Our popular beginners-intermediate Salsa, Bachata & Merengue dance class series is back at La Peña for 4-weeks, starting Tues. June 7th!

Join us and explore the possibilities of your body and how to communicate with others through dance, rhythm and flavor! Partners are not necessary!

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Beginners – Intermediate Class Series (4 Weeks) Tuesdays at 6:15pm-7:15pm, June 7 – June 28

This is a 4-week series designed for beginner-intermediate students to learn and enjoy three popular Latin dance styles: Salsa, Bachata and Merengue!

Classes are taught by Venezuelan dance instructor Juliana Mendonca (she/her).

Juliana’s teaching style is not a traditional ballroom style latin dance class. She first teaches her students to connect to their body and to connect to the rhythms before getting to the steps and turns. This foundation will help you loosen up your hips, knees, shoulders and arms to allow each student to get their own authentic feel for each genre and its unique rhythm.

SERIES SCHEDULE (4 weeks) 6/7/22 – 6/28/22

• Tuesday, June 7, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm
• Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm
• Tuesday, June 21, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm
• Tuesday, June 28, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm

Series Tuition Cost: $94 for entire series .

BONUS PERK! Students get a FREE ticket to an upcoming BAILA! party at La Peña (June 17 or July 15). (Promo code will be emailed after first day of class.)

Please note: Drop-ins to this series are NOT available.

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ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR Juliana Mendonca (she/her) is a dance performer, choreographer and teacher. She graduated with a degree in dance from University Institute of Caracas, Venezuela in 2005, she also served as an instructor at the Performing Arts Department of the University of the Andes in Mérida, Venezuela (2012-2015). Juliana co-founded Raíz de Agua, a music and dance company. Juliana currently lives in Oakland, California with her husband and daughter, working as a dancer, choreographer and teacher.

*COVID-19 POLICY: This class series will not require vaccinations and masks will be optional. However, if City of Berkeley health policies change at any given moment, we will be adhering to those requirements. If the class cannot be held in person due to new mandates, the class will be held online. Thank you for your understanding!

*LA PEÑA COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS:

Classes are the most fun when everyone feels safe! We invite you to participate in creating a community culture in which we support and hold each other accountable for making La Peña a safe and inclusive space that we can all enjoy.

• Treat everyone with respect.
• Practice thoughtful communication and language.
• Practice consent.
• Honor everyone’s gender identity and preferred pronouns.
• Be self-aware.
• Take care of yourself and each other.
• Practice active listening.

THIRD FRIDAYS, 7:00PM – 1:00AM: Come to La Peña once a month to remember how fun life can be when you’re dancing!

All of our BAILA Parties include:

• 7:00pm Doors open
• 7:30pm Gender-inclusive Bachata & Salsa Dance Classes (no partner or experience necessary!)
• 7:30pm Bachata Dance Party in the Lounge
• 9:30pm Live Concert and Dance Party in the Theater
• Bar and hang out room to reconnect with friends & make new ones
• Party goes until 1:00am in all of our three rooms!

The vibe of this party will be like a spontaneous dance party that broke out in your kitchen, only if your kitchen had big wood floors, a great live band and sound system, and 200 of your friends, chosen family, and a few intriguing strangers…

Like all events at La Peña, this gathering is inclusive of all cultures, ages, orientations and identities, so you can bring your whole self to the dance floor and be properly celebrated.

PLEASE NOTE: We will require ID & Proof of Full Vaccination at the door. Booster shots and the use of masks inside will be encouraged but NOT mandatory. See our most updated Covid-19 Policy here.

DUE TO ITS HUGE SUCCESS IN MARCH, OUR BAILA! PARTY IS BACK IN APRIL!!

Three rooms of Salsa, Bachata, Bar, Community, and Love: come to La Peña to remember how fun life can be when you’re dancing!

The night will include:

• 7:00pm Doors open
• 7:30pm Gender-inclusive Bachata & Salsa Dance Classes led by In Lak´ech, a queer women of color-led Dance Academy (no partner or experience necessary!)
• 7:30pm Bachata Dance Party with DJ Ron in the Lounge
• 9:30pm Live Concert with Edgardo Cambon & band and Dance Party with DJ José Ruiz in the Theater.
• Bar and hang out room to reconnect with friends & make new ones
• Party goes until 1:00am in the Lounge, Theater and Community room!

The vibe of this party will be like a spontaneous dance party that broke out in your kitchen, only if your kitchen had big wood floors, a great live band and sound system, and 200 of your friends, chosen family, and a few intriguing strangers…

Like all events at La Peña, this gathering will be beyond inclusive of all cultures, ages, orientations and identities so you can bring your whole self to the dance floor and be properly celebrated.

PLEASE NOTE: We will require ID & Proof of Full Vaccination at the door. Booster shots and the use of masks inside will both be encouraged but NOT mandatory. See our most updated Covid-19 Policy here.