Havana People Salsa and Bachata

Join our 6 week Beginners dance course to learn Cuban Salsa and/or Bachata Dance with a partner in Cardiff. Take your first steps with Havana People!


At Havana People – we believe ANYONE CAN DANCE, our courses are unique in Wales and the UK because we offer a logical approach of learning to dance which allows even the most nervous students to enjoy and succeed in Salsa and Bachata!


LIMITED PLACES 8 – 10 couples per session
Beautiful Studio location in Roath, Cardiff
Small focused groups
Fun and relaxed atmosphere
Learn from professional, fun, award-winning teachers (🏆 Best Salsa School in Wales 2022 – Prestige Awards)

Our Goals
The Havana People team are extremely proud of their unique and fun teaching methods, and their structured courses are setting the company apart in the Latin social dancing scene in the UK, introducing many new dancers into the scene to stay. We believe in creating a safe and supportive place for all backgrounds and age groups to connect and join our Havana People dance family. Havana People Salsa Wales events are gathering renown for their vibrant and fresh atmosphere often with live Cuban band.

Our History
This company is comprised of just two dancers, Mariano De Simone (Italian) who moved to Cardiff to start his dance company dream in 2015, and later joined his dance partner Rhian Saunders (Australian/Welsh) in 2018. Together they own and run the company, including all media marketing, as well as teach all their group and private Salsa and Bachata classes, organise and host their events, perform, present student showcases, and continue to spread the joy of dance.

About the Teachers
Salsa Classes and Bachata Classes in Cardiff Wales
Rhian Elizabeth Saunders
Salsa and Bachata Dance Performer and Teacher
Rhian Saunders has always had a love for music and dance, she started her journey as a trained opera singer with a Bachelor of Music in her hometown of Sydney, Australia. It was also during this time that she found her passion for dance through group and private Ballroom classes at Inspirations Dance Centre. In 2015 Rhian travelled to Wales to attain a Masters in Advanced Vocal studies at the Welsh International Academy of Voice, over this time in Cardiff she discovered a love for Argentine Tango with maestro Eduardo Bozzo, and found her way to Cuban salsa in 2017 with classes held by De Simone. In 2018 she began intensive training in Cuban salsa with De Simone, working as teachers assistant, and later became co-owner of the company Havana People Salsa Wales with De Simone as business and dance partner, she has also been lucky enough to attend masterclasses with teachers such as Maykel Fonts and Sylvia Chapelli, Yanet Fuentes, Guiseppe Sabatino, Ezgi Zaman, and Brenda Liew, currently she is continuing to work on her dance knowledge and skills and build her dance career as a performing artist in the UK and Europe.

Salsa Classes and Bachata Classes in Cardiff Wales
Mariano De Simone (Mariano Hombre)
Salsa and Bachata Dance Performer and Teacher
Mariano De Simone grew up in a humble part of Naples, Italy, he was lucky enough to discover a passion

award-winning teachers (🏆 Best Salsa School in Wales 2022 – Prestige Awards)

2017

Salsa Dance Courses, Bachata Dance Courses, Private Dance Classes, Wedding Dance, Hen Parties, Show Performance, Artistic Director