Arnhem's salsa & bachata school
Our own warm, tropical studio right in the city centre.
Watapana Dance Company
Dance, learn & live salsa & bachata
Watapana is the salsa and bachata dance school in Arnhem and The Hague. We combine passion, fun and professional coaching: with our own Watapana Methodology you dance better and step onto the floor with more confidence.
Since 2018Arnhem & The HagueNo partner needed
Classes & more
Discover Watapana
Salsa01Salsa classesFrom absolute beginner to advanced. LA and New York style, always with a male and a female teacher.Discover more 
Bachata02Bachata classesBachata moderna with elements of dominican and sensual. Smooth, romantic and addictive.Discover more 
Lady styling03Lady stylingMore elegance, power and confidence on the floor. Also ideal if you don't have a partner.Discover more 
Wedding dance04Your wedding danceA custom choreography for your big day, with music editing and private lessons.Discover more 
Social night05Free social nightEvery 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, 21:00 – 23:00. DJ, bar and the whole community.Discover more Choose your location
Where do you want to dance?
Why Watapana?
The salsa & bachata dance school
With two locations we make salsa and bachata accessible to everyone who wants to learn, grow and, above all, enjoy. You don't just learn to dance; you experience the music, the culture and the connection. Every step becomes an experience.
15+years of experience
2locations
2018founded
2 locations in the Netherlands
Arnhem and The Hague, plus weekend workshops all over the country.
Top teachers & a structured method
Always a male and a female teacher, and a clear learning path.
The best vibe and community
Socials, parties and festival trips together: you belong from day one.
Unique: online salsa platform
Keep learning at home with Sazon, whenever it suits you.
More than steps
You experience the music, the culture and the connection with your partner.
Our method
Built on experience, expertise & passion
Dancing doesn't just happen. With the Watapana Methodology we build every class step by step, in three layers: what, how and why.
Read about our methodFundamentals
The building blocks of dance: steps, rhythm, posture and connection. This is where every move starts.
Technique
The quality of execution: leading & following, spinning, weight transfer and musicality.
Intention
The soul of the dance: expression, emotion, story and culture. This is what gives your dance meaning.
The Watapana family
Friendships, parties and dancing together
At Watapana you build friendships, celebrate together and travel to salsa and bachata events as a group.
Google Reviews ★ 5.0
What our students say
★★★★★
“André en Julia zijn fantastische dansers. Hun liefde voor dans, perfectionisme in de uitvoering en enorm goede techniek en styling zie je terug in elke les. Als je met veel plezier écht goed wilt leren dansen en daarnaast regelmatig getrakteerd wilt worden op fantastische choreo's van een paar van de beste dansers van Nederland dan moet je hier zijn!”
★★★★★
“Watapana Dance Company is een erg leuke dansschool. Er wordt met plezier en enthousiasme door ervaren dansers les gegeven. Een zeer goede plek om lekker te leren dansen.”
★★★★★
“Zeer enthousiaste docenten. Veel passie en energie en aandacht voor de cursisten. De lesstof is goed voorbereid, ze hebben duidelijk een doel waar ze de cursisten naartoe willen brengen. Samen met de ambiance in Caribische sfeer is dit een aanrader.”
★★★★★
“Geweldige dansschool. Je leert veel met veel humor. Pure ontspanning en gezelligheid. André en Julia kunnen echt top dansen en zijn fijne leraren. Zowel voor beginners als gevorderden. Meld je aan en ervaar dit zelf!”
★★★★★
“Een dansschool waarin serieus techniek wordt aangeleerd in combinatie met een ontspannen sfeer. Er wordt veel aandacht besteed aan details waardoor je salsa echt leert kennen. Zeker een aanrader als je goed en op een leuke manier salsa wil leren dansen!”
★★★★★
“Truly amazing dance school. I've moved around a lot and seen many alternatives, but this one is my absolute favorite. The teachers really see your personal needs and potential and make an effort to suit their teaching to these.”
★★★★★
“Super dansschool! Professioneel, veel aandacht en creativiteit. Je voelt je meteen welkom!”
★★★★★
“Beste dansschool in Arnhem! Hele goede lessen, super leuke sfeer.”
★★★★★
“André en Julia zijn naast goede dansers ook erg goede docenten. De lessen zijn op een hoog niveau, met veel aandacht voor techniek: een aanrader voor iedereen die uitdaging en afwisseling zoekt. En niet geheel onbelangrijk: er wordt veel gelachen! Dansplezier staat voorop.”
★★★★★
“10/10. The instructors are very knowledgeable and well experienced. They teach not just the dance but also music knowledge, and most important: very, very passionate instructors.”
★★★★★
“Goede dansschool. Techniek en flow, maar plezier maken staat voorop. André weet hoe hij de salsa door je aderen laat stromen.”
FAQ
FAQ
What is my level?
Our level system in short:
- Beginners 1, 2, 3: for people just starting out. Each course takes about 12 weeks; after Beginners 1–3 you have around 9 months of experience.
- Improvers 1, 2, 3: for dancers who know the basics. After Improvers 1–3 you have about 1.5 years of experience in total.
- Intermediate: usually for dancers with about 2 years of consistent classes and practice.
- Advanced: for dancers with more than 2 years of solid experience, ready for more challenging material.
Do I need a dance partner to sign up?
No, you can sign up on your own. We rotate partners regularly during class so everyone dances with everyone. Coming with a fixed partner and prefer not to rotate? That's fine too.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes you can move in. Shoes with a smooth sole (no rubber or grippy sneakers) are ideal. As an absolute beginner you don't need special dance shoes yet.
I've never danced before. Can I join?
Absolutely! Our beginner classes teach you the basics step by step. Everyone can start.
When do new courses start?
We work with fixed seasons. You'll find exact start dates in the class schedule. Joining mid-season is often possible too.
Ready to start dancing?
No experience needed, no partner needed. Just the urge to try something new.