Cuban salsa, timba, reparto and Afro-Cuban rhythms with Maikel Mota Martínez, Cuban dancer, choreographer and teacher.
Born in Camagüey, Cuba, Maikel Mota Martínez started dancing at a very young age: Afro-Cuban rhythms, popular dance, casino with a partner and in rueda, hip hop and breakdance.
From 2009 to 2012 he led the arts company Telón Abierto as principal dancer and choreographer, winning the Gold Medal at a National Dance Festival in Cuba. He then took his work abroad as principal dancer and acrobat with Steps Circo and Cirque de Cuba in Turkey (2017–2019).
In the UK he has taught at the Acosta Dance Foundation (founded by Carlos Acosta) and been an instructor for Sadler’s Wells on its community programme Get Into Dance. He is also part of the creative team of “Paradise Under the Stars”, the immersive show by The Lost Estate in London, as choreographer.
Principal dancer and choreographer. National Gold Medal in Cuba.
Principal dancer and acrobat in Antalya, Turkey.
Cuban dance teacher in London.
Cuban salsa, Cuban rhythms and Afro-Cuban dance for Get Into Dance.
One two-hour class every week, always taught by Maikel Mota.
Starting from scratch? Message me first and we’ll find the best way for you to begin.
£125 in months with 5 Thursdays
What we work on in classes, workshops and private sessions: flavour, rhythm and presence.
The authentic Cuban social dance. Partner work, flow, signature turns and rueda dynamics.
Salsa’s most energetic evolution, blended with despelote, funk and Havana street style.
The urban sound of today’s Cuba. Group choreographies full of attitude, body movement and street flavour.
Breaking down the instruments (clave, tumbao, cowbell, bass) so you dance the music, not just the steps.
Elegance, torso isolations, arm styling, expression and ease for the female dancer.
Presence, guapachoso flavour, free footwork and attitude on the dance floor.
The folkloric roots: rumba (guaguancó, yambú, columbia) and the dances of the orishas.
A journey through Cuban son, danzón, cha-cha-chá, mambo and Pello el Afrokán’s mozambique.
Telling stories through dance: connecting the lyrics to your body and to the conversation with your partner.
Body mechanics, balance, centre of gravity, weight transfer and looking after your joints.
A Cuban fantasy created by The Lost Estate, masters of immersive experiences in London, together with leading Cuban creatives.
Maikel Mota · Choreographer
A large-scale show bringing together the magic of traditional Cuban cabaret and a live orchestra. Cuban creative team:
Intensive sessions to go deeper into one style. Upcoming dates are announced here; if you want to hear first, ask me to let you know.
An intensive breaking down contemporary timba: tempo transitions and freeing up your body on the dance floor.
Tell me the next dateAn immersion in Afro-Cuban folklore: the rhythms and dances of the orishas and rumba.
Tell me the next dateA real look at what we do with Maikel: reparto, partner work and plenty of flavour. Tap a video to watch it with sound.
The atmosphere of our classes and Maikel’s work on stage.
More about the production in the official Paradise Under the Stars credits (archived copy).
Two quick questions and I’ll tell you which option suits you best.
What’s good to know before your first class at Mota Dance Academy.
Every Thursday from 8pm to 10pm at Husky Studio, 29a Amelia Street (off Walworth Road), London SE17 3PY, near Elephant & Castle. The class level is Improvers / Intermediate.
Not at all! We rotate partners throughout the class so everyone dances with everyone. It’s the fastest way to improve your connection and get ready for social dancing.
The Thursday class is Improvers / Intermediate level, so some basics help. If you’re starting from scratch, message me: I’ll advise you and, if you like, we can start with private lessons so you get the rhythm, the Cuban walk and the posture before joining the group.
Comfortable clothes you can move freely in. For shoes, smooth-soled shoes or trainers that let you turn without locking your knees. For ladies’ styling you can bring dance heels or dance in flats.
A drop-in class is £30. The monthly pass is £100 (or £125 in months with five Thursdays), which works out at £25 per class. Private lessons are priced separately.
To book a place or ask about private lessons, workshops or show bookings, fill in the form: a ready-written message will open so you only have to press send.
