ABOUT US
Mission Statement
The mission of Bachata Heaven is to propagate the unique style of sensual bachata throughout the state of New Jersey, showcase guest dancers of this genre, and encourage the cohesiveness of the Latin dance community. We create a safe space for all to learn technique, style, connection, and musicality in order to grace the dance floor as top-quality bachata social dancers. The fun, friendly, and safe environment of Bachata Heaven offers a community committed to free artistic expression and personal growth.
History of Bachata Heaven
Bachata Heaven started in the spring of 2019, where Jonathan started teaching at his first venue name Margaritas in Wayne, NJ. He started out teaching free traditional bachata and salsa classes the first couple months at the venue. Then finally, after a month or 2 on the venue, he took a leap of faith. He started adding body rolls and isolated movements into his bachata classes. The new style attracted his students to learn and throughout the year he kept teaching the style. As the style kept gaining popularity in the venue, he had plans to make it grow bigger. Unfortunately the pandemic began and his plans for growing slowed down and he lost his first venue.
During the pandemic, he was rethinking his strategy to grow. Jonathan went back to teaching at studios during the pandemic. Chela's was the first venue to offer the opportunity to start his vision again and on December of 2021, Bachata Heaven was born.
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR: Jonathan
Jonathan Amaya is the founder, a Bachata instructor, Latin DJ and Photographer for Bachata Heaven Social. He started his dance journey in the spring of 2008, where he was introduced to ballroom style dances like Waltz, Tango, Swing, Salsa, Bachata and Merengue. He learned how to dance during his 4 years in NJIT as an electrical engineering major. During his last year in NJIT, he proceeded to register for more advanced salsa classes at a local dance studio in Paterson, NJ.
In 2017, he competed and performed with his salsa team and made there debut in the Carmen Mathis show in NYC. After various performances with his salsa team, he decided to see the dancing world outside the studios and decided to social dance in various events in different locations throughout New Jersey.
In 2018 he was introduced to sensual bachata, where he took many workshops at the Baltimore Salsa/Bachata Congress. He decided to make it a new mission to learn how to dance this style and decided to register for sensual bachata classes and workshops in NYC with many great instructors.
In the summer of 2019, he was given an opportunity to teach at various dance studios to give the introduction to sensual bachata.
In August of 2022, Jonathan became a certified sensual bachata instructor by the leading legends of sensual bachata, Daniel and Desiree.
Today, Jonathan travels around the US learning from various bachata instructors like Daniel Desiree, Luis and Andrea, Kike and Nahir, Marco and Sara and many more from around the world and bringing the knowledge in various venues and events in New Jersey and looking forward to his next mission in the bachata world.
