Dance Workshops

 One of the highlights of MetaMovements Dance Adventures is seeing our travelers’ skills transform in such a short time! Each day includes group classes in styles such as Bachata, Merengue, Dembow, Salsa, and more with renowned artists from Las Terrenas, the trip leaders and international guest instructors. Workshops explore history, body movement, styling, partner work and technique and are divided into levels or styles, as needed, to ensure maximum enjoyment and learning for all participants! 

Cultural Exchange Excursions

 Participate in special excursions that go beyond the typical tourist experience, immersing you in the unique culture and beauty of the Dominican Republic. Past excursions have included a visit to a hidden waterfall, a “day in the life” visit and typical meal at one of our host’s family’s homes, a walking tour of Las Terrenas and a sunset beachside dinner. Add-on excursions are available too!

Dance Parties

Every night we join our instructors, dance hosts and the Las Terrenas community at their favorite venues to put the learning from your workshops and private lessons into practice. This community loves variety, so you will enjoy Bachata, Merengue and Salsa of many styles, as well as fun animaciones and more! Social dancing in Las Terrenas is amazing, and it's an essential ingredient in your Dance Adventure transformation!

Note: Each day may vary depending on the special activities planned for that day.​​

• 9:30 am - Morning meeting and breakfast (to review the day's schedule or any questions)

• 10:30 am - Group class (Merengue, Bachata, Rueda, Dembow)

• 11:30 am - Free time / Time for private lessons
  1:30 pm - Lunch cooked by MMRD dancers

• 2:30 pm - Free time / Time for private lessons / Dinner

• 8:30 pm - First dance party with local dancers

• 12:30 am - Second dance party with local dancers

Las Terrenas is a beautiful beach destination on the north coast of the Samaná Peninsula that has become a hub for dance-lovers from near and far. Its landscape is every bit as scenic as the Dominican Republic’s more famous beach towns– Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, etc– but there are no resorts or chain hotels in Las Terrenas, giving it a more authentic and inclusive vibe. As you walk around and spend time in restaurants and clubs, you will mingle with people from many regions of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Europe and other parts of the world who’ve all chosen Las Terrenas as their home. 

Las Terrenas was significantly impacted by the pandemic and then a series of hurricanes, fires, and flooding. The dancers are thankful for the support they have received from MetaMovements, J&L Dance Studio, Next Level Fusion and other sources that enabled them to get through the hardest times and come back even stronger than before. On our trips, we hear directly from the dancers about how they utilize this support network to stabilize, transform and rebuild. You will also learn more about their goals for the future, including their vision for the “dance sanctuary” they have created in this small and tight-knit town.

Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is the hub our travelers fly into, and many travelers have enjoyed arriving early with our extension package to take advantage of all it has to offer! 

From dancing in the streets of the picturesque Zona Colonial and catching live music outdoors, to perusing street art vendors, riding the impressive city cable car, and visiting the 3 Ojos National Park - a wondrous and majestic limestone cave with three lakes - the capital offers the perfect introduction to the island’s rich art and history!

Our artists and collective members love guiding visitors through the wonders of the city, and many of them live or have spent time living in the capital and are excited to show it off! 

Surrounded by 16th century architecture, this stop offers the chance to explore and dance in a dynamic urban setting before heading to Las Terrenas.

Choreography Challenge 

Learn the MM Choreography before you travel, and enhance your experience by performing with the incredible MMRD dancers! Not only does this experience offer a chance to learn and perform a unique choreography with Dominican dancers, but you’ll also elevate your skills in footwork, body movement and partnering... an experience you'll never forget! The choreography has separate sections to enable dancers of different levels to participate. More information and level assessments are available upon request. 

Technique Training

 (Requested by MMRD dancers… Guests can join if you feel inspired!)

Las Terrenas dancers are known for their incredible unique flavor, but their super-power is their dedication to learning new things and seeking out opportunities whenever they have the chance (several have set their sights on winning competitions that will bring their unique style to an international stage!). Anara and other international instructors provide our hosts with instruction they’ve requested in Cuban Modern Technique, barre exercises for lines and control, spinning drills, hand tricks and more. They've also requested training in Kizomba, Modern & Sensual Bachata, and Salsa Technique. If you love the idea of training technique along with them, this is the add-on for you!

Private Lesson Packages

(Book in advance to guarantee your instructor and style!)

Get the personalized coaching that makes everything come together. Working privately can be the perfect link that helps connect everything you are learning in workshops and while social dancing in a format that is all about YOU. Instructors will focus on your individual goals and growth, offering the advice you need to take your dancing to the next level! We recommend three-hour packages because they have made a huge difference for our travelers, but you can request more or less time if you wish.

• Comfortable double- or triple-occupancy lodging​

  • Option: upgrade to single occupancy

• Airport Pick-up & drop-off (SDQ) if you arrive/depart in line with our scheduled transport 

• Lively nightly outings at great local spots with the best dancers in the area!

• Opportunities to greatly increase your dance level in Bachata, Merengue & Dembow

• Workshops in a wide variety of styles with renowned local & international instructors

• Daily breakfast buffets (With fresh fruit, coffee or tea, toast, eggs & juice)

• Additional delicious Dominican-style meals

• A pre-departure briefing, travel preparation & consultation (including packing & travel tips).

• Knowledgeable & friendly hosts who will meet with you each day to assist you with special requests and communicate updates to you regarding your schedule. 

• 24-hour assistance available in the case of emergencies.​

• A guaranteed roommate for each traveler (​If you register with a friend, co-worker or family member and request each other on the registration/travel application form, you will be matched as roommates.  If you are not traveling with someone, we will check if there is another traveler needing a roommate after you register. If there is one, you will be matched. If there isn't one, you will be charged a single upgrade on your final invoice. You will be notified either way as we do our best to fulfill roommate match requests. 

• Flights ​​(We can make recommendations at no cost or book your flights for you for a $45 fee)​

• Transportation costs to the airport at the end of the program​ (This is considered an add-on because of requests from past travelers for flexibility on departure. We will coordinate options and cost sharing for all travelers' departure flight dates and times once all submit their departure flight info.)

• Any extra activities, transport, food or drinks​

• Tips & Gratuities (​For local servers, bartenders, artists, instructors, hosts, drivers, house-keepers.)

Which flights do you recommend?

• Due to changing weather potentially causing delays and cancellations in the Caribbean, we recommend choosing a direct flight whenever possible. You will fly into SDQ Las Americas airport in Santo Domingo.

What are other things travelers spend money on, in addition to the cost of the flight and program? ​

• This really varies on a case-to-case basis based on each individual's budget for the trip. Many travelers choose to add private lessons to their package. The cost of drinks and additional meals ranges, depending on your choice of food (take-out and informal fare vs restaurants) and the amount of alcohol you plan to consume. Some travelers choose to add on excursions to their trip. Some like to include room in their budget for gifts and artwork from local artists and artisans. Other expenses may include an occasional taxi, though most venues are within walking distance of our accommodation.

• Most travelers like to leave a tip for the dancers and staff at the end of the trip to express their gratitude and offer additional support. We go more into detail about this during the pre-departure briefing.

Is it safe in Las Terrenas?​

• Las Terrenas is one of the safest areas in the Dominican Republic! We do, however, like to maintain a buddy system (especially at night) to ensure people do not walk alone. We go over best safety practices in the pre-departure briefing, and our MMRD team members are very attentive in supporting our groups to have an enjoyable and safe experience!

Who can I take private lessons with and what are their specialties?

• All of the MMRD instructors are extremely knowledgeable in a variety of dance styles and can adjust to your level. If you are interested in working on anything particular, please let us know, and we can match you with an artist based on your preferences and their availability. The longer you wait to book, the more their schedules fill up, so be sure to reach out about your preferences and goals as soon as you can!

I don’t speak Spanish, will I still be able to take private lessons and get around o.k.? 

• Absolutely! Some of the MMRD instructors speak English, and they all have gone through training in how to effectively teach using gestures and key words in English-- sometimes this type of teaching even proves to be more effective due to its focus on movement! If you prefer to book private lessons with artists that speak English, please include this detail in your request.

What are the styles and levels of the group classes?

• Throughout the trip, various dance styles are taught, including Bachata, Merengue, Dembow, Salsa On1 and On2, Rueda, Afro and more. It largely depends on the preferences of the group and the Trip Leaders! In terms of level, we break into various levels when necessary, offering fundamentals such as body movement and timing for those wanting to focus on those foundational concepts.