📣 Promoted to 10,000+ followers — from seasoned dancers to brand-new beginners
3 upcoming socials free + Featured socials · every social, every night for members ($3/mo)
A PEEK AT REAL NJ SOCIALS
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Salsa
Bachata
Salsa
JOIN TO KNOW WHERE EVERY SOCIAL IS, EVERY NIGHT • ONLY $3/MO • CANCEL ANYTIME • JOIN TO KNOW WHERE EVERY SOCIAL IS, EVERY NIGHT • ONLY $3/MO • CANCEL ANYTIME •
Latin Night on the Water at Waterside — Latin Dance NJ Launch Party
📍 Waterside Restaurant, 7800 River Rd · North Bergen 🕗 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Free RSVP · limited spots
🎉 Celebrating the launch of Latin Dance NJ — plus DJ Reymo's birthday! 🎧 Music by DJ Reymo: salsa, bachata, merengue & reggaeton on the waterfront with the NYC skyline. Dress to impress. Tables & reservations: (201) 861-7767.
Weekly email alerts with the best Latin socials near you are a member perk — included with the $3/month membership, along with every social, every night, all month. Month to month · cancel anytime.
✅ Weekly alerts are included with your membership.
Real Latin dance schools & class programs in New Jersey — more coming soon. Please confirm times and prices with each school before you go. All schools are listed free through Nov 30, 2026 — see Verified Gold 🥇.
Ratings from Google, updated weekly.
North Jersey🥇 Gold Verified
Sontuno Latin Dance x Margie Montes
📍 Union · Traditional Bachata
973B Stuyvesant Ave, Union, NJ 07083 · Entrance and parking in back
Starlight Dance Center, 7 High St, Nutley, NJ 07110
👑 Owner & Director: Ismael Otero
📖 Meet Ismael – Bio
Ismael Otero | "The Million Moves Man"
Founder, Owner & Director of Caribbean Soul Dancers
Ismael Otero is one of the most recognizable and influential figures in the global Latin dance community. Known worldwide as the founder of the legendary Caribbean Soul Dancers, he revolutionized Salsa On2 and Bachata with his creativity, playful musicality, and complex turn pattern combinations.
Hailing from New York/New Jersey with deep Nuyorican roots, Ismael started dancing in the early 1990s and quickly developed a distinct style that fused traditional Latin rhythms and hip hop with urban energy, humor, and intricate turn patterns. Over the past three decades, he has trained generations of instructors, performers, and social dancers across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
He is also known for creating world-renowned dancers within his company who later started successful dance companies of their own.
"Dance isn't about looking perfect — it's about connecting with the music, having fun with your partner, and expressing who you truly are on the floor." — Ismael Otero
💻 Online with Ismael: Salsa/Bachata Latin Rhythms
Master Salsa, Bachata and Afro Latin rhythms, and develop your unique dance identity and flow with expert guidance from Teacher/Coach Ismael Otero.
💃 Co-Director & Instructor: Perla Romano (Perlita)
📖 Meet Perlita – Bio
Perla Romano | Perlita's Way
Dancer • Instructor • Choreographer • Co-Director of Caribbean Soul
Perla Romano, known for her signature style Perlita's Way, began her dance journey in 2007, training with renowned dancers and instructors Grisel Ponce and Yessenia Peralta.
In 2016, she began training with the legendary Ismael Otero, Director and Owner of Caribbean Soul Dance, internationally known as "The Million Moves Man." Today, she proudly teaches alongside him and serves as Co-Director of Caribbean Soul, a dance company recognized for developing exceptional dancers who have gone on to perform and teach nationally and internationally.
As a passionate dancer, instructor, choreographer, and mentor, Perlita is dedicated to empowering women to become confident, expressive, and unique dancers.
Her teaching philosophy goes beyond simply following a lead. She encourages women to discover their individuality, understand their body movement, develop control, and bring out her inner diva.
Featured class
Perlita's Way — Salsa Fun and Sass Class, Advanced Beginners (know your basic, add style)
Body movement and style, spin techniques, control & confidence. Wednesdays 7:30–8:30 PM at Starlight Dance Center, taught by Perlita.
Build Confidence, Style & Sass on the Dance Floor.
Perlita's Way: Dance • Confidence • Sisterhood.
Perlita's Way class flyer · Tap to enlarge ↗
🕗 Weekly classes (ET)
Tuesdays: Bachata Intermediate 8:30 PM
Wednesdays: Perlita's Way 7:30–8:30 PM
Thursdays: Salsa Beginners 7:30 PM and Salsa Intermediate 8:30 PM
Get your school Verified Gold 🥇, featured where every dancer in NJ sees it — members and non-members. Send us your school name, logo or photo, class schedule and website or Instagram.
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🎓 Beginner's Corner
New to salsa or bachata? Start here. A quick, plain-English guide to your first night out.
First night
What to expect at your first social
A social is a dance party, not a class. Couples dance song by song, then swap partners. Lots of people show up solo. Plenty of folks just watch for a while, and that's fine. Go at your own pace.
Getting ready
What to wear
Wear comfortable clothes you can move and spin in. Shoes matter most. Pick a smooth sole that turns easily on the floor (dance shoes or split-sole sneakers). Grippy rubber soles make spinning hard on your knees.
Anyone can ask anyone to dance. Say thank you after each song. It's OK to say no politely, and it's OK to hear no. Fresh breath and deodorant go a long way, and a small towel, a fan, or a spare shirt help on hot nights.
Salsa: upbeat and fast, with lots of turns and partner patterns. Bachata: from the Dominican Republic. A simple side-to-side basic with a little hip tap, and easy to pick up. Kizomba: from Angola. Slow, smooth and close, built on walking and connection.
Smart start
Take a beginner class first
One or two beginner classes teach you the basic step and how to lead or follow. After that, your first social feels a lot less scary.
Lots of socials open with a short beginner lesson before the dancing starts. It's the easiest way to warm up and meet people. Check the event details for a lesson time.
Want 1-on-1 lessons, wedding first-dance help, or a coach for performances? Find private instructors teaching in New Jersey here, whether they're NJ-based or travel in from out of state to teach NJ students.
Private lessons🥇 Gold Verified
Vitalis Perez
Private salsa lessons & choreography
📖 About Vitalis
🇩🇴 Private salsa lessons, sweet 16 choreography, wedding choreography and much more. DM on Instagram for more info. Also coaches youth basketball (@coach_v85).
Wedding dances, private lessons, event entertainment, private parties, coaching, and professional shows. DM on Instagram or use the contacts below.
📖 About Manuel
Professional Dancer | Instructor | Choreographer
Manuel Olaya is a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor born in the United States and raised in Cali, Colombia, one of the world's most vibrant dance capitals.
Trained through Fred Astaire Dance Studios, he has mastered Smooth, Rhythm, and International Ballroom styles, blending Colombian rhythm with refined classical technique.
With over 13 years of experience, he has performed with Jennifer Lopez on her It's My Party Tour and headlined major festivals including the Israel Salsa Congress, among others.
A certified Salsa professional under Tito Ortos and trained in judging by Billy Fajardo, he has earned top placements nationally, including The Summit Championship and the Las Vegas Super Congress.
Through performance and instruction, Manuel continues to grow and unite cultures while inspiring dancers worldwide with authenticity, precision, and passion.
Lorena Villegas is a Colombian professional dancer, instructor, and choreographer with over 10 years of experience and a versatile background in multiple salsa styles, Latin American traditional dance, and contemporary technique.
She trained in Bogotá, Colombia, including studies at Escuela de Bellas Artes.
She has performed internationally across the U.S. and Europe, including Germany, where she was invited to a Latin festival in Usedom.
Lorena has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Los Hermanos Lebrón, La 33, Gilberto Santa Rosa, José Alberto “El Canario,” Jeremy Bosch, and Moncho Rivera.
Her competitive experience spans Colombia and the United States, participating in national competitions such as Puntal Pie and Congreso Mundial de la Salsa Bogotá, as well as international events including Euroson Latino, World Latin Dance Cup, and The Summit Championship.
Currently based in the U.S., she continues to perform, teach, and choreograph, bringing authenticity, musicality, and strong stage presence to every performance.
Highlights
International Performer (USA & Europe)
Karel Flores NY & World Team
Experience in Major National & International Competitions
Festival & Live Performances with Renowned Artists
Margie Montes | Dancer • Instructor • Choreographer • Director
One-on-one private bachata classes: technique, styling, confidence and choreography.
📖 About Margie
With nearly 20 years of experience in the Latin dance community, Margie Montes is a passionate dancer, instructor, choreographer, and team director specializing in Salsa On2 and Bachata.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Margie began her Salsa journey in 2007 and expanded into Bachata in 2011, training with renowned artists and developing her own distinctive style.
As the director of Mi Esencia NY & NJ, she has spent over a decade mentoring, empowering, and inspiring dancers while sharing her artistry through performances, workshops, and dance congresses nationally and internationally.
Beyond the stage, Margie is the founder of The WkNdR, a dance experience built around community, education, and connection.
Her mission is simple: to inspire confidence, celebrate individuality, and create meaningful connections through dance.
“Dance with passion. Lead with purpose. Inspire through movement.”
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Want to perform? NJ salsa, bachata and Latin dance teams looking for new members, with auditions, open calls and team promos.
Dance team🥇 Gold Verified
Mi Esencia NJ
Bachata Styling and Footwork Team
Directed by Margie Montes
With nearly 20 years in the Latin dance community, dancer, instructor and choreographer Margie Montes has directed Mi Esencia NY & NJ for over a decade, mentoring and empowering dancers through performances, workshops and dance congresses.
DJ, music producer, and dancer based in the New York/New Jersey area. Heavily involved in the Latin dance scene, DJing clubs, events, socials, and showcases. Teacher, deejay, entrepreneur.
Fill this out and Latin Dance NJ will connect you with the DJ. We’ll be in touch.
MY STORY
Why I created this site
Chris MahoneyCEO & Founder
I created Latin Dance NJ for one simple reason: to bring every Latin dance school and social in New Jersey together in one place.
I've taken classes at many dance schools across New Jersey and met so many wonderful teachers and well-known dancers in the community. I've gotten to know what makes each one special, and I love meeting people, learning, and being part of this community.
My home state is full of incredible dancers, teachers and nights out — but finding them has always meant digging through a dozen pages and group chats. I wanted dancers in every part of New Jersey — North Jersey, Central Jersey, South Jersey and down the Shore — to easily find a class or social near them, discover new spots across the state, and never miss a social again.
What started as a list of socials has grown into an all-in-one home for NJ dancers: classes, socials, private instructors, Latin DJs, a Beginner's Corner, and a Shop with the dance shoes and gear we all love, plus local vendors.
And it works both ways: this site is here to help schools, promoters, instructors, DJs and vendors reach new dancers, so the Latin dance community I love keeps growing. Wherever you are in NJ, there's a dance floor waiting for you. Nos vemos en la pista!
The price is for one selected billboard, not all listed locations. Airtime is included—not a separate media budget.
About 8 seconds each time your ad plays
Your ad takes turns with other ads. It does not stay on the screen all day, and the billboard is not exclusive to you.
1. Choose your location & dates
Pick a billboard below and tell us when you would like to run. This is an availability request—not a reservation.
2. Review the details & artwork
We confirm the placement and estimated plays, then prepare artwork with your supplied logo for your approval. Allow about 2 days for review; approval is not guaranteed.
3. Confirm, then pay
Once we confirm your dates, pay with the button for your package.
What to know before you request
Location, time of day and advertiser demand affect how often an ad can appear.
No exact appearance times, play counts or sales results are guaranteed. Estimated plays are an estimate, not a promise.
Allow about 2 days for review and approval. Choose a start date at least 2 days from today (Eastern Time). Approval is not guaranteed.
Locations, dates and artwork are subject to availability and billboard-operator approval.
Once the booking is confirmed, you will receive the location, dates and scheduled hours. The exact moment your ad appears is not promised.
Choose your real NJ billboard
Pick a spot below. We'll confirm dates before you pay.
Photos are examples only.
6 billboard locations — North Jersey & Central Jersey only.
Request availability
This form only checks availability. Pay with the buttons above after we confirm your dates.
Get listed
📣 Your school gets promoted to 10,000+ followers across NJ — seasoned dancers and brand-new beginners.
🎉 Launch special: every dance school is listed free through November 30, 2026. Starting December 1, the schools directory will feature Verified Gold 🥇 schools — lock in the founding price now and stay on the map. Socials: $15/month for unlimited event posts, or $10 one-time for a single night · school + socials combo $35/month. Questions? Email [email protected]
For promoters
Featured Social
$15/month
Month to month · cancel anytime
Unlimited event posts every month — post as many socials as you want
Founding price — locked in forever.
Unlimited socials, every week, all month
Verified Gold 🥇 badge on your socials
Placed at the top of the socials list
Sent to Social Alerts members
🥇 Your flyers & socials show at the TOP for everyone — members and non-members — free to view
📍 Visible on the Socials Map with full details for everyone
Free visitors can try the first 3 upcoming socials, plus Featured socials. Members see every social, every night, all month — plus alerts, and all schools and socials on the site map.
For dancers
Social Alerts 🔔
$3/month
Month to month · cancel anytime
Founding price — locked in forever.
See every social, every night, all month — every night, every weekend
Unlock every event on the site, all week & all month
See all the schools and socials on the site map
Email alerts about Latin socials and events across NJ
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