FAU adds ballroom and Latin dance to Introduction to Dance course

Florida Atlantic University is launching a new 15-week Introduction to Dance course in Fall 2026 that includes a five-week ballroom and Latin segment taught by world champion dancers Clifton Sepulveda and Mar Martinez. The pilot brings ballroom and Latin into FAU’s curriculum for the first time and gives students three credits while building communication, confidence and wellness skills.

Why it matters: - Florida Atlantic University is adding ballroom and Latin dance to its curriculum for the first time. - The new course is built around both artistic training and practical life skills, including communication, etiquette, confidence and teamwork. - FAU students will earn three credit hours for the class.

What happened: - FAU will offer an expanded 15-week Introduction to Dance course in Fall 2026 through the Department of Theatre and Dance. - Clifton Sepulveda and Mar Martinez, co-owners of Delray Beach Fred Astaire Dance Studio, will teach the five-week “American Smooth & American Rhythm” unit. - The ballroom and Latin segment begins Aug. 24 and ends with a showcase on Sept. 23. - The course is open to all FAU students.

The details: - The full semester includes five weeks of American Smooth and American Rhythm, five weeks of Tap and five weeks of Hip Hop. - Students will study the rhythms, history and technique behind three distinct dance traditions in one semester. - American Smooth covers ballroom dances that travel around the floor. - American Rhythm covers Latin dances performed primarily in place. - The unit includes 10 classes meeting twice weekly. - The course is designed to build socialization and interpersonal communication. - The curriculum also targets professional presentation, confidence, etiquette, social awareness, leadership, partnership skills, physical fitness and wellness. - Sepulveda and Martinez are world champion professional dancers. - The two have spent years teaching beginners and competitive dancers.

Between the lines: - FAU is using dance as a broader education tool, not just an arts elective. - The course reflects a European-style model Martinez described, where ballroom dance supports social interaction, confidence, communication and cultural appreciation. - The pilot also raises the profile of ballroom dance as an academic discipline. - The university appears to be testing whether a performance-based class can deliver both creative and career-ready skills.

What's next: - Students begin the ballroom and Latin unit on Aug. 24. - The segment concludes with a showcase on Sept. 23. - FAU will have a first look at student interest and outcomes from the pilot as the semester continues. - Sepulveda and Martinez said they hope students leave with stronger communication skills, more confidence and a lasting appreciation for dance.

The bottom line: - FAU is turning dance class into a credit-bearing lesson in movement, confidence and real-world communication.