What is La Tin-Va? The name was created by combining sounds meaning Latin rhythm and dance, or "dance with the beat." The program is an innovative style of aerobics which incorporates Latin-inspired dance steps as the foundation of a fun and exciting cardio workout. Not only are the steps and music different, but also the style in which it is taught is a complete evolution of previous workout programs.
The founder and creator of La Tin-Va, Johnny Latin, believes that aerobic fitness has evolved. Enthusiasts of fitness are insisting on a higher level of training and exercise. In response, the fitness industry is promoting more dance based cardio workout programs to meet the increasing demand of the market that is searching for a great workout that is fun, challenging and exciting!
Originally from Ecuador, Johnny has been a professional dancer, fitness trainer, and aerobics instructor his entire adult life. In the United States, he has taught Latin cardio dance classes at Sports Club/LA and Spectrum Athletic Clubs in Southern California. In addition, he has worked as part of a team providing choreography for multiple charity events featuring Jennifer Lopez and Celine Dion. He has been featured in "In Style Magazine" and "Beverly Hills Magazine" for his innovative teaching style and cardio workout, "...one workout that doesn't feel like work."
La Tin-Va addresses fitness on a whole new level by meeting a worldwide demand for more freedom and fun in a cardio workout. This style is completely revolutionary in its approach with its unique combination of exercising your mind, body and spirit ... while burning more calories than any other cardio workout!
The style and technique leaves you in sheer euphoria and exhilaration. You learn to abandon any self-consciousness you might have about your dancing ability or lack of coordination. You concentrate on learning the steps and it frees you to learn the routine, which progressively becomes a fun and exciting cardio workout. You learn by watching, learning the instructor's cues, and by repetition - as compared to simply following instructions. As a La Tin-Va Fitness participant you become the master of your own fitness experience.
The entire dance routine is set to lively Latin-inspired music - you are dancing, having fun and burning calories. Your body begins to move naturally as you bring your own style of dance into the cardio workout routine and make it your own. The key to La Tin-Va Fitness is not solely about the fun or the exercise; it is also about the level of concentration involved in the process. One must truly focus to memorize the sequence of steps in order to really gain all of its benefits... a great physical workout and an amazing mental challenge. It is a combination of these two key components that makes La Tin-Va style a real success.
Johnny Latin is a talented performer and gifted teacher who came to the United States's after a long and successful career in South America. His sensational dance routines are exciting and exhilarating while being technically precise and challenging.
Prior to launching his career as a group dance instructor, Johnny was a collegiate cheerleader and captain of Nuevos Horizontes soccer team in Ecuador. While being an avid and talented soccer player, and also having a passion for dance, Johnny had to make a choice to pursue a career in soccer or dance. Johnny had to follow his heart and "dance"; this is when he developed this revolutionary dance style using various classical and modern Latin dance routines. Johnny received his physical education license in (Guayaquil-Ecuador) and is continuing his education in the United States.
In 2002, Johnny, traveled to America to attend the International Health and Fitness Association's annual conference in San Diego. After the conference Johnny decided to stay in the United States and settled in Los Angeles. A few months later, he began teaching dance routines at The Sports Club/LA. One year later, Johnny was recruited by Spectrum Athletic Clubs to teach his unique Latin cardio workout. In 2007, Johnny Latin founded La Tin-Va Fitness; a unique cardio dance experience centered around Latin-inspired dance steps including Cha Cha, Salsa, Merengue, Tango and Mambo. Johnny teaches more than 15 La Tin-Va Fitness cardio workout classes each week for Spectrum Athletic Clubs throughout the Los Angeles area. In 2008, Johnny also taught La Tin-Va Fitness classes at the Las Vegas Salsa Congress..
The genius of the La Tin-Va Fitness system has been perfected by founder Johnny Latin after many years of teaching dance. The following dance technique was created by Johnny in 1999 and perfected in 2002.
1st. System of La Tin-Va
- The 1st System of La Tin-Va begins with creating symmetric blocks combined with asymmetric blocks. After two (2) blocks are choreographed, a section is completed.
- A section includes two (2) blocks and may be created with the following different options:
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A block should consist of four (4) count steps, eight (8) count steps and syncopated steps. Two (2) symmetric blocks are created that are similar. One (1) block starts with the right foot leading and one (1) block starts with the left foot leading. Syncopated steps are incorporated into each block. This creates one section.
- Partitas are a set of dance movements. A pre-partitas step should be identified at the beginning of each block, which is also identified as a transition step. The step may be an 8-count V-Step, an 8-count Cha Cha step, etc. This step will help the students recognize the first step (beginning) of each block and/or the separation between the sections when the final cut is made.
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A block should consist of four (4) count steps, eight (8) count steps and syncopated steps. Two (2) asymmetric blocks are created that are not similar. One (1) block starts with the right foot leading and one (1) block starts with the left foot leading. Syncopated steps are incorporated into each block. This creates one section.
Note: At least one section of the final dance routine should contain two (2) asymmetric blocks.
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Partitas are a set of dance movements. A pre-partitas step should be identified at the beginning of each block, which is also identified as a transition step. The step may be an 8-count V-Step, an 8-count Cha Cha step, etc. This step will help the students recognize the first step (beginning) of each block and/or the separation between the sections when the final cut is made.
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An odd number of sections should be created.
- Finally, the blocks are cut to create the dance routine.
1st Option
2nd Option
2nd System of La Tin-Va
- Use the simultaneous rotation to mentally challenge the dancers. By creating a dance routine so that the blocks, after the final cut, begin facing from different directions on the dance floor, the dancers are more physically and mentally challenged.
3rd System
The Ultimate La Tin-Va Power Workout
- By combining the 1st System of La Tin-Va and the 2nd System of Latin-Va, you end up with the Ultimate La Tin-Va Power Workout.
The final dance routine will make each student feel like a dance star!
