Salsa in the heart
Salsa, bachata and merengue classes for absolute beginners to advanced dancers
A Latin dance studio specializing in Salsa, Bachata, and other Latin social dances.
Photo: Armin Faraji via Google
Before your first class
The school specializes in turning absolute beginners into salseros, with drop-in beginner classes designed to be fun and intuitive, and instructors noted for making complicated steps easy to follow.
$7 drop-in for Beginner, $10 for Intermediate, $12 for Advanced
About this studio
Salsa in the Heart specializes in turning absolute beginners into confident salseros. Founded in January 2015, the school was formed by two instructors who together bring a combined total of 40 years of experience teaching salsa, merengue and bachata. The team now includes Miguel Gutierrez, Rajeev Samuel, and Audrey Arcos, all working as Master Teachers or Teachers.
Classes run every Thursday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at Trinity St Pauls United Church (427 Bloor St W, Toronto). The studio teaches three levels of salsa: Beginner classes cover the six basic steps, right and left turns, reverse turn, cross body lead, natural top, basic shines, body movements, double spins and in-and-out. Intermediate builds on travelling turns, lasso, Coca Coca, and double spins for both women and men. Advanced adds variations, titanic, waiter turns, C-turns, S-turns, and triple spins. Beginner and Intermediate classes are 90 minutes of instruction followed by 30 minutes of practice. Advanced classes run 60 minutes of instruction followed by salsa dancing all night.
Bachata classes introduce students to the sensual, modern and Dominican styles of this Latin street dance with roots in the Dominican Republic. The school also offers performance classes for students wanting to take their dancing to the next level and perform on stage. Private lessons in both salsa and bachata are available with the instructors at multiple locations across Toronto: Bay and Harbour, Spadina and Lakeshore, and Yonge and Davisville.
Beyond regular classes, Salsa in the Heart hosts Latin nightclub events and provides wedding choreography lessons for couples. The instructors describe their drop-in classes as designed to be fun and intuitive, and student reviews consistently highlight the accessibility and encouragement of the teaching style.
What to expect
Your first visit
Drop in any Thursday evening at Trinity St Pauls United Church and you'll spend 90 minutes (or 60 for Advanced) learning technique in a small group, followed by time to practice what you've learned. Classes are structured to be fun and easy to follow, and you can join at any time regardless of level.
Instructors
Who teaches here
Miguel Gutierrez, Rajeev Samuel and Audrey Arcos teach at the studio. All are listed as instructors with the school citing a combined 40 years of experience teaching salsa, merengue and bachata. Miguel and Rajeev hold the title Master Teacher, Audrey as Teacher.
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
The school specializes in turning absolute beginners into salseros, with drop-in beginner classes designed to be fun and intuitive, and instructors noted for making complicated steps easy to follow.
Studio history
In January 2015, two instructors decided to form the school together, bringing a combined total of 40 years of dance teaching experience.
Styles offered
5 dance styles taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Pricing
Approximate lesson costs
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Salsa in the hearthasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own Salsa in the heart, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about Salsa in the heart
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Salsa in the heart teach?
Salsa in the heart teaches Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Performance choreography, Wedding choreography. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Salsa in the heart located?
Salsa in the heart is located in Toronto, ON. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Salsa in the heart offer private lessons?
Contact Salsa in the heart directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Salsa in the heart teach kids and adults?
Salsa in the heart welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Salsa in the heart?
The fastest path is to visit Salsa in the heart via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.