Fundamentals
Basic steps, leading and following, and the essential footwork everything else is built on.
Never danced? Start hereWhich class is mine?
Start where you actually are
Every class runs 90 minutes. Levels build on each other, so most people spend a few months at each before moving up — your instructor will tell you when you're ready.
Improver
Where sensual bachata technique begins — body movement, isolations, and the partner connection the style is known for.
Intermediate
Fluidity, styling, and mastery of sensual dynamics. The level that prepares you for the social floor and beyond.
Weekly schedule
When we run
Each class is 90 minutes and costs one credit on any membership. Every weekly class is at Pearl Studios. The only Empire entry below is the free class at the Friday social. Times shown are what Glofox books against.
| Day | Class | Level | Time | Instructor | Where | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading current schedule… | ||||||
Pearl Studios — 500 8th Ave, NY 10018 · Empire Dance Studio — 224 W 35th St, Floor 15, NY 10001. Almost everything runs at Pearl. Empire hosts the Friday social and its complimentary 9pm class.
Friday is two rooms, not one evening. Level 3 ends at 8:30 PM at Pearl Studios; the complimentary class starts at 9:00 PM at Empire Dance Studio, four blocks away, and the social follows at 10:00. Half an hour and a short walk — but nowhere does the site tell anyone these three things are one night.
Memberships
What it costs
Come once for $40, or take a monthly membership. Credits work across every level, so you can mix classes as you progress.
Drop-in
$40
one class · 1.5 hrs
- No membership, no commitment
- Try any level once
- Tap the class you want on the Glofox timetable and pay for that class alone
Sensual Bachata Plan 1
$119
4 credits · 6 hrs · per month
- Any 4 classes, Levels 1–3
- Enough for one class a week
Sensual Bachata Plan 2
$149
8 credits · 12 hrs · per month
- Any 8 classes, Levels 1–3
- Two a week — the usual starting point
Sensual Bachata Plan 3
$199
12 credits · 18 hrs · per month
- Any 12 classes, Levels 1–3
- Three a week
Sensual Bachata Plan 4
$249
16 credits · 24 hrs · per month
- Any 16 classes, Levels 1–3
- For dancers training seriously
Each class is one credit. Credits work across Levels 1–3, renew monthly, and must be used within the month. Everything is bought in the Glofox app — memberships under Memberships, and a single drop-in by opening the class you want on the Classes timetable.
Who teaches you
Your instructors
Working performers and competitors, not just teachers — several of them dance the socials alongside you.
Natalia
Fundamentals · Mondays
Needs a portrait & profile — note 5
Diana & Brian
Partnerwork · Mon & Fri
Needs a portrait & profile — note 5
Getting started How to book Through the Glofox app · about five minutes
2
Search for us
Open the app and search Sensual Movement – New York, then select it from the results.
3
Create your account
Tap Login / Register and set up a student account with your email and phone number.
4
Pay your way
For a membership, tap Memberships and pick a plan. For a single class, skip that — go to Classes, open the class you want on the date you want, and pay the $40 drop-in there.
5
Book each class
On a membership, buying credits doesn't reserve your spot — open Classes and tap Book on each one you want.
6
Turn up
No partner needed — we rotate. Wear something you can move in, with smooth-soled shoes.
Check the venue before you travel — every weekly class is at Pearl Studios, including Friday Level 3. Empire Dance Studio hosts the Friday social and its complimentary 9pm class.
Questions Before your first class
Do I need a partner?
No. We rotate partners throughout every class, which is also the fastest way to learn — you adapt to different people rather than memorising one person's habits.
I've never danced at all. Is Level 1 really for me?
Yes. Level 1 assumes no experience whatsoever and starts from the basic step. Most people in the room are in their first month.
What should I wear?
Something you can move in. Shoes with a smooth sole help — sneakers grip the floor and make turning harder on your knees.
What's the difference between sensual bachata and other bachata?
Sensual bachata emphasises body movement, isolations, and close partner connection, where traditional and Dominican styles focus more on footwork and rhythm. We teach the sensual style, and it's what our socials play.
Can I come to a social before taking classes?
Absolutely. Friday's complimentary 9pm class is designed for exactly that — an hour of instruction, then the party, in the same room.
Do credits expire?
Memberships renew monthly. Ask us about carrying credits over if you're travelling.
Where the dancing happens
Two nights a week, open to everyone
Classes teach you the steps. The socials are where they turn into dancing — and both of ours start with a class, so you're never dropped in cold.
Friday Bachata Sensual Nights
Empire Dance Studio — 224 W 35th St, Floor 15
The class is free with entry — beginner and intermediate, in the same room the party happens in. Come at 9, stay as long as you like.
Students get $5 off admission on the night.
Tickets and details →
Roofchata Wednesdays
230 Fifth Rooftop — 230 5th Ave
Tickets and details →