About Us

Who we are:

The Baila Boogaloo Dance Company

The Baila Boogaloo Dance Company boasts energy and passion, promoting several types of popular and classical Latin Dances. The name 'Baila Boogaloo' takes its cue and influence from boogaloo (bugalu) music - a distinct salsa sound with an infectious upbeat harmony that combines Afro-Cuban influences, Mambo and R&B.

Heading up the some 18 dancers and instructors are Joaquin Martinez - artistic director/lead choreographer who co-founded the company with his partner, Darlene Wang - director and lead female dancer.

Born in El Salvador, Joaquin strives to continuously present within every piece choreographed and in classes, the Latin flavor and components he holds true. The Baila Boogaloo dancers embrace the many forms and styles of Latin dancing characteristically influenced from Puerto Rico and Cuba.

The Baila Boogaloo Dance Co. offers classes in a number Latin dances including- Salsa, Merengue, Bacahta, Cha Cha Cha, Cumbia and Casino Rueda. Baila Boogaloo houses 8 lead instructors and several assistant instructors teaching private and public classes through out the week.

Instructor Roster:
Darlene Wang - Director
Joaquin Martinez - Artistic Director and Choreographer
Melissa Leong - Lead Instructor & Lead performer
Hamzat Braimo - Lead Instructor
Doug Pereira - Lead Instructor & Lead performer
Joanna Lavoie - Lead Instructor & Lead performer
Ronson Fernandez - Instructor
Emily Boffa - Instructor
Grace Galvez - Lead Instructor & Lead performer
Roberto Martinez - Assistant Instructor
Aaron Rafol - Lead Instructor & lead performer
Elvis Capitao - Assistant Instructor
Kathleen Livingstone - Assistant Instructor
Tatiana Alarcon - Assistant Instructor
Armando Guedez - Assistant Instructor, Stage Manager
Allen Rafol - Performer
Jan Wu- Performer

Meet the company

Darlene Wang De Martinez, Director
Darlene fell in love with salsa and Latin dance and music at the same time that she met her now husband Joaquin Martinez.
Prior to founding the Baila Boogaloo Dance Company and School with Joaquin, Darlene received her Hons BA from York University and then went on establish herself as an award-winning investment advisor and real estate developer.
Darlene who trained as a child in piano, synchronized swimming and gymnastics, studied several  Latin dance forms following university. Darlene is also very proud of her Chinese-Indian heritage and has used Asian influences to inspire her dance.
Her professional career as a salsa and Latin dance performer and choreographer has included appearances on television and music videos and stage productions. The company regularly performs at corporate, political and charitable events to raise money for causes such as World Aids Day and cancer research.
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Joaquin E. Martinez, Artistic Director
Salsa and Latin dance and music run through Joaquin’s veins. Born in Acajutla, El Salvador, Joaquin grew up dancing socially. He began to take the art form seriously at the age of 18 and started mastering the styles and techniques of salsa, cha cha cha, merengue, bachata and casino rueda.
Joaquin graduated with an Hons BA in Architectural Science and went on to design luxury estates and properties in Toronto & GTA area. To further develop his love of real estate, he acquired his Real Estate Agent’s license. 
Alongside his partner in both life and dance Darlene Wang de Martinez, Joaquin co-founded the Baila Boogaloo Dance Co. in 2003. He also serves as the company’s artistic director as well as its lead choreographer. Joaquin continuously strives to imbue his choreography and his classes with the Latin flavour he holds true. He has been featured on television including the Slice Network and Cosmo TV as well as on stage at local and international venues.
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Grace Galvez, Lead Instructor & Performer
Grace has travelled the world doing what she loves most: dancing. A member of the Hawaiian Pacific Dance Company for more than 20 years now, Grace has studied several dance genres including hip hop, jazz and ballet.
She first became interested in learning salsa and Latin dancing in 1995 and officially began her formal training in 2002. Grace is now one of Baila Boogaloo Dance Co.’s performance team members as well as a lead instructor. As a middle school teacher, Grace confidently exudes leadership and provides warm and caring instruction in her lessons. She especially enjoys teaching youth and kids the art of Latin and salsa dance.
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Joanna Lavoie, Lead Instructor & Performer
Dancing isn’t just Joanna’s favorite hobby. It’s a lifelong passion that began when she was just four years old.
A Ukrainian dance performer for more than 15 years, Joanna also learned jazz, ballet, tap, and gymnastics as a child. As a teen, she further honed her dance skills in modern and partner dancing as a performer for the award-winning Les P’tits Géants drama troupe. Bit by the Latin dance bug back in 1998, Joanna teaches salsa and Latin social dance at several studios and venues throughout the GTA, including Ryerson University. She’s also a proud member of Baila Boogaloo Dance Co.’s professional dance team as well as one of the company’s lead instructors. Always smiling and laughing, Joanna always puts her heart into her lessons and performances.
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Melissa Leong, Lead Instructor, Performer and Choreographer
For Melissa, dancing is an expression of her creativity and her passion. Training in Latin dance every day has also pushed her to become a more focused and hardworking individual. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Melissa began studying Chinese folk dancing when she was five. She has studied numerous forms of dance including ballroom, jazz and contemporary in Canada and Asia. Melissa has been a teacher, performer and choreographer with the Baila Boogaloo Dance Co. since 2003 after graduating from Ryerson University in Journalism. Working as a national reporter, she fits dance in as part of her life, not her schedule. She has also danced in television programs and choreographed routines for productions such as the Miss Teen Canada pageant.
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Douglas Pereira, Lead Instructor & Lead performer
For Doug, it’s all about the form, grace, fluidity as well as the energy of salsa and Latin dance and music. And of course, the fun!
First drawn to the art form while attending Ryerson University, Doug is one of the Baila Boogaloo Dance Co.’s valued performers and lead instructors. As a teacher, he maintains the philosophy that anyone can dance.
Doug, an aerospace engineer by profession, is also trained in personal fitness and is the company’s personal health, nutrition and fitness trainer. 
Dancing is just one of the many ways that Doug balances his active lifestyle. Some of his other interests include martial arts, travel  and personal development.
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Aaron Rafol Lead Instructor & Performer
Aaron is a natural when it comes to the art of salsa and
Latin Dance.
A master at body movement, Aaron signed up to learn the craft back in January 2006 and hasn’t looked back since. Quickly picking up the essence of the Latin flavour, Aaron excelled in salsa and other Latin dance forms and before long started pushing the limits by trying out new moves, tricks, dips, lifts and complex combinations.
Aaron is a principal dancer and lead instructor for the Baila Boogaloo Dance Co.
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Allen Rafol, Performer & Instructor
All forms of music get Allen moving. The newest member of the Baila Boogaloo Dance Co.’s professional performance team, Allen first began learning how to salsa dance back in 2007. Before long he picked up several other Latin dance genres and started developing his own unique flavour.  In 2008, Allen was invited to join the company’s professional performance team. He has excelled at all of the challenging choreographies he has been presented with.   Allen is also one of the Baila Boogaloo Dance Co.’s much-valued instructors.
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Hamzat Braimo - Lead Instructor
Hamzat has been one Baila Boogaloo’s longest running instructors. Dancing socially for years, Hamzat began teaching at Ryerson University in 2000.  Continuing as an instructor, Hamzat began teaching at Baila Boogaloo in 2003 and became known as the ‘Cha Cha Master’.  His skills and grace in both Cha Cha and Salsa make him a show stopper on the floor and in the studio.
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Armando Guedez – Assistant Instructor, Stage Manager
Born in Venuzula, Armando carries Salsa & Latin music and dance in his heart everywhere he goes.  He began his obsession with the art in early 2000 while studying in BA in Economics at Ryerson University.  Armando can always be found backstage at every  and all Baila Boogaloo events and performances as he is the company’s trusted Stage Manager. He can also be found in Baila Boogaloo classes as he is a much loved instructor.
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