About us

JLDance is a dance school in Stockholm that has salsa/mambo/afro latin dance(s) as its base and also a broader perspective of dance & movement education, offering a good variety of classes. We have always tried to complete (not compete) the other schools finding the specific kinds of classes and concepts that are not offered by other schools.

JL Dance was founded by Johanna (Jojo) & Leonardo (Leo) in 2011. Salsa on2/mambo/afrolatin dance was the base of the school already from the beginning (even though J&L were experienced also in several other styles of salsa and a variety of other dances). JLDance promotes salsa in various forms: as social dance, as personal and creative expression, and as a dance form presented on stage.

The name of the school has evolved from JohannayLeonardo and JLMambo to JLDance. During many years J&L worked a lot with choreography projects and dance teams. This led to the need to add classes that help salsa/afrolatin dancers become more versatile and strong as dancers. Gradually more and more technique and conditioning classes were added to support the long term goal of a flexible program that would give, and very importantly maintain, a great base for any dance.

JLDance functions out of love for dance, music and dance education. This and our long experience is what guides us in planning the school and schedule (rather than trends). The schedule as a whole is meant to form form a training program that consists of flexible elements for anyone to join, and at the same time supports even well experienced dancers.

Johanna, aka Jojo, is broadly educated in dance and has been working with dance and movement professionally in many different forms over the years.

She teaches highly specialized classes in salsa and also brings in other genres to JLDance in order to offer even more complete and sustainable dance training, specially adapted to those who choose dance as a creative and healthy life style.

In salsa Jojo started as instructor in Cuban style and cross-body on1, until 2008 when she teamed up with Leonardo to choreograph, perform and teach, focusing on salsa on2.

Jojo has always continued her studies in dance och movement, both formal studies and regularly taking classes. She is strongly influenced by the salsa & dance scene of NYC.

Exept for salsa she has background in ballet, contemporary dance and Argentine tango to name a few. Exept for teaching dance, Jojo also works with movement as therapist. She also has extensive education in psychology which naturally includes psychology of learning, motivation and body-mind connection.

Some of her formal studies in dance and movement include:

Dance & Body Fundamentals (University of Oregon), Dance and Folk Culture (U of O), Creative dance (improvisation & composition, dance pedagogy in creative dance and dance as an art form) (Skapande dans 1, 2 & 3, Stockholms musikpedagogiska institut), Klein Technique & Klein Technique meets Improvisation (Uniarts), Dance & Movement Therapy (Master of Arts, Danshögskolan). Anatomy Trains in Motion, Axelsons Gymnastiska Institut, Teacher training in yoga (Global Yoga). Movement Mapping™ (Justin Wolfer Yoga and Movement Arts) and FloMo® instructor training with Pavel Cassius who has developed FloMo®

Leonardo started dancing Latin American folk dances at a very young age.

He began dancing salsa 1998 and in 2001 he decided to further develop his skills by travelling and taking classes from reknown international salsa instructors, and has continued to do so ever since.

In 2008 he teamed up with Johanna and they have become a dancing couple with vast experience. From 2009 to 2011 Leonardo also performed at different events in Europe as a member of MAS Mambo Stockholm.
In 2011 Babailao Dancers was formed with Leonardo being one of the founders and choreographers.

His great interest in latin music, understanding of dance and training has made Leonardo one of the most experienced and sought-after dancer/instructors/choreographers in Sweden within Salsa.

About Us

Johanna (Jojo)

Leonardo (Leo)

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