There’s a place in Mexico City where the lights are always low, the suits are always sharp, and the music never stops. Salón Los Ángeles. Owen Harvey spent some time there, photographing couples who’ve been dancing Danzón longer than most of us have been alive. They show up dressed to impress, moving like they’ve got nowhere else to be. It’s all rhythm and ritual—timeless and unhurried.

Danzón originated in Cuba during the 19th century, emerging from a fusion of European melodies and African rhythms. Via Veracruz, It made its way to Mexico, quickly embedding itself in the cultural fabric.

By the 1940s and ’50s, dance halls flourished nationwide, attracting a diverse crowd, from politicians and athletes to working-class citizens and famous actors. Salón Los Angeles became a gathering place for leftist artists and writers, hosting notable figures such as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Gabriel García Márquez, and Carlos Fuentes.