Ballroom, Salsa
Laura Canellias, also known as the “First Lady of Salsa” is one of the foremost salsa dance instructors on the west coast as well as one of the pioneers of the L.A. Salsa style. Originally from Texas, her dance training began at a young age with ballet, jazz and tap and later included musical theater and ballroom dancing. Since moving to Los Angeles 36 years ago, her reputation and teaching skills in the world of salsa have placed her in high demand taking her around the globe teaching, coaching and adjudicating as well as performing and choreographing locally for television, film & stage. As a featured performer, she has danced her way into movies such as: The Mambo Kings, Out To Sea and Dance With Me. Some of the highlights of her career were her performances with the great Tito Puente and also with The Spanish Harlem Orchestra at the 2003 Montreal Jazz Festival. She was the first female Salsa Hall Of Fame recipient at the Los Angeles Salsa Festival in 2019 and again received that honor at the World Salsa Festival’s Hall Of Fame in 2021. She has been an adjunct faculty member of Santa Monica College for over 20 years and continues to teach at dance studios in Culver City and Marina Del Rey.