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 18 years of teaching experience, learn from some of the most highly trained teachers in Australia!
Danzar Latino2023-07-23T18:00:13+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

  • Learning to Dance at The Secret Garden of Dance was the best part of wedding preparations. My husband and I had so much fun and it was a special part of our wedding day. A big thanks to Caroline for being such an amazing teacher and making us feel comfortable as we learned to dance.

    thumb Alahna Desiato
    April 11, 2021

    Sanushka from The Secret Garden of Dance has a tireless, unwavering love, commitment and passion for what he does. A brilliant dancer, and a master of teachers. He possesses a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the art of dance. I’ve witnessed him transform students with no prior dance experience within minimal time, to coaching high end professional dancers seeking new heights with their dancing. This dance studio is none like any other here in Melbourne. With highly trained skilled staff, I find that I am challenged each week after every session. Thanks Sanu for sharing your time generously in our coaching sessions and in every class I’ve attended. An essential place for dancers, whether you’re just starting out, or at intermediate to advanced level. I’d highly recommend this studio for anyone who is passionate and determined to learn! 🙂

    thumb Bella Le
    September 21, 2023

    Sanu is simply the best Salsa dance teacher. First of all, he is a warm person who makes his students feel very welcome. His encouragement and positivity also makes his students feel very motivated. I went to multiple dance studios and learned from different teachers in Melbourne, and every teacher was good in their own way. However, what I was missing was the foundation and structure, and Sanu turned out to be the perfect teacher for that. He combines science/logic thinking and art/dancing in such a beautiful way. Additionally, Sanu’s philosophy towards dancing and life is also something that I appreciated a lot. The studio itself is also very spacious and lovely. I look forward to learning more from Sanu.

    thumb CHAO WANG
    June 26, 2022

    I found out about Secret Garden of Dance through word of mouth and I'm so glad I found out about them! We had them teach us our first dance and it turned out incredible. Caroline was amazing throughout the whole process. Both my partner and I had no dancing experience so we were dreading to learn out first dance. Caroline helped us feel comfortable and was so encouraging and motivating. Her experience and passion really shows when she is teaching. Dancing quickly became one of the most enjoyable parts of the wedding process for us and we thoroughly enjoyed every lesson. We were so amazed that we pulled off our first dance in only a few lessons, coming from people who had no dancing experience. Our first dance turned out amazing and we got so many compliments, a big thank you to Caroline and The Secret Garden of Dance! 🙂

    thumb Tina Ngo
    March 20, 2021
  • Great atmosphere and positive vibes! Very friendly learning environment, accompanied with good history of Salsa and other dance origins.

    thumb Carmelo Dy Tiapco
    March 19, 2021

    Caroline was a fantastic dance teacher. With only 6 weeks to go before our wedding, she was able to teach us a unique and interesting first dance that was far beyond what we thought we would be able to achieve. Definitely recommend for wedding dances!

    thumb Sam Miller
    April 11, 2021

    Very professional, good communication. Has the ability to very concisely identify and correct faults to make his students look like amazing dancers in a remarkably short period of time.

    thumb Robert H
    March 31, 2021

    I'm a huge fan of social partnered dance. I've attended many dance schools over the years but this is the one school that I have intentionally travelled interstate visiting to improve the knowledge, connection and joy in my dance. More recently. with the outbreak of COVID, I have been able to take my lessons online and my achievements with them have exceeded my goals. The unique aspect of this school is that they tailor their approach to suit your individual learning style. I'm also a huge fan of the wedding dances that this school co-creates and enjoy seeing the success and joy online whenever they are published on social media.

    thumb Potts Driscoll
    March 19, 2021

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

HOW CAN WE HELP?

    Go to Top