Shinju Kang
Spartan Mambo Club, is a San José State club that aims to provide an environment for students to learn about the Latin dances, Bachata & Salsa.
Spartan Mambo at San José State is bringing swagger and sensuality to campus while exploring the deep cultural roots of Latin dance.
The club explores the practice of both Bachata dance and Salsa dance and though they are both partner dances, there are some key differences.
Bachata is native to the Dominican Republic, and is characteristically slow, sensual, and intimate, according to the Sensual Movement webpage.
Ashley Chavez, a fourth-year anthropology student at SJSU, is the Sparchata team captain and club president and has been a team member since her freshman year.
“One thing I really love about Bachata is the connection with your partner,” Chavez said. “We’re always trying to uplift each other. We’re always trying to make sure everyone has a good experience here because we’re here to dance.”
She said the main mission of the club is to build an inclusive community that ensures everyone learns to dance.
The class is led by Coach Ngoc Huynh, a two-time Bachata Pro, while the Salsa class is led by Takeshi Young, the director of Spartan Mambo.
Under the guidance of Coach Young, Spartan Mambo’s Salsa team took home first place at the 2025 LA Collegiate Weekender, according to Spartan Mambo’s Instagram page.
Salsa dance is distinctly fast-paced and playful, originally emerging from Cuba in the 1940s, then later undergoing refinement in New York during the 1960s, according to a May 28, 2024 article from activist dance theater Contra Tiempo.
Isabel Landeros, a SJSU third-year advertising student, currently serves as the Salsa team captain.
“We’re a family … when you’re stressed at school or stressed at work, you get to come here and dance…it’s a creative outlet,” she said.
Not only can Bachata and Salsa dancing serve as an artistic outlet, but it has been shown to release endorphins, promote emotional regulation, enhance sociability, improve cardiovascular health and encourage mindfulness, according to a blog post from Movers and Shakers that references several studies.
Natalie Elias, an SJSU occupational therapy graduate student, attended her first Sparchata class.
“Really fun and challenging … lots of stylistic elements I’m not used to … I like how everyone was respectful,” she said.
The class featured a segment of partner dance practice, where a large circle formed and the “leads” moved from person to person, while the “follows” stayed in place.
“For follows, you have to switch off your brain for you to follow,” Chavez said. “ For leads, your brain has to be on. A switch is a person who can do both.”
While classes are open to everyone, there are try-outs held for both the competitive and performance dance teams the first week of September.
Imani Cochran, a second-year SJSU student, has been a team member of Sparchata for about a year.
“Being a beginner is the best because you’re really like a sponge and you’re soaking it all in … don’t be afraid to make mistakes and be excited to learn,” Cochran said.