Vancouver residents, most known for their laid-back attitudes and love of all things yoga, have been treated to the hot Cuban dance moves of Chen Lizra and her dance company Latidos Productions.
Cuban Dance Classes in Vancouver
Walking down the often-rainy streets of Vancouver, it’s hard to imagine that behind closed doors, Chen is teaching students how to move like its over 30° Celcius and they’re on the beaches of Havana. Yet, heat is exactly what she’s infusing into those courageous enough to join her.
“Many people in North America are too shy to behave sexy or attract the opposite sex with their attitude about their body,” says Chen. “It's something that is very natural in Latin America and other countries with warm climate, where we walk half naked all year long and men check us out on the streets. It’s a matter of self confidence which you project and tease– both for men and women.”
Cuban Culture
Chen is a living example of the Cuban spirit: passionate, warm, and unabashedly sexy. She uses this energy to teach stiff city dwellers how to leave their inhibitions at the door.
“I keep thinking of what other programs I should develop because it’s beyond just dancing, it’s about being self confident, feeling good in your own skin, being sexy and socializing.” She adds, “I also think that the dancing loosens people not just body-wise but mentality-wise… Some of these women have real fire in them and once they overcome the fear, they feel great about themselves and it changes their whole body image.”
Cuban Dance Lessons
Latidos Productions offers a variety of classes with distinct differences, some of which are:
- Cuban Rueda - This is Salsa where a leader calls out the moves and couples dance in a circle, exchanging partners and following the calls of the leader
- Cuban Son - Called the “mother and father of Salsa” these classes train your body for upper and lower body separations, as well as teach you how to dance with your whole body
- Reggaeton - These sexy group lessons teach students how to move seductively, and are taught in “just women” and mixed men and women courses
- Afro-Cuban Movement - What a workout! Learn how to isolate your body and develop core muscles while progressing to more complex movements
Latidos Productions
Whether you just want to let loose and have fun or progress into a Cuban dance performer, Latidos Productions seems to have a class for you. Drop-ins are welcome in some lessons but why not commit to a course and see how much you improve? What’s guaranteed is taking home Chen Lizra’s infectious enthusiasm for Cuban dance and the memories of moving in a way you never imagined you could.
Concludes Chen, “I want to inspire people to live a different lifestyle that’s full of joy and togetherness.”
Latidos Productions holds their classes in downtown Vancouver studios.
Lori Henry - A travel writer, Lori flits between exploring the world with incessant curiosity and huddling over her laptop writing.
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