These dances —salsa, kizomba, and bachata—were once confined to small studios with few non-Kenyans, but they are now providing an escape for Kenyan professionals.
It is here that executives, engineers and entrepreneurs step onto the dance floor in their office suits, swapping their daily stress for footwork.
Their perfected spins make it easy to understand why more people are eager to learn these dances and attend the sessions, be it on a Monday or Friday evening.
Sammy Mutunga, a civil engineer, did not initially envision himself as a dance instructor. But kizomba, Angola’s answer to smooth, soulful connection, found him.
“I was looking for something I could do while sober because I’m not a drinking person,” he says. “I used to post my dance videos on TikTok, and early last year, one of my videos went viral. Suddenly, people started asking if I offered classes.”
His first attempt at teaching was a disaster.
“My first class was a disaster,” he says laughing. “People had booked but had not paid. I rented a studio, and no one showed up. The next week, only one person came, and he was just a friend supporting me.”
Today, his sessions are packed with professionals looking for an antidote to their high-pressure workdays.
Mutunga attributes this to the dance’s therapeutic nature.
Sammy Mutunga, a civil engineer and dance instructor.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
“It’s not a physically exhausting dance, but it requires coordination. Many people find it relaxing and meditative. It helps them unwind after a long day.”
His classes have attracted a diverse demographic.
“Most of my students are between 30 and 50 years old, but I’m seeing more young people in their early 20s joining,” he says.
The reason? “People are now more intentional about wellness. They are seeking activities that offer both fitness and mental relaxation.”
Kizomba, a dance originating from Angola, is often compared to kompa, which has its roots in Haiti. While the two styles share similarities, kompa is considered slightly more sensual. Despite this, both dances are family-friendly and are connected by their flashy movements.
For beginners, learning kizomba doesn’t take long. “In just five sessions, you can grasp the basic steps. Everything else builds on that foundation,” Mutunga says.
However, unlike salsa or zumba, kizomba is not choreographed.
“It’s a leadable dance, where one person leads and the other follows. That natural flow makes it easy to learn and even easier to enjoy.”
As well as that, footwear is also a common concern for new students. “Many assume they need to dance in heels, but that’s not true. You can dance in flat shoes as long as they give you good posture and allow easy movement.”
The instructor attests that even married couples have found kizomba beneficial. “It strengthens their bond because it’s all about communication and rhythm,” he says.
Do you need to know how to dance before the first session?
“You don’t need prior dance experience. Muscle memory will kick in with practice, and even those who think they have ‘two left feet’ can learn. It’s a dance that adapts to you, not the other way around.”
Kizomba fits my lifestyle
Mugasa Kulthum, a mother of three, is among the Kenyans who have fallen in love with kizomba. She says she discovered it by chance. For years, she had seen it on television and heard the music, but it was not until a friend from her gym introduced her to the Nairobi kizomba scene.
“I was looking for something more relaxing, and kizomba turned out to be the perfect fit,” she says.
Although she only started dancing in January, Mugasa speaks with the enthusiasm of a seasoned devotee. “I had admired kizomba for a long time. It’s a dance that is calm and soothing,” she says.
Unlike salsa, which she finds too strenuous with its numerous twists and turns, kizomba is her cup of tea.
“The movements flow. You can dance all night and not feel exhausted.”
She attends every Sunday and Thursday, along with social dance events whenever they come up.
The dancing community, she adds, is welcoming and inclusive. “You don’t need to bring a partner; you will always find someone willing to dance.”
Mugasa Kulthum, a devotee of kizomba.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
Although many associate kizomba with romance, for Mugasa, the experience is different. “Honestly, I have not felt any intimacy with the people I dance with,” she says. “The music, the rhythm, and the movement—that is what drives the dance. If you come with a partner, that’s fine. But if not, you still enjoy the experience. The music takes over.”
One common misconception she challenges is that kizomba is only for slim, model-like women in high heels.
“I’m a plus-size lady, and I’m proud of it!” she says. “When I joined, I met women even bigger than me, and they moved beautifully. Kizomba is for all body types; you just need to love yourself and your body. If you embrace it, it will move.”
For her, the beauty of the dance is her therapy. “When you step into a class, you forget everything else. By the time you’re done, your worries have melted away,” she says.
Meeting salsa on campus
The dance classes are priced at about Sh1,500 per session and are mostly for working professionals. Some pay for private sessions at an extra cost, creating jobs.
Catherine Nyabeta, a computer information systems graduate, is now a professional Latin dancer and instructor based in Nairobi.
Her journey into teaching Latin dance in Kenya began unexpectedly in high school when she chanced upon a video clip.
“I was in Form 3 when a motivational speaker visited our school. They showed us a video of what they did at university, and it was salsa. That was the first time I saw the dance, and I was completely fascinated. The way the lady in the video knew exactly what to do amazed me,” she says.
At the time, she was not a dancer. She was a football captain, spending most of her free days on the field.
Years later, when she joined the university to study computer information systems, “I was seated along a corridor when someone walked by announcing a salsa class. Before he could even finish his sentence, I jumped up and said, ‘Let’s go!’ And that’s how I met salsa on campus.”
Catherine Nyabeta, a computer information systems graduate and professional Latin dancer and instructor.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Fate intervened, and she now instructs those who seek to tap into this exhilarating release from their routine. Unlike casual club dancing, salsa is deeply technical with distinct variations like Salsa on One, Salsa on Two, and Cuban Salsa.
“People think that salsa always starts with the right foot, but it depends on the style. In East Africa, Salsa on One is common, which starts with the left foot. Salsa on Two, that one is preferred in parts of Europe and the US, but it starts with the right foot. Cuban Salsa, which is originally from Cuba, blends the footwork and is common all over the world,” Nyabeta says.
Beyond the fancy footwork, Nyabeta says salsa at its core is about connection. It is a paired dance where one person leads and the other follows.
Traditionally, the lead was always a man and the follower a woman, but today things have changed. “A lead can be a man or a woman, and the same goes for the follow. It’s about the skill, not the gender. I started as a follower, but now I can lead as well. As an instructor, I had to teach myself how to lead so that I could effectively train others.”
“Each role has its responsibilities. The lead determines what the follow should do, using cues and subtle signals that tell the follow which move to execute next. For example, a right turn or a left turn is initiated by a cue from the lead.”
Salsa’s allure lies in its energy and coordination. The dance blends influences from mambo, cha-cha, and son Cubano, which blends it into an expressive form of movement.
But contrary to popular belief, the instructor insists that solo practice is very important: “We have salsa lady styling, salsa men’s styling, and salsa footwork drills. These are exercises you can do alone to elevate your technique.”
For her, practice was very important. “After class, I would pick up the sound system and dance alone for hours. This is what sets dancers apart. If you only dance when you have a partner, your growth is limited. But if you practice alone, you develop your unique style.”
