Wepa! 🇵🇷 I’m José

I’m originally from Puerto Rico where dancing, whether you like it or not, was part of everyday culture, this also includes my own family, and that’s where my love for dance started. My professional journey started with my first recital at nine years old, dancing to Mambo No.5 by Lou Bega, but quickly found a passion for street styles of dancing like hip hop. After moving to Madison to pursue my biochemistry degree at UW-Madison, and taking a long hiatus from dancing, I found a welcoming community here at Barrio Dance, where I furthered my training in styles like hip hop, jazz funk, reggeatón, latin fusion, and heels. It did not take long for me to fall in love with dancing again, find a loving community, where some of its members have become my extended family. Thanks to the high-quality training offered at Barrio, I have been blessed to also have been a member of Barrio Dance Factory since Spring 2022, and shared the stage with so many wonderful dancers around the Midwest, US, and the whole world. Similarly, I am honored to be part of the dance community of the greater Madison area as I also teach and choreograph around the city.

Some things you can expect from my classes, whether it would be Hip Hop/Choreo or Reggaetón, is a blend of femme movement mixed with grooves and foundational street dance technique, as well as high energy commercial choreography, some sass, Latin flavor, party moves, and lots of smiles. I am passionate about prioritizing having fun above everything else, freedom of expression, and making dance enjoyable, accessible and feel good for everyone.

Fun Fact: I am a big fan of Pokémon and Smash Bros. (and I am super competitive ;))

I love kayaking and will never get tired of it

When I was a kid, my brother and I briefly had a pet turtle and its name was… “Turtle”