Janine Hernandez

Salsa & Bachata Instructor

Janine’s Puerto Rican grandparents exposed her to the rhythmic music of salsa at an early age. At 18, she was officially introduced to the dance’s structure and rules, and it quickly became her first dance love. She began teaching salsa lessons to high school students in Washington.

She later jumped into an intensive eight-month instructor training course and joined advanced dance teams. Janine understands that knowing how to do something well and knowing how to successfully teach are two very different things—and she provides both in her dance instruction.

Her teaching focuses on detailed instruction to help dancers develop into solid leads and follows with a strong understanding of dance connection. Janine has been teaching group and private lessons in salsa and bachata since 2015 in a variety of venues and events, and she continues to add new techniques, styling, and dances to her repertoire.

Janine believes that dance should be fun and is a great way to make new friends, develop new skills, get some exercise, and find deep enjoyment. She is a firm believer in having a sense of humor about oneself and being okay with making mistakes along the way. Janine’s motto is: “If we’re not having fun, we’re doing it wrong.”