Rodchata - Dancer, Teacher, Promoter, Choreographer
Rodchata is an international Latin dance instructor who has been in the Latin dance scene for over 25 years. He is highly experienced, having competed in and judged various world dance competitions, including the World Latin Dance Cup and the World Bachata Champion of Champions in the UK.
Rodchata has taught Bachata Dancing in 48 countries, including the Dominican Republic, and has been recognized for his work in promoting and teaching authentic Bachata. He has been featured as one of the most influential Bachateros in the world by Dance Planet Daily and GoLatinDance.com.
Rodchata is also the founder of a leading Latin dance and music event company called Rodchata Enterprises, LLC. He has organized the very first international bachata festival in the USA and co-organized the first Dominican Republic Bachata Festival in Santo Domingo. His newsletter has over 160,000 subscribers, and he has over 60,000 followers on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Rodchata holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology, is a certified personal fitness trainer, and holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in the Martial Arts. His experience in martial arts and fitness training plays a significant role in his effectiveness as a dance teacher.
Rodchata is a revered Latin dance teacher, and when he is not touring, he teaches locally in the Bay Area. He has sold instructional DVDs of Bachata, Salsa, and Merengue to over 60 countries and has just produced new DVDs called "The Secrets of Dominican Bachata - How Bachata is Danced". Rodchata's contribution to the dance industry and his exceptional teaching skills have put him in a unique position as one of the few teachers who can teach authentic Bachata in the USA.
Rodney Aquino's Teaching and Competition Judging History
2003 - Reno Dance Sensation (Reno, NV). Taught Bachata Workshops
2004 - Reno Dance Sensation (Reno, NV). Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2005 - Salsa Extravaganza (Palm Springs, CA). Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2005 - Reno Dance Sensation (Reno, NV) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2005 - Created Rodchata Project Dance Team
2006 - Salsa Extravaganza (Palm Springs, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2006 - Chico Dance Sensation (Chico, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2006 - Dallas Salsa Congress (Dallas, TX) Taught Bachata Workshops
2007 - Chico Dance Sensation (Chico, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2007 - Northwest Salsa Congress (Tacoma, WA). Taught Bachata Workshops
2007 - Hawaii Dance Sensation (Honolulu, HI). Taught Bachata Workshops
2007 - Santa Rosa Salsa Festival (Santa Rosa, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops
2007 - Dallas Salsa Congress (Dallas, TX) Taught Bachata Worshops
2008 - SF Salsa Congress (San Francisco, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops
2008 - Sydney Bachata Festival (Sydney, Australia)
2008 - Swedish Bachata Festival (Gothenburg, Sweden)
2008 - Finland Bachata Festival (Tampere, Finland)
2009 - Reno Bachata Festival (Reno, NV) Organizer, Promoter
2009 - Bachatando (Brussels, Belgium) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Salsaventura (Haag, Netherlands) Taught Bachata and Salsa Weekend Bootcamps
2009 - Sydney Bachata Festival (Sydney, Australia) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Helsinki Bachata Festival (Helsinki, Finland) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Tampere Bachata Festival (Tampere, Finland) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - San Francisco Bachata Festival ( SF, CA) Organizer, Promoter
2009 - Bachaturo ( Warsaw, Poland) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Lithuanian Bachata Festival (Vilnius, Lithuania) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - SF Salsa Congress (Oakland, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Sexy and Sensual Festival (London, England) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2009 - DC Bachata Congress (Washington, DC) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2010 - Reno Bachata Festival (Reno, NV) Organizer, Promoter
2010 - Reno Dance Sensation (Reno, NV) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2010 - Bachatando (Brussels, Belgium) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - Bachata Bootcamp Salsaventura (Rotterdam, Netherlands) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - Valentines Bachata Festival (Stockholm, Sweden) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - Tampere Bachata Festival (Tampere, Finland) Taught Bachata Merengue Workshops
2010 - Lithuanian Bachata Festival (Vilnius, Lithuania) Organizer, Promoter
2010 - San Francisco Bachata Festival (SF, CA) Organizer, Promoter
2010 - Hawaii Bachata Festival (Honolulu, HI) Organizer, Promoter
2010 - DC Bachata Congress (Washington, DC) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - WORLD LATIN DANCE CUP (San Diego, CA) Judged
2010- 1st DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BACHATA FESTIVAL (Santo Domingo, RD) Organizer, Promoter, Teacher
2010 - San Diego Salsa Bachata Congress (San Diego) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - All-Star Salsa Bachata Cruise (co-hosted)
2010- LA Bachata Festival (Los Angeles) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - Salsa Mambo Festival (Palm Springs) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2010 - Los Angeles Salsa Congress (Los Angeles) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Reno Bachata Festival (Reno, NV) Organizer, Promoter
2011 - Salsa Factory Bootcamp (Warsaw, Poland) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Bachatando (Brussels, Belgium) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Valentines Bachata Festival (Stockholm, Sweden) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Afro-Latin Egypt (Cairo, Egypt) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - SF Bachata Festival (San Francisco, CA) Organizer, Promoter
2011 - Hawaii Bachata Festival (Honolulu, HI) Organizer, Promoter
2011 - Hawaii Salsa Festival (Honolulu, HI) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Texas Salsa Congress (Houston, TX) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Las Vegas Salsa Congress (Las Vegas) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - World Latin Dance Cup (Las Vegas, NV) Judged
2011 - Japan Bachata Festival (Tokyo, Japan) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - United Salseros Bachata Bootcamp (Toronto, Canada)
2011 - Flirt Seattle Festival (Seattle, WA)
2011 - Los Angeles Salsa Congress (Los Angeles)
2011 - 1st Kizomba Zouk Festival (San Francisco) Organizer, Promoter
2011 - San Diego Salsa Bachata Congress (San Diego) Taught Bachata Workshops
2012 - Reno Bachata Festival (Reno) Organizer, Promoter) Taught Kizomba
2012 - Salsa Mambo Festival (Palm Springs) Taught Bachata Workshops
2012 - Texas Salsa Congress (Houston, TX) Taught and Hosted Bachata Workshops and Parties
2012 - Boracay Latin Dance Festival (Boracay, Philippines) Co-organizer, Promoter
2012 - Singapore Latin Dance Festival (Singapore) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2012 - Rhythm Identity (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) Taught Bachata & Kizomba
2012 - SF Bachata Festival - Organizer, Promoter
2012 - SF Salsa Congress - Hosted Bachata Room
2012 - US SALSA OPEN - Judged
2012 - Japan Dance Tour (all over japan) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2012 - Latin Motion Dance Academy Dance Bootcamp (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2012 - International Kizomba Festival (San Francisco)
2012 - Toronto Bachata Kizomba Congress (Toronto, Canada) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2012 - Canada Bachata Chmapionship (Toronto) Judged
2012 - Sonoma Salsa Bachata Congress (Sonoma, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops
2012 - LA Bachata Festival (Los Angeles) Taught Bachata Workshops
2013 - 5th Anniversary Reno Bachata Festival (Reno)
2012 - Kiss Korea Dance Bootcamp (Seoul) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2013 - SF Bachata Festival (San Francisco)
2013 - Gonchata Bootcamp (Tokyo, Japan) Taught bachata and Kizomba workshops
2013 - US Salsa Open - Judged
2013 - SF Salsa Congress (San Francisco) Judged, taught bachata workshops
2014 - Afro-Latin Vegas (Las Vegas)
2014- BKS Experience Weekend (Calgary, Canada) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2014 - St Louis (STL) International Latin Dance Festival (St Louis, Missouri)
2014 - Bay Area Dance Festival (Emeryville)
2014 - New York Intnernational Salsa Congress (New York) Teacher
2014 - Los Angeles Bachata, Kizomba Salsa Festival (Orange County)
2015 - Master Workshops Series (London, England)
2015 - BKS Calgary Canada - June 12-15
2015 - 7th SF Bachata Festival
2015 - Canada Congress (Vancouver) - September 2015 (Los Angeles)
2015 - Israel Bachata Bootcamp, August (Tel Aviv)
2015 - New York Salsa Congress (August 2015)
2015 - Bachata & Kizomba Bootcamp, Vilnius, Lithuania
2015 - Sexy & Sensual Latin Festival (October)
2015 - Bachata Bootcamp, Copenhagen, Denmark (November)
2015 - Bachata Con Sentimiento, Brussels. Belgium (November)
2015 - SF Salsa Congress (November)
2016 - 8th Afro-Latin Vegas @ Harrahs - January 2016
2016 - March Bachata Boocamp in Vancouver's Basa Studio
2016 - April Bachata Bootcamp Weekend @LatinLabInc - Norway
2016 - May Toronto Bachata Bootcamp @ United Salseros Studio
2016 - June BKS Dance Experience Weekend in Calgary
2016 - July San Francisco Bachata Festival
2016 - September - Los Angeles BKS Festival
2016 - October Latvia Bachata Festival in Riga
2016 - October World Bachata Championshop in London
2016 - October Bachata & Salsa Event in Reading (UK)
2017-January, Afro-Latin Vegas (Organizer) (Las Veas)
2017-March, Bachata French Kiss (Teacher) France
2017- April, 10th Sydney Bachata Festival - Teacher (Australia)
2017-Bay Area Dance Festival (Emeryville) Organizer
2017 - June BKS Dance Experience (Calgary, Canada)
2017-July-San Francisco Bachata Festival (Organizer)
2017-October, iSEMBA Fest (Organizer( San Francisco)
2017-Ocotber, Sexy Sensual Latin Fest - Teacher (UK)
Rodchata Teaches weekly classes in the Bay Area and Reno
For Bookings: Rodney@Rodchata.com or Call 415-802-83233
Rodchata has taught Bachata Dancing in 48 countries, including the Dominican Republic, and has been recognized for his work in promoting and teaching authentic Bachata. He has been featured as one of the most influential Bachateros in the world by Dance Planet Daily and GoLatinDance.com.
Rodchata is also the founder of a leading Latin dance and music event company called Rodchata Enterprises, LLC. He has organized the very first international bachata festival in the USA and co-organized the first Dominican Republic Bachata Festival in Santo Domingo. His newsletter has over 160,000 subscribers, and he has over 60,000 followers on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Rodchata holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology, is a certified personal fitness trainer, and holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in the Martial Arts. His experience in martial arts and fitness training plays a significant role in his effectiveness as a dance teacher.
Rodchata is a revered Latin dance teacher, and when he is not touring, he teaches locally in the Bay Area. He has sold instructional DVDs of Bachata, Salsa, and Merengue to over 60 countries and has just produced new DVDs called "The Secrets of Dominican Bachata - How Bachata is Danced". Rodchata's contribution to the dance industry and his exceptional teaching skills have put him in a unique position as one of the few teachers who can teach authentic Bachata in the USA.
Rodney Aquino's Teaching and Competition Judging History
2003 - Reno Dance Sensation (Reno, NV). Taught Bachata Workshops
2004 - Reno Dance Sensation (Reno, NV). Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2005 - Salsa Extravaganza (Palm Springs, CA). Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2005 - Reno Dance Sensation (Reno, NV) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2005 - Created Rodchata Project Dance Team
2006 - Salsa Extravaganza (Palm Springs, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2006 - Chico Dance Sensation (Chico, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2006 - Dallas Salsa Congress (Dallas, TX) Taught Bachata Workshops
2007 - Chico Dance Sensation (Chico, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2007 - Northwest Salsa Congress (Tacoma, WA). Taught Bachata Workshops
2007 - Hawaii Dance Sensation (Honolulu, HI). Taught Bachata Workshops
2007 - Santa Rosa Salsa Festival (Santa Rosa, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops
2007 - Dallas Salsa Congress (Dallas, TX) Taught Bachata Worshops
2008 - SF Salsa Congress (San Francisco, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops
2008 - Sydney Bachata Festival (Sydney, Australia)
2008 - Swedish Bachata Festival (Gothenburg, Sweden)
2008 - Finland Bachata Festival (Tampere, Finland)
2009 - Reno Bachata Festival (Reno, NV) Organizer, Promoter
2009 - Bachatando (Brussels, Belgium) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Salsaventura (Haag, Netherlands) Taught Bachata and Salsa Weekend Bootcamps
2009 - Sydney Bachata Festival (Sydney, Australia) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Helsinki Bachata Festival (Helsinki, Finland) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Tampere Bachata Festival (Tampere, Finland) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - San Francisco Bachata Festival ( SF, CA) Organizer, Promoter
2009 - Bachaturo ( Warsaw, Poland) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Lithuanian Bachata Festival (Vilnius, Lithuania) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - SF Salsa Congress (Oakland, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops
2009 - Sexy and Sensual Festival (London, England) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2009 - DC Bachata Congress (Washington, DC) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2010 - Reno Bachata Festival (Reno, NV) Organizer, Promoter
2010 - Reno Dance Sensation (Reno, NV) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2010 - Bachatando (Brussels, Belgium) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - Bachata Bootcamp Salsaventura (Rotterdam, Netherlands) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - Valentines Bachata Festival (Stockholm, Sweden) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - Tampere Bachata Festival (Tampere, Finland) Taught Bachata Merengue Workshops
2010 - Lithuanian Bachata Festival (Vilnius, Lithuania) Organizer, Promoter
2010 - San Francisco Bachata Festival (SF, CA) Organizer, Promoter
2010 - Hawaii Bachata Festival (Honolulu, HI) Organizer, Promoter
2010 - DC Bachata Congress (Washington, DC) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - WORLD LATIN DANCE CUP (San Diego, CA) Judged
2010- 1st DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BACHATA FESTIVAL (Santo Domingo, RD) Organizer, Promoter, Teacher
2010 - San Diego Salsa Bachata Congress (San Diego) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - All-Star Salsa Bachata Cruise (co-hosted)
2010- LA Bachata Festival (Los Angeles) Taught Bachata Workshops
2010 - Salsa Mambo Festival (Palm Springs) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2010 - Los Angeles Salsa Congress (Los Angeles) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Reno Bachata Festival (Reno, NV) Organizer, Promoter
2011 - Salsa Factory Bootcamp (Warsaw, Poland) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Bachatando (Brussels, Belgium) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Valentines Bachata Festival (Stockholm, Sweden) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Afro-Latin Egypt (Cairo, Egypt) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - SF Bachata Festival (San Francisco, CA) Organizer, Promoter
2011 - Hawaii Bachata Festival (Honolulu, HI) Organizer, Promoter
2011 - Hawaii Salsa Festival (Honolulu, HI) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Texas Salsa Congress (Houston, TX) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - Las Vegas Salsa Congress (Las Vegas) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - World Latin Dance Cup (Las Vegas, NV) Judged
2011 - Japan Bachata Festival (Tokyo, Japan) Taught Bachata Workshops
2011 - United Salseros Bachata Bootcamp (Toronto, Canada)
2011 - Flirt Seattle Festival (Seattle, WA)
2011 - Los Angeles Salsa Congress (Los Angeles)
2011 - 1st Kizomba Zouk Festival (San Francisco) Organizer, Promoter
2011 - San Diego Salsa Bachata Congress (San Diego) Taught Bachata Workshops
2012 - Reno Bachata Festival (Reno) Organizer, Promoter) Taught Kizomba
2012 - Salsa Mambo Festival (Palm Springs) Taught Bachata Workshops
2012 - Texas Salsa Congress (Houston, TX) Taught and Hosted Bachata Workshops and Parties
2012 - Boracay Latin Dance Festival (Boracay, Philippines) Co-organizer, Promoter
2012 - Singapore Latin Dance Festival (Singapore) Taught Bachata Workshops, Judged
2012 - Rhythm Identity (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) Taught Bachata & Kizomba
2012 - SF Bachata Festival - Organizer, Promoter
2012 - SF Salsa Congress - Hosted Bachata Room
2012 - US SALSA OPEN - Judged
2012 - Japan Dance Tour (all over japan) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2012 - Latin Motion Dance Academy Dance Bootcamp (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2012 - International Kizomba Festival (San Francisco)
2012 - Toronto Bachata Kizomba Congress (Toronto, Canada) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2012 - Canada Bachata Chmapionship (Toronto) Judged
2012 - Sonoma Salsa Bachata Congress (Sonoma, CA) Taught Bachata Workshops
2012 - LA Bachata Festival (Los Angeles) Taught Bachata Workshops
2013 - 5th Anniversary Reno Bachata Festival (Reno)
2012 - Kiss Korea Dance Bootcamp (Seoul) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2013 - SF Bachata Festival (San Francisco)
2013 - Gonchata Bootcamp (Tokyo, Japan) Taught bachata and Kizomba workshops
2013 - US Salsa Open - Judged
2013 - SF Salsa Congress (San Francisco) Judged, taught bachata workshops
2014 - Afro-Latin Vegas (Las Vegas)
2014- BKS Experience Weekend (Calgary, Canada) Taught Bachata and Kizomba Workshops
2014 - St Louis (STL) International Latin Dance Festival (St Louis, Missouri)
2014 - Bay Area Dance Festival (Emeryville)
2014 - New York Intnernational Salsa Congress (New York) Teacher
2014 - Los Angeles Bachata, Kizomba Salsa Festival (Orange County)
2015 - Master Workshops Series (London, England)
2015 - BKS Calgary Canada - June 12-15
2015 - 7th SF Bachata Festival
2015 - Canada Congress (Vancouver) - September 2015 (Los Angeles)
2015 - Israel Bachata Bootcamp, August (Tel Aviv)
2015 - New York Salsa Congress (August 2015)
2015 - Bachata & Kizomba Bootcamp, Vilnius, Lithuania
2015 - Sexy & Sensual Latin Festival (October)
2015 - Bachata Bootcamp, Copenhagen, Denmark (November)
2015 - Bachata Con Sentimiento, Brussels. Belgium (November)
2015 - SF Salsa Congress (November)
2016 - 8th Afro-Latin Vegas @ Harrahs - January 2016
2016 - March Bachata Boocamp in Vancouver's Basa Studio
2016 - April Bachata Bootcamp Weekend @LatinLabInc - Norway
2016 - May Toronto Bachata Bootcamp @ United Salseros Studio
2016 - June BKS Dance Experience Weekend in Calgary
2016 - July San Francisco Bachata Festival
2016 - September - Los Angeles BKS Festival
2016 - October Latvia Bachata Festival in Riga
2016 - October World Bachata Championshop in London
2016 - October Bachata & Salsa Event in Reading (UK)
2017-January, Afro-Latin Vegas (Organizer) (Las Veas)
2017-March, Bachata French Kiss (Teacher) France
2017- April, 10th Sydney Bachata Festival - Teacher (Australia)
2017-Bay Area Dance Festival (Emeryville) Organizer
2017 - June BKS Dance Experience (Calgary, Canada)
2017-July-San Francisco Bachata Festival (Organizer)
2017-October, iSEMBA Fest (Organizer( San Francisco)
2017-Ocotber, Sexy Sensual Latin Fest - Teacher (UK)
Rodchata Teaches weekly classes in the Bay Area and Reno
For Bookings: Rodney@Rodchata.com or Call 415-802-83233
The Rodney Rodchata Aquino Interview
Rodney Aquino is The Godfather and creator of the first bachata congress in the USA (2009). His events draw large numbers of dancers who want to experience bachata culture, music and dance at its finest. Few others have done more than Rodney to bring together and facilitate unity among bachateros. He is currently planning a bachata competition, The Bachata Gold Cup. Dance Planet Daily talked with Rodney and he gave a very candid and incredibly eye-opening look into the bachata world that he has helped shape over the past decade.
You are Filipino, correct?
Yes. My parents are from the Philippines. I was born in San Francisco. When I was 12 years old they sent me to the Philippines for school.
Did you have any exposure to Latin music and dance growing up?
My parents danced Tango. They were the stars in their generation I think! (laughs). It was kind of weird to look at them dance, but we had a lot of salsa and mambo music when I was a kid. Generally speaking Filipinos are influenced by Latin and Spanish culture, and that’s how I got exposed to it.
Although you’re widely known for your involvement in bachata, your early days in the Latin dance scene were spent teaching and promoting salsa. How did you initially get into salsa dancing?
I was into Latin ballroom. I was competing with my partner and one night I saw this guy doing some cool moves at a club. He would almost kiss women, or brush their hair while dancing certain moves. I said, ‘My God! He can actually get away with that! (laughs)’. That was about 18 years ago. I pursued salsa and I left ballroom because I really did not enjoy a restricted type of dance (ballroom).
READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW HERE...
You are Filipino, correct?
Yes. My parents are from the Philippines. I was born in San Francisco. When I was 12 years old they sent me to the Philippines for school.
Did you have any exposure to Latin music and dance growing up?
My parents danced Tango. They were the stars in their generation I think! (laughs). It was kind of weird to look at them dance, but we had a lot of salsa and mambo music when I was a kid. Generally speaking Filipinos are influenced by Latin and Spanish culture, and that’s how I got exposed to it.
Although you’re widely known for your involvement in bachata, your early days in the Latin dance scene were spent teaching and promoting salsa. How did you initially get into salsa dancing?
I was into Latin ballroom. I was competing with my partner and one night I saw this guy doing some cool moves at a club. He would almost kiss women, or brush their hair while dancing certain moves. I said, ‘My God! He can actually get away with that! (laughs)’. That was about 18 years ago. I pursued salsa and I left ballroom because I really did not enjoy a restricted type of dance (ballroom).
READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW HERE...
