About the instructor, Ronald Martinez

Born and raised in El Salvador, Ronald Martinez started dancing at the very young age of 6. Taught by his grandmother, afternoons were spent learning the steps of El Salvador's traditional dance, Cumbia. These steps were soon followed by the Waltz, Merengue, Bolero and Cha Cha Cha.

Forced out of his native homeland due to civil unrest, Ronald and his family moved to Los Angeles, California. It was there that Ronald was first introduced to the jazzy rhythms of Salsa. "I fell in love with how you can express yourself through the rhythm of the music, and how you can make your partner feel that they are the only person on that dance floor."

Ronald opened his first studio in Victoria, British Columbia where he began developing the distinctive Martinez style of Bachata for which he is renowned. He now has his studio in Vancouver. For the last 12 years, Ronald has travelled to Cuba, Colombia, and various parts of Mexico, the western United States, and BC to teach, perform, and train. He has trained at numerous congresses, conventions, and festivals, and with companies such as Somos El Son Dance Co (Seattle), Instituto Superior de Arte (Havana), and Salsa Con Clave International Dance School (Mexico City).