EL CHEZA FACTORY is known in Kigali as the top leading salsa dancing classes in the country. The Chief executive Parfait Mugiraneza Ntambiyindekwe, was first  exposed to the art of salsa in 2008, when a group of people invited him to dance salsa dance with them. 

After the dance session they invited him to promote Cuban culture in musical form which was inclusive to a variety of dances such as Bachata, Rhumba, and Orisha dance; this subtle experience would then demonstrate itself years later on the creation of El Cheza. 

"The brand El Cheza was founded in 2018 yet prior to that we were known as a group that just dances salsa. The reason its number one is because it started salsa in Rwanda, and due to that we’ve been granted opportunities such as conducting dance classes at places like the Kigali Convention Centre, and Chillax Lounge,” Angella Mutoni, a member of El Cheza, said.

Mutoni said the brand promotes inclusivity as they give people all kinds of themes to express dancing styles outside of salsa. From Afro to Gakondo their goal is to draw people in, and to have them dance what they can manage.

The CEO Parfait Mugiraneza Ntambiyindekwe  (Left)  with a member of El Cheza.

"It is family that welcomes everyone, enabling a great form of networking, and at times in rare occasions being a spontaneous circumstance that transpires love,” she says.

One of the stories that stuck with Mugiraneza was of a guy working at an auto shop in Nyabugogo selling tools, earning at least Rwf5, 000 a day. The man had a very low tier job at the time. Even so, no matter his financial status and working position, love was found on the dance floor. He met a Scandinavian girl working in the country for a period of time, and to an interesting turn of events they seemed to like each other a lot.

"You know they ended up having a baby, moved to Germany, and when they got married the man demanded that I go to their wedding because he would never have met his wife if he didn’t attend an El Cheza class sessions,” Mugiraneza said.  

Parfait and Angella also emphasised the importance of understanding that salsa isn’t a means to ‘pick up girls’ as from an outsiders point of view watching the dances one may assume the people dancing are dating their partner, although the intimacy seen in the dance doesn’t align with the dancers’ relationship.

Dance partners can either be friends or strangers. Close proximity, and physical contact between partners happens, but if the traditional stance is maintained salsa dancing can be enjoyable without a sense of sensual intimacy

Salsa has several benefits. It’s a pain killer, mental relief, and stress reliever it’s also a calorie burner. If you aren’t a gym person then it’s the place for you.

 Angella added that it’s essential to be consistent as the pattern you learn may withdraw without practice. Salsa is also great for networking, at least four or five embassies are represented every day.

High-profile officials attend the dance classes, important people like the Angolan ambassador, his wife and children being a members of El Cheza. Parfait says Salsa is for all people as they welcome everyone from all places around the world.