Fundemental Footwork
Christine
Perfect for your first steps to Bachata rhythms OR a perfect warm up before class... and FREE!
BeginnerFree
Tuesdays · Leadenhall St, London
Your space to grow, play and connect.
Bachata dance classes every Tuesday at Dance Station. All levels welcome. Come solo, with a friend or with a partner.
Dance Station, 80 Leadenhall St, London EC3A 3DH
Classes every Tuesday19:00 – 21:30Social from 21:30
- Beginners welcome
- No partner needed
- We rotate, so you meet everyone
- Trainers are perfect
Class schedule
This Tuesday
Tuesday 10 November
19:0019:30
19:3020:30
Beginner
Ruby
Perfect for your first dance steps... expect all the basic steps!
Bachata Solo Style
Aryan
Improve your body movement and footwork, building your dance vocabulary, musicality and aesthetic. Essential for ALL social dancers
Open level
20:3021:30
Beginner II
Yousuf
If you’ve got the stamina to stick around, this second hour will break down the theory behind the movements from the first hour.
Beginner
Technique for Both Roles
Christine, Ruby
Ready to evolve your partnerwork technique and combinations? You will switch partners AND roles in this class.
Intermediate
Advanced Bachata Fusion
Aryan, Kim
Ready for a challenge? Our fusion combinations intergrate techniques across bachata styles, giving your the toolkit to unlock your own creativity
Advanced
21:3000:00
Social
FAQ
First time? Good to know.
Can complete beginners join?
Absolutely. Everyone starts somewhere, and our Introduction class is made for complete beginners. No experience, rhythm credentials or secret dance talent is required.
Do I need a partner?
No. Come on your own, with a friend or with a partner. We change partners during classes, so you'll get to meet and dance with different people.
Lead or follow… do I have to choose?
Not here. In our Beginner and Foundational Technique classes, you'll learn both roles. You can then choose to lead, follow or dance both socially.
Our belief is that knowing both sides of the conversation makes us better dancers. It helps develop connection, awareness and adaptability, and gives you the freedom to choose the role you love on the social dance floor: lead, follow or rotate it’s up to you!
What should I wear?
Anything comfortable that you can move in. You don't need dance shoes to start. Trainers are great.
Which class level is right for me?
Bachata levels can mean very different things at different schools, so don’t worry too much about the label.Playground has a syllabus for each level, and any of our teachers can help you find the right class and let you know what to work on before progressing.
Do I have to attend every week?
No. All our classes are drop-in, so come when you can. Our Beginner and Foundational Technique classes follow a structured syllabus, so the more regularly you attend, the more you’ll build on what you’ve learned. Plus, our loyalty card gives you a little extra reason to keep coming back!
Is there a social after class? And... what is a social?
Yes! Classes finish at 21:30, then DJ Aryan takes over from 21:30–00:00.
A social is your chance to put what you’ve learned into practice, dance with different people and generally have a good time. You don’t need to wait until you feel “good enough” to join in. Beginners are very welcome.
And if you just want to grab a drink, watch for a bit and soak it all in first, that’s completely fine too.
Are classes suitable if I have an injury or accessibility requirement?
Yes. We want you to be able to take part in a way that works for you.
If you have an injury, disability or accessibility requirement, have a chat with us before class and we can talk through what you need and any adjustments we can make.
No need to push through something just because everyone else is doing it.
Is Playground an inclusive dance space?
We want Playground to be a space where people can learn, dance and connect while feeling respected and able to be themselves. We don't assume roles or partners, and everyone is expected to respect each other's choices and boundaries.
What if I have two left feet?
Bring them both. We collect them.
The team
Meet your teachers.
Passionate dancers who care about solid technique, a friendly atmosphere and helping every student feel at home on the dance floor.
Aryan
Bachata teacher by night, Playground resident DJ... also by night. Aryan loves bringing traditional and modern Bachata together, challenging dancers without forgetting that we're all here because dancing is supposed to be fun.
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Aryan started his latin dance journey in 2014. He has since competed twice as a solo male Bachata dancer in the finals of Pasos Libres La Negra, and founded and co-led the AKBachata school with Kim for 2 years. Trained in Sensual Technique by Korke & Judith and Dominican style by Carolina Rosa, his style blends modern and traditional Bachata with contemporary and hip-hop influences. As a teacher, he is known for making learning fun while challenging his students and creating a community atmosphere from the start of every class.
Credits & training
Pasos Libres La Negra finalist ×2 · Korke & Judith Sensual Technique training · Dominican Bachata training with Carolina Rosa · Co-founder AKBachata · Playground Resident DJ
Christine
Our RoleRotation queen and firm believer that lead and follow aren't lanes you need to stay in. Christine brings both-role learning to Playground, with a particular love for helping dancers explore the other side of the conversation.
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Christine is a Role Rotation certified Role Rotation teacher with over 12 years of experience teaching various styles, including solo movement in jazz, ballet, contemporary, and bachata. She is a passionate advocate for safe, accessible and inclusive dance spaces. For Christine, connection and joy are the most important parts of dance, building on a solid technical foundation, they create truly meaningful movement experience and ensuring everyone is empowered to learn and express themselves.
Credits & training
RoleRotation Certified Teacher · Role Rotation London · Founder, The Door Forward
Kim
Bachata meets shuffle, contemporary, Zouk and whatever else Kim decides to throw into the Playground. Our resident fusion pro brings a lifetime of movement experience and isn't afraid to make you work for that “ohhhh, now I get it” moment.
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Kim is a versatile dancer who has trained in many styles from the age of 4. She discovered Latin dance in 2008, which led her to compete internationally, winning several first and second place trophies in both amateur and pro categories in competitions like Euroson Latino and the World Latin Cup. She has trained in many styles of Bachata over the years, including sensual and fusion styles, and most recently with Carolina Rosa in Dominican Bachata.
Credits & training
1st & 2nd place international competition finishes · Euroson Latino · World Latin Cup · Dominican Bachata training with Carolina Rosa · Shuffle · Contemporary · Brazilian Zouk
Ro
Our resident sensual-movement master, with a soft spot for the details that make movement feel as good as it looks. Ro is all about smooth connection, strong technique and understanding the why behind what you're doing.
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Ro discovered bachata in 2021, quickly falling in love with the music, connection and joy of social dancing.
Since then, he has immersed himself in the London scene, training with respected instructors Biskit, Nickchata and Paola, and completing teacher training under their guidance.
Known for his smooth, comfortable lead and eye for detail, Ro enjoys helping dancers understand the 'why' behind movement and connection. His classes create a relaxed, supportive space to build confidence, develop technique and enjoy learning.
Whether teaching in class or dancing socially, his goal is simple: to help people feel comfortable, connected, and inspired on the dance floor.
Ruby
Good luck getting her off the dance floor. Ruby brings that same love of social dancing into her teaching: plenty of energy, connection and actually enjoying the dance you're having.
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We heard she was kinda cool
Credits & training
RoleRotation Certified Teacher
Yousuf
Proof that dancing slowly definitely doesn't mean dancing boring. Yousuf is all about giving movement time to breathe, finding connection in the details and making the quiet moments count.
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Isn't he in Barcelona?
Credits & training
Bachata Influence Certification
Our mission
Playground is a space to grow, play and connect
We created Bachata Playground because we believe there’s more than one way to dance, learn and connect.
Our teaching is grounded in strong Bachata foundations, with room for creativity, fusion and individual expression. We introduce both leading and following from the beginning, helping dancers become more adaptable, connected and curious.
We focus on understanding, not just memorising combinations, building skills through structured learning, experimentation and social dancing.
Above all, we want Playground to be a space where you can try, question, make mistakes, explore and grow together. A place to dance your own way, learn from each other and, most importantly, have fun.