Lisa “La Boriqua”
President of Latin Street Dancing and the Chicago Latin Street Dance Company

Founder of Latin Street Dancing
Artistic Director of The Chicago Latin Street Dance Company
Lisa “La Boriqua” is of Irish-Puerto Rican heritage born and reared in Chicago, IL. Lisa is a graduate of the University of Illinois, at Urbana-Champaign. She dedicated her time 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 2 years and then went on to owning her own business as a Sales Director/Trainer for the Mary Kay Cosmetics Company for 5 years.

Lisa “La Boriqua” has always incorporated dance as a part of her life style, studying for 5 years as a figure skater at Robert Crown and 2 years as a jazz dancer at Gus Giordano's, both in Evanston, IL. In college, she joined the annual Copacabana Show, performing Latin dances from all over the world, as dancer/choreographer for 3 years. A deep desire to perform Latin-based rhythms on a regular basis assisted her and her dance partner Andres Meneses to create the all-year dance group Mosaico. Through Mosaico, Lisa “La Boriqua” and Andres were able to dance locally and state-wide.

Lisa “La Boriqua” has dedicated her life to sharing the beauty of Latin culture through “street dancing” (Latin dances danced today). Lisa “La Boriqua” has shared her knowledge and passion for dancing for the last 14 years throughout the community and incorporated Latin Street Dancing in January of 1998 here in Chicago. Desirous of a lifetime career choice, Lisa “La Boriqua” pursued her dream of dance 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).

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 at about 3-5 times outside of our regular studio activities. The studio and the City of Chicago alone 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 20,000 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.

Just this year, 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 13 instructors teaching out of 4 studios and has developed 4 different divisions: The Studio, The Dance Company, Special Events & Planning, and a Dancing Agency.
Latin Street Dancing has earned our motto “we’re more than just a dance studio”!