About
Founded in 2001, this professional dance school prides itself on being the school of choice for SALSA dance lessons in Perth. You can be assured that ALL lessons are conducted by Principal & Founder, Chris De Souza who pioneered Los Angeles Style Salsa here in Perth and has trained extensively with personal instruction from the best salsa dancers in the world.
Rapture Salsa Dance Academy is the number one school of choice for fully structured Salsa dance lessons in a progressive curriculum. Dance styles that are regulary conducted also include Los Angeles Style Salsa ( On1 ), New York Style Salsa ( On2 ), Pachanga, Bachata, Cha Cha, Bachatango and Merengue.
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After being asked countless times, I’ve decided to tell my story. Here are the facts for those of you who haven’t been around the salsa scene for very long and unaware but curious of the history of how I started dancing. Hope you find it entertaining and inspiring!
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I was dragged to a salsa club one fateful night in late 2000 by a friend after languishing at home after a bad relationship break-up. “Salsa, what is that I said to my friend? It’s a dip isn’t it”? I walked through those doors and was instantly overwhelmed by that sweet sexy music, oozing passion and energy with every note and mesmerized by what the dancers were doing on the floor. It was like I was struck by a bolt of lightning. I was awakened. I was hooked.
​
So for about 2 months or so I searched very carefully for an instructor to properly introduce to me this beautiful dance we call Salsa. In the mean time I was doing all I could to educate myself on the history, various styles and evolution of this genre of dance. I needed an instructor to inspire me. Someone who’s very moves on the floor would excite me to yell out “I want HIM to be my instructor, I want to dance like him”!
​
And so it happened.
​
One night as I stood by the bar blissfully enjoying that seductive music but once again frustrated, as I was forced to be a non-participant of the euphoria the dancers were enjoying on the dance-floor, I noticed the dancers were beginning to clear away for a couple who were attracting a lot of attention. As the crowds parted, the couple emerged. She - was a good dancer, HE - was outstanding! His moves were refined, crisp and smooth. He did out-of-this-world moves I’ve never seen before. They danced like it was their last chance to ever dance again! I was aw-struck. People around them cheered. He had them in the palm of his hand. Then I said it, “I want HIM to be my instructor, I want to dance like him”!
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His name is Nicco Kuc, who in my opinion was the best salsa dancer in Perth at the time and unfortunately now resides in Melbourne. Like me, he quit his job and is now a professional dancer and promoter, well respected in the dancing circles over there. To this day, I am proud to say that Nicco Kuc is the gentleman who taught me to dance salsa and help me lay the foundation to a successful dance career by fanning the flames that were already rapidly spreading! Happy to say we’ve been friends ever since.
​
And that, my friends, is how I began this wonderful journey. When Nicco left Perth, I travelled overseas to do private lessons and classes with the some of the best salsa dancers in the world today like Alex Da Silva , Edie “The Salsa Freak” Lewis, James Cobo and Italian salsa group Tropical Gem - to name a few of my favourite dancers. It’s a constant learning process and I’m always discovering new things about the dance and the music. Hopefully, YOU have been bitten by the proverbial salsa bug and on the verge of starting this trip. Come away with me and allow me to share this pure passion with you. As I've always said -
“ The Music Will Seduce You, The Dance Will Possess You”!
​
Chris De Souza
​
After being asked countless times, I’ve decided to tell my story. Here are the facts for those of you who haven’t been around the salsa scene for very long and unaware but curious of the history of how I started dancing. Hope you find it entertaining and inspiring!
​
I was dragged to a salsa club one fateful night in late 2000 by a friend after languishing at home after a bad relationship break-up. “Salsa, what is that I said to my friend? It’s a dip isn’t it”? I walked through those doors and was instantly overwhelmed by that sweet sexy music, oozing passion and energy with every note and mesmerized by what the dancers were doing on the floor. It was like I was struck by a bolt of lightning. I was awakened. I was hooked.
​
So for about 2 months or so I searched very carefully for an instructor to properly introduce to me this beautiful dance we call Salsa. In the mean time I was doing all I could to educate myself on the history, various styles and evolution of this genre of dance. I needed an instructor to inspire me. Someone who’s very moves on the floor would excite me to yell out “I want HIM to be my instructor, I want to dance like him”!
​
And so it happened.
​
One night as I stood by the bar blissfully enjoying that seductive music but once again frustrated, as I was forced to be a non-participant of the euphoria the dancers were enjoying on the dance-floor, I noticed the dancers were beginning to clear away for a couple who were attracting a lot of attention. As the crowds parted, the couple emerged. She - was a good dancer, HE - was outstanding! His moves were refined, crisp and smooth. He did out-of-this-world moves I’ve never seen before. They danced like it was their last chance to ever dance again! I was aw-struck. People around them cheered. He had them in the palm of his hand. Then I said it, “I want HIM to be my instructor, I want to dance like him”!
​
His name is Nicco Kuc, who in my opinion was the best salsa dancer in Perth at the time and unfortunately now resides in Melbourne. Like me, he quit his job and is now a professional dancer and promoter, well respected in the dancing circles over there. To this day, I am proud to say that Nicco Kuc is the gentleman who taught me to dance salsa and help me lay the foundation to a successful dance career by fanning the flames that were already rapidly spreading! Happy to say we’ve been friends ever since.
​
And that, my friends, is how I began this wonderful journey. When Nicco left Perth, I travelled overseas to do private lessons and classes with the some of the best salsa dancers in the world today like Alex Da Silva , Edie “The Salsa Freak” Lewis, James Cobo and Italian salsa group Tropical Gem - to name a few of my favourite dancers. It’s a constant learning process and I’m always discovering new things about the dance and the music. Hopefully, YOU have been bitten by the proverbial salsa bug and on the verge of starting this trip. Come away with me and allow me to share this pure passion with you. As I've always said -
“ The Music Will Seduce You, The Dance Will Possess You”!
​
Chris De Souza
​