About Us
Salsa Des Moines is a non-profit organization that aims to teach the art of salsa dance and foster awareness of and interest for all forms of latin street dance within the Greater Des Moines and Ames communities. Salsa Des Moines offers the most comprehensive teaching program in salsa dance and the salsa rueda in the State of Iowa.
| Luisito CABRERA, Artistic Director |
 | Luisito Cabrera established Salsa Des Moines out of a passion to teach the art of salsa dancing. He focuses on teaching students how to be a better salsa dancer by understanding the concepts of rhythm and timing, musicality, lead and follow, partnerwork, and styling. Luisito taught all the ballroom dances at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in New York City and was involved in competitive dancing. His passion for latin dancing brought him to focus primarily on teaching salsa, chacha, bachata, merengue, hustle, east and west coast swing. In addition to teaching in NYC, he has also taught salsa dance in Switzerland (Geneva, Bern, Lausanne, Zurich) and has attended numerous salsa congresses all over Europe and the United States. |
| Melanie RIVERA, co-Artistic Director |
 | Melanie Rivera has a foundation in hip hop and jazz, and has been dancing salsa for the past eight years and instructing for the past 3 years with Continuing Education and at the DMBDS. She was the founder and president of Descarga: Latin Dance Club at Iowa State University. And has performed throughout central Iowa, including at the Inaugural Ball of Gov. Chet Culver and as the lead salsa dancer in the production of Swing! at the Des Moines Playhouse. Melanie has also participated in the Chicago Salsa Congress for more than five years. She specializes in teaching beginner, intermediate, and ladies styling/shines in salsa, and beginner cha cha, merengue, and bachata. She will teach couples, groups, and individual males.
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| About the Des Moines Ballroom Dance Studios (DMBDS) |
All classes are held at the Des Moines Ballroom Dance Studios located at 2745 Douglas Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310. DMBDS holds classes in classical ballroom dance and sponsors dance workshops given by guest professional ballroom dance instructors. DMBDS also features showcases and special dance performances. For more information on the DMBDS, please visit www.desmoinesdance.com. |