The Dance Floor Instructor Profile

Mr. Ashok Bhandari, a tax consultant, and a college teacher started learning Salsa as a hobby in 2007 at Salsa Dance Academy in Nepal under the instructors, Mr. Binayek Das Shrestha and Ms. Katia Verrault. Soon the hobby became a passion and there was no turning back. He travelled to Thailand, Europe, Turkey, and India on numerous occasions training with world-renowned instructors and performers during international Salsa festivals and congresses.

Mr. Bhandari started his career as a Salsa instructor at Salsa Dance Academy in 2009. He has also taught in institutions like Alliance Francaise, Alta Vista, Lincoln School, Ullens, KCM, NATHM, ACE, THAMES and in many corporate retreats and team building activities as a freelancer.

With a vision to contribute more to the Nepalese Salsa scene, he founded his own dance company ‘The Dance Floor’ in May 2013. Currently, he teaches Salsa and other Latin dance forms at his studio in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Mr. Bhandari has also co-taught Salsa workshops in Chennai International Salsa festival and in La Casita, Pondicherry with his mentor and teacher Ms. Katia Verrault in 2014. Recently in 2015, he gave few salsa and bachata workshops in Kabul during his visit to Afghanistan.

He has also performed in Salsa Vacation with the stars (Bangkok 2009), 5th India International Salsa Congress(Bangalore 2010) and in Nepal’s 1st and 2nd salsa festival in 2010 and 2011. In Nepal, he has performed for national TV shows and many corporate events.

Some people know him as a mathematics and statistics teacher for undergraduates and an accountant/tax consultant freelancer. However, he is best known as one of the most prominent figures in the Nepalese Salsa community.

He is thankful to the almighty for being able to touch thousands of peoples’ lives through salsa.

Featured Video- By Susana SANJUAN LOPEZ (Mexico/France)

Mr. Ashok Bhandari was chosen for a documentary on Salsa in Nepal by Susana San Juan Lopez.

This BLINK #2 is about Ashok Bhandari, a Nepalese salsa instructor settled in Kathmandu. He shares with us his passion which led him to travel and broaden his vision.

Director/Producer/Editing/Sound/Coloring : Susana Sanjuan López
Assistant Director : Nigam Bhandari
Camera : Susana Sanjuan L. and Amar Maharjan
Production Manager : Prabin Rawat