Cardio Wednesdays | Salsa Styling with Ava Apple

Rae Studios is proud to be the 2025 programming partner of the San Francisco Recreation & Parks, OEWD, and BRV; providing FREE CLASSES to the Union Square Neighborhood to increase equity and access to dance & wellness for all ages, abilities, and levels. Cardio Wednesday will feature outdoor cardio dance classes provided by Rae Studios on Union Square Plaza (Across the street to Macy’s). Classes offered will range from DRENCHED! (A Rae Studios Signature class), BollyX, Shuffle, and Salsa. All classes offered will be free and easy to follow. We encourage all participants to sign up in advance to help the instructor prepare for a successful class. We are thrilled to be a part of this amazing new addition to the Union Square neighborhood. See you on the square!

Hosted By:

• Rae Studios | @raestudiossf
• San Francisco Recreation & Parks | @sfrecpark
• Office of Economic & Workforce Development | @sfoewd
• Beiderman Development Ventures

Union Square Class Program (February-April):

Every Wednesday 5pm - 6pm on the Union Square Plaza

Every 1st Wed: DRENCHED! A signature Rae Studios Cardio Dance Class (All dance genres, all levels)

Every 2nd Wed: BollyX

Every 3rd Wed: Shuffle

Every 4th Wed: Salsa Styling (No partners needed)

All classes are outdoors at 234 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Located between Hyde Street and Market Street.

BART:Get off at Powell Street Station. Take the exit A1 towards Powell Street, Cable Car / Union Square. From the cable car turnaround, walk up Powell Street towards Union Square

MUNI: Buses, #2, #3, #8, #8AX, #8BX, #30, #38, #38R, and #45 all stop within a block or two from Rae Studios.

Metro Subway: T line (stop at Geary) or J, K, M, and N (stop at Powell)

Caltrain: Exit 4th Street then take either buses #30 and #45 (stop at Stockton St & Sutter St), #31 (stop at Cyril Magnin & Market St), or Metro Subway T Line (Stop at Geary)

Salsa Styling (Class Description):

Shuffle originated in Melbourne, Australia in the late 1980’s and was danced in the club scene to Electronic Dance music. Over the years shuffling has taken the world by storm from clubs to festivals. Shuffling is known to be inclusive, liberating, spiritual, free of judgment, and true expression. Shuffle Dance connects you with the music you love in a special way. In this class students will learn basic shuffle skills like the running man, and the T-step, while also learning to incorporate their own stylistic movements.

Meet our Instructors below:

Ava Apple (She/Her), a San Francisco native, has been dancing professionally for over 40 years. She has competed, performed & taught throughout the USA, Hong Kong, Italy, and The Netherlands and has received awards for her contribution to the world of Salsa & Latin Dance at the 2002 West Coast Salsa Congress, the 2003 SF Salsa Congress, and the 2003 Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts 25th Anniversary celebration.

Many well known dancers got their start with Ava, in her classes and on her dance team “The Latin Symbolics”. The brother/sister duo of Junior & Emily Alabi, Alex Lee & Chi Le, Jhon Narvaez & Liz Rojas are just a few or her students that have gone on to successful dance careers.Ava is highly experienced in teaching Salsa On 1 & On 2, Bachata, NY Hustle, and Partner Lifts & Drops, and she was one of the first dancers to teach “Same Sex Salsa” classes in S.F. in the 1990’s.She is also a highly respected Wedding dance coach/choreographer and LOVES helping couples get ready for their “First Dance”, whether it’s a slow, romantic Ballroom style, or something up-tempo and playful.Ava has danced in commercials for Fitbit, and Next Insurance, and was a featured extra in the movies “Spirit of ‘76”, and “Center Stage”. She also has danced in music videos for Linda Ronstadt, Rick Springfield, and Timmy Spence.

Ig: https://www.instagram.com/avaandrodolfo/

Event Venue

300 Powell St, 300 Powell Street, San Francisco, United States