Rodrigo Cortazar, danseur de Salsa et fusion né à Veracruz
Rodrigo Cortazar, Mexican Salsa dancer born in Veracruz, who came from music
Rodrigo Cortazar · Salsa & fusion · Veracruz, Mexico

RODRIGO CORTAZAR at a glance

  • Stage names : Rodrigo Cortazar (the spelling on his accounts) [1]
  • Origins : born in Veracruz 🇲🇽, to parents from Mexico City [2][3]
  • Birth : he does not give his date of birth
  • Teaching : online classes with the RC Salsa Academy [2]
  • Stage partners : his first partner in Veracruz, Claudia Sol, Selene Tovar, Bersy Cortez, Asya Sonina [2][4]
  • The duo : with Selene Tovar, around 2010 [2][5]
  • Style : musical Salsa and fusion
  • Achievements : no titles announced; he chose shows over competition [2]
  • Teachers : Salsa con Clave (Víctor and Gaby), Miguel Ángel Samudio, Franklin Diaz [2]
  • Status : active; announced for November 2026 in Poland and Milan [3]
  • Instagram : @rodrigo.cortazar.210
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Rodrigo Cortazar: from Veracruz to Salsa, a dancer who came from music

Rodrigo Cortazar, born in Veracruz, comes to Salsa through music. After years in Veracruz, Mexico City, Chicago, and Montreal, he forms a duo around 2010 with Selene Tovar, traveling from congresses to festivals. Then he continues on his own path.

He starts with house and lip-sync contests before falling in love with Salsa on a street in Veracruz. His teachers include Franklin Diaz, whose classes he copied for a long time to learn.

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About this article

This article follows Rodrigo Cortazar’s path, from Veracruz to his first congresses, then his duo with Selene Tovar around 2010 and what he did afterward, in his own words at every stage. The facts come from his interviews, the press, and festival pages. The numbers in brackets refer to the notes at the bottom of the page.

Last updated: October 2026.

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“Yo no quiero limpiar, quiero bailar.” (I don’t want to clean, I want to dance.) That’s what Rodrigo Cortazar says, broom in hand, as he leaves his job in Montreal — Salsa Controll, June 2026 [2]. His whole journey is in that sentence: a dancer from Veracruz who knows what he wants.

He will have several partners. One of them, Selene Tovar, is a Mexican woman who came to Salsa through music and percussion [2]. Together, around 2010, they take to the congress circuit. Their story is quickly summarized, but some questions keep coming up: is he a world champion?, has he been dancing as a duo since 2005?, has he had a twenty-year career?

Then there is what these questions leave out: music, where he comes from, the teachers who influenced him, and how he continued on his path. That is the thread of this article.

World champions, a duo since 2005, a twenty-year career? The 6 MYTHS about RODRIGO CORTAZAR, TRUE or FALSE

Before telling his story, a necessary stop. Several claims about Rodrigo Cortazar keep coming up. Which ones hold up? The verdict at a glance, then the details in the sections indicated. As for his date of birth, he does not give it.

❌ MYTH 1 · Rodrigo Cortazar, world champion?

You might think he is a world champion

✅ Nothing says so — Rodrigo did not like competition and chose shows.

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❌ MYTH 2 · A duo with Selene since 2005?

You might think they have been dancing together since 2005

✅ False — 2005 was Rodrigo’s first congress, as a spectator, in Los Angeles. The duo dates from around 2010, and Selene says the same as he does.

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❌ MYTH 3 · Trained in Chicago?

Rodrigo is said to have trained in Chicago

✅ Needs nuance — his first teachers are in Veracruz and Mexico City. He stays in Chicago twice, first for four months, then for a year.

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❌ MYTH 4 · Does Rodrigo copy Franklin Diaz?

Rodrigo Cortazar is said to do nothing but copy Franklin Diaz

✅ Needs nuance — Rodrigo says it himself: for a long time he copied to learn, and he stands by it.

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❌ MYTH 5 · A twenty-year career?

Rodrigo is said to have a career spanning more than twenty years

✅ Needs clarification — this is the wording of a directory that gives no dates. It is better to follow his milestones: first congress in 2005, New York in 2006, duo around 2010.

READ THE SECTION >

❌ MYTH 6 · Rodrigo, a dancer from Mexico City?

Rodrigo Cortazar is said to be from Mexico City

✅ Not quite — he was born in Veracruz. His parents come from Mexico City, where he will return to study music.

READ THE SECTION >

VERACRUZ: a child artist, HOUSE, and FONOMÍMICA

Rodrigo Cortazar is born in Veracruz, Mexico: “Pues nací en Veracruz, Veracruz. Mis papás se mudaron de la Ciudad de México” (Well, I was born in Veracruz, Veracruz. My parents had moved from Mexico City) [2][3].

He is an artist from a very young age: “Empecé a bailar desde muy niño, fui muy muy muy artista. Me encantaba la música, tocaba el órgano, cantaba, imitaba artistas, me ponía a bailar.” (I started dancing when I was very little; I was very, very artistic. I loved music, I played the organ, I sang, I imitated artists, I would start dancing.) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, June 2026 [2].

In middle school, it is house, popular in nightclubs, and fonomímica contests, where people mime the artists of the moment [2]. In high school, his dance group wins everything: “hice coreografías de Proyecto 1, de Control Machete, Los Ilegales, todo y siempre ganábamos. Me encantaba, me encantaba.” (I choreographed to Proyecto 1, Control Machete, Los Ilegales, everything, and we always won. I loved it, I loved it.) [2]

Then comes the question of what to do next. He hesitates between medicine — he has been a first responder with the Red Cross — and the performing arts: “Estoy muy obsesionado con estudiar medicina porque fui paramédico de la Cruz Roja. […] pero también me encanta todas las artes escénicas.” (I am very obsessed with the idea of studying medicine because I was a first responder with the Red Cross. […] but I also love all the performing arts.) [2] He takes a gap year to decide [2].

VERACRUZ, then MEXICO CITY: DANZÓN, SALSA, and music school

Walking through the streets of downtown Veracruz, he comes across an advertisement: “encontré un letrero que decía clases de danzón y de salsa” (I found a sign that said danzón and Salsa classes) — Rodrigo, Fusión Salsafest, January 2025 [2]. His first teacher is Miguel Ángel Samudio, “un danzonero muy famoso de aquí de Veracruz” (a very famous danzonero from here, from Veracruz) [2]. His classes weave the structure of danzón into Salsa. It is love at first sight: “Y ahí me enamoré de la salsa. Y de ahí dije, quiero más.” (And there I fell in love with Salsa. And from then on I said: I want more.) [2]

In Veracruz, he will have “tres maestros” (three teachers): Miguel Ángel Samudio for danzón, Robertico Valdés for Cuban Salsa, and a Salsa teacher [2]. In Mexico City, “mis primeros maestros fueron Víctor y Gaby de Salsa con Clave” (my first teachers were Víctor and Gaby, from Salsa con Clave) [2]. He also learns music there: “acabé estudiando música en una escuela que se llama Fermata” (I ended up studying music at a school called Fermata) [2].

To earn a living, he sings in bands at parties and hotels. He gets off to a bad start: “Duré un mes en ese grupo porque era malo.” (I stayed in that band for a month because I was bad.) He perseveres, joins another band, then the first one calls him back, this time as lead singer [2].

LOS ANGELES, 2005: a first congress, around five thousand people standing, according to Rodrigo

In 2005, he goes to his first Salsa congress, in Los Angeles: “En el 2005 voy a mi primer congreso de salsa en Los Ángeles” (In 2005, I go to my first Salsa congress, in Los Angeles) [2]. There he sees Tropical Gem (see Fernando Sosa), Santo Rico and Billy Fajardo, as well as other couples he admires [2]. The room holds “una audiencia como de 5 mil personas, todos de pie” (an audience of around five thousand people, all standing) [2].

That night, everything is decided: “Yo los veía y veía a los bailarines y a los audiencias. Yo quiero hacer eso. […] Sí, y lo logré.” (I watched them, I watched the dancers and the audience. I want to do that. […] Yes, and I did it.) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, June 2026 [2]. Back in Mexico, he tells his father: “Papá, ¿sabes qué? Ya no quiero estudiar música.” (Dad, you know what? I don’t want to study music anymore.) [2]

He has filmed the dancers on four videotapes. He shuts himself away with them: “me pasé encerrado un mes entero sin salir de mi cuarto, viendo todo lo que grabé y aprendiendo” (I spent a whole month shut in my room, watching everything I had filmed and learning) [2]. His goal becomes clear: “tengo que ser el mejor de toda Latinoamérica” (I have to be the best in all of Latin America) [2].

NEW YORK, November 2006: winter COLD and IDOLS

His first congress in New York takes place in November 2006. The cold surprises him: “un frío infernal” (hellish cold) [2]. There he sees Adolfo Indacochea for the first time, at a party on a boat on the Hudson: “dije wow quién es este tipo yo quiero hablar como él” (I thought: wow, who is this guy? I want to talk like him) [2].

Before him, there had been Johnny Vazquez. When he dances at the Bacardí congress in Veracruz, the whole room stands up, something Rodrigo had never seen in his city [2]. He admits it: “yo quería ser Johnny Vásquez en todos los aspectos” (I wanted to be Johnny Vásquez in every way) — Rodrigo, Fusión Salsafest, January 2025 [2].

His idols follow one another: Johnny Vazquez, then Franklin Diaz, then Frankie Martínez. Elsewhere, he mentions others, such as Eddie Torres, Adolfo Indacochea, Fernando Sosa, Jason Molina and Milton Cobo [2]. Even today, Tito Ortos, Franklin Diaz, Billy Fajardo, and Eddie Torres remain his teachers: “Están muy, muy, muy alto y que siguen siendo mis maestros hasta la actualidad. Cada que me siento a hablar con ellos Yo tengo esa misma emoción” (They are very, very high up and they continue to be my teachers today. Every time I sit down to talk with them, I feel that same emotion) [2].

VERACRUZ, 2006: BALLET and the first choreographies

In Veracruz, he decides to devote himself to dance: “ya me voy a dedicar a hacer bailarín” (I am going to devote myself to becoming a dancer) [2]. He takes his first ballet classes with Víctor Rosete, who remains his teacher of “proyección escénica” (stage projection) [2]. It is in 2006 that he learns from him [2].

His first dance partner, who now has her own school in Veracruz, becomes a friend: “somos muy amigos hasta la fecha y con ella hice mis primeras coreografías” (we are still very close friends today, and it was with her that I created my first choreographies) [2].

CHICAGO, MONTREAL: “I came here to DANCE”

In Chicago, the company Descarga Caribe invites him to work: “me invitó a trabajar y yo soñado porque era una de las compañías más importantes en todo el mundo” (it invited me to work, and I was dreaming, because it was one of the most important companies in the world) [2]. He stays there for four months: “Duré cuatro meses en Chicago y ahí bailé con Cristina Zavala, que fue otra pareja de baile mía. Bueno, no fue mi pareja de baile, ella me ayudó mucho, ella fue como una hermana mayor.” (I stayed in Chicago for four months and danced there with Cristina Zavala, who was another dance partner. Well, not my dance partner: she helped me a lot, she was like an older sister.) [2]

Chicago isn’t for him. He leaves for Montreal: “Chicago no era lo mío, así que me mudé para Montreal, Canadá y trabajé de carpintero y no fui bueno.” (Chicago wasn’t for me, so I moved to Montreal, Canada, and worked as a carpenter, and I wasn’t good at it.) [2] They put him to work sweeping. One day, he makes his decision: “Yo no vine aquí a barrer, yo vine aquí a bailar.” (I didn’t come here to sweep, I came here to dance.) He quits: “Yo no quiero limpiar, quiero bailar” (I don’t want to clean, I want to dance) [2].

Then Canada closes its doors: visas become mandatory for Mexicans and he can no longer get back in. He is stuck in Chicago, where Cristina Zavala takes him in: “Cristina Zavala me aguantó. Me aguantó en serio. Tengo un cariño muy especial con Cristina Zavala.” (Cristina Zavala put up with me. She really put up with me. I have a very special affection for Cristina Zavala.) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, June 2026 [2]. He spends a year there working with her [2].

2009: “GUAJIRA CON TUMBAO” and Claudia Sol

He then meets Claudia Sol, from Monterrey: “Comenzamos a trabajar, Claudia Sol y yo.” (Claudia Sol and I started working together.) [2] Together, they revisit a choreography he created on his own: “Esa coreografía la hice en el 2009, solo.” (I made this choreography in 2009, on my own.) [2]. It is Guajira con tumbao.

It draws inspiration from Juan Matos and Marco Ferrigno: “En el 2009 bailaban descalzos y tenían todo este tipo de movimientos entre afro contemporáneo, jazz, Michael Jackson, todo.” (In 2009, they danced barefoot and had all kinds of movements ranging from Afro-contemporary to jazz, Michael Jackson, everything.) [2]

2010: RODRIGO and SELENE, a duo that travels

Around 2010, Rodrigo starts working with Selene Tovar. He himself recalls an event with her in New York, which he places around 2010 [2], and Selene gives the same year: “we started 2010 and we started like 2011 very hard we got a lot of work” (we started in 2010, and around 2011 we began working very intensely: we had a lot of work) — Selene, elSol festival, April 2024 [5].

They were also a couple in real life, as Rodrigo himself recounts: “Tuvimos una relación […] pero aparte comenzamos a trabajar juntos y fue donde nos fuimos hasta arriba como pareja de baile” (we had a relationship […] but we also started working together, and that was when we rose very high as a dance couple) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, June 2026 [2]. This is his account: Selene does not discuss it in her interviews, where she tells her side of the story (see her article).

They come from the same school. Rodrigo: “Y ella venía aprendiendo salsa casi de las mismas raíces que yo, de Miguelito, de Miguelito Castillo, que venía de salsa con clave.” (And she was learning Salsa from almost the same roots as me, from Miguelito, from Miguelito Castillo, who came from Salsa con Clave.) And the two complement each other: “ella sabía de percusiones y yo sabía de cuestiones muy melódicas. Entonces hicimos un clic y un producto muy, muy, muy vendible, muy bueno y que a la gente le encantó.” (she knew percussion and I knew very melodic things. So we clicked, and made a very, very, very marketable product, a very good one, that people loved.) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, June 2026 [2].

He also says he learned musicality “no solo de la Escuela de Música” (not just at music school), but from Selene, because “Selene también tocaba las percusiones” (Selene also played percussion) [2].

Selene, for her part, speaks of him with admiration: “trabajar con Rodrigo, que hicimos creo un equipo excelente él tenía mucha información es un excelente maestro” (working with Rodrigo, with whom we made, I think, an excellent team; he had a lot of information, he’s an excellent teacher) [5]. And also: “yo me sentaba embobada a verlo dar su clase” (I would sit, fascinated, watching him teach his class) — Selene, Fusión Salsafest, July 2023 [5].

Onstage, the duo travels: “fuimos a Europa, a Asia, a Centroamérica” (we went to Europe, Asia, Central America) [5].

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, around 2010: the first class with FRANKLIN DIAZ

Rodrigo has long followed Franklin Diaz through videos: “Y se convirtió en mi más grande ídolo” (And he became my greatest idol) [2]. Around 2010, at the New York congress, he finally meets him: “Selene y yo tenemos un evento en Nueva York En el Congreso de Nueva York Nos quedamos en casa de un amigo Y mi amigo tomaba clases con Franklin” (Selene and I have an event in New York, at the New York congress; we are staying with a friend, and my friend was taking classes with Franklin) [2].

In the first class, Franklin calls out to him: “pero muévete compadre, muévete” (but move, buddy, move). Rodrigo swears he is moving his hips. What follows is beyond question: “desde esa primera clase dije, tengo que seguir entrenando con él” (from that first class, I said: I have to keep training with him) [2].

Rodrigo and Selene are living in Los Angeles at the time, where they have their group and their classes: “Selene y yo vivíamos en Los Ángeles trabajamos en Los Ángeles, teníamos nuestro grupo, nuestras clases y todo.” (Selene and I lived in Los Angeles, we worked in Los Angeles, we had our group, our classes and everything.) [2]. They invite Franklin there: “lo llevamos como tres veces a Los Ángeles. Convencimos a Manolo Redondo que lo trajera a uno de los Fusion” (we took him to Los Angeles about three times. We convinced Manolo Redondo to invite him to one of the Fusión events) [2].

Later, a disagreement drives them apart. Rodrigo recounts it: “Entonces llega un momento en el cual tenemos una diferencia. No la supimos arreglar, no la supimos hablar por cuestiones de inmadurez emocional y por no saber aclarar las cosas y hablar las cosas. Entonces nos distanciamos y nos dejamos de hablar por varios años” (Then a moment comes when we have a disagreement. We didn’t know how to resolve it, we didn’t know how to talk about it, because of emotional immaturity and because we didn’t know how to clear things up or talk about them. So we drifted apart and stopped speaking to each other for several years) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, August 2026 [2].

They meet again at a very famous festival in Europe: Rodrigo is asked to introduce Franklin’s show, he does so, then takes his class: “voy a su clase” (I go to his class). He then resumes training with him: “hasta la fecha sigo entrenando con él” (to this day, I keep training with him) [2].

AFTER the duo: RODRIGO, Miami, Spain and an online school

The duo comes to an end. Rodrigo explains it this way: “por todos estos conflictos y por no tener una educación emocional ni una madurez emocional de cómo resolver nuestros problemas” (because of all these conflicts, and because we had neither the emotional education nor the emotional maturity to solve our problems). Then he leaves for Miami: “Yo me voy para Miami” (I’m leaving for Miami) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, June 2026 [2].

Around 2018 or 2019, he settles in Spain and dances with Bersy Cortez, in Malaga [2]. He recalls: “we were closing all the events like every weekend, we were closing or we were the second last” (we closed all the events, almost every weekend, we closed or we were second to last) — Rodrigo, Baila Room, February 2021 [2]. And about their duo: “Aparte que era una colaboración Muy bella, éramos como brothers Éramos hermanitos, nos llevábamos muy bien” (Besides, it was a very beautiful collaboration, we were like brothers, we were little brothers, we got along very well) [2].

Then the pandemic brings everything to a halt: “I think this situation came in a perfect moment for me because I really needed to stop since a long time ago” (I think this situation came at a perfect moment for me, because I had really needed to stop for a long time) [2]. He says it plainly: “I lost all my jobs, all my contracts, for one year” (I lost all my jobs, all my contracts, for a year) [2]. He then starts teaching online with Asya Sonina, under the name “rodrigo y asia” (Rodrigo y Asia) [2].

In February 2022, the newspaper Diario de Avisos announces their first visit to Tenerife, with their academy, RA Academy. Rodrigo explains: “Comenzamos a crear un método de enseñanza que fuera más funcional, más práctico, más orgánico y sobre todo, más rápido de aprender” (We started creating a teaching method that was more functional, more practical, more organic and, above all, quicker to learn) [4].

In 2026, he teaches online with his own school, RC Salsa Academy: “hay videos de pasos sueltos de la metodología RC bloque 1, bloque 2, bloque 3. También hay un laboratorio de fusión donde hago muchas cosas que he aprendido con Franklin” (there are videos of individual steps from the RC methodology, block 1, block 2, block 3. There is also a fusion laboratory where I do many things I have learned with Franklin) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, August 2026 [2]. In November 2026, he is announced at El Sol Festival, in Poland, and at Queens & Kings of Salsa, in Milan [3].

His METHOD: imitating to learn, building step by step

Rodrigo learns by imitating: “me encanta ese proceso de imitación. Cada que tomo clase con alguien, me meto yo en ese proceso.” (I love this process of imitation. Every time I take a class with someone, I put myself through that process.) [2] To those who say he copies, he replies: “Y sí, lo era. Pero yo estaba copiando para aprender. Y creo que fue un factor que me ayudó muchísimo a llegar a donde estoy actualmente.” (And yes, it was true. But I was copying to learn. And I think it was a factor that helped me enormously to get where I am today.) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, August 2026 [2].

He likes to guide: “Me encanta el construir, no el llevar de la mano, el guiar gente paso a paso en un proceso muy orgánico.” (I love building, not holding people by the hand, but guiding them step by step through a very organic process.) [2]

What he says about himself: PASSION, high standards and a look at his YOUTH

Rodrigo did not like competition: “La competencia no me gustó, así que dije me voy por las shows” (I didn’t like competition, so I said: I’m going to do shows) [2].

For Rodrigo, classes with Franklin Diaz matter: “para mí uno de los momentos más felices de mi vida en mi carrera es entrenar con Franklin me encanta, me encanta” (for me, one of the happiest moments of my life, of my career, is training with Franklin; I love it, I love it) [2]. He hates being told no: “i hate when people say no to me” (I hate being told no) [2].

He takes a harsh view of his time in the duo with Selene: “Yo era muy narcisista, era muy misógino, muy machista” (I was very narcissistic, very misogynistic, very chauvinistic) — Rodrigo, Salsa Controll, June 2026 [2].

In SUMMARY: Rodrigo Cortazar

Seven milestones mark his story.

  • Who: a dancer born in Veracruz, with a background in music.
  • 2005: his first congress, in Los Angeles [2].
  • 2006: his first congress in New York, and ballet in Veracruz [2].
  • Around 2010: the duo with Selene Tovar [2][5].
  • A teacher: Franklin Diaz, whose class he first takes around 2010 [2].
  • Afterward: Miami, then Spain with Bersy Cortez [2].
  • Today: he teaches online with RC Salsa Academy [2].

Studio24’s artistic REFERENCES

Rodrigo’s path crosses those of teachers you can find on this blog. Franklin Diaz first, his great teacher. Tito Ortos next, whom he names among his teachers [2]. Bersy Cortez finally, his dance partner in Spain [2].

Among his idols, Rodrigo names Eddie Torres, Adolfo Indacochea, Johnny Vazquez and Fernando Sosa [2]. And his choreography Guajira con tumbao owes a debt to Marco Ferrigno [2]. His duo partner, Selene Tovar, has her own article.

Learning SALSA and MAMBO in Liège and online

The Salsa Rodrigo Cortazar dances draws on the same foundations that Xavier Colina teaches at Studio24: Salsa On1, in the tradition of Fernando Sosa, and Mambo On2, in that of Eddie Torres and Adolfo Indacochea. Whether you’re in Liège or anywhere in the French-speaking world, you can begin this same progression.

In Liège, Salsa On1 is danced on Tuesdays and Mambo On2 on Mondays: both days, Intro at 6:30 pm, Basics+ at 7:30 pm, Intermediate at 8:30 pm. After about a year of practice, move on to the Advanced level on Thursdays: Mambo On2 at 6:30 pm, Salsa On1 at 7:30 pm. Everywhere else, Studio Live offers video classes to follow at your own pace.

Want to dance Salsa?

🎓 Xavier teaches Salsa On1 and Mambo On2 at Studio24 in Liège. Or online anywhere in the world through Studio Live.

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FAQ: everything about RODRIGO CORTAZAR

🌎 Who is RODRIGO CORTAZAR?

Rodrigo Cortazar, born in Veracruz, is a Mexican dancer who came to dance from music. Around 2010, he forms a Salsa duo with Selene Tovar, then continues on his path: Miami, Spain, then online teaching [2][3].

✍️ How do you spell RODRIGO CORTAZAR’s name?

Rodrigo writes it without an accent on his accounts and in most video titles about him; the Spanish press sometimes adds an accent. This article follows his usage [1][4].

📅 Since when has he danced with Selene Tovar?

Around 2010. Selene says “we started 2010”; Rodrigo remembers an event with her in New York, which he places around 2010 [2][5]. Later, the duo comes to an end and each goes their own way.

🏆 Is Rodrigo Cortazar a world champion?

Nothing indicates that he is. He chose shows over competition [2].

📍 Where is RODRIGO CORTAZAR from?

He was born in Veracruz, Mexico. His parents came from Mexico City, where he studied music [2][3].

🎓 Who are RODRIGO CORTAZAR’s masters?

In Veracruz, Miguel Ángel Samudio (danzón) and Robertico Valdés (Cuban Salsa); in Mexico City, Víctor and Gaby from Salsa con Clave; then Víctor Rosete for ballet. He also names Tito Ortos, Franklin Diaz, Billy Fajardo, and Eddie Torres as masters [2].

🤝 Who does RODRIGO dance with on stage?

In Veracruz, with his first dance partner; around 2009, with Claudia Sol; around 2010, with Selene Tovar; then with Bersy Cortez, in Spain; and in 2021-2022 with Asya Sonina, for online classes and a tour [2][4].

🔁 Does Rodrigo copy Franklin Diaz?

He copied for a long time to learn, he says, and he embraces it as a stage in his training [2].

🎂 How OLD is Rodrigo Cortazar?

We cannot say: he does not give his date of birth.

📺 Where can you learn with RODRIGO?

Online, with his RC Salsa Academy, which offers videos in blocks and a fusion lab [2].

📍 Where can you find him?

Rodrigo is announced for November 2026 at El Sol Festival (Poland) and Queens & Kings of Salsa (Milan) [3]. On Instagram: @rodrigo.cortazar.210 [1].

🎓 Want to dance SALSA? Where should you start?

In Liège: first trial class for 10€, no reservation needed. Tuesdays are for Salsa On1; Mondays for Mambo On2: both days, Intro at 6:30 pm, Basics+ at 7:30 pm, and Intermediate at 8:30 pm. On Thursdays, the Advanced level (about a year of practice) includes Mambo On2 at 6:30 pm and Salsa On1 at 7:30 pm. Practice in the evening at Puerto Rico Nights. Anywhere in the world: Studio Live — +300 HD lessons, 7-day free trial.

Xavier Colina — Salsa On1, Mambo On2, and Bachata Teacher, Studio24 Liège

About the author

Xavier Colina teaches Salsa On1, Mambo On2, and Bachata at Studio24 in Liège (Belgium) and online through Studio Live. Trained in the direct lineage of Eddie Torres → Adolfo Indacochea (World Mastery program), Fernando Sosa and Korke y Judith. Learn more →

Sources & Bibliography

  1. ↩ Official account: RODRIGO CORTAZAR [Instagram: @rodrigo.cortazar.210]. Profile. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/rodrigo.cortazar.210/ [accessed October 25, 2026].
  2. ↩ Rodrigo Cortazar speaks: interviews (2021-2026): BAILA ROOM, 2021. The Master of “Rond de Jambes” Rodrigo Cortazar (Podcast Full) [online]. Baila Room, February 23, 2021. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5mY7a8_aV8 [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: interview in English; segments [00:00], [03:11], [03:32], [14:58], [27:22], [62:18], [68:04]; Rodrigo dates his move to Spain to “2019 or 18 i think so” ([03:11]).
    FUSIÓN SALSAFEST, 2025. Tras Bambalinas con Rodrigo Cortazar [online]. Fusión Salsafest, January 23, 2025. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx8W5o_fsXQ [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: interview in Spanish with Manolo Redondo; segments [05:21], [07:23], [07:34], [07:46], [08:06], [12:11], [18:45], [19:53], [20:11]; the video title is written here without an accent, like the artist’s name on his accounts.
    SALSA CONTROLL, 2026. De CARPINTERO a BAILARÍN FAMOSO | La historia de RODRIGO CORTAZAR [online]. Salsa Controll, June 5, 2026. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gHx-wG5GAk [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: interview in Spanish; segments [02:10], [02:47], [06:10], [06:23], [07:29], [07:47], [08:22], [08:33], [09:36], [10:29], [11:19], [11:26], [11:35], [16:38], [16:50], [19:47], [20:14], [20:44], [26:15], [26:21], [26:33], [26:46], [27:13], [27:28], [27:51], [27:57], [28:08], [28:31], [29:01], [29:09], [29:14], [29:20], [29:42], [30:07], [33:49], [33:59]; SalsaVida names a “Cristina Paredes” among his partners, while Rodrigo speaks of Cristina Zavala.
    SALSA CONTROLL, 2026. Rodrigo Cortazar Habla del Ego, la Crítica y el Crecimiento Personal [online]. Salsa Controll, August 3, 2026. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUj9qxu52eg [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: interview in Spanish; segments [06:48], [07:14], [07:53], [09:33], [14:05], [15:17], [15:19], [16:26], [16:28], [17:35], [17:43], [17:48], [17:59], [22:26], [22:31], [22:39], [22:58], [23:45], [23:52], [26:24], [28:02], [28:17], [45:09].
    Note: translations of the Spanish and English quotations are by the author of the article.
  3. ↩ Profiles and festival pages: SALSA VIDA. Rodrigo Cortazar [online]. Available at: https://www.salsavida.com/es/instructors/rodrigo-cortazar/ [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: promotional profile; it describes him as being from Veracruz and mentions “more than two decades” of experience, without a date.
    GO&DANCE. Rodrigo Cortazar [online]. Available at: https://www.goandance.com/en/artist/3146/rodrigo-cortazar [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: the profile announces El Sol Festival (Poland, November 12-16, 2026) and Queens & Kings of Salsa (Milan, November 27-29, 2026).
  4. ↩ Press: Tenerife (2022): MORELL, Clara, 2022. Rodrigo y Asya traen por primera vez a Tenerife sus clases de salsa : « Este baile sirve para seducir ». Diario de Avisos [online]. February 26, 2022. Available at: https://diariodeavisos.elespanol.com/2022/02/rodrigo-y-asya-traen-por-primera-vez-a-tenerife-sus-clases-de-salsa-este-baile-sirve-para-seducir/ [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: the article puts an accent on the surname; Rodrigo explains his method in it; his words are translated here.
  5. ↩ Selene Tovar speaks: interviews (2020-2024): OH MY D!, 2020. Excelente Bailarina MEXICANA de SALSA Selene Tovar [online]. OH MY D!, December 22, 2020. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NTNExjaoFI [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: interview in Spanish; segments [04:43].
    FUSIÓN SALSAFEST, 2023. TB8: Pasión, superación y diversidad: Selene Tovar y Fernando Azua sobre el mundo de la salsa y mas [online]. Fusión Salsafest, July 4, 2023. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-eP7VsFqRc [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: interview in Spanish with Selene Tovar and Fernando Azúa; segments [09:36], [77:26].
    ELSOL FESTIVAL, 2024. Interview with Selene Tovar for elSol 2024 [online]. elSol festival, April 12, 2024. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfPMNFgATVs [accessed October 25, 2026]. Note: interview in English; segments [02:04].

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