SWAGCHATA was founded in 2013 by Brian El Matatan & Kim Parrales, which was also the name of their debut dance routine. In 2019, the Swagchata brand returned under the direction of both El Matatan & Andrea "Dre Swag" Ude, this time, with the mission of education. This education carries the theme of Bachata being "El Baile del Amargue" - the physical expression of the bittersweet sentiments of the lyrics & dynamics of the music.

In class, our teaching style is "studio vs streets"; a distinction between formal, fundamental training versus the raw, free-flowing style of learning that is more natural for some dancers of Caribbean styles.

Meet the team:

Brian "El Matatan"

Founder/Instructor

Brian "El Matatan" is a seasoned Latin dance instructor, DJ, and event organizer based in NYC, boasting an impressive 15-year journey within the dance scene. With a diverse skill set encompassing dancing, DJing, and event coordination, Brian has left an indelible mark on the NYC Latin dance community.

Brian's talents extend beyond the borders of the United States, as he has showcased his DJing prowess in various international locales, including France, the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Canada. His ability to seamlessly blend diverse musical influences elevates the dance experience for everyone.

As a co-founder of the "Swagchata" brand, Brian has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of social dancing in New York City and beyond. Additionally, he is a co-founder of the BachaDura Social Club, dedicated to promoting Caribbean cultural awareness and fostering social dance etiquette.

Andrea "dre swag"

Instructor

Andrea Ude is an accomplished dance professional with over 30 years of experience in the industry. With a background in concert dance studying and competing in styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, modern and African, she holds a BFA in Dance Studies. This has served as a deep-rooted base for Andrea as she transitioned into partner dancing in 2010, training first in Ballroom before discovering the social Latin dance scene of NYC. Since then, she has performed around the US and taught in styles such as salsa, bachata, merengue, and cha-cha.

As the second half of the dynamic dance instructor duo known as "Swagchata," Andrea uses her wealth of expertise and diverse background to teach and connect with students of all ages. Additionally, she serves as a Co-Director and Choreographer of the acclaimed performance team "LFX Dancers”.

Alla

Media

Alla Pylayeva comes to Swagchata with a varied background in movement. She began her journey with rhythmic gymnastics, modern dance, and ballroom. However, it was in 2011 when she joined a school for Argentine tango that she fell in love with salsa and ultimately bachata instead. Alla has worked as part of the media team and as a performance coordinator in local venues such as Cache, Salsa on Tuesdays and LCL, as well as the NY Salsa Congress. She has also performed both locally and nationally.

As Swagchata’s number one supporter and helper, Alla captures photo and video content at all their classes and events and when needed, assists in classes. You can also find her working at Passion Thursdays.

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