DanSazon
About the studio
DanSazón is a Cuban-style Latin dance school in Cologne-Ehrenfeld founded and led by Chilean-born instructor and DJ Ariel, specialising in authentic Cuban dances and Bachata. The school teaches Salsa Cubana (Casino), Timba, Son Cubano, Rumba Guaguancó and Afro-Cuban styles, alongside Bachata Sensual and Bachata Dominicana, across beginner through advanced levels. Group classes run weekly at Venloer Straße 420 in Ehrenfeld, while three-hour Son Cubano and Rumba Guaguancó bootcamps alternate on the first Saturday of every month at Orlandos Dance Studio near Mediapark. The team of six instructors trained in Chile, Cuba, Barcelona and Cologne, gives the school a strongly authentic Cuban character with an emphasis on body awareness, technique and musicality. Pricing is flexible with monthly subscriptions from 55€, an 85€ flatrate and an 8-class pass for 135€, plus a 10€ trial class for newcomers. Solo registrations are explicitly welcomed, no dance partner is required and beginners with zero experience are encouraged. The school also runs its own monthly social party 'CubAshé - Cuban Party Cologne' and offers private lessons, workshops and gift vouchers. Ariel and his team regularly teach and perform at international events such as the Cologne Salsa Congress and Cuban Convention Koblenz, giving DanSazón strong ties to the wider Cuban dance scene.
Founded by Ariel, who began teaching in Cologne in 2015 after moving to Germany from Chile (via Barcelona) for further sports-pedagogy studies. Ariel built a team starting in 2015-2016 with Nicole, who became his organisational and teaching partner and has run her own classes since 2021. The roster expanded with Noemí (joined after relocating from Barcelona in 2021), Steffi, Sina and Laura, building a six-strong faculty centred on Cuban dances and Bachata. The school operates from Ehrenfeld for regular classes and uses Orlandos Dance Studio near Mediapark for monthly bootcamps, and has been running the recurring CubAshé social party in Cologne for several years.
Styles & levels
All levels
All levels
Weekly schedule 5 classes
Pricing
Voucher (Gutschein) available from 45€. Monthly subscriptions are flexible with no minimum term but require 5 weeks notice to cancel. 8-class pass is one-time bookable only.
Instructors
Founder, owner, DJ and lead instructor. Born and raised in Chile, Ariel studied sport pedagogy in Chile and continued his education in Barcelona (INEF BCN) and Cologne (Sporthochschule). He has trained intensively in Cuba and with Cuban masters in Barcelona, specializing in Casino, Rueda de Casino, Son and Afro-Cuban dances. Ariel has competed and performed at events like the Festival International Cubano in France and the Guaguancó Festival 2017 with Tim-Manana (World Champions in Rueda de Casino). Active in Cologne since 2015 as instructor, organizer and DJ, he has taught at the Cologne Salsa Congress, Cuban Convention Koblenz and abroad in Luxembourg and Saarbrücken. His teaching is known for soft, flowing technique, body awareness and a warm, motivating atmosphere.
Started dancing salsa in late 2014 and discovered her love for Cuban music and dance. She began teaching with Ariel in 2015, became his team partner from 2016 (organisation and assistant teaching) and runs her own classes since 2021. She passionately attends international festivals to keep developing and shares her love of Cuban dance culture in her teaching.
Originally from Barcelona, where she trained with the Vivar brothers. She danced from 2017 with Compañía Raíces and performed in shows. Since moving to Germany in 2021 she has been teaching in Cologne, focusing on body movement, musicality and culture. She is also a talented singer.
Discovered her love of dance in childhood, starting with jazz dance and hip hop before coming to salsa in 2014. She trained with various teachers in Düsseldorf, Essen, Krakow and Cologne and at international festivals, completing a one-year teacher training in Salsa Cubana. She emphasises individual support, sound technique and integrating current festival trends into creative, varied lessons.
Started dancing Bachata and other Latin styles in Cologne in 2016 and has been passionate about Bachata Sensual ever since. She has travelled extensively in Latin America (including the Dominican Republic and Cuba) which deepened her connection to the dance. With a background in competitive gymnastics and a master's degree in health management, she works as a movement therapist alongside teaching.
Discovered her passion for dance at the age of 13 and explored many styles before her heart settled on Bachata Dominicana. With her cheerful personality and a parallel passion for music, she brings a deep understanding of musicality and technique and conveys the joy of Dominican culture in her classes.
What dancers say 4.9 on Google
"Ariel is a great teacher! I am learning salsa Cubana with him, and his classes are always fun, with lively and friendly atmosphere. I started from complete zero, never have danced before, in a group of beginners as well, and we are progressing really fast with him and keep learni"
"I have been learning Cuban Salsa with Ariel couple of years already. He is an amazing teacher! His classes are always full of good energy and passion. I can definitely recommend them to everyone!"
"As a foreigner who doesn't speak german, I was welcomed very whole heartedly and Nicole and her team were so friendly to me, making sure I learn Salsa with fun. I will really recommend this dance class to everyone who are passionate about learning latin dance."
The studio
