Authentically Latin Fun Community Rapid Learning Dance classes that deliver teaching excellence in a fun and friendly space TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP Established in 2004 & with over 20 years of teaching experience, learn from some of the most highly trained teachers in Australia!
Danzar Latino2024-05-04T21:19:19+10:00

Our motto:
to offer the highest quality of teaching
in a fun & friendly space 

Imagine you could be moving to music, learning a new skill, getting fit and expanding your social network all at the same time… Salsa, Bachata & social dancing allows you to achieve all of this and develop a skill you’ll truly love!

At DANZAR LATINO
we offer classes that use one of the most advanced teaching methodologies in the industry
to deliver authentic Latin dance classes in:

  • Cuban Salsa (Casino)
  • Afro-Cuban (Rumba, Orishas etc)
  • Colombian Salsa (Caleña/Cali Style)
  • LA Salsa (On 1)
  • NY Mambo (On 2)
  • Bachata (Moderna & Dominican)
  • Reggaeton & Body Isolations

We’re also dedicated to creating a welcoming space for all students, where you will become part of a fantastic social community, feel a sense of achievement, and have a tonne of fun!

DANCE STYLES

CUBAN SALSA
/ CASINO

This is a dynamic and fluid style of dance that combines elements of traditional Cuban Son with modern Salsa based turn patterns. This is a great style to develop your body movement and flavour!

COLOMBIAN SALSA /
CALI STYLE

Cali, Colombia is known as the Salsa capital of the world and is home to this highly energetic and impressive dance style. Cali Style is renowned for being sharp and technical and is perfect to develop your footwork and musicality!

CUBAN RUMBA /
GUAGUANCO
This is a highly rhythmic and expressive genre of dance that is comprised of three styles; Yambú, Guaguancó and Columbia. This dance style is emblematic of Cuban culture and is a great way to develop your body movement and styling!

AFRO-CUBAN

There are many styles of dance that fall under this genre, which has its roots predominantly in Central and West Africa, and of course Cuba. Aside from developing your body movement and coordination, these styles will help you to embody different emotions and characters!

WEEKLY
TIMETABLE

WEEKLY
TIMETABLE

VIDEO GALLERY

TESTIMONIALS

TESTIMONIALS

  • Looking for a dance school and choreographer for our wedding dance, we had been highly recommended The Secret Garden of Dance by a number of people. From our first lesson with Sanu, his experience and passion for dance and teaching were evident. We were always comfortable and every lesson was enjoyable. Sanu, Caroline and the team really invested a lot in our learning, and were so generous with their time and advice - they really cared about our performance as much as we did. And it paid off! The dance was the highlight of the wedding, our guests couldn't stop talking about it! We’re so grateful, we can’t recommend The Secret Garden of Dance highly enough!

    Tariq Khan Avatar Tariq Khan
    July 13, 2022

    Great atmosphere and positive vibes! Very friendly learning environment, accompanied with good history of Salsa and other dance origins.

    Carmelo Dy Tiapco Avatar Carmelo Dy Tiapco
    March 19, 2021

    We had a great experience at The Secret Garden of Dance. Initially super anxious about our wedding dance, Caroline's patience and fantastic teaching skills transformed us into confident dancers. Her step-by-step guidance and encouraging approach made the learning process fun too. On our wedding day our the dance went off without a hitch, earning us tonnes of compliments from our guests. We're grateful to The Secret Garden of Dance and especially Caroline for turning our anxiety into dance floor magic. If you're seeking a top-notch dance studio with a friendly atmosphere and exceptional instructors, this is the dance studio to go with!

    Ashleigh Alebakis Avatar Ashleigh Alebakis
    December 5, 2023

    When I first started taking classes at The Secret Garden of Dance I had already been dancing for about two years. But taking classes with Sanushka marked such a turning point in my dancing journey. Sanushka is not only a great dancer, he is also an amazing teacher. He found completely new ways to fix some of my issues and gave me invaluable feedback, which really allowed me to take my dancing to the next level. Beyond his teaching methodology, I also really enjoyed how much I learned about the history and culture of each dance. As someone who loves history, I always leave the classes feeling intellectually stimulated and with a deep sense of respect for these amazing cultures! Looking forward to continuing learning there! Highly recommend it to anyone 🙂

    Livnat Segev Avatar Livnat Segev
    April 23, 2020
  • Without a doubt my favourite dance school in Melbourne! My wife and I have been students here for several years and also decided to ask Sanu to prepare a choreography for our wedding dance. The wedding dance went beyond our expectations and it is a moment we will never forget! Sanu and Caroline have an outstanding attention to details and their teaching style is impeccable: logical, clear, passionate. All the teachers at The Secret Garden are very professional but at the same time the classes are fun and energetic. I highly recommend trying their Cuban salsa class, you won’t be disappointed!

    Giovanni Negroni Avatar Giovanni Negroni
    June 18, 2022

    My new hubby & I can’t recommend the team at The Secret Garden of Dance highly enough! The studio is a hidden gem and a pleasure to learn in. Over 2 months, Caroline took us from complete beginners to confident, enthusiastic performers for our first dance on our wedding night. We couldn’t have asked for a more patient, committed teacher. From the very first meeting, where Caroline took the time to get to know us and our somewhat alternative vision for our dance, to developing an awesome choreography that blew our friends and family away, the wedding dance was a clear highlight and an unforgettable element of the whole day. We are SO glad we decided to take lessons, and put in the hours of practice, and we are grateful for the contributions of the whole team, who took the time to watch us rehearse and share their tips to elevate our performance. Can’t wait to return to the studio to take more classes! Couples looking to learn a wedding dance, look no further 😊

    Julia C Avatar Julia C
    May 30, 2021

    Sanushka is a fantastic teacher. His personable attitude, ability to make you feel comfortable, along side his vast knowledge of dance has made working with him on improving my dancing such great fun.

    Kimberley Brown Avatar Kimberley Brown
    March 27, 2022

    Steph was amazing and fun to work with. She took her time getting to know us and choreographed our dance to suit our level of coordination and our personality! We thoroughly enjoyed our dance on the night and so did our guests (we believe!) Definitely recommend Secrete Garden of Dance if you are up for some additional memories for your big day!

    Judy QI Avatar Judy QI
    November 15, 2023

TEACHERS

Sanushka
Ranasinghe

Founder and director of
The Secret Garden of Dance & Danzar Latino

Sanushka has been a professional dancer and teacher for over 17 years and is the founder and principle teacher at The Secret Garden of Dance and Danzar Latino. He has taught and learnt over to 50 styles of dance, including Salsa, Afro Cuban, Swing, Tango, Hip Hop, Michael Jackson, Latin American & Ballroom. Sanushka has also performed, competed, conducted workshops & judged at various events including the World Salsa Solos (Brisbane), Sydney Cuban Salsa Congress, Melbourne International Latin Festival, Byron Bay Latin Fiesta and the Victorian Salsa and Bachata Championships.

Sanushka’s success as a choreographer and teacher was brought to the public attention in 2012 when one of his bridal couples Frankie and Ryan made worldwide headlines for their jaw dropping Lindy hop/Swing routine. Their wedding dance went viral on YouTube, was featured in major newspapers, online forums and editorials both in Australia and the UK and was televised on the major TV networks in Melbourne.

Sanushka’s love of music and dance started at an early age with Michael Jackson and he has inspired him immensely and has helped him achieve his unique style. He also incorporates other styles of solo dancing including Hip Hop, Funk, Reggaeton, Cubaton & Dancehall.

Sanushka also has a strong musical background and he brings this experience to his lessons, developing his students timing and rhythm. He’s also very passionate about the peripheral elements of dance, such as its rich diversity, culture and history.

Caroline
Puriri Komarnicki

Co-director and senior teacher at
The Secret Garden of Dance & Danzar Latino

“Sanushka not only taught me everything I know and made me into the professional dancer that I am today, but has also equipped me with vital skills as a student, dancer and teacher. He taught me the value of breaking limiting beliefs such as ‘you have to start from the age of 3 to be a professional dancer with a background in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary etc’.” Caroline began learning how to play music at the age of 3 and later on decided to pursue flute in which she completed up to Grade 8 through the Australian Music Examination Board, and guitar for pleasure. She later completed a degree in Sound Production & Audio Engineering, as well as Electronic Music Production.

Just over 3 years later and Caroline is now teaching and dancing full time at The Secret Garden of Dance, has taught at overseas events and has worked with some of the industries best in her primary style.

Having an extensive background in music and sports, Caroline then decide to begin dancing at the age of 21 as she wanted to learn how to “properly express herself to the music she loved and do it justice.” From her very first lesson, Caroline was enamoured and inspired and soon after decided to be the best that she could be and take it beyond what she had ever imagined.

FAQS

Do you run classes in terms / courses?2019-08-09T09:00:23+10:00

Short answer: Yes we do (but you can also drop into any class casually)
We run 6 week short courses in a term structure, allowing our students to build on the previous week’s material. However, we welcome casual drop in students as well. We introduce new material and dance content every 2 – 3 weeks so you won’t feel like you’re drowning in class! We have various levels that allow our students to develop their dancing, so you will never hinder your progress.

Do I need a partner to attend a class?2020-05-07T03:32:11+10:00

Short Answer) No you don’t!
We welcome all students whether you chose to come on your own, with a friend, family member, partner or a fellow dance student.

What should I wear for classes?2019-08-09T09:01:31+10:00

We recommend you wear active wear, casual attire and avoid clothes that are too tight or restricting. Some students come straight from work and others are in shorts and t-shirt. We also have bathrooms where you can get changed.

What’s the best footwear / shoes for your dance classes?2019-08-09T09:00:49+10:00

Recommended: Sneakers, trainers, walking shoes, flats, low heels with ankle support, Ballet flats, Ballroom and Latin dance shoes
Please avoid: Stiletto heels, heels with no ankle support, heavy boots, shoes with thick rubber soles, sandals/thongs/jandals/slip ons/flip flops!

What’s the duration / length of a dance class?2019-08-09T09:01:10+10:00

Short answer: 1 hour
Our classes are typically 1 hour in duration, whether it’s a private or group class. We may start or end the class 5 minutes earlier to complete payments, make another booking or answer any questions.

What payment methods do you offer?2020-05-07T03:38:52+10:00

We accept cash, eftpos, credit card (Visa & Mastercard only) and online bank transfer

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