Specialties
Dance Salsa Jax is a non-profit dance school dedicated to spreading the joy & positive energy of social Latin dancing & growing the Jax dance community.
Latin dancing is a skill you can take anywhere around the world, brings people together from all walks of life, & offers a healthy & therapeutic escape from daily troubles. Meet countless new friends! Exercise the mind, body, & soul! Boost confidence & coordination! Melt hearts with hot new moves! Have fun & enjoy life in a new way!
We specialize in Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, Rueda, & Merengue. We have the best progressive beginner programs in the region, as well as the most extensive Intermediate programs. Our advanced classes are constantly bringing new, innovative moves to the Jax scene. Private lessons also available. We host a phenomenal party once a month, & our student & pro teams often perform at both charity events & congresses.
We firmly believe dancing is not about competing; it's about having fun, feeling the music, expressing yourself, & enjoying it with the person you're dancing with. Our classes are affordable, fun, & friendly. We focus on providing students with strong foundations of technique & the tools needed to add your own flavor to the dance floor, as well as a safe & comfortable environment in which to learn. Our instructors are patient, work at your speed, & truly care about our students. Once you walk through our door, you're family! No contracts or dance partner required! Multiple left feet welcome!
History
Established in 2005.
Created by the talented Isaiah Meders & Angie Brito, DSJ was the very first social salsa school in Jacksonville.
Now, under the direction of Ally Knight, a small team of passionate dance instructors keep DSJ going not for the money, but rather for the love of dance & the opportunity to pass on the positive influence that was once given to them.
Over the years, DSJ has taken both student & pro teams to charity events, socials, & congresses across the country. DSJ has done events for high schools, comedy clubs, weddings, retirement homes, and has even taught students with vision and hearing disabilities through the Independent Living For The Adult Blind (ILAM) program, & more. DSJ also performed on stage with famous salsa singer Frankie Negron.
Meet the Business Owner: Ally K.
Half Panamanian, Ally grew up in a household where latin music was always playing in the background & a party just wasn't a party without Salsa.
In 2009, she met former DSJ Directors Isaiah Meders & Christopher Bady, who took her under their wing. Ally credits her achievements as a dancer to their excellent understanding of technique & attention to detail (paired with obsessive practice), & models her own classes after their proven methods.
Ally has since trained with many highly respected instructors from around the globe. She has performed with DSJ across the country & on stage with Frankie Negron. She also took up ballet in 2012 to expand her horizons as a dancer. She was hired by a rock band to perform a contemporary blend of ballet & hip hop on stage across Europe for 3 years, but recently resigned so that she could focus on sharing her passion of Latin dance.
Off the dance floor, Ally is pursuing a degree in Mathematics & is a fan of all things sci-fi.