Instructors

Our Instructors

Damilola (D)

Damilola “D” Elegbede is a dedicated social dancer and instructor in Boulder with a passion for expressing musicality through dance. Hailing from Nigeria, specifically the Yoruba tribe, his dance background is deeply grounded in Cuban salsa, cultivated through extensive studies with diverse artists and teachers in Havana & Santiago De Cuba. As a drummer/musician, with two decades of experience encompassing both traditional drums and participation in numerous bands, Damilola’s dance style is connected to his rich musical background.

Cesar

Discovered Bachata a couple of years ago and is now a dance addict. Competed in the Colorado State Championship as well as The Summit in Florida. Cesar has performed countless of times throughout state festivals and congresses. Viva Mexico. Viva La Bachata.

Fabia

With over a decade in Latin dance, Fabia Lorena has built a powerful presence performing & teaching both locally across the US and internationally in places like the Dominican Republic, Canada, and Egypt. A multi-time Summit Championships winner, she has placed 2nd in the Dominican Republic and 1st in Chicago. As the creator of her signature style, BachaHeels, Fabia continues to set trends and make her mark across the global Latin dance scene.

Amalia

Amália Mayer is a choreographer, director of cultural embodiment programs, dancer, and instructor specializing in Brazilian Zouk, Samba de Gafieira, and Brazilian Ballroom Dance. With a background in Social Communication and Arts and a master’s degree in Yoga, which shapes her approach to somatic movement and body awareness, she brings a mindful, grounded quality to her teaching. Trained by renowned choreographer Jaime Arôxa, one of the leading references in Brazilian Zouk worldwide, she began working in the US in 2024 with the mission of connecting people to the richness of Brazilian culture through dance, carrying with her the soul of a culture that has always expressed itself through movement.

Andrew Rodriguez

Andrew Rodriguez is a lifelong South Side Chicagoan who grew up dancing “living room salsa,” cumbia, and bachata with his family. In 2018 he began formally studying linear salsa under Chicago legends Maricza Valentin, Victor Monroy, and Adrian Tenorio. He is now an instructor with Let’s Do Fun Things Chicago and the founder, owner, director, and choreographer of EnClave Dance Company, specializing in salsa and bachata partnerwork, musicality, and lifts & tricks. Through his teams, classes, and performances, Andrew is dedicated to building community through dance, one step at a time.

Danni

Danni Mitchell is a Chicago-based dance instructor who grew up culturally Dominican, where social dancing was simply a part of life. She began dancing as a child and has spent years developing her craft both socially and on stage.

She currently teaches kids and adults at Latin Street Music & Dancing in Chicago and has extensive team and performance experience across multiple styles. Most recently, she won multiple World Championship titles at the Summit Championship as a member of Latin Street’s La Furia Bachata team.

As a classically trained musician, Danni brings a unique perspective to her teaching, specializing in musicality and timing. Her classes focus on bridging the gap between music and movement, helping dancers feel the music rather than just count it.

Wojciech + Mica

Fort Collins Salsa Collective has been dedicated to providing affordable dance classes to the community since its founding in 2018. An original member of the Collective and currently on the leadership team, Wojciech began his dance and teaching journey in Fort Collins in 2006. Mica has been dancing since 2000, focusing on jazz, West African, and hip hop, and joined the Latin Dance World in 2014. Since then she has trained, danced on companies, and taught in Chicago, New York City, and her current home in Fort Collins.

Alison and Moises

Bio coming

Diego and Yuyu

Diego and Yuyu are professional Bachata Fusion dancers from Colombia with over 10 years of experience performing, competing, and teaching together. Based in Denver, Colorado, they are the founders of Dynamic Bachata Fusion Dance Company, blending Dominican, modern, and sensual Bachata with influences from salsa, kizomba, and zouk. Their priority is building a strong, inclusive dance community through passion and connection.

Alison and Moises

Bio coming

Jesus

Jesús Muñoz is a dancer, choreographer, educator, percussionist, and recent MFA in Dance Graduate from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Born in Mexico, Muñoz functions within the contexts of Mexican Folkloric, Afro-Cuban, Cuban Folkloric, Cuban Popular, Cuban Contemporary, Ballet, Modern, and Contemporary Dance and Latin Percussion. He holds a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma. Being informed by his Mexican-Indigenous heritage, he explores dance through a cultural lens to celebrate Latinidad. As an extranjero, his interest lies in building networks of local, regional, national, and international communities to continue to represent Latinx dance & music through DEIA initiatives.

Juan

Juan learned the authentic and traditional style of bachata by doing it in the DR for much of his life.  His dancing is subtle, versatile and full of expressions that respect the accents of the music. You will have the great opportunity to integrate and be infected with this wonderful style. He currently resides in the city of Denver in the state of Colorado, where and from where he continues to contribute to the growth of bachata dancing with his extensive list of workshops to offer.  He has instructed at events such as Baltimore Congress, DC Bachata Congres, LA Bachata Festival, Afro-Latin Las Vegas, San Francisco International Bachata Festival, Hawaii Afro-Latin, Denver Bachata Festival, Congress La Cita in Quebec CA, FTLOB in Pittsburgh, Amargue Fusion DC, Bachata Saturday in NYC, and at his own dance school that he founded in his hometown of Bayaguana in the DR

Jackie

Jackie is a lifelong dancer who fell in love with Zumba a decade ago and has been teaching locally for the last 9 years. She teaches Zumba on Saturdays at 9:30am at Impulse Dance & Fitness. You can also catch her social dancing most weeks in Northern Colorado.

Shannon

Shannon and Ben started dancing bachata and salsa 8 years ago in Fort Collins. Shannon also trained as a certified instructor with the original RNA Dance Company and has directed a local ladies bachata styling team. Over the last several years they’ve been learning from a variety of instructors both locally in CO, at different festivals in the US, and in the Dominican Republic. They now teach beginner classes monthly at the Rio to try to introduce this amazing dance addiction to the rotating members of this awesome college town.

Denise

Denise received her first 200-hour yoga teaching certificate in 2001 from the Shambhava School of Yoga, Shoshoni, in Rollinsville, CO, and began her yoga teaching journey in the same year at Yoga Ventures, in Parker — a studio she co-owned with her cousin.
From there, she proceeded to earn a 200-hour yoga certificate (2009) from Core Power Yoga where she still teaches Hot Yoga, Hot Power Fusion and Restorative. She has also received
certification for the study of the Bhagavad Gita (2015, Nosara, Costa Rica) and taught yoga classes for several semesters at CU Boulder’s recreation center as well as volunteered to teach yoga as professional  development for CU staff (Boulder and Denver campuses).
Denise started her latin dance adventure in 2004, and is delighted to offer yoga to this beloved community at BASANOCO.
See you on your mats and on the dance floor!

Adam

Adam Ontiveros is a dedicated Latin dance artist with over eight years of experience specializing in Salsa On1, Salsa On2, Mambo, and Son. His dance journey has been shaped by training under world-renowned instructors, including Edie the Salsa Freak—where he has successfully passed all levels of her esteemed program—and Jesus Muñoz.

Adam has performed with the Boulder Afro-Latin Dance Company, captivating audiences with his precision and artistry. With a deep passion for movement and a love for all forms of creative expression, he is committed to sharing his knowledge and inspiring others through dance.

Known for his motivation, loyalty, and enthusiasm, Adam brings both skill and heart to every performance and class, creating an inviting and empowering experience for dancers of all levels.

Tyler

Tyler and Ellie have a passion for all things country swing band love to throw in some different styles in their dancing! Tyler has been an instructor at The Tippin Point in Utah and is excited to teach a crossover class of country and bachata combining the best of both parts to make for some amazing dancing!