THE SONATA ROOM
We opened the Sonata Room to share the elegance and beauty of Latin Dance. Our breezy, air-conditioned studio is located in the beautiful town of Arcadia and boasts a 3000 square foot hardwood floor, mirrored walls and plenty of parking. Each weekend, we host either a Salsa Social where you can show off and share hot moves or an elegant Ballroom Party that recalls the glamour of times gone by. We have great music, guest DJ's and Super DJ Brandon as well.
Once a month, we have a well attended Sonata Milonga which includes a class and performance with guest Tango luminaries.
We are a boutique dance studio. Our teaching style works to achieve a balance between technique, steps, patterns, and musicality. Our students learn the basics with finesse. We are proud that our teaching style has produced many wonderful dancers & inspires many students to pursue career as dance teachers.
We are known for our friendly and open atmosphere. Join us for a weekend dance party or stop by for a class, a private lesson, or to choreograph your special day. There is nothing like Social Dancing to make you forget your troubles, have fun and meet new people.
Shall we dance?
Laura and Brandon
ABOUT LAURA
Laura began her dance career at an early age. Her parents, students at a local dance academy, took her with them to the studio. Laura was enthralled and she has never looked back.
Since that serendipitous beginning, Laura has trained with some of the world's top Latin coaches. A finalist in many national latin competitions, she has been crowned International Grand Ball Champion, awarded multiple Emerald Ball Championships and the California Star Ball theater arts Championship. She has also been a US Rising Star American Latin Champion and Sportsmen's Lodge Salsa Contest Champion. In addition she was Victor Veyrasset’s Latin Dance partner when he won the US Ten Dance Championship.
Laura and Brandon share a love for teaching students with a mixture of technique, patterns and musicality. Together they guide both social dancers and competitive dancers in the development of poise, balance and grace.
ABOUT BRANDON
Brandon started dancing after accidentally, while watching TV, turned the channel to a major dance competition on PBS. He was enthralled and quickly committed to a schedule of daily dance lessons.
Brandon has won many awards including a 3rd place in the 2nd Annual LA Salsa Congress Competition's Professional Division in 1999. However, his true passion is for teaching and coaching award winning dancers. He believes in starting with a balance between relaxed and efficient movement as in any pro-sport and adding a layer of musicality and phrasing with body movements.
In 1997 Brandon saw the film, "The Tango Lesson." In this film the director, Sally Potter, becomes infatuated with the great Argentine tangenero, Pablo Veron. Soon after seeing Veron dance. she becomes obsessed with Tango. Soon after seeing this film, Brandon became obsessed with the need to master the tango.
Brandon has studied the tango with world-renowned Tango dancers: Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo, Hugo Patyn, Osvaldo Zotto & Lorena Ermocida, Susana Miller, Daniela Arcuri, Guillermina Quiroga, Claudio Villagra & Romina Levin, Francisco Forquera & Carolina Bonaventura, Jorge Torres, Julio Balmaceda & Corina de la Rosa, Roberto Reis, El Gallego Manolo & Marta Anton, Leandro Oliver & Laila Rezk, Tomas Galvan & Gimena Herrera, Junior Cervila & Guadalupe Garcia, Fabian Peralta & Josefina Bermudez, Sara Grdan & Ivan Terrazas and Norberto "Pulpo" Esbrez.
The great variety of distinguished dancers that Brandon continues to study with gives him a rare understanding of the ongoing relationship between tango's rich heritage and its modern development.