Lisa "La Boriqua" is President of Latin Street Dancing and Director of the Chicago Latin Street Dance Company and MOSAICO student dance group.

Lisa Leads a Lakefront Dance Class of Hundreds

Born of Irish-Puerto Rican heritage and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Lisa “La Boriqua” has become one of the biggest names on Chicago’s Latin dance scene. Her rousing summer Salsa classes in both Grant and Millennium Parks have propelled her into the spotlight for all things Salsa in Chicago. When she’s not leading a lakefront class of hundreds, Lisa’s made numerous appearances on TV news features and was honored by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley for her numerous contributions to Chicago’s rich Latin culture. With the success of Latin Street Dancing and Chicago’s Latin Street Dance Company, Lisa “La Boriqua” stands poised to become the face of Latin Dance in Chicago -- and she’s just getting started.

Lisa is a graduate of the University of Illinois, at Urbana-Champaign. She dedicated her time there to the study of Advertising and Spanish, and pursued a portion of her studies in Madrid, Spain. Lisa “La Boriqua” went on to develop her business and entrepreneurial skills as part of the Proctor & Gamble Sales Force for two years and then went on to starting her own business as a Sales Director/Trainer for the Mary Kay Cosmetics Company for five years.

Lisa's lifelong passion for movement and dance found her studying figure skating at Robert Crown for five years and and jazz dancing at Gus Giordano's for two years -- both in Evanston, Illinois. In college, she joined the annual Copacabana Show, performing Latin dances from all over the world, as dancer and choreographer for three years. A deep desire to perform Latin-based rhythms on a regular basis compelled her and her dance partner (and now husband) Andres to create the all-year dance group, Mosaico. Through Mosaico, Lisa “La Boriqua” and Andres performed locally and state-wide.

Lisa “La Boriqua” has dedicated her life to sharing the beauty of Latin culture through “street dancing” (Latin dances of today). She has shared her knowledge and passion for dancing for more than 20 years throughout the community and incorporated Latin Street Dancing in January of 1998 in Chicago. Lisa finally decided to make dancing her life and pursued it full-time. Lisa “La Boriqua’s” business has been generously embraced by people throughout the Midwest, especially the people of Chicago, and its surrounding suburbs. In a relatively short time, Latin Street Dancing expanded and relocated to the heart of the entertainment district in Chicago at 540 N. LaSalle St, Suite 500 (Ohio & LaSalle).

Lisa "La Boriqua" with Husband and Partner, Andres

Throughout the years, Lisa “La Boriqua” has been honored with countless teaching performance opportunities all over the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois for Latin dancing. Each week, Latin Street Dancing is invited to teach or perform numerous times per week outside of regular studio activities. The studio and the City of Chicago have worked together on several occasions. Latin Street Dancing has been honored to participate in events such as: The Taste of Chicago, Summerdance Program, Dance ‘Til the Dawn of the New Millennium, the City of Chicago World Music Festival, Chicago WinterDance and other programs through the Chicago Cultural Center.  Latin Street Dancing also enjoys the many invitations for television appearances and newspaper feature stories!

In the 14 years Lisa "La Boriqua" has performed and instructed she has taught over 50,000 students how to dance. Her Chicago dance studio, Latin Street Dancing, is the direct result of her unique method of instruction which makes learning Salsa and other Latin dances (Merengue, Cha Cha Cha, Bachata, Cumbia, Mambo, La Rueda, Argentine Tango,  and more) fun and unintimidating. Latin Street Dancing has now become a great source of referrals to bring one business to the other. As students wish to obtain Latin music, find dance clothes, eat Latin food, dance at night clubs sponsoring Latin dance nights, and hire Latin DJ’s and musicians, etc. Latin Street Dancing can tell you where to go.

In 2001, Lisa “La Boriqua” was honored by a Certificate of Appreciation by the City of Chicago’s Mayor Richard M. Daley for her exceptional contribution to dance as an art form as a Puerto Rican in this city.

Latin Street Dancing today is assisted by a team of over 18 instructors teaching out of 3 studios and has developed seven different divisions: The Dance Studio; The Dance Companies; Special Events Entertainment Planning & Nightclub promotions; Musician Booking Agency & Management; Latin Street Music Record Label; a Dancing Agency and Sponsorships & Latin Events Marketing.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Lisa "La Boriqua" to make the rich heritage of Latin dance accessible to the masses, Latin Street Dancing has truly earned the motto: “Where dancing is fun!”