Joel Salsa NY

Great place to learn NY Style Salsa!!! Wish there were more stars to give!
I have been going to different salsa schools for about 2 years off an on and I have to say that this is the best school I have ever been to. I currently commute from NJ even though I have multiple schools that teach NY style in my area. They are that good here.
At most of schools I have attended, a common practice is to teach a pattern every week (multiple moves strung together). No real breakdown of the steps for each move. They show you how to do the moves (they SHOW not TEACH them or how to lead them), you try your best to do the moves with your partner and once you go through them once they immediately call switch and you try again with someone else. No time to actually dance the moves to figure them out or get them into muscle memory.
I understand you really can’t get into too much detail in a group class but… Joel and Maria always give us enough details and time to practice where the class can figure out whats getting taught.
I like that they teach the lead for each move not just the move. Even better, they tell the leads to lead what’s been taught on our own so we also learn how the lead is supposed to feel. This also teaches the follows how to follow and not back lead since you get to mix up what you have just learned.
Also, no school I have ever been to have even approached the topics of music structure/​connection/​musicality. Here they introduce those concepts from the beginning and get more in depth as the classes continue. I started with the fundamental boot camp even though I already knew most of what was getting taught. At least I thought I knew. You never know how much you don’t know until you’re taught correctly.
The teachers here make learning fun and are very patient. They also have lessons online which is great for me as I can practice at home most of same moves/​concepts that are taught in class.
I can’t say enough about this school because I have been searching for this type of teaching/​learning atmosphere for the last two years and it feels great that I have finally found a place where I don’t feel like I’m wasting my money.
I feel that Joel an Maria don’t just teach steps, they teach you how to dance…

Revised, for 2016…
I highly recommend the Joel Salsa Dance School (
). I have been going there for years. They also teach… The Best Bachata by Dance Choreographer Edwin Ferreras!
The Finest Salsa will be taught by Joel and Maria, they are friendly, they make it easy, and teach stress free… no pressure!
They were recently featured and highlighted in
Time Out Magazine :
So if you like to learn Salsa or Bachata (like I did… Both! ;)) and want to dance with feeling… Go to this school and register… Tell them Rafael sent me! You will not regret it… trust me! :)
And remember, you get 35 percent OFF! There Intro Special, at JoelSalsa Dance Studio! On your very first dance class package :
(Use link below, to take advantage of it! ;))
You can’t beat that! :) Just saying… ;)

I can’t recommend Joel Salsa enough. Joel, who is the owner and main instructor for my beginner’s salsa bootcamp classes, is a friendly, funny, and engaging teacher that structures the classes in a way that has us actively practicing old and new techniques while moving lessons at a good, fast pace. Classes are also broken up into 4-​week cycles with each class in each cycle appropriately labeled by level, which helps newcomers like me understand which cycle and class is for me.
In short, the classes are great, and if you want to salsa, Joel Salsa.

Amazing school. 2yrs and counting. Definitely recommend it. I would give it 10 stars. Maria & Joel make it happen.

Joel Salsa is a great place to be if you truly want to learn how to salsa and bachata. If you’re looking for a studio where the people are passionate, approachable and exceptional at teaching you to dance, then Joel Salsa is your place. Classes begin with shines and then move on to partner work. Everyone in the classes is very nice and excited to dance… lots of smiles and fun all around! Make sure you dress light because you will sweat a lot. Amazing instructors who are very patient and make classes fun. The community they built is a great group — very welcoming to new comers and old timers alike. I love learning salsa and bachata at Joel Salsa and I look forward to learning more. I always have an amazing time and can’t wait for the next class! Here you have that friendly environment where you will not only feel welcome, but excited to come back to class each day and see the friends you made in class. A lot of energy and good people all around. I have not missed a class. If you have interest in salsa or/​and bachata, you should definitely join Joel Salsa. You will have a blast!

Hi dear friends, I have an amazing experience with Joel salsa every day, from last 21 months I grew each and every class I took with Joel, Maria, Edwin and Daniela, awesome classes, amazing instructors, I recommend for basic learners like me, to learn salsa, Joel salsa is the best school, I met amazing friends and they become life time friends, they are more than family, I proud to be family of Joel salsa, turn patterns, shines, and laclave at copacabana every 1^st and 3^rd Thursday of month and Lvg on alternate Sunday’s and DJ Antonio amazing music and front desk Britany friendly behavior approach, learning new things on each and every class, timing of the music, learning the technicality of the steps by our instructor are amazing, hope to learn each and every day, I recommend to who are interested in learning salsa and bachata, please visit Joel salsa and experience the taste of salsa «Dance with feeling »

After taking many salsa classes at a different studio, I thought it was over for me. I could barely hold my own on the dance floor… until I decided to give it one more shot and sign up for Joel Salsa!
Joel is great at breaking down the moves, explaining the counts, the musicality, all with a great positive attitude, a genuine love for dance, and great classmates to cheer you on along the way.
This isn’t a studio bribing you with some ridiculous deal that you can’t afford after it ends with many students crammed in a tiny, sweaty room. They also have a great way of checking into each class, as opposed to signing your name, which can waste many valuable minutes of teaching time. Though my classes are full, it is not uncomfortable or restrictive to learning. The social they encourage at Copacabana is also really fun and many times we’d form a group and walk together after class.
Even though I’ve just been taking classes for two months, I already feel more confident, and I’m excited to take more classes!

I have no idea what I was waiting for to write this review! This is long overdue.
There is so many great things I can say about Joel Salsa but it means nothing unless you actually come out and experience this for yourself.
Besides the instructors being great, (Joel, Maria, Edwin, and Daniela) my fellow classmates are just as wonderful and supportive as the instructors. Which makes the experience that much better. No one is competing or judging, everyone is friendly and encouraging of each other.
Now, back to the instructors;
Joel:
He is the fantastic salsa instructor in which the school is named after. Not only does he break down the steps effectively in a way that makes learning easy, he also spends time on steps in which are more complicated if he feels more drilling is necessary. He is extremely patient and has a wonderful sense of humor that makes traveling down to the heart of the city in rain, sleet and snow worthwhile.
Maria:
Joel’s other half who is equally talented. She is inspirational for us ladies who wish to move as fluidly and sensually as she does! She makes every move look as easy as pie. Her Ladies Styling Workshops are absolutely the best and I recommend that all ladies should take this workshop if you want to know how she incorporates style and flavor into her every step.
Edwin:
Phenomenal Bachata instructor with tons of flavor in his movements I am still trying to figure out where he keeps it all! There is no one more passionate about his love of dance than Edwin, and I have only taken bachata with him for a month and it’s still so very obvious.
Daniela:
Edwin’s other half, Daniela is also a very passionate and talented dancer. She too teaches the ladies how to use hands and body rolls to spice up even the most basic steps. She follows her partner with ease and executes each move with perfection! Sexy and inspirational!
Overall the environment is welcoming the instructors are amazing and knowledgable of musicality. They are constantly giving their all in each class that they teach. You have to go and check it out for yourself.
AND the most important thing for me which is what convinced me to give them a shot was the affordability of their packages. I mean seriously, it doesn’t get better than that!

Joel and Maria are amazing! I always felt very shy about dancing salsa, despite the fact that I loved it. My friend and I decided to do the 8-​week bootcamp and figured we had nothing to lose. It was simply wonderful. Not only was I able to learn basics and build confidence, the other participants were so nice, too! There is a strong sense of community within the group and I felt very comfortable. They hold socials and workshops and that was super helpful when it came to practicing. I think Joel and Maria are amazing instructors and I can’t recommend them enough.

I could not disagree more with the reviewer who gave Joel Salsa 2 stars. First, I have to say that I’m really surprised they only have four reviews. It’s obvious from the well attended classes that they have lots of happy students who come regularly and seem to really be enjoying themselves.
Joel and Maria are really good teachers. They are patient, encouraging and extremely generous with resources and encouragement to make sure their students succeed. They really want us to learn salsa and have fun while doing it. The atmosphere is down to earth while also very well organized and well presented. Classes start on time and you receive a full hour of instruction with no time wasted. They run a tight but very fun course of classes that keep progressing with more intricate moves and steps. I have never heard them try to hard sell us on anything. The fact that Maria lugs a big suitcase of shoes to class (at her inconvenience) is to provide her students with an easy way to purchase shoes IF THEY SO DESIRE. Their website lays out that course curriculum clearly with the understanding that after 4 weeks level 2 of the beginner’s course begins at 7:30PM while basic beginner starts at 6:30. This information is also reiterated in class so it should come as no surprise that after 4 weeks of basic you can graduate to basic 2 if you feel ready to do so. There are opportunities to practice throughout the month through «socials» and other events. Joel and Maria give a lot to ensure that their students receive not only excellent instruction, but the opportunity to practice what you have learned. They are wonderful people and I feel lucky to have found them. By the way, I am having a blast learning Salsa in a non-​judgmental and supportive environment. I strongly recommend Joel Salsa.

My experience at Joel Salsa has been excellent. I find both Joel and Maria trustworthy, honest, and complete professionals, which is why I continue returning to their classes. There is a sense of camaraderie among the students in their studio, which makes stepping into their classes easy and enjoyable. Joel and Maria drill the basic techniques and concepts to ensure that their students have mastered the steps before moving onto more advanced concepts. It is clear to me that they love their profession, their students, and teaching.

I have joined Joel Salsa 3 months back and now i feel like part of family. This is one of the best school and highly rated one in NYC. Great connectivity with PATH and Subway make it first choice from location perspective. Every beginner class is full and if you are not booking in advnace, will lose the seat. The best thing about Joel and Maria is that they pay attention to every student and you can’t escape doing wrong steps. They always address to whole class and never pinpoint any person so you will be at ease. Joel ensure that we are laughing and enjoying dancing within group. Maria ensure that technique is perfect and dancing with her always chill my spine… you do a mistake and she will give a hard look to you :-)
They both always give importance to follow beat along with steps to make your dance more natural which is very important. You must go to their social party and dance with experts to improve on though need some courage to match steps and speed. You can join classes for beginner, Adv beginner and Intermediate level along with expert level to tune your skills. There’s bachata class also and i will review it separately.
They have launched their website and you can watch them online or buy those videos to download on laptop, mobile etc.
Visit their website —

I have taken some salsa classes before but Joel and maria are different. For one, they have you focus on learning how to listen to the music and move with the music vs. being obsessed with counting — the latter doesn’t help if you’re actually trying to dance outside a classroom setting. They are so approachable and make it a fun learning experience.

I never expected to enjoy this class so much after my first couple classes! I was referred by a friend to contact Joel (since I wanted to take salsa courses); I was immediately impressed with Maria & Joel’s professionalism, expertise, and passion they had in their teaching of Salsa. It’s very important for me that a teacher is clear with their directions/​instruction of the basic salsa steps, that they are experienced with mistakes beginners and novices’ usually experience on the dance floor, and are patient with all levels of dancers during class. Not only where they did they have those qualities, but they do care about each individuals progress and understanding. They are both personable with everyone and make you feel comfortable in the studio!
I took the opportunity and completed the 8 week program for beginners salsa and several advanced beginners courses, and it has made me feel very secure in my dancing skills when I go to a salsa club with my friends.
Also, after you get the basic steps down, I recommend attending their «Practicas» (monthly practices where everyone is encouraged to attend) and learn how to dance with fellow beginners to advanced people. It’s the best way to anticipate others movements and learn new styles-​in the comfort of others who are learning like YOU!
I was taking their classes starting Oct2012-​spring2013 until I had to move away from NYC (for the husbands J.O.B), and wish I knew about Joel & Maria years ago! This is definitely a very special and unique class that I was very lucky to be part of.
Well, I can go on and on about these two, and why you should take advantage of their amazing program, but go check them out-​even if it is just taking one beginners class!
One more thing. I purchased a pair of dancing shoes from Maria, and made a HUGE difference in my dancing movements! With all the cool footwork you’ll learn, boots and sneakers will slow-​you-​down.

First: this is not just a Salsa school, it’s Bachata and Zumba too.
The instructors are well-​known in the dance scene.
The school is small enough that the instructors actually care about each student and know them by name. However, it’s big enough that no matter where you go to dance socially — you’ll always see a classmate of two — instant party!
Joel is a smooth and creative leader, Maria is a beautifully-​styled lady.
Together they are a perfect pair to teach every level from Absolute Beginner Bootcamp (I mean, if you’ve never taken a salsa step in your life — they’ll get you dancing), to Advanced Beginner, to Intermediate turn patters. They are always coming up with new challenges for us. Most recently they’ve created an Intensive Salsa Training, which really focuses on giving the students tools they can use in their dancing (floor drills, musicality drills, turn patters, etc). They take pride in their students and it works. How do I know? Because once they take that first Bootcamp — most of their students stay with them for years.
The class is usually split into shines and partner work. Joel’s shines get creative, so make sure you don’t miss a beat. If you get to Intermediate level and you like your shines fast and furious — this is your playground!
Maria also teaches Ladies Styling — which, BELIEVE me, you will want to experience. It’s just so on-​point and user friendly. Never thought I could do a «booty roll» for lack of… well… BOOTY. But I think I can after taking Maria’s styling! Just substitute booty for some hip action!
Edwin is a challenging and lively Bachata instructor. If you’ve seen him dance socially and in performances, you know he’s someone you want to learn from. If you’re looking to expand your bachata repertoire beyond the basics — he’s your man.
Students that come here enjoy a friendly atmosphere, which encourages lots of laughter and excitement. You have the option to come to class, follow instructions and leave. But you also can become a part of this group of people, who actually share their love of salsa. There are group outings to dance clubs pretty much weekly. You can participate in a monthly practice session. Sometimes you’ll find yourself at a classmate’s birthday party. There’s even a latin cruise once in a while that the students get together for. Oh, and of course there’s La Vieja Guardia, one of the most coveted salsa socials in the city!
So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer — there’s something for everyone here.

I have always wanted to learn salsa (all that fancy footwork, twists and turns) so when I saw the one-​month-​unlimited deal at zozi, I saw my calling – at least for a month.
Since I already knew the basic steps, I took the beginner AND the advanced beginner class the first week. I was HOOKED from day one. So much that I was there every day, every class.
The instructors, Joel and Maria, are really down to earth. They always make sure all the students understand each move before continuing to the next. They also break down the steps for you, specially when they see our CONFUSED FACES followed by COMPLETE SILENCE after they had asked if we «Got It». No one wanting to be the first to admit that we «Sorta Got It But Not Quite There Yet»
Oh, and they are FUNNY. You always get a laugh – or two – while trying to figure out the right/​left turn, inside-​outside turn and cross-​body lead.
The BACHATA classes were great as well. Edwin, who is an expert, shows you how to move like a pro. He brings a new choreography as soon as you learn the previous one – so no more THREE STEPS and A TAP when dancing at socials…
You DON’T NEED A PARTNER for any of their classes. They rotate the students very often so you don’t get stuck with the-​guy-​that-​needs-​a-​strong-​deodorant!
Best of all, if you still can’t remember or do the steps, they allow you to record it towards the end of the class so you can practice at home. They also send you links to their practice videos as well! So…
Ladies bring your dance heels…
Guys don’t forget to put on deodorant/​cologne and…
LET’S DANCE SALSA!

I’ve taken bachata lessons here. The instructor, Edwin, is by far the best bachata teacher ever. His patience is unmatched. His teacher skills, for his age are commendable. I love meeting teachers who will not tire to teach you until you get it. You can expect the same level of passion and enthusiasm the first time they teach you something to the 105^th time. More than their dancing, its the good attitude that I will always remember. I strongly recommend them. Especially for those who think they were born with 2 left feet or have any sort of hang up social dancing, go to this place. You will not feel out of place, you won’t hear anything such as negative criticism from these teachers.

Joel and Maria’s salsa classes are fantastic! Joel is an amazing teacher, has lots of patience and never makes you feel ridiculous, no matter how many times you mistake the steps he will just make you repeat them until you perform without thinking! I would definitely recommend this class if you’re searching for a place to start (or continue) dancing salsa! You will get the attention you deserve, no matter how many people are taking the class you will not be left behind. Both Joel and Maria really care that you get the best out of the experience! I am so happy I started learning salsa with Joel and not somewhere else!