An “Areíto” is a Taíno rhythm, song, dance
and gathering through which history is
taught and passed down.
International musicians, dancers and educators, Dakhóta Romero “La Mujer de Tu Vida” and Edwin Ferreras “El Maestro de Maestros” travel the world teaching and performing Bachata, Bolero, Son, Merengue and Dembow. They are widely popular for their innovative methods of instruction including musicality, history, cultural idioms, connection and social dance etiquette, all the while encouraging their students to express themselves in their own unique way.
In 2017, Edwin & Dakhóta founded Areíto Arts, named after the Taíno rhythm, song, dance and gathering through which history is taught and passed down. Areíto Arts is an Afro-Caribbean Educational Dance Company specializing in the history, music, and culture of Dominican Arts. Together they have taken Areíto Arts’ curriculum across 5 Continents, teaching many world class international artists along the way. They have also been featured educators at Teacher Trainings, which have professionally developed dance instructors around the world.
Areíto Arts, as well as Edwin & Dakhóta’s credits include Insider, Telemundo, News Stations in the US, Canada and Dominican Republic, Lincoln Center (NYC), Museum of New York, Guinness World Records, Facebook Global, Youtube Studios, Curriculum development and teacher training for NYC Department of Education, City College Dominican Studies Institute, NYU Afro Caribbean Studies, and Dream Project Bachata Academy in the Dominican Republic and New York. Edwin & Dakhóta aim to share their love for Dominican Arts as they continue traveling the globe, captivating the world of dance.
Dakhóta Romero “La Mujer de Tu Vida”
Dakhóta Romero is a multi-talented artist with lifelong experience. She was born into a family of professional musicians, actors, models and dancers in Los Angeles, California with Native American, Hispanic, and Scandinavian roots. Following in the footsteps of her grandmother and great-grandmother, Dakhóta began studying dance at the age of 4 and began her professional dance career in a Sesame Street produced Music Video at the age of 9. She distinctly remembers the moment her passion for Afro-Caribbean rhythms emerged, when her grandmother taught her Chachachá. While studying abroad at University, Dakhóta was introduced to Bachata and instantly fell in love. After earning her degree in Music, and after 10 years of studying Bachata music and dance, she co-founded Areíto Arts along with her dance and business partner Edwin Ferreras. Dakhóta is also an accomplished singer. She has performed all over the world, and with renowned artists including Joe Veras, Alexandra “La Reina de la Bachata” and Carlos Santana to name a few. Her debut bachata “La Mujer de Tu Vida” has taken the dance scene by storm. As an Indigenous woman, her passion for culture, history and recognition translates into her creative work and love for Dominican Arts.
Edwin Ferreras
“El Maestro de Maestros”
Edwin Ferreras is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic ethnomusicologist and scholar. Born in San Pedro De Macoris, he moved to Washington Heights at a young age. While in New York City, he earned his BA in Music Education with a secondary concentration in Music. In 2017 Edwin was awarded and recognized as International Ambassador of Dominican Arts by Pablo Abreu and the Dominican Culture Club in New York in conjunction with the Asociación de Bailadores de Manoguayabo in the Dominican Republic. As Cultural Ambassador from 2017-2020, he worked to further spread Dominican Arts around the world. In the 2018/19 school year Edwin received two awards from the New York City Department of Education, “Excellence in Teaching” for achieving tenure and the Master Educator Award titled “Teacher of Teachers.” Today he continues to work as an international teaching artist with dance and business partner Dakhóta Romero and their company Areíto Arts.