theme music was written and performed by Brian Donohoe.