Intensive dance programs for beginners in the world? If so, where?

[Franklin Roselin]

I have never learned to dance beyond a few basic steps.

During my time off from school (at least 6 months, possibly a year), I'd like to focus on learning to dance.

I'm willing to travel anywhere in the world, and live in hostels (since it's cheaper than staying at hotels), but I want to learn dance in an intensive manner (at least 4 hours a day).

The styles of dance I'm interested include salsa, bachata, merengue, cha cha & cumbia.

Can anyone give suggestions as to where exactly I could go?

 

[opendoor]

Welcome to DF, Franklin! Very often you can find really skilled teachers of that specific style in any other place of the world than but their original home town. So if you like to learn the mentioned styles in their original environment you very often have to put up with the social variant or simply with taxi dancers:

Casino and Despelote in Havana or Miami
Bachata in Herrera (Ciudad Santo Domingo)
Merengue in Santiago (north of Santo Domingo)
Cumbia in Los Angeles
Tango in Buenos Aires, Berlin or Ankara
Viennese Walz in Vienna
Flamenco in Sevilla
Zouk in Martinique