Known for its love stories and distinctive, syncopated rhythm, bachata originated in the Dominican Republic during the 1960s. Repressive politics in that era stifled broad awareness of the dance form, but at long last it has become a true, international sensation!

Keep your dance card open for a Cross-Ivy bachata lesson on June 10 at 8:30PM in the heart of DC's bustling Chinatown. Kat Arias of Ferocity Dance Company will provide instruction for a small group of alums and friends. Everyone of all abilities, backgrounds, and experience welcome.

Guests are invited to arrive upstairs @ 8:30PM at 618 Cocktail & Whiskey Lounge for mingling and conversation, and our dance lesson will begin @ 9:00PM. Following the lesson, we are invited to continue dancing the night away with Stuck on Salsa (optional)!

Our private lesson is offered at a special discount to members of BCDC and ColumbiaDC, as well as their guests. Registration for the event includes each dancer's lesson fee, and a cash bar will be available. To ensure in-depth instruction and mind public health guidelines, attendance is capped at 30.

You must RSVP on the Brown Club of Washington, DC's page: HERE

This program is run by the Brown Club of Washington DC

Kat Arias is a professional Bachata Choreographer, Dancer and Instructor of Peruvian and Venezuelan descent currently based out of the Washington DC metropolitan area. She found the world of Ballroom dancing at the age of 22 and became one of the owners of the Élan DanceSport Center at 25. At this studio, she used to help a local performance group focused in Bachata which is where her love for the performing art of Bachata grew; having fallen in love with the genre, and following this studio's closure, Kat created the Ferocity Dance Company in May of 2012 where she has been the Owner and Managing Director ever since.

The Ferocity Dance Company houses multiple Bachata focused competitive and performing teams, and has won various accolades throughout the years including three world championship titles. Her vision was to have a company that was not only focused on technique and learning, but that could also provide a space for anyone that needed somewhere that allowed them the freedom to find and be their authentic and true selves as they navigate through the art of dance.

A Fusion Bachata artist herself, she travels and receives training in order to maintain well versed in other Bachata styles. In addition to running her teams and studio, she is the organizer of the annual Masters of Bachata Takeover weekenders and teaches various styles of Bachata at different Congresses, Festivals and special events on the National, and International level. She is dedicated to creating opportunities for high quality learning - it remains the driving force behind her workshops and events and she hopes to inspire and connect with people everywhere she goes.