Baltimore Salsa Blog

Kaya Barraza, along with Sue Elliott, is directing the Baltimore Salsa Fest, a special event held at the Crowne Plaza Timonium, March 25-27, 2011. Go to the website for more details.

Born  in Barranquilla, Colombia. I am currently an Instructor at Towson Dance Studio. I like to push the boundaries of the dance world with an innovative style of freestyle salsa. Also, I am ballroom trained in Cha-cha, Samba, Rumba and Slow Dance.

I am training in Tango and Fox Trot.

I grew up dancing as a little girl in Colombia, as a part of different groups mainly folklore dancing. I took several seminars and workshops and began instructing in 1996. I moved to the United States in 1998 and quickly secured my reputation in Ohio and then relocated to Virginia, where my experience led me to work with the Colombian Tayrona Dance group for over 2 years  as I was working at Virginia Academy of Fine Arts and different dance programs.

In 2001, I traveled to Japan and started teaching at salsa venues and created the group “Sugoi Salsa” which performed in several events.

Here is a short list of my work and performances:

• 1993 to 1998, Folklore and other competitions and performances in Colombia
• 1998 and 1999 Choreographies for Gym expressions Dance Group
• 2000, Salsa celebration night at Albion Place Hotel in Sydney, Australia
• 2001, 2002 United Nations dance day, Washington D.C.
• 2003, Salsa Festival in Matsushita Club, Okinawa
• 2003, Salsa Party sponsored by ALM
• 2003, Naha Tug of War Festival
• 2003, Multicultural Dance Festival, Gate 2 Street, Okinawa
• 2004, Salsa Show, Naha Park
• 2004, Salsa Festival in Matsushita, Okinawa
• 2004 Caribbean Festival, Tokyo
• 2004, Salsa Party sponsored by ALM
• 2004, Hispanic Heritage celebration, Okinawa, Japan
• 2004, Naha Tug of War Festival
• 2004, Multicultural Dance Festival, Gate 2 Street, Okinawa, Japan
• 2004, Christmas around the world, Okinawa, Japan
• 2005, Salsa Day in Matsushita, Okinawa
• 2007, Salsa night, Marriot Hotel, San Diego, CA

Website: Kaya Dance