The Fierce Wellness Tour: Latina Owned Studios We’re Obsessed With
Let’s be real for a second: for many of us, dance studios haven’t always felt welcoming. Too quiet, too rigid, too “don’t touch the mirrors,” too many unspoken rules about bodies, talent, and who looks like they belong at the front of the room. And don’t even get us started on the playlists.
But Latinas? We’ve always danced anyway. In kitchens, at quinceañeras, in the middle of the living room, while someone’s frying empanadas. Dance has never been just a workout for us. It’s release, celebration, survival, and sometimes the only hour in the week where we get to be fully ourselves.
Now, Latinas across the country are reclaiming dance studios and turning them into spaces that actually feel like home. Spaces where reggaetón lives next to ballet, pole is treated like art, heels class feels like therapy, and nobody is asking you to be smaller, quieter, or more “neutral.”
From Texas to Chicago to upstate New York, these Latina-owned studios are doing more than teaching choreography. They’re building community, challenging stereotypes, and reminding us that movement can be healing, joyful, and a little chaotic in the best way. Welcome to the Fierce Wellness Tour: This time, we’re cranking up the volume and dancing like the playlist was made by our group chat.
BB Dance Collective (Austin, TX)
BB Dance Collective was born at the intersection of burnout, motherhood, and a quiet but powerful New Year’s resolution. Founder Bianca Zapata Blottie was working full-time as a director at a SaaS company when she realized something was missing: creativity, joy, and time with her daughter.
When her teenage daughter struggled to find a ballet studio that would take her seriously without placing her with little kids, Bianca saw a gap and filled it herself. What started as one weekly class in a shared space quickly grew into a full studio and a full commitment. “I decided it was time to put myself first and go all in,” she says.
The Latina influence at BB Dance Collective isn’t loud; it’s intentional. “I treat students the way my mami treats guests,” Bianca explains. There’s no rushing people out the door. There are snacks, water, room to stretch, room to talk, and soon, a cafecito bar for pre- and post-class chats. Ballet here feels meditative, grounding, and deeply human.
Most importantly, Bianca is pushing back on ballet’s long-standing exclusivity. “There’s still an idea of what ballet dancers are supposed to look like,” she says. At BB, adult dancers, whether returning or brand new, are treated as artists. And when students tell her how much happier they feel after class? “That’s when I know I made the right choice.”
Beyou Studio (Dallas, TX)
IG: @beyou.dstudio
Beyou Studio is the kind of place where you walk in a little nervous and walk out glowing, sweaty, and wondering why you waited so long. Founder Mariana Rodriguez opened the studio after migrating from Mexico, getting married, quitting her job, and deciding to trust herself.
“I thought, I’m already here, so why not?” she says. That leap of faith became a women-centered, judgment-free dance-fitness space powered almost entirely by Latin music. Reggaetón, cumbia, trap. If it makes you move, it belongs here.
The vibe is joyful but intentional. Coaches greet you like friends, classes shift energy with the music, and everyone is encouraged to dance at their own pace. “People leave with a smile and more confidence,” Mariana says. “They realize they’re capable of more than they thought.”
One student shared that Beyou helped her rebuild her life after migrating alone while grieving a major loss. She found community, confidence, and light again, something Mariana sees as the studio’s true purpose. “Move with joy, not judgment,” isn’t just a tagline; it’s the rule.
Casa Pole Dance (Newburgh, NY)
IG: @casapoledance
Casa Pole Dance exists because Cassandra Salas refused to let pole be misunderstood, sanitized, or separated from its roots. After discovering pole in college and later moving to Newburgh, a city that’s 60% Latino but lacking inclusive movement spaces, she knew exactly what she wanted to build.
Casa is proudly Chicana, proudly Spanglish, and proudly rooted in community. From a mural painted by a local Latina artist to playlists that move between Latin classics and modern hits, culture lives in every corner. “We celebrate our culture, center it, and keep it alive,” Cassandra says.
Casa also takes a firm, unapologetic stance on honoring pole’s origins in sex work. Cassandra is clear: “Pole exists because of strippers and sex workers.” The studio actively uplifts and protects marginalized communities, creating a space where students feel safe to explore strength, sensuality, and joy, sometimes all at once.
Students move through classes in cohorts, forming real bonds as they grow together. It’s empowering, healing, and occasionally chaotic (in a fun way). Sometimes the therapy is shaking your booty, and Casa fully supports that.
Feel Yourz (Inland Empire & San Diego, CA)
IG: @feelyourz
Jasmine Salazar is building Feel Yourz one bold, high-heeled step at a time. Though she hasn’t opened a permanent studio yet, her traveling heels classes are already creating waves and community across Southern California.
Growing up in the Inland Empire, Jasmine had to drive hours to find heels classes that celebrated femininity and technique. So she created what didn’t exist. “You walk in however you feel,” she says, “and you walk out like a complete baddie.”
The culture shows up immediately: reggaetón in the warm-up, Spanglish hype cues, and students cheering each other on without hesitation. Feel Yourz isn’t about perfection; it’s about power. Watching students transform from timid to confident is what keeps Jasmine going. “This is more than dance,” she says. “It’s healing.” At 22, she’s already proving that Latina dancers are disciplined, visionary, and here for the long haul.
Mi Flow Studio (Chicago, IL)
IG: @miflowstudio
Mi Flow Studio was born from a gut feeling and a perfectly timed “FOR RENT” sign. Founders Nana Sahagun and Sofia Olvera turned that moment into a vibrant studio where Latinidad, sisterhood, and movement collide.
Culture shows up everywhere at Mi Flow, especially in the music. It’s not unusual to dance your heart out to Bad Bunny and then switch gears to Celia Cruz in the same class. The studio proudly offers bilingual services, Spanish-led yoga, and Latin-inspired fitness that celebrates both mainstream hits and Latino artistry. “La hermandad y la latinidad se sienten aquí, always,” Nana says, and it’s true.
What really keeps people coming back, though, is the sisterhood. Mi Flow feels like family the moment you walk in. Students bond through class, hype each other up, and build real friendships that go far beyond the dance floor. “You truly heal through dance,” Nana explains, describing each class as a safe space to move freely, shake off stress, and reconnect with yourself.
Their tagline, “Own Your Flow,” says it all. There’s no one way to move here, just permission to show up as you are, find your rhythm, and leave feeling more confident than when you arrived.
Kumbala Dance Studio (Farmers Branch, TX)
Kumbala Dance Studio is what happens when passion refuses to wait. Founder Karla Maldonado left her career as an economist to pursue dance full-time, and the moment she opened her own studio, she fully committed to the leap. “As long as I’m in good health, I will choose this path,” she says. For Karla, teaching isn’t just a career, it’s a calling, one rooted in joy, movement, and community.
The studio pulses with Mexican culture, from the rhythms of salsa, bachata, cumbia, and reggaetón to the warmth that hits you the second you walk in. “A good environment is priceless,” Karla says, and it shows in every interaction, from the instructors sharing their art to the students pouring their energy onto the floor. Here, dancers don’t just learn choreography; they build confidence, create friendships, and find a space to belong.
Karla also shattered expectations about women leading partner dance spaces. “I didn’t need a partner to build this,” she explains. With passion, belief, and a supportive community, she proved that dedication alone can create success. And those students? They give back as much as they take, offering smiles, energy, and shared moments that remind Karla why she took the leap in the first place.
The Movement We’re Building
These Latina-owned dance studios aren’t trends; they’re proof of what happens when we build spaces for ourselves. Spaces where culture isn’t watered down, where movement feels like joy, and where community is the foundation. They remind us that dance isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling free. And when Latinas move together, heal together, and lead together? That’s not just a class. That’s a movement.
