Salsa, Tango and Latin Dancing in Jakarta

Update June 2019:
Classes by Damaris are held every Tuesday at 6.30 PM in Up in Smoke Restaurant in RDTX building (Mega Kuningan), every Saturday at 6 PM in Grand Kemang Hotel, and every Sunday at 5PM in Al-Jazeerah Signature Menteng. The cost is IDR100,000 for group classes, and IDR600,000 per private classes. More info on Facebook: Cuban Salsa Indonesia. 

Salsa has been popular in Jakarta since the early 2000s.  You can actually dance and listen to Latin music any single night of the week in selected bars, clubs and restaurants in the city (see the lastest schedule below). 

The best Salsa nights in Jakarta are run by two teachers who have lived in Indonesia for many years now, Luisa and Damaris. They have contributed to the building of a passionate Salsa community, which is made of both locals and expats. 

Luisa

Damaris - Please note the woman wearing a jilbab next to her

Luisa & Elkin warming up the crowd in Ritz Carlton

Damaris

Most active participants are women, usually from upper level class and educated. There is such a lack of male dancers that the few that are available can be paid to become dance partners. If you are looking to meet great ladies, learning salsa in Jakarta is an excellent idea.

Salseros tend to dress up, especially in high-end venues such as the Ritz-Carlton. For girls, wearing high-heels and a dress is almost always a must.

Latin nights are usually preceded with Salsa classes hosted by Luisa or Damaris. Luisa is Colombian and she teaches Salsa in the Puerto Rican way, sometimes with her fellow countryman Elkin. She also knows Argentinian Tango. Damaris, who is from Cuba, is naturally teaching the Cuban way, with her Indonesian partner Chris. In general, you have to pay to attend Luisa's classes, in which you can get a more personalized approach. With Damaris, it is free but you will only get the basics, in group sessions.

Once the class is finished, you will have a DJ or a Live Music night. Typically, the latter are the most crowded and the most happening. The best bands in Jakarta for Latin music are Los Morenitos and Primavera. Both are similar and they have a large repertoire: Salsa, Tango, Merengue, Bachata, Kizomba, etc...

The following list of Latin Nights in Jakarta is up-to-date as of May 2014. It will probably be different in 6 months since the hosting venues change regularly. To get some information about the location of the classes and the latin nights, I invite you to email Luisa directly (lucha2807@yahoo.com) or to visit her website: Salsa Class Jakarta. Damaris post updates on her facebook page: Damaris Morales Salsa.

You can also email Indah (indah.ramadona@gmail.com) who helped me write this article (and she can give you tips on belly-dancing too!).

Monday

Salsa dancers go to Hotel Neo Melawai in Blok M, in the bar called Bite & Beer (BnB). It is headed by Damaris with Chris. Classes start at 7pm and the DJ at 8.30pm.

You can contact Bite & Beer at +62-21 2966 1400 or visit http://melawai.neohotels.com.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, the place to go to is the Tex-Mex restaurant Amigos in Bellagio Mall (Mega Kuningan). It is hosted by Luisa and the music is played live by the band Los Morenitos.

Wednesday

Damaris  teaches in Hacienda in Senayan Arcadia, again with Chris. It is then followed by a DJ.

You also have Luisa who host a salsa/tango night in Yeyo on Jalan Senopati (Kebayoran Baru) with the band Primavera. Classes from 7pm to 9pm, music until 1am.

Yeyo Senopati

Phone number: +62 21 7228129
Email: yeyo.rsvp@gmail.com
Facebook: Yeyo Jakarta

Thursday

You have two events, one with Luisa and one with Damaris.

Damaris is in Only One Club (often called O1) in FX Sudirman, 5th Floor, with the band Los Morenitos from 8pm to midnight.

Luisa is in Tempus (ex-Mistere) in Ritz Carlton hotel in Mega Kuningan with live music from Primavera. The entrance fee to Tempus is 100,000rp. Classes are from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Primavera plays until 1am.

Friday

Several persons told me it is the best night for salsa in Jakarta. There is only one place to my knowledge, Amigos in Kemang (be careful there is also one in Bellagio) from 9pm to 1am. They have classes before that from 6pm to 9M (including classes for children from 6pm to 7pm). It is hosted by Luisa with Los Morenitos.

On Friday night, there is another Latin night hosted by Let's Salsa Indonesia (see below) with Iono and Rony Noor. It happens in Warung Bang Hoody on Jalan Pejaten Barat Raya (near Australian International School) starting 7.30pm. The DJ plays lating music, zouk and kizomba.

Warung Bang Hoody (WBH)

Phone number: +62-21 4083 2934

Email: warungbanghoodyjkt@gmail.com

Twitter: @warungbanghoody

Saturday

Saturday is usually good also. It happens in the Caribbean restaurant Aruba in Pasaraya Mall (Blok M). It is again hosted by Luisa with Primavera band. Classes are held from 7pm to 9pm and the band plays until 1am.

Aruba restaurant

Phone number: +62 8 57 77 80 80 86
Email: info@arubajakarta.com
Website: Aruba Caribbean Jakarta

 Sunday

On Sunday, it starts at 6pm in the new branch of Hacienda restaurant in Pondok Indah Mall 3, you have classes by Damaris with live music from the band Los Paraguas.

If you are interested in salsa classes only, another alternative is to learn through "Let's Salsa Indonesia". They do not have a foreign teacher and they have mostly Indonesian students. They also organize events on a regular basis. Apart from Salsa, they can teach Bachata, Merengue, Reggaeton, Line Dancing, Rueda de Casino, Kizomba and Tango.

Other dances are becoming popular in Jakarta: Samba, Zumba, Flamenco, Pole Dancing, Burlesque, etc... If you have some information about events or classes, do not hesitate to share below! 

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