Rodrigo Bellony opened Rodrigo
Dance Studio in December 2008, with the mission of enriching the cultural
heritage of Jamaica, Queens, New York by providing affordable, low-cost Latin and Afro-Cuban dance
lessons, classes, performances and dance socials.
Rodrigo Dance Studio is located on the lower level of a ranch-style house and can be reached through the side entrance. Our newly-renovated dance studio features crisp white walls highlighted by available natural light, dance mirrors on two adjacent walls for front and side views, wood floors, recessed lighting, ample closet space and a bar and lounge area.
About Us
We speak Spanish, Papiamentu, Surinamese, Dutch and American Sign Language.
Rodrigo BellonyRodrigo Bellony was born on March
13, 1958 in the
Rodrigo has worked hard to distinguish his classes from those of other studios. Through the creation of a warm and supportive atmosphere, he encourages his students to explore their individuality through improvisation, freeing them to express their special talents through movement.
Rodrigo Bellony is a consummate artist and
athlete who has distinguished himself in both dance and in the world of sports,
as he once played professional baseball for the Yankee Farm System. He feels that his training in baseball has only made him a stronger, more agile dancer.
Rodrigo combines his love of sports with his sense of community, by coaching for a little league baseball team in Laurelton, Queens. As a little league team leader, he encourages young boys, aged 10 to 13 years, to learn the fundamentals of the game. With the same enthusiasm that he teaches dance, he demonstrates the fielding and throwing techniques, hitting drills and, most importantly, sportsmanship. Rodrigo also teaches the little leaguers the basics of Salsa, Merengue and Bachata. Through his hard work and fun attitude, he has earned the admiration of the children he coaches and the respect of their parents.
Currently, he is part of the dance teaching
staff at B.E.A.M. One in Middle School 343 in Bronx, New York, Innervisions Theater Arts Center in
IlseIlse was born to Surinamese parents in Aruba where she grew up with the Latin dances. After living in Holland for about a decade, Ilse settled down in New York City, where she now teaches beginner Latin dance lessons at York College and at Rodrigo Dance Studio. She is known for her playful yet challenging teaching style developed through her studies of Jazz, Modern, West African and Latin dance. Over the years, she has been a substitute teacher for Rodrigo's Latin Dance and Salsa classes and has taught her own Salsa class in a special program for foster children. Ladies in these classes admire her coquettish styling and graceful footwork. Along with Rodrigo, Ilse produced the Salsa in JamaicaSM series of Latin dance socials and is also a dance instructor at Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.
Janice
Growing up in New Orleans, Janice learned to dance before she learned to walk. At the age of 3, Janice would perform routines that her mother choreographed. Since then, Janice has studied a variety of dances including Modern, Afro-Caribbean, Classical East Indian, Belly Dance, Hip Hop, West African and African. As a teenager, she once performed at Lincoln Center. She is the junior teacher at Rodrigo Dance Studio where her dedication and sweet disposition have earned her the nickname "guardian angel." Off the dance floor, Janice works to improve HIV/AIDS awareness and offers support to her patients living with HIV/AIDS. Janice's incredible work in HIV services was honored with the 2009 World Aids Day award at a ceremony in Albany, New York.