Sunday, March 29th: Bachata Workshops!!

Notice: Schedule Change! Workshops are Only on Sunday, March 29th. Alejandro will now be teaching on Saturday in Phoenix

On Sunday, March 29th, enjoy the instruction and energy of Alejandro Rey, a premier Bachatero from the Los Angeles area!

Schedule: Sunday, March 29th

12-1 pm Crazy Merengue!: The title speaks for itself! New merengue music and dance moves that are a guaranteed hit! Learn the latest individual moves, partnering techniques and combinations.

1:10-2:10 pm, Basic Bachata Fundamentals: Beginner Level, Introducing footwork, 3-step turns, posture, partner connection, resistance and tension and an overall understanding of modern Bachata music and dance.

2:20-3:20 pm, Urban Bachata 101: Fast-paced Bachata with Urban flavor! Expand your Bachata dancing by moving in all directions (not just side to side). Footwork, sharp musicality, turn patterns, and attitude are all staple features of Urban Bachata. A basic understanding of bachata footwork and turns are recommended for participants for we will be moving at a progressive pace.

3:30-4:30 pm, Bachata Musicality: This workshop will focus on musicality and hitting Bachata accents with razor-sharp precision. This is the perfect class to take for Bachateros who want to add flash and flair to their social dancing.

4:40-5:40 pm Bachata, Dominican Style:Taking it back to roots and origins of Bachata: Dominican Style! This course will focus on footwork, hip motion, sensuality, tension and resistance.

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Location: Mid-Valley Athletic Club, 140 S. Tucson Blvd (Just South of Broadway, follow the alley between Signmaker and Ballet Arts on West side of Tucson Blvd.)

Pre-Registration Prices:

Single Class, $15

Any 2 Classes, $28

Any 3 Classes, $39

Any 4 Classes, $48

All 5 Classes, $55

Pre-Registration Deadline: Saturday, March 21st

Price at the door: $20/class

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Biography:

Alejandro Rey is the Co-Owner of the Steps of Gold Dance Studio in Santa Fe Springs, CA with his mother, Alicia Mendibles. He is the Assistant Director of the critically acclaimed Paso De Oro Dance Company. Founded by his mother, Paso De Oro will celebrate its 15th Anniversary this year as a company performing traditional Mexican Ballet Folkloric Dance.

At 18 years young, Alejandro Rey founded the Latin Dance Department of Paso De Oro in 2002. They are now in their 5th year of existence focusing on modern Latin dances at the performance level including Salsa, Samba, Merengue, Cha Cha, Tango, Ballet, and Latin Jazz and more notably "Urban Bachata."

"Urban Bachata" is how Alejandro Rey and Paso De Oro define their Bachata dance style. Integrating new elements of Jazz, Hip Hop, and R & B into their Bachata creating a dance that is set to stage for todays audience. It is fun and entertaining to watch, but even more fun to dance! "I created this style for the new generation. We emphasize modern ideals such as posture, sharp musicality, precise partnering, and overall attitude and style; yet we maintain traditional Dominican ideals such as sensuality, hip motion and footwork," he states.

Teaching is his passion. He teaches workshops at dance studios throughout Southern California on a monthly basis, and group classes every week at his studio. He is an elementary school dance teacher with the Long Beach Unified School District. He regularly teaches the Latin dance club at Whittier College, and instructs at various high school campuses as well.

2-Time Salsa Mambo Festival Bachata Competition 1st place 2007, 2008

Long Beach Sevilla Bachata Competition 1st Place 2008

Performance credits include Bachateros such as Monchy y Alexandra, Xtreme, Andy Andy, and is scheduled to perform with Toby Love in San Diego in February 2009.