Our teachers

Simon

Founder · certified in Havana

It all starts in 2013 at the Cuban, a bar in Camden Town in London: Simon tries a first salsa step… and never really walks away again. In Biel, he stacks up his first classes, clumsy but hooked, before the big turning point: December 2014, a month in Havana at the Marisuri school. Since then he's gone back a dozen times (six to seven months in total) to learn at the source, above all at Salsosura, with Andrés, the best, but also Marisuri, BailaHavana and La Casa del Son. After more than five years teaching Cuban salsa, solo or as a couple, he created BailaBien to share this passion. Here, you learn with joy and without stress, and nearly every class is prepared with Andrés in Havana. A few small steps… and there you are, dancing.

Simona

Simon's alter ego, wig included

Simona is Simon… but with a wig, three tons of energy and zero filter. When she shows up, the room switches to glitter mode: same Cuban salsa, same rueda, but 200% more drama and turns that'll blow you away (never her, the hairspray holds). A diva with a big heart, she turns even the smallest class into a party. Where does she come from, and where does she slip off to the moment Simon reappears? A total mystery. What we do know: when Simona's around, there's at least as much laughing as dancing.

Melany

The Mauritian

Originally from Mauritius, Melany has dance in her blood: she's danced séga since she was 4. A true enthusiast, she even spent two months in Havana to refine her style, at the Salsosura Dance Academy, with Andrés, the school where Simon earned his instructor diploma. She's been teaching salsa at BailaBien for three years, with infectious energy.

David

Level 1 certified, Barcelona

A salsa enthusiast for about ten years, David started out with Simon before turning, together with Jessica, to bachata. The two of them travelled to Barcelona to earn a Level 1 certification with Korke and Judith: they are the only representatives of this school in Switzerland. He now teaches bachata in Biel, alongside Jessica, his partner both on and off the dance floor.

Jessica

Level 1 certified, Barcelona

Jessica has been dancing salsa for about ten years, introduced to it by Simon before letting herself be won over by bachata alongside David. The pair travelled to Barcelona to train with Korke and Judith, and are now the only Level 1 certified representatives of this school in Switzerland. On the dance floor as in life, she now passes on this dance in Biel together with David.

Pablo

Angolan roots

Originally from Luanda in Angola (the country where kizomba was born), Pablo now passes this dance on in Biel. Kizomba, semba, tarraxo: he's at home across the whole Afro family. In his classes, everything starts with connection: listening to your partner, body awareness and musicality come before the moves. Lively sessions, open to all levels, where you first learn to feel the dance before you «do» it.

Patrizia

Italian roots

Of Italian origin, Patrizia started salsa with Simon eight years ago, before flying off to Havana for a few weeks with her sister, training with Andrés. She then fell in love with kizomba, which has been her favourite dance ever since: she's been teaching it in Biel for several years now, alongside Pablo.