SWJ Instructors

Salsa with Juan is not just Juan Gil! Juan is the founder of Salsa with Juan which has made its home in Oakland, California. Since then, Juan has created a thorough Instructor Training Program and developed some smart and talented people as instructors who now join him in his mission to “Build communities through Dance.”

It takes a special kind of person to become a SWJ instructor. Not only is a love of dance required, but a love of the process of learning as well as a definite commitment to the task of teaching. SWJ instructors complete hundreds of hours of training to be able to successfully teach the SWJ method from beginning to intermediate levels of Salsa. Our classes are in demand year long and it is a testament to our specialized training system. Students say that they learn faster in our classes while having fun, laughing and meeting people in a way they never thought possible.

Do you have what it takes to become a Salsa with Juan instructor? Can you see yourself teaching a Salsa with Juan dance class? Come check us out and let us know what you think…You never know! Your picture could be alongside these fabulous instructors within the year. See you on the dance floor!

All Instructors are available for group classes, private lessons, and private events. Most instructors are available for performances.  Contact one of us today.

Juan Gil

Juan Gil, Master Instructor, originally from Guatemala, has been teaching and dancing Salsa and other Latin dances for 15 years.  He studied under some of the best L.A. instructors like Laura Canelias and Skippy Blair.  Juan has performed in professional groups such as SalsaConfunkshun and with his partner in the Bay Area, Ruth Caspary.  "El Maestro" as his students fondly call him, has performed and taught in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Carribean and South America.  Juan's teaching philosophy focuses on having fun and enjoying that 3 minute partnership.  His 'wash, rinse and repeat' method will have you dancing in one hour! You won't find a more amusing Salsa instructor - Juan's silly jokes make students relax and laugh every time. His classes were voted Best of the Bay 2010 -2011 and a wide range of levels as well as workshops in different Latin dances are consistently offered in Oakland, CA. "Welcome Home, dancer"!

Ruth Caspary

Ruth Caspary started dancing at 5 years old and was trained in Ballet, Jazz, Ballroom and various ethnic dances.   She loved performing and was the featured dancer in many school musicals as a teenager.  Growing up in L.A., Ruth had access to exceptional training and progressed steadily towards membership in semi-professional groups like Let's Dance L.A. and Beverly HIlls Cotillion Dance Ensemble.  Ruth has taught at Hollywood Dance Center, Microsoft Studios in Washington and now dedicates her love of dance to teaching for Salsa with Juan and to her partnership with Juan Gil.  Ruth Caspary is our Teacher Training Supervisor and is also known as "The Whip".  She is learning to crack -more jokes but admits she has little patience and loves to take risks. 

David Sovey

Glenn Collins

Ted Rochas

Dorothy Tsang

Dorothy Tsang has been dancing socially for 4 years and has been competing with her partner, Ted Rocha, in both Ballroom dances - American Smooth and International Standard - since 2009 and 2010.  Dorothy's interest in Salsa and Latin dances has led her to become an Assistant Instructor for Salsa with Juan for over a year now.  Her passion for dancing takes her to the dance floor almost daily.