Our Story
After teaching at other dance studios and dancing for over 10 years, we decided it was time to start our own tribe; so we opened Aatma Dance Studio in 2019.
Our primary mission is to provide the best dance instruction and to make you comfortable with going out and dancing, as quickly as possible. We also aim to bring people together and to give them a home away from home.
We found our second family through dance, and hope to do the same for everyone who walks in through our doors.
Ashwin
Co-owner & Instructor
Ashwin has been dancing Salsa since 2008. He is originally from India but has been living in Atlanta since 2010. He trained at PasoFino Dance in Atlanta and taught Salsa and Bachata there for seven years. He also directed and co-directed several dance teams while teaching at PasoFino.
Ashwin & Kristen won 1st place at the World Salsa Summit Salsa Division (amateur) in 2016 and placed 2nd in the Rising Star Professional Salsa on2 division in 2023. Ashwin has also placed several times in the Salsa and Bachata soloist competitions (Rising Star division).
By day, he is a Software Engineering at Microsoft working on Mixed Reality Applications.
Kristen
Co-owner & Instructor
Kristen has been dancing and teaching Salsa and Bachata since 2010. She is also trained in ballet & jazz and incorporates this training into her style. Her style is very fluid and elegant.
Ladies come to train with her to learn her fluid ladies styling in Salsa and Bachata. She has been directing the Ladies’ teams since 2019.
Stephanie T
Instructor
Stephanie is a multi-talented Atlanta local. By day she is a physical therapist; by night, she is an artist. Stephanie firmly believes that movement is medicine and can often be found at work dancing around the clinic alone or with her patients. For over 20 years, she has been a lover of movement and dance, with expertise in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and modern.
At an early age, Stephanie joined the competition teams at Tumble ‘N Dance where she competed at regional and national competitions and conventions for eight years. Afterward, she continued her dance training at Agnes Scott College, where she earned degrees in neuroscience and dance. During her time there, she performed and choreographed with the college’s dance company, Studio Dance Theatre, and performed at the American College Dance Festival all four years.
Her journey in Latin dance started at AATMA, and her passion for salsa and bachata continues to grow. The Latin dance scene has welcomed her with open arms and left her feeling more connected to her Puerto Rican culture than ever before. Stephanie is a perpetual learner and continues to take classes in various styles. She is excited about the opportunity to help other dancers master their technique and build confidence.
Mike W
Instructor
Mike started his dance journey in 2017, learning Bachata with Fuego y Hielo. Over the years, he has learned salsa on2, Cuban salsa, and cumbia. He enjoys dance because it is a fusion of body movement and music; there’s always something to learn or improve. Mike loves sharing his knowledge and love of dance with new students.
Eli P
Instructor
Eli began her dance journey at 10 years old, helping her create her passion and love for movement. She was born in Mexico City where she trained in jazz, pop, latin dance and even gymnastics. She then moved to Atlanta where she continued her journey within the local latin dance scene in Atlanta – training in salsa, bachata, and cha cha cha as an adult. Proving that it’s never too late to start something again, she began her training with several dance schools in 2016, where she was part of several teams and obtained her latin dance experience such as; Alma Latina Franchise in Atlanta under the direction of Luis and Jess, PasoFino Dance Team Pro/Am Team directed by Jose Maldonado and Lucy Lu, and Alma Latina Bachata Ladies under the direction of Kristen.
Eli attended several congresses, training, taking classes and performing, she also competed at the World Salsa Summit in Miami for three consecutive years (2019-2020) and won first place in different Amateur Divisions.
She then became an instructor for PasoFino Beginner Classes on2 and Rumbera ATL, creating space for women only latin fusion classes in Atlanta.
She has continued to expand her knowledge training in ballet, hip-hop, reggaeton, heels technique, and fusion. Come find your passion for dance with Eli! She teaches at Aatma every Tuesday!
Saint D
Instructor
Saint, a passionate dancer hailing from Nicaragua, brings the rhythm of salsa to life. With over a decade of experience, Saint has been teaching vibrant salsa classes at Cultura Salsera, since 2011. His journey took an exciting turn in 2021, when he represented the Salsa Nicaragua dance school in bachata competitions. Saint’s remarkable talent and dedication led him to first-place victories in both the dance intercontinental and world championship events in the couple category.
In 2022, Saint relocated to Atlanta, where he continues to pursue his passion for dance. His unwavering determination fuels his desire to return to the stage, teach classes, and once again grace the competition circuit. For Saint, salsa isn’t just about movement—it’s a powerful force that unites people and empowers them to overcome life’s challenges. Join him on this exhilarating journey, and together, let’s discover the magic of dance and music within us. 🎶💃🕺
Martha Sheets
Instructor
Martha began their journey in Salsa and Bachata dance in San Diego, CA in 2019. Happy to find a new dance home after moving to Atlanta, she joined Aatma Dance Studio in early 2023. With a foundation in Jazz, Acrobatics, Hip Hop, and Contemporary dance, Martha’s style is a fusion of diverse influences. While studying Cognitive Science at UC San Diego, she immersed herself in the performing arts, participating in musical theater productions as a dancer, choreographer, and director; alongside earning a Dance minor.
Professionally, Martha works in health communications at the CDC and will begin their medical degree program in the fall of 2024. She is passionate about holistic health and wellness and believes dance is a beautiful way to promote physical and emotional well-being.
Martha welcomes students of all levels and dance backgrounds to her classes, emphasizing inclusivity and positivity. Her goal is to cultivate an encouraging environment where everyone feels supported to learn and have fun.
Devin
Instructor
Devin began his dance journey at Aatma Dance Studio in 2022, working to learn Salsa on1 and Bachata. Since starting, he’s quickly fallen in love with Latin dance and gained a newfound appreciation for dance in general. Devin is very eager to learn and has continued to try and broaden his horizons in the Latin dance landscape.
As an instructor, Devin hopes to foster a welcoming community that makes people feel comfortable and encouraged in class. He’s excited about passing on everything he has learned to new students, and to continue to grow as a dancer.
Pam C
Instructor
Pam Chamales has been dancing Salsa and Bachata since 2013. She did most of her training in Gainesville, Florida at Salsa Mundial, and began teaching there in 2021. She regularly takes private lessons and classes, and is committed to continuing her own training, while passing on knowledge to new dancers. Pam also enjoys team performance and loves to entertain a crowd. She is passionate about training students to be excellent social dancers and is committed to emphasizing fundamentals so that students can build strong lead-follow connections and have the freedom to play with musicality. All are welcomed to join her classes!
Amanda D
Instructor
Amanda is a certified yoga instructor and flexibility coach! She has been teaching Vinyasa style yoga for 6 years. Amanda is passionate about functional movement and mobility!
Luna E
Instructor
Meet Luna Carolína, she is a multitalented trained acrobat and dancer. At an early age she did gymnastics and Her love for body movement lead her to discover salsa, bachata, and reggaeton and fell in love. Through dancing she connected even more to her Afro-Latina roots. She is excited to help others connect to their body and find your own flair!
View our schedules to see Which fits yours