Almasabrosa
About the studio
Almasabrosa is a long-established Caribbean dance school and dance company in Florence, Italy, run by maestros David Garcia and Barbara Toci and based at the ASD Sancat sports club on Via del Mezzetta 1 in the Coverciano district. The school specialises in Cuban salsa, Puerto Rican salsa, New York style mambo (on2), bachata and the broader family of Afro-Cuban and Caribbean dances including rumba, son, cha-cha-cha, pachanga, boogaloo, reggaeton, kizomba and Afro-Cuban / Santeria (orishas) folkloric dance. Group classes run on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 20:30 to 22:30 across two studios, with a structured progression from beginner through pre-intermediate, intermediate and advanced levels. The 'Almasabrosa method' emphasises body movement, rhythm and individual expression alongside partnerwork, and both leaders and followers are explicitly welcomed without requiring a partner to enrol. Beyond weekly classes, the school organises in-depth stages on themes such as pasitos & gestualita, percussion rhythm, son, reggaeton, Cuban salsa and rueda, bachatango, kizomba, pachanga, and New York salsa, plus parties, social nights, dance holidays and choreography projects under the 'Almasabrosa Project'. David Garcia is a recognised international artist who has taught at major congresses in Rome, New York and San Juan and received the 2008 Latin Award for his career, while Barbara Toci serves as artistic director and leads the ladies' styling programme. Lessons are conducted primarily in Italian, with English and Spanish accommodated for international students, and a free trial lesson is offered for every level.
Almasabrosa was founded as a Caribbean dance company by maestros David Garcia and Barbara Toci, who began studying salsa internationally in 1993 and built the school around the 'Almasabrosa style' — a synthesis of Cuban, Puerto Rican and New York traditions distilled over decades of training with leading maestros in Cuba, Puerto Rico, New York, Miami and Los Angeles. The school operates in collaboration with the ASD Sancat amateur sports club in Florence, where it has held its weekly courses for many years and developed a structured teaching method that is continuously refined and passed on by an internal corps of trained instructors. Founders David and Barbara have represented the school at the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress (including the 15th anniversary edition), the East Coast Salsa Congress in New York and the Salsa World Festival in Rome, and David received the 2008 Latin Award in Venice for his career as a maestro/dancer.
Styles & levels
All levels
All levels
All levels
Weekly schedule 9 classes
Instructors
Co-founder, lead maestro, dancer and choreographer of Almasabrosa Latin Dance Company. Studying Caribbean dances since 1993, he has trained extensively in Cuba, New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico, learning Cuban salsa, Afro-Cuban, son and rumba from masters of the Conjunto Folklorico de La Habana, and Puerto Rican / New York styles from leading mambo teachers. He holds an Italian F.I.T.D. teaching diploma in Caribbean Dances (recognised by the World Dance & Dance Sport Council) and international certifications in Afro-Caribbean folkloric, Puerto Rican and New York Style salsa. He performed at the Teatro dell'Opera di Genova during the 2001 World Ballet Festival, has taught at the Salsa World Festival (Rome), East Coast Salsa Congress (New York) and the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress (San Juan), and received the Latin Award for career achievement in Venice in 2008.
Artistic director of Almasabrosa, maestra and international dancer/performer. A lifelong dance lover, she discovered salsa through stages at the Puerto Rico World Congress and trained with leading maestros from Puerto Rico and New York. She holds international teaching certifications in Caribbean folkloric dance, Puerto Rican salsa and New York Style. She performs as David's partner at world congresses and on Puerto Rican TV, was honoured with the Latin Award for her career, and taught/performed at the 15th anniversary of the Puerto Rico Congress. She leads the women's styling and ladies' technique programme at the school.
What dancers say 5.0 on Google
"Top"
"A historic school that has trained many of the Florentine dancers. Specializing in Puerto Rican salsa, you can also find classes in Cuban, Bachata, Kizomba, and Reggaeton. A young, fun atmosphere and fair prices."
"Super teachers, the best!"
The studio
