Juan-2-3
Co-Founder and Director
“I was very shy and quit 5 times. If I can do it, so can you!”
Juan Hernandez, known by the Salsa dance community as “Juan-2-3,” has over 20 years experience in the world of Salsa dancing, and has been training Salsa dancers for over a decade. Juan is considered one of San Diego’s top Salsa dance instructors due to his systematized lesson plans, attention to detail, patience, and ability to make anyone laugh and enjoy the learning process. He has taught and performed across the United States and internationally in Mexico, Colombia, Cyprus, Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam.
During his 10 years as co-director of the world-renowned dance company, Majesty in Motion, Juan acquired dance technique and experience coaching students, choreographing dance routines, and performing with a professional team on the international stage. After injuries prevented him from continuing with the dance company, Juan dedicated all of his time to the craft of teaching and providing the path for students to achieve their dance dreams.
The result of Juan focusing all of his energy on teaching, is a curriculum that has repeatedly taken students from zero experience, to salsa dancing at local nightclubs with confidence. Students write him to share their transformation from self-defeating doubt in their dance ability to performing in front of audiences of thousands world-wide. Some have even become dance instructors themselves.
From 2009-2014, Juan-2-3 and Erica directed and choreographed their own co-ed Salsa dance team comprised of young adult professionals. They performed at the local San Diego Salsa & Bachata Festivals and local night clubs.
Juan was born in Brooklyn, New York. Although born to Colombian parents and raised between Spain, Colombia, and NY, he was not born with the dance gene or natural rhythm. Juan was actually very shy, terrified of dancing, and unable to find the beat. It took guidance, dedication, perseverance, and years of practice to get to where he is today. Along the way, he quit 5 times! He believes, without a doubt, that if he was able to do it, then so can you!
Erica Llamas Hernandez
Co-Founder & Director
“When I first started Salsa Dancing, I looked and felt like a robot. If I can do it, you can do it!”
Erica Teaching the Leader
“I enjoy showing you how to improve your connection, so that your lead is smooth, clear, and comfortable for the follower. I share with you what us ladies care about most. With a few simple adjustments, your connection can be tremendously improved. After learning the technique, repetition will help you ingrain the muscle memory, and then we refine it.”
Erica Teaching a The Follower
“Body movement and styling are my favorite topics for ladies styling classes. I will teach you the drills that helped me break out of stiff movements and into a more intuitive flow. Then, we’ll practice how to apply each new styling to common social dance combinations.”
An engineer by trade, Erica has a systematic and analytical approach to teaching dance. She enjoys methodically breaking down the techniques to give you an understanding of the concepts so that you can practice on your own.
Erica started dancing at age four. She learned ballet, jazz, and hip hop. She can remember practicing her basic turns and spotting in the kitchen while her mom cooked dinner.
Erica continued dancing until university, when she fell in-love with Salsa dancing. From the moment she heard the energetic music and saw the couples nonverbally communicating on the dance floor, she was mesmerized by the lady’s ability to follow the guy’s lead. Determined to learn how to follow, she spent the next 5 years in a dance studio and Salsa club nearly every day. She took lessons from every instructor in San Diego, attended international Salsa Congresses to take private lessons from world-renowned instructors, and joined an elite dance company, Majesty in Motion.
She performed with Majesty in Motion’s professional team on stages locally and internationally. She was given the opportunity to assist Juan with a beginner dance team and his group classes. This is where her passion grew for teaching people how to Salsa dance.
From 2009-2014, Juan-2-3 and Erica directed and choreographed a Salsa dance team that trained in social dancing and performed at the local San Diego Salsa & Bachata Festivals and local night clubs. Erica continues to enjoy teaching choreography projects for ladies, group Salsa dance classes, and private Salsa dance lessons in San Diego, California.