Rumba Brava Dance Academy 

Salsa! It's more than just a dance. It's a way to express your spirit and food for your soul. The vibrant music and dance bring out the passion in life. Salsa is both an art form and a fun, healthy way to meet people. Our studio is a cocoon where women are transformed into salsa goddesses. Men develop the skills and confidence to lead their partner in an expression of sensual elegance. Come join us. We offer an experience where you will connect to a new and exciting movement.

Approach to teaching:

After many years of teaching experience, Rico Bravo Sr., and Samantha have learned how students benefit by focusing on proper form and technique. This emphasis gives students the tools and understanding they need to progress quickly. They have encountered many students who have spent countless hours struggling to learn salsa but became frustrated after repeating the same mistakes over and over again and copying steps without understanding the underlying technique. In sharp contrast, Rumba Brava gives students the individual attention and feedback they need to fine-tune their technique and advance as dancers. They teach students how to move as salsa dancers, which goes far beyond just teaching the steps. Once the basics have been mastered, students can easily advance to learning different combinations and execute them with confidence.  Rumba Brava Dance Academy is currently offering two separate schedules.  All classes are offered as a series of six weeks with its corresponding start and end dates. This will benefit the student to progress rapidly and to cover the essential material at the instructor’s criteria. The instructor will set the requirements and ground rules for you to advance into the next series.

Tuesday Class Schedule

Jan 5 to Feb 9 / Feb 16 March 23 / Mar 30 - May 4 / May 11 to Jun 15 / Jun 22 to July 27 / Aug 3 - Sep 7

*7-class series, $85

Beginners I - BASICS (level 1):
6-Class Series, Tuesdays 6:30 - 7:30
This class taught by Rico Bravo Sr. is geared for students who are developing a foundation in the basic step, rhythm, and timing. The series focuses on the fundamentals of salsa: basics, patterns, footwork, turns and technique, which includes proper posture, balance, and upper/lower body coordination. This lays the groundwork for a solid foundation in salsa. Learn the conservation of energy theory from the award-winning inventor of the clock system himself. All advanced moves are an extension of the basic. If someone's fundamentals are not technically correct, the student will just learn more and more combinations incorrectly and will not progress as a dancer. Therefore, this is the most important class for anyone wishing to learn salsa. Mastery of the basics will give you the skills and confidence needed to develop into a good dancer. Believe me, it will change your life.

Beginners II - PARTNERING (level 2):
6-Class Series, Tuesdays 7:30 - 8:30
This is no ordinary beginner's class. It is geared for students with a solid, comprehensive foundation in the Basics (balance, posture, upper/lower body coordination, weight transfer, cross body, etc.). If you already have an in-depth understanding of the basics you're ready for this class. At this level, you will learn lead/follow techniques, transitions, and space management to moderate music. The student will further develop the skills to easily learn combinations in a manner that really connects with your partner. After taking THE BASICS and this series, you will have the techniques and a repertoire of moves that will make any dancer at any level happy to dance with you.

Intermediate Combinations (level 3):
6-Class Series,Tuesdays 8:30 - 9:30
This class taught by Rico Sr. is for dancers who have taken the first and second series or equivalent. It covers more difficult techniques and combinations and is geared for students with a solid foundation. At this level, the dancer can follow advanced footwork and partnering combinations to faster music. During this class the student will further strengthen their leading and follow techniques. The student will learn different prepping techniques on spins and syncopated footwork. Learn the Rico conservation of energy technique on how to save time and energy regardless of the speed of the music. This is the next step in complexity, styling, and technique.

Saturday Class Schedule

PARTNERING – I (Beginners Combinations):

6-Class Series. Saturdays 2:00 - 3:00

Ladies' Styling:

Saturdays 3:00 - 4:00

Samantha Brava teaches Ladies' Styling to beginning and intermediate dancers emphasizing footwork, style, and technique. Ladies' Styling is the part of salsa when couples dance apart from one another in a passionate seduction between the sexes. Ladies challenge the men with no-holds-barred femininity: rolling hips, shimmying shoulders, and the tossing hair. Men draw the women back with striking footwork and dynamic combinations. In this course we not only teach you the moves, but also the techniques to set the dance floor and your partner on fire.  Classes are $10 (cash only).  Students enrolled in Partnering 1 or 2 on Saturday can sign up for 6 consecutive weeks for only $50.

PARTNERING – II (Intermediate Combinations):
6-Class Series, Saturdays 4:00 - 5:00

Accomplishments

Rico Sr. and Samantha are the Creative Directors of Rumba Brava Dance Academy.  Rico Sr. is also Manager for the Seattle Salsa Congress. Rico Sr. is one of the top trainers on the West Coast and is regarded by others as a teacher of teachers. He has not only trained Seattle dancers but his legacy extends from Vancouver to LA, training dancers for the Mayan, ESPN, and WSF salsa competitions. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA in 1992 and works as an aerospace design engineer. Rico applies his knowledge of engineering to dance kinesiology and is able to clearly communicate the techniques involved in learning salsa.

Samantha was the first instructor in Seattle to teach ladies' styling, a favorite class for ladies. She also teaches with her two sons, both of whom are championship dancers. When you watch Samantha dance, you'll understand why people call her the Queen Of Salsa. Samantha has been teaching salsa in Seattle for over 11 years.

Johnny Bravo is a competition level dancer who teaches intermediate and advanced salsa with Samantha on Saturdays. Johnny was a finalist in the 2002 Mayan Competition, Professional Class. When you see him dance with speed, sabor, and grace, it will come as no surprise that he's a championship dancer. He has choreographed and trained dancers for competition. But most of his students just enjoy dancing socially and Johnny makes it a fun and exciting experience. He is also the Creative Director of Bravos De La Rumba performance team.

Contact - Registration

If you have a passion for salsa and desire to learn from a Master Instructor who are just as passionate about teaching, please contact Rico Bravo Sr.: 425-971-5530, or Samantha: 425-876-2635, or Larry Benjamin: 206-228-3674. Classes are highly technical and guaranteed to improve your level of salsa dancing. Partners not required. 6-week series are $75. All payments are CASH ONLY. Series registration is the first day of class at the studio. No refunds for missed classes. You can also contact Rico Sr. or Samantha to arrange for private lessons. Gift Certificates are available upon request.