Maria Catalan

Maria Catalan, a three-time World Salsa Champion and National Bachata Champion, established herself as a prominent figure in the international Latin dance community. In 2015, Catalan garnered significant recognition, achieving runner-up in the World Latin Dance Cup Salsa On2 Champion category and securing second place in Bachata Couple Pro at the World Latin Dance Cup, both alongside Oscar Sosa. Her breakthrough continued in 2016 when she became World Champion for her ‘Salsa On 2 Couple Pro’ performance at the World Latin Dance Cup with Jorge Martinez. The same year, she further solidified her competitive standing by securing a second-place finish in the Salsa On-2 Division at the World Salsa Championships with Martinez.

Her impactful collaboration with Jorge Martinez is recognized as the ‘Jorge y Maria Experience,’ renowned for its impeccable technique and partner work, which has taken them to stages and workshops in global cities including Los Angeles, Rome, Korea, and New Zealand. Catalan is also a co-director of several prominent dance teams and a dedicated member of the Salsa Na’Ma Dance Company. Demonstrating her versatility, she secured first place in ABIERTA SALSA SOLISTA MUJER at Fusion SalsaFest in 2022. She continued her solo competitive success in 2023, earning third place in the Professional Ladies Solo Salsa Showcase at The Summit Championship.

Maintaining her position at the forefront of the Latin dance world, Catalan achieved second place in the Professional Ladies Solo Salsa at The Summit Championship in 2024. She travels globally, leading workshops and performances at various Salsa and Bachata Congresses and Festivals, sharing her expertise with a wider audience. When not performing or competing, she is actively involved in teaching intricate salsa partner work to aspiring dancers worldwide and maintains a robust online presence.