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 instructional program in salsa in the State of Iowa. The group offers salsa dance instructions in all the salsa styles - ON1, ON2, Cuban Style, and the Salsa Rueda and organizes salsa dance and music events in Des Moines and Ames. The group also offers dance instructions in other dances (Argentine Tango, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Cha Cha, and the ballroom dances).
Salsa Des Moines works in partnership with various community-based cultural diversity groups, the Des Moines Public Schools, entertainment and festival organizers, local non-profit organizations, wellness centers, assisted-living communities, and local businesses in order to build a better, more culturally-conscious and -involved community in Des Moines. Join Salsa Des Moines and experience how much salsa music and dance can bring about a refreshingly healthy and invigorating lifestyle change for you. Salsa Des Moines dance classes and events are made possible through the patronage and contributions of its members.
| Luisito CABRERA, Artistic Director |
 | Luisito Cabrera established Salsa Des Moines out of a passion to teach the art of salsa dancing and desire to incorporate salsa dance into the mainstream Des Moines entertainment and social scene. 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 (DMB) |
All Salsa Des Moines classes are held at the Des Moines Ballroom located at 2745 Douglas Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310 unless otherwise indicated. DMB holds classes in classical ballroom dance and sponsors dance workshops given by guest professional ballroom dance instructors. DMB also features showcases and special dance performances. For more information on the DMB, please visit their website at: www.desmoinesballroom.com. |