About Helena Mambotera

I am a dancer, instructor, performer, salsera y bachatera located in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia. 

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Why I love what I do?

My passion for dance is evident in how I teach my students. I don’t want my students just to learn steps; I want them to feel excited when they understand what they are doing and why. 

There’s no reason to learn with frustration, so I make sure my students feel comfortable trying something new, and I encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and have fun with dancing. 

In my years of dancing and teaching, the one thing I really pride myself on is that my patience and teaching method work for my students. Everyone learns differently, so I adjust to their comfort level and connect with my students in a way that works for them. I’ve been told I make learning fun, and that’s the best advice I can give anyone: have fun with it all.

I have over 10 years of experience training, performing, teaching, dancing, and consistently learning in various genres such as Salsa On1, Salsa On2, Bachata Traditional, Bachata Urban, Cha Cha, Pachanga, hip hop, modern dance, jazz, and Afro Cuban, just to name a few. 

I have had the pleasure of working with great mentors such as Magna Gopal and Sekou McMiller from NYC, Andres Castillo from the world-renowned Swing Latino Dance company out of Cali, Colombia. Andres previously toured and performed with JLo at the Super Bowl. World Champions Eli Torres, Darlin Garcia, and Jose Luis Maldonado from Philadelphia and many more.

The training never stops, and everything I have learned, I have given back to the dance community. It’s such a waste not to share that passion; we have a great dance community in the DMV, and if you’re learning, you’re growing. 

If you have taken the time to read all of this, I thank you for the opportunity to get to know a little bit about your dance instructor. If you’re interested in learning Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, or any Latin Genre that I can help you learn, message me, and we can make that happen as soon as you’re ready! As always, keep that passion alive in your hearts and always dance like nobody is watching! 

See you soon!

Reviews

lauren

Lauren J.

  Facebook >

Everyone should make HELENA’S class part their SALSA JOURNEY! I did and YOU SHOULD TOO! I have taken Helena’s 4 week series!! It’s a lot of fun and the styling portion was an extra added unexpected bonus that I absolutely loved😍! She takes the time to dance with each and every one of her studentS to make sure you’ve got the moves down!! She is conveniently located in Rockville, the studio gave me great feeling with plenty of room and the price is RIGHT and worth it! Make sure u sign up early so u can SAVE!! GO FOR IT!! Enjoy the RIDE🔥🔥🔥

Michelle G

Michelle G.

  Facebook >

Helena has been one of the best teachers if not the best I’ve ever got a chance to learn from. She makes class fun while paying attention to each individual student no matter the size of her class and makes sure we are actually getting the moves. I’ve learned quite a bit from her and would highly recommend anyone to learn with her!! No matter what level you are at I’m sure you will learn something!

larryp

Larry P.

  Facebook >

Helena has been one of the best teachers if not the best I’ve ever got a chance to learn from. She makes class fun while paying attention to each individual student no matter the size of her class and makes sure we are actually getting the moves. I’ve learned quite a bit from her and would highly recommend anyone to learn with her!! No matter what level you are at I’m sure you will learn something!

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John H.

  Instagram >

I've progressed not only in doing the dance moves, but also in understanding why and how it works solo and partnered.

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Mela A.

I've been taking classes with Helena for about a year and she's been awesome. She understands how her students learn best and adapts her approach to fit them. I especially love the expressions she comes up with to explain moves or concepts. She cares about her students and her passion for dance shows. Highly recommend!

Tish W.

Helena Mambotera gave me my first lady’s styling class. I was painfully shy as a beginner and she is super confident in attitude and stature which was so intimidating for me, I thought. Her movements were large, with beautiful lines, and hair flips that added spark and sexy to any ladies repertoire of movements. As a beginner, I thought I could never but, by the end of class- I did 🙂 She was most patient, breaking each movement down, and coached me along proudly. She never made me feel badly for being shy, instead just coached me from where I was to better. Whether one student or a room of students, she makes sure there is something for everyone. ❤️

Leena J.

I began taking lessons from Helena in September 2016. Although I had the basic steps, ladies styling was something I lacked. Helena taught me a lot about ladies styling as well as the various movements of salsa and bachata. She also helped me with my posture which made a significant difference in my dance. Helena is an excellent instructor. She is very detailed and is always willing to teach you the necessary steps. Her motivation and determination allows her to shine, not only as an instructor, but also as a dancer. Thanks to Helena, I have more confidence when I dance!

Camille B.

Helena is amazing! My dad and I learned an incredible father-daughter dance one week before me and my husbands’ wedding. We had a delightful time learning the dance, and did so very efficiently with the help of Helena! She also is incredibly flexible with scheduling, and talented. Helena was a huge blessing to our family and helped make me and my husbands’ wedding so wonderful by ensuring the dance was exquisite! We Praise Jesus for the help of Helena!

Andy F.

I received both salsa and bachata lessons from Helena and every lesson was outstanding. Helena is very professional and extremely helpful. My dancing has dramatically improved thanks to Helena and I would definitely recommend her to everyone, from beginners who are interested in Latin dance to very advanced dancers looking to improve. Helena is the best teacher one could ask for.

Antonio Z.

I first met the leader of Fusion Urbana at one of her classes. What I liked about her was the ability to work with people of all levels. Even though I was new to Salsa she made sure that I understood the lesson before moving on to the next step. On the second class I signed up for a block of lessons at her studio. I've been getting better and better thanks to her.

Bob F.

Helena is amazing. Her acumen as an instructor is exceeded only by her beauty. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a topnotch dance instructor that can be patient and positive even with the most rank of beginners.

Larry P.

I have had great personal experiences with lessons given the instructor Helena. I always leave lessons feeling more confident in my abilities to put together combinations on the dance floor. She teaches in a way that allows me to retain the skills and she doesn't make me feel uncomfortable if I make a mistake which easses my overall dance experience.

Noah U.

It doesn't take long to notice Helena's talent as a dancer and instructor. As a beginner salsa student I truly appreciate the level of patience Helena has as an instructor and the way she breaks complex and beautiful combinations into a series of simple movements. She has helped me learn much, and I look forward to continuing my journey through salsa with her. Helena, thank you!

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