meet natasha
Bachata Fuego SRQ
Bachata Fuego offers social dancing private lessons, weekly group classes, and social dancing events!
Natasha Barrera
Natasha Barrera was raised in Sarasota, Fl. She is a second generation ballroom dancer. Her career has taken her around the world to train and compete. As a result she has trained with top instructors and now speaks 3 languages: English, Spanish, and Italian.
Partner dancing is her craft. After 26+ years of training she is known for her ability to follow any partner while dancing. During her travels she was exposed to many different dance styles and is now well versed in 29 partner dances. Her current focus being Bachata Sensual and Urban Kiz that she first encountered in Italy and Spain in 2013!
Natasha believes that the dancing journey comes in many layers. The more we are exposed to, the more versatile our dance becomes. Hence, the dream for The International Movement Exchange was born.
Her competitive background gives her a technical understanding of mechanics in partner work.
Training in contact improv, theater, and performance has provided a layer of drama, connection, and expression that comes across when she dances.
Her background in ballet, modern dance, and afro-cuban give her an understanding for body movement across many genres of dance.
Her musicality stems from music theory, lyrical dance, choreography and the exposure to diverse rhythms from cross training in other dance styles.
The nuance of her training is what makes her classes different. Beginners find more confidence, while intermediate and advanced dancers improve the overall look, feeling, and quality of their dancing.
She is always learning and always finding new ways to pass on her knowledge to her students!
Currently, Natasha is the director and founder of the social dancing school Bachata Fuego SRQ and Organizer of the International Movement Exchange. Her resume includes performer, dance instructor, choreographer, and event organizer.
Some of her coaches, instructors, experience and programs can be found below:
- Sarasota Cuban Ballet
- Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences (2007)
- Booker High School VPA Dance Program (2011)
- New World School of the Arts Summer Program
- Leymis Wilmot Founder of Sarasota Contemporary Dance Co (afro cuban instructor)
- Broadway Theater Project (2011)
- Deb McWaters (choreographer)
- Julian Barnett (choreographer)
- Pino Magnelli & Francesca Pietramale (Italy)
- Caterina Arzenton (Italy)
- Margaret Burns & Wilson Barrera (USA)
- Wilson's Dance Club (instructor, stage manager, coach, MC)
- Charlotte Jorgensen (Denmark)
- New York Wedding Dance (instructor and choreographer)
- Ieva Pauksena (NYC)
- Pamelita Urban Kiz (2021)
- Korke and Judith Bachata Sensual Instructor Program (2023)