Guillermo Rivera-Pagan has been teaching ballroom dance for over 30 years. He received his training and began his teaching career in the 1960’s in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In Boston, Guillermo continued to teach dance on a part-time basis and developed a full-time career in human services. His work in this field progressed from clinical counseling to managing community agencies in the Greater Boston area.

During this time, Guillermo tailored his dance instruction to primarily Latin/Caribbean dances. He taught private and small group classes and also at special events for elementary and high schools, universities, and community sponsored activities. In 1994 Guillermo began teaching a dance class at Bentley College through the school’s Multicultural Center.

In 1999, Guillermo began teaching Latin dance full time. Today Guillermo is an artist-in-residence at Bentley College in the newly formed Arts Department, teaching three beginner dance classes and an advanced dance class.  Guillermo also teaches Latin dance at Brandeis University, and Ballroom and Latin dance classes at Bridgewater State College.

Guillermo is also a co-founder of Salsalegre, a private dance group that sponsors a once-a-month dance and provides group and private instruction in Merengue, two Salsa dances (Mambo and Guaracha) and Cha-Cha. 

Guillermo’s introductory course teaches the principles of lead and follow and the basic dance steps. The intermediate courses emphasize more of the advanced step patterns and turns. Guillermo also teaches the Bolero, Bachata and Rumba.

A major facet of Guillermo’s instruction is to incorporate the historical and cultural aspects of each type of dance for his students. He stresses the role of Stage, Social and Intimate styles of dance. Most students prefer the social style of dancing, which is geared for people who simply want to learn, be enriched, and have fun no matter the setting.