About US

At NYC Salsa Dance, our mission is to create a welcoming, inclusive space where everyone can experience the joy, empowerment, and personal growth that salsa brings. We specialize in providing personalized salsa lessons for dancers of all levels, ensuring each student receives the attention and guidance they need to succeed. Whether you're taking your first steps or refining advanced techniques, our goal is to help you build confidence, develop a true passion for dance, and connect with the vibrant salsa community.

Founded by Jacob Lugo and Dawn, two salsa champions from opposite corners of the world, we bring a unique blend of styles, energy, and expertise. Jacob began dancing salsa as a teenager and, through NYC Dance Project, a nonprofit he founded, offers free salsa classes to underserved communities across New York City.

Dawn, originally from Singapore, moved to the U.S. to deepen her salsa training and later settled in NYC. Together, they’ve taught and performed worldwide, but their primary focus is on empowering the NYC salsa community.