Salsa, Bachata & Merengue Dance Class Series!

Our popular beginners Salsa, Bachata & Merengue dance class series returns to La Peña in September! Tuesdays 6-27 from 6:15 to 7:15 pm. This is a 4-week series.

Join us and explore the possibilities of your body and how to communicate with others through dance, rhythm and flavor! Partners are not necessary! This is a 4-week series designed for beginner 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.

This class is taught as “leaders” and “followers” and is inclusive to folks of all genders, non-binary & LGBTQ+. Please see our entire Community Agreements below.

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.

ENROLLMENT DETAILS

SERIES SCHEDULE (4 weeks) 9/6/22-9/27/22

• Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm
• Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm
• Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm
• Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 6:15pm-7:15pm

Series Tuition Cost: $94 for entire series .

BONUS PERK! Students get a FREE ticket to an upcoming BAILA! Community Dance Party (Sept. 13 or Oct. 21). (Promo code will be emailed after first day of class.)

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

COVID-19 POLICY: For classes at La Peña, it is up to each teacher to determine their safety requirements as long as they stay within the restrictions of the most updated City of Berkeley COVID-19 guideline. This specific 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. In addition, we ask that you contact us if you exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. We also offer the following accommodations:

• If a student misses a class due to COVID-19 or another illness, they may request an additional BAILA! ticket.
• If a student misses 2 classes, they may request 25% off to register for the next series and an additional BAILA! ticket.
• If a student misses more than 2 classes, please contact us so we can find a solution on a case-by-case basis: Classes@lapena.org

Please visit our website for the latest COVID-19 Policy updates at La Peña. Thank you for your understanding!