WHEN Elvis Solomon started to dance 18 years ago, he did so because it was something he greatly enjoyed as a hobby. Little did he know that some years later, he’d be a dance instructor at his booming dance school, Latin Heat Entertainment.

Located at the top floor of the Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown, the dance school, which was birthed some 15 years ago, offers classes for both Latin and ballroom dancing, with Elvis, aided by his fiancé and fellow dance instructor, Alyssa Rohoman.

In an interview with Buzz this week, Elvis reflected on his early days of dancing and how he was absolutely smitten by the couple’s dancing he saw in the 1987 American romantic drama dance film Dirty Dancing.

Starting with waltz, a ballroom dance and salsa, Elvis showcased his skills while a member of the Bryan Nobrega Dance Troupe. “Dancing was something I always wanted to do,” Elvis shared, especially after looking at that dance movie.

At his school, the dances they do include salsa, bachata, meringue, waltz, cha cha, fox trot, Cuban salsa, and rhumba.

“We are making it a fun and exciting class for everyone. We take in people who don’t know anything whatsoever about dancing and we make them into dancers. We keep it as active and fun as possible,” Elvis said.

The school offers dances at both beginners’ and advanced levels and takes in students from age 13. “We also get a lot of responses from the older crowd. We have a student as old as 65 right now and she’s enjoying it. It’s very diverse.”

Elvis and Alyssa also host Latin Heat Entertainment parties, a Latino carnival annually, Halloween parties, among other things.