Uriel Garcia
Master Instructor & Owner
Uriel Garcia is nine time World Salsa, Bachata and Hustle Champion. He has been dancing Salsa and Bachata since 2004 and has traveled all over the U.S. as well as internationally to teach, perform and compete in places such as Canada, Spain, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Peru and China.
Uriel Garcia was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the USA when he was seven years old. He was a competitive athlete in football, soccer, volleyball, basketball and cross country. Uriel grew up dancing various types of Latin dance a child and teenager, turning pro in 2012.
His most recent accomplishments include becoming The 2015 World Cabaret Salsa Summit Champion, The 2015 World Cabaret Bachata Summit Champion, The 2015 World Hustle Champion and The 2014 World Bachata Masters Champion. He has also been a finalists at The 2012 World Latin Dance Cup, The 2013 Puerto Rico World Salsa Open and The 2013 Hong Kong World Salsa Championships, as well as finishing third overall in the “Theater Arts” division at the prestigious Blackpool Ballroom Competition located in Blackpool, England in 2018. Uriel currently resides in Miami, Florida.
Dance Styles
Salsa, Bachata, Hustle, Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Theater Arts
Private Lesson Rate: $150/hour
Melanie Castillo
Master Instructor
Melanie Castillo, born and raised in New York City, is a professional Latin Dancer. Having Puerto Rican and Dominican roots, she is no stranger to Latin music and dance. She started her dance training at the age of 5 and all roads led her to taking salsa classes once in college. She quickly realized that her passions lied within this dance since it was so close to home with a strong connection to her roots and her culture.
Melanie has worked closely with salsa greats Nelson Flores (Descarga Latina), Sekou McMiller (Proyecto Descarga), and Ismael Otero (Caribbean Soul), as well as successful partnerships with Elvis Collado and Nina Tirado. Melanie is the creator, director, and choreographer of Candela Dance Company, which has gone to win two titles at the World Salsa Summit.
Her dance career has taken her around the world, visiting countries such as Mexico, China, Malaysia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, and Canada, just to name a few. She was a principal dancer in the 2021 feature “In The Heights” and has worked on projects featuring Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Víctor Manuelle, C + C Music Factory, and La India. Today Melanie continues to work in the Latin dance community teaching, performing, training, and choreographing nationally and internationally. Melanie has and continues to work with many studios, students, and dancers in providing them the tools necessary to grow and improve.
Dance Styles
Salsa, Bachata, Hustle, Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Ladies Styling, Body Movement
Private Lesson Rate: $150/hour
Leah Garcia
Master Instructor
Leah’s introduction to dance and Latin music began with a Zumba class in 2009 in her home state of Minnesota. She fell in love with Latin rhythms and began formal training with in Salsa On1, Salsa On2 and Bachata in 2012. She traveled nationally and internationally to train, teach and perform. As her passion for dance grew, she expanded her repertoire into Kizomba and Zouk and dabbled in Hustle and East Coast Swing.
In 2018, she moved to Miami where she continues to teach and train in multiple dance styles. Her passion is social dancing and you’ll often see her out dancing in Miami’s many Latin venues.
Leah loves to help others discover the joy in movement and music. Her teaching style is engaging, entertaining and informative with a focus on helping students to be confident and considerate social dancers. With students ages 3 to 70, she firmly believes dancing is for everyone and it is never to late to learn!
Dance Styles
Salsa, Bachata, Hustle, Zouk, Kizomba, Merengue, Ladies Styling, Body Movement
Private Lesson Rate: $150/hour
Rachel Caro
Instructor
Rachel Caro started dancing at the age of four, with ballet, jazz, tap, gymnastics and more. Throughout her upbringing, Rachel actively participated in local and school theater productions in New Jersey, with diverse roles that helped foster her ability to perform as a triple threat: dancing, singing and acting. During her high school and college years she participated in the cheerleading team and the school dance team, further expanding her dance repertoire.
In 2017, Rachel moved to South Florida where she started taking dance classes with the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders. She soon discovered and fell in love with salsa and bachata, and immersed herself in the vibrant world of Latin dance. She embraced her passion and began teaching and performing these dance forms.
Rachel’s most recent accomplishments include showcasing her dancing and acting skills in the international feature film "Strasbourg" which debuted in London in September 2023, as well as performing at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for their Winterfest Gala in November 2023 and New Year’s Eve 2024 “Moulin Rouge” event.
Currently, Rachel is teaching salsa and bachata at Boca Latin Dance while continuing to perform at various events. She is training under the guidance of BLDS’s owner Uriel Garcia for salsa, bachata and theatre arts. Rachel is always continuing to learn and grow, and loves to share her passion and knowledge with her students.
James Austin Jr.
Instructor
James Austin Jr was born and raised in Mobile , AL. At the age of 19 years old, James joined a teacher training course at Beachside Ballroom in Fairhope, AL. There he learned to teach privates, group classes and run parties under the guidance of owner Lon Wilkinson.
James then moved to Destin, FL to further his dance career working under 5x World Theatre Arts Champion Eric Luna at Luna Ballroom. James has competed in multiple theater arts competitions including USDC’s Theater Arts World Championship, and the US Championship.
James has since moved to Miami, FL to teach Salsa On2 and Bachata at UV Latin Dance Studio in North Miami, FL and train under the owners Uriel Garcia and Vera Rowe. He continues to train with Uriel Garcia at Boca Latin Dance Studio in Boca Raton, FL.
Instructor
Lon Wilkinson
Dance Styles: Salsa, Bachata, Ballroom
Private Lesson Rate: $100/hour