We know why we started dancing Salsa & Bachata; they're fun. That has always remained the core of our dancing. Salchata Dance Academy is Toronto’s newest Latin dance school that focuses exclusively on Salsa and Bachata. Our dancing speaks for itself; it has been honed by over 15 years of Salsa & Bachata dancing. We have competed, performed, and traveled extensively to further our knowledge of Salsa and Bachata, and yet we are always drawn back to our passion: social dancing. Our classes reflect this, as they are oriented towards training and developing dancers for the dance floor. No awkward tricks, no elitist mindsets, no abstract dance moves that you’ll struggle doing. Everything we teach, we social dance!
Sam Mardini, Co-founder & Co-director, Salchata Dance Academy
Since walking into his first beginner class in Toronto in 2001, Sam has learned Salsa On1 (aka LA Style), Salsa On2 (aka New York Style), Cuban Salsa (aka Casino), Cuban Rumba (Guaguanco & Columbia), Traditional Bachata, and Modern/Urban Bachata. A very eclectic dancer, Sam is a certified teacher by profession - holding a Master’s in Education and teaches with the Toronto District School Board. His ability to break things down into understandable chunks, guide his learners from controlled exercises to freer exercises, progressively assess students' comprehension of the material, and facilitate a fun class in the process, is anchored in his extensive teacher training and experience. He's also very sociable and approachable, so don’t be shy to contact him! Sam's energy and enthusiasm encompass his dancing...check him out as he dances Rumba in the streets of Havana below!
Salchata Dance Academy is Sam Mardini’s 2nd dance endeavor. His first was the Korea International Salsa Site, a Salsa & Bachata community in Seoul, South Korea. Yep, South Korea! Seoul has one of the largest On2 Salsa scenes in the world, and Sam was pulled in 110%! As director of K.I.S.S., Sam taught hundreds of students locally and organized frequent international Salsa & Bachata workshops & events in Seoul. He has hosted numerous world renowned international dancers to share and further their collective love of Salsa & Bachata. Sam has collaborated with dozens of public and private organizations in the propagation of Salsa & Bachata during his dance journey in Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, and Cuba.
Since walking into his first beginner class in Toronto in 2001, Sam has learned Salsa On1 (aka LA Style), Salsa On2 (aka New York Style), Cuban Salsa (aka Casino), Cuban Rumba (Guaguanco & Columbia), Traditional Bachata, and Modern/Urban Bachata. A very eclectic dancer, Sam is a certified teacher by profession - holding a Master’s in Education and teaches with the Toronto District School Board. His ability to break things down into understandable chunks, guide his learners from controlled exercises to freer exercises, progressively assess students' comprehension of the material, and facilitate a fun class in the process, is anchored in his extensive teacher training and experience. He's also very sociable and approachable, so don’t be shy to contact him! Sam's energy and enthusiasm encompass his dancing...check him out as he dances Rumba in the streets of Havana below!
Salchata Dance Academy is Sam Mardini’s 2nd dance endeavor. His first was the Korea International Salsa Site, a Salsa & Bachata community in Seoul, South Korea. Yep, South Korea! Seoul has one of the largest On2 Salsa scenes in the world, and Sam was pulled in 110%! As director of K.I.S.S., Sam taught hundreds of students locally and organized frequent international Salsa & Bachata workshops & events in Seoul. He has hosted numerous world renowned international dancers to share and further their collective love of Salsa & Bachata. Sam has collaborated with dozens of public and private organizations in the propagation of Salsa & Bachata during his dance journey in Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, and Cuba.
Oriana, Co-founder & Co-director, Salchata Dance Academy
Oriana started dancing in 2004 with a firm base in Rueda de Casino (Cuban-style salsa), followed by linear Salsa On1, Salsa On2, and Traditional Bachata from established dance schools in Caracas. She is the 2008 Venezuela Pro-Am Salsa Champion and one of the humblest people you’ll meet.
Oriana started teaching in 2010 and has traveled to numerous Salsa congresses in Latin America, North America, and Europe. Her energy, flair, and contagious smile when dancing are extremely hard to ignore…that girl your eyes are drawn to on the dance floor; yeah, that’s probably her. She is also quite the singer and will sing the lyrics to Salsa & Bachata songs when you dance with her even if you ask her to stop. When she teaches, her love, sense of humor, and passion for Salsa radiate the class!!
Oriana started dancing in 2004 with a firm base in Rueda de Casino (Cuban-style salsa), followed by linear Salsa On1, Salsa On2, and Traditional Bachata from established dance schools in Caracas. She is the 2008 Venezuela Pro-Am Salsa Champion and one of the humblest people you’ll meet.
Oriana started teaching in 2010 and has traveled to numerous Salsa congresses in Latin America, North America, and Europe. Her energy, flair, and contagious smile when dancing are extremely hard to ignore…that girl your eyes are drawn to on the dance floor; yeah, that’s probably her. She is also quite the singer and will sing the lyrics to Salsa & Bachata songs when you dance with her even if you ask her to stop. When she teaches, her love, sense of humor, and passion for Salsa radiate the class!!
