Clave Cubana Salsa/Valdes Dance & Events

Clave Cubana is Seattle's fastest-growing Latin dance studio, built on a mission to help you beat the Seattle Freeze through friendship-making, socializing, and building a dance family. Founded and run by dancers born and raised in Latin America—director Reinier Valdes from Havana, Cuba, and co-director Daniela Gallardo from Mexico—the studio stays true to the Latin Afro-Caribbean roots of salsa, teaching the way it is actually danced in Latin America and the Caribbean. Speaking Spanish is highly encouraged in classes.

You'll train in two venues: a dance studio with wood floor and mirrors for most classes, and Club Sur, Seattle's "salsa palace," where world-famous salsa bands perform when they visit Seattle. The studio offers group classes in Salsa (Levels 1–4), Rueda de Casino (Salsa in Circle), Bachata Tradicional, Salsa Fusion, Afro-Cuban Fundamentals, and Son Cubano. All classes emphasize basic steps, rhythm, musicality, shines, routines, and flavoring. Many classes require no partner, making them accessible to solo dancers.

Reinier Valdes, the director, was discovered by a professional Afro-Cuban dance team at age 13 and showcased across Cuba. He graduated from La Casa de la Cultura de Arroyo Naranjo (Cuban School of Dance) as a dance instructor at 18, then moved to Brazil in 2009, where he led his own performance group. Daniela Gallardo has danced Salsa for 10 years across LA style and Latin Salsa, and has performed at salsa congresses across the USA. Co-instructors include Ciro Anaya, from Santiago de Cuba, who danced with Sabor DKY, and Eleni Rachaniotou, an experienced social dancer and musician.

The studio also runs regular social dance events at Club Sur, featuring DJ Reinier playing Cuban music, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and Reggaeton, with free parking and all ages welcome. Beyond classes, Clave Cubana offers wedding and quinceañera choreography, private lessons, dance team performances at national and international festivals, DJ and event planning services, and a performance company that has toured to San Francisco, San Diego, Cancun, Havana, and beyond. The culture emphasizes a safe, loving learning environment where competitive behaviours are discouraged.

You'll arrive at Club Sur or the studio with its wood floor and mirrors. Classes are taught in a social, encouraging atmosphere with no competitive pressure. If you're trying a Rueda de Casino (circle salsa) class, you'll exchange partners throughout the song and dance with everyone in the circle rather than just one person. Many first-timers find this less intimidating than partner salsa.

Reinier Valdes (Director), born in Havana, discovered by a professional Afro-Cuban dance team at 13 and trained at La Casa de la Cultura de Arroyo Naranjo. Daniela Gallardo (Co-Director), from Mexico, has danced Salsa for 10 years and performs at congresses nationwide. Ciro Anaya, from Santiago de Cuba, previously danced with Sabor DKY. Eleni Rachaniotou is an experienced social dancer and musician.

Most classes include Levels 1 & 2, and many styles require no partner; Afro-Cuban Fundamentals and Salsa Fusion are marked all-levels welcome.