Our Core Team
The members of our dance team are highly trained and experienced. Each and every one of them is completely dedicated to your instruction. 

  • Jason Ramos

    Founder & Dance Instructor

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  • Amanda Duvall

    Dance Instructor

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    • About Baila Con Gusto CT
    ( Brand, Services, and Goals )

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    Baila Con Gusto CT seeks to share and enrich the experience of all people through Salsa and Bachata dancing. Jason Ramos & Amanda Duvall put great value in developing rich cultural, social and artistic experiences that reach beyond the classroom and connect with people of all backgrounds. We believe that Salsa and Bachata dancing is a great way to relieve stress, develop social skills, foster positive cultural appreciation, create positive relationships, & build positive self image. Sharing a dance, a smile, a happy moment, is crucial in bringing humanity together in harmony.

    Understanding that not all people have the access, resources or capacity to participate in dance, Baila Con Gusto CT provides multifaceted professional dance entertainment and education services at an affordable price across CT. In many cases, Baila Con Gusto CT also provides time and services COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE towards causes that benefit education of children of underserved backgrounds, crisis relief efforts, and harm reduction.


    Through Baila Con Gusto CT, Jason works diligently to welcome new members to the latin social dance community and uplift them through the spirit of dance. We firmly believes that people of all backgrounds can invite the love of dance into their lives, and learn about Latin / Hispanic / Caribbean culture. We believe everyone benefits from having the opportunity to share these moments with one another.


    You too can learn to dance! It does not matter your age, gender, experience or background! Dancing is just like walking, but with STYLE! Let Baila Con Gusto CT help you take the first step, and get the best out of every step forward! You never know how far you'll go until you try!


    Remember, la vida es mas bella bailando, entonces Baila Con Gusto CT!

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    Jason Ramos
    ( Founder / Dance Instructor )

    Jason Ramos is the son of Ecuadorian immigrants, and originally from Brooklyn, New York. He has lived in CT for the past 19 years, and first started learning the basics of Salsa, Bachata & Merengue dance at the age of 16. Throughout the years, Jason continued to develop his dance & cultural education through several roles, projects, and travels. These experiences included a position as Vice President of CCSU's C.O.L.A.D.A. Dance Team in 2013, as a lead promoter for Sensual Movement NYC at CT SALSA FEST 2017, as a dance teacher at Fred Astaire Southbury & Windsor in 2018, Dirk Heideman Ballroom Dance Studio 2018, and more.


    His dance education journey has also taken him around the world: Punta Cana - Dominican Republic, Barcelona- Spain, Rome- Italy, Ambato & Quito - Ecuador, Orlando & West Palm - Florida, New York City - New York, Boston & Cambridge - Massachusetts, and various cities in Connecticut.


    Although his specialty is Salsa, Bachata & Merengue, Jason also has gathered base academic and movement knowledge in Afro- Cuban styles, African dances from Senegal, Zouk, Kizomba, Cumbia, and more.

    Part of Jason's life journey has also included becoming involved in activism in CT since 2017; particularly for immigrants, students and the impoverished. These experiences have taken him to Washington D.C. in partnership with United We Dream, and also granted him the privilege to serve as Operator of the Migrant Care Plan for the Consulate of Ecuador in CT in 2018.

    These experiences have shaped his and Baila Con Gusto CT's mission. Jason's goal is to put cultural exchange, advocacy, and all underrepresented & underserved people at the forefront. His continued legacy includes donation based classes at Yale University, donation based online classes in 2020 due to Covid-19, and donating time, funds, and services to various grassroots focused on harm reduction, community development, and youth empowerment.

    Jason Ramos has worked as a guest dance instructor for the Ulysses Grant Foundation at Yale, Trinity College’s Salsarengue 2018, Western Connecticut State University WesFest 2018, The Hispanic and Latino Student Association at the University of Hartford, Solfire BK in Williamsburg, New York, East & West Wallingford CT YMCAs, and various other institutions for students of all ages and backgrounds.


    Jason Ramos has also performed as an invited guest of Elm City Dance Collective for TINY SHORTS 2018, and also for the Consulate of Ecuador in Connecticut in 2018.


    Jason has also danced in collaboration with other Instructors from Alisa's House of Salsa at events such as the 2018 Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz which featured Orquesta Espada and Nestor Torres, and also at ESPN for Hispanic Heritage events . Never one to shy away from the stage, Jason has also danced alongside The Latin Heartbeat Orchestra for Hartford Latino Fest 2017, The Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra at the Brooklyn Bowl, Orquesta Afinke at the Yale Schwarzman Center and various more.


    Jason’s most recent professional features have been as a choreographer, Salsa Dancing Squirrel, Stinkbug and Mole for the Hartford live theatre show and festival; Night Fall. He has also played as a Party Parent for Ballet Theatre Company's Nutcracker 2019.


    Jason is also very proud to have created a multi genre Latin dance team with the essential help of Amanda Duvall. The Baila Con Gusto CT Dancers perform Salsa, Bachata and Merengue across CT. They have performed for the Arts & Ideas Festival, Tristate Dance Festival, Riverfront Dance Festival, at University of Hartford, Yale University, Trinity College, Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, DominGo! 2022 /2023, First Night Hartford and many more. 

    Fun Fact

    Was an extra for the music video  "Como los 90's" by Kewin Cosmos
    **Find the orange beenie**

    Favorite Dessert

    Gelato

    Favorite Video Game Franchise

    Super Mario Bros.
    Amanda Duvall
    ( Dance Instructor / Founder of Duvall Dance & Adventures )
    Amanda Duvall is a passionate dancer specializing in Latin Ballroom; including Salsa, Bachata, and Cha-Cha-Cha. Her most recent projects focus on creating fun, and multifaceted Salsa & Bachata workshops that put authentic expression at the forefront, and are also inclusive of all people who desire to make dance part of their lives.

    A CT native, Amanda started taking Jazz dance classes at the age of 4. As the years progressed, she continued to develop her dance skills in various genres including Hip-Hop, Bollywood, American Contemporary , and International Ballroom.

    At the age of 18; through Dirk Heidemann Dance Studio, Amanda continued to develop her dance skills under International Ballroom Champions such as Valtz Leipneick Chow, Kateryna Stoliarenko, Sandra Torremadé, Anita Santos Rubin, Adrian Rodriguez Carbajal, Peter Nielson, Damiena Luje and more.  She has competed and placed in Ballroom dance competitions in CT since that time.

    Through Baila Con Gusto     CT, Amanda has been able to travel to NYC and Boston to immerse herself in the social dance scene and further develop her Salsa and Bachata experience. Amanda now choreographs and teaches alongside Jason Ramos, and leads her own workshops. Some of Amanda's Salsa & Bachata dance performances include the Elm City Dance Collective Tiny Shorts 2018  show and the Consulate of Ecuador in Connecticut 2018.

    Most recently, Amanda traveled to Barcelona, Spain between September 2019 - December 2019 for business education and to train in Latin Ballroom, Salsa, and Sensual Bachata techniques. Since her return, she has become an integral partner in all Baila Con Gusto CT events as a choreographer, video editor, instructor, and organizer.

    Amanda also leads the ladies team portions of the Baila Con Gusto CT Dancers. She creates all original choreography for the teams, directs, teaches and performs alongside them throughout the year. 

    Fun Fact

    Was a young Taekwondo Champion for several years.

    Favorite Foods

    Mac & Cheese

    Favorite Color

    Orange
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