Kate Maguire

Professional Biography

KATE MAGUIRE always brings a vibrant energy and fun to the Cuban dance scene. She's a Tumbao favorite! For Salsa Tumbao 2025, Kate will be teaching two workshops: Afro-Cuban Yemaya on Saturday afternoon and Social Dance for Beginners, Beyond the Circle, on Sunday.

Kate, director of Salsa Agua!, is a passionate and experienced dance teacher specializing in Latin styles, with a particular love for Cuban dances including Casino, Rueda de Casino, Son, Rumba, Chachacha, and Afro-Cuban movement.

What drives you to dance?

"I've always danced, it's part of who I am. Movement became my way of expressing the emotions music evoked. Growing up with ballet, highland dance, tap, and musical theatre gave me a strong foundation, but it was discovering Latin and Cuban dance as an adult that truly lit the spark again. What drives me now is connection: connection to music, to people, and to culture. I still remember attending Vivio and Greydis's first workshop in NZ in 2002. I didn't know what Cuban Salsa was, but I felt the joy, rhythm, and fun, and I was hooked."

Teaching Cuban dance is something Kate does for herself, but also for the community. As a Health & Safety professional, she's deeply aware of how important it is to create spaces where people can connect, combat loneliness, and support their mental wellbeing. Dance helps build resilience, and that's powerful.

Kate is a trustee of the NZ Cuban Festival Trust which runs the Annual National Cuban Festival, and is also part of the organising committee for the Bay Salsa Festival. Kate's classes are known for their welcoming energy, musicality, and emphasis on technique that empowers dancers to move with authenticity and joy.