About Tony...


Tony Ainsley is the first UKA Club Dance Salsa LICENTIATE.

Born in St Lucia, a small island in the Caribbean, he came to the UK when he was twelve years old. Tony trained at The Urdang Academy of Performing Arts in Covent Garden, London where he studied Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz Dance. He first discovered Salsa whilst working on a cruise ship as a dancer. The ship stopped at Puerto Rico and all the crew went off to find a club to let their hair down! The music and the dancing that Tony saw made him determined to master the form.

He came back to London and started to train with Elder Sanchez, Fellow UKA. Elder saw the talent that Tony possessed and invited him to work.

Tony has danced with Elder's dance company "Salsoteca" and Xihomara Granados (also Fellow UKA), and her dance company "Yurapari". Not only do they dance Salsa they also dance many other Latin American dances including traditional Columbian folk dance.

Xihomara was the first lady to introduce Salsa to London and continues to be one of the leading ladies within the Salsa scene. Elder has contributed enormously in all aspects of the dance and it was through his determination and hard work that Salsa is now a recognized dance within the UKA.

Tony Ainsley was the first Salsa teacher to gain the UKA Diploma in Salsa and Latin American dance. He has taught classes all over London and the surrounding areas. His pupils range from absolute beginners to veteran salseros. Tony stresses that no one need feel excluded from Salsa. It attracts all ages, races and personalities. Tony's youngest student is six years old and his oldest student is 71 years young!

Tony has made many students blush or snigger with his now infamous description of Salsa. He says "Salsa is the vertical expression of the horizontal desire!" You may not like it ...But can you deny it?