Ramón Silva describes dance as an “essential” part of his life, but wasn’t able to formally train until he attended Hartnell College as a young adult. So he made it his mission to make sure local kids, especially from East Salinas, can dance regardless of ability to pay. Twenty-five years ago he founded Tonatiuh Danzantes del Quinto Sol, a nonprofit, Salinas-based dance and cultural group. The name roughly translates to “movement of dancers of the fifth sun.” Silva’s calling led to him receiving the Arts Council for Monterey County’s Champions of the Arts volunteer award.