How Two Local Dancers Are Building White Rock’s First Latin Dance Community

There are certain businesses that open because somebody sees a market opportunity. Then there are businesses that open because people genuinely care about creating something meaningful for the community around them.

After sitting down with Shyan and Raul from Ritmo y Sabor Dance, it became pretty obvious this was the second kind.

And honestly, by the end of the conversation, I was half convinced I should be taking salsa lessons myself.

These two are the founders of White Rock’s first Latin dance school, teaching salsa and bachata classes right here in the community. But what stood out to me most was not just the dancing. It was the reason behind it.

Because for them, this isn’t about trying to create professional dancers.

It’s about helping people let go a little.

Helping people feel confident.

Helping people connect.

And maybe most importantly, helping people stop taking themselves so seriously.

Shyan started dancing when she was just 15 years old after her mom introduced her to salsa classes. Raul, originally from Mexico, grew up around music and dancing his entire life. To him, dancing was just part of the culture. Everybody did it.

Eventually the two met at a salsa class in Vancouver and things escalated pretty quickly from there.

Not only did they become dance partners, they eventually joined performance teams together and traveled internationally performing at dance congresses in places like New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Vancouver.

Which honestly sounds way cooler than most people’s “how we met” story.

While they were performing and growing in the dance world, they also started seeing the side of the industry they did not love.

Some dance environments felt intimidating. Too much judgment. Too much focus on appearance, status, hierarchy, and trying to “look” like a dancer instead of actually enjoying dancing.

That really stuck with them.

Then life happened.

Kids came along. They settled in White Rock. And suddenly driving all the way into Vancouver several nights a week for classes became less realistic.

But they also realized something else.

Why did White Rock not have this already?

Why should people in South Surrey and White Rock have to drive across the Lower Mainland just to experience social dancing in a welcoming environment?

That question eventually became Ritmo y Sabor Dance.

And I genuinely love the philosophy behind what they’re building.

Raul said something during the interview that really stood out to me. He said:

“You’re not entering an environment where you’re going to be judged.”

That one line probably addresses the biggest fear most people have about dancing.

Because let’s be honest, most people watching or reading this are probably thinking the same thing:

“That sounds fun for other people. Not for me.”

I think that’s exactly why what they’re doing matters.

They are intentionally creating an environment where beginners feel comfortable. No pressure. No ego. No pretending to be something you’re not.

You just show up.

That’s it.

And from there, they guide you through it.

No partner required. No experience needed. No fancy dance shoes. No expectation that you need to suddenly become the next Dancing with the Stars contestant.

Just people learning something new together.

The really interesting part is how many different types of people this actually appeals to.

Couples looking for something fun to do together.

Single people wanting to meet others socially.

Families.

Older adults wanting exercise and connection.

People looking for low-impact movement that still keeps them active.

Even people preparing for weddings, vacations, or events where they do not want to be the person awkwardly hiding beside the DJ table all night.

And the more we talked, the more it made sense why this fits White Rock so well.

White Rock has always had this strong community feel to it. People here genuinely want connection. You see it in the local arts scene, community events, theatre, live music, farmers markets, and everything else that makes this place feel different.

Dance kind of naturally fits into that.

It brings people together.

It gets people off their phones for a couple hours.

It creates confidence.

And honestly, it just looks like a really good time.

One of my favorite moments from the interview was when Raul said:

“You could be a dancer. You are a dancer. You just don’t know how to do it yet because you haven’t tried.”

That line perfectly sums up their entire approach.

This is not about perfection.

It’s about participation.

It’s about trying something different.

And maybe finding a side of yourself you forgot existed somewhere along the way.

If you’ve ever thought about trying salsa or bachata dancing, or even if you’re somebody who immediately says “I have two left feet,” I’d honestly encourage you to check them out.

Worst case scenario, you try something new.

Best case scenario, you find a new hobby, new friends, new confidence, and maybe a whole new community.

💃 You can learn more about Shyan and Raul, upcoming classes, and events through their website at Ritmo y Sabor Dance or follow them on Instagram at @ritmoysabordance.

🚀 And if you’re a local business owner, entrepreneur, artist, or community leader with a story worth sharing, we’d love to hear from you too.

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