Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniela Gutiérrez Cohen.
Hi Daniela, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Daniela, and I was born in Mexico City.
Dance has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. At just three years old, my mother would take me to dance classes after school without fail. That routine built a sense of discipline and consistency that still shapes how I move through life today.
As a child and into my teenage years, I explored a wide range of dance styles—Hawaiian, Tahitian, belly dance, ballet, jazz, hip hop, and more. Each one gave me a different lens into movement and expression. But beyond technique, dance became something much more intimate: a safe space. During those formative years, it helped me stay connected to my body, gave me confidence, and made me smile. Looking back, dance wasn’t just an activity—it was a refuge.
In college, while studying Communication and Cultural Management in CDMX, I was introduced to the world of partner dancing. Salsa Casino was my first encounter with the magic of improvisation between two people—an art form co-created in real time. That experience sparked something new in me. I soon found myself immersed in the world of Latin social dance, taking classes in Kizomba, Bachata, Salsa On1, and New York-style Salsa. I felt at home in this new universe and knew I wanted to stay in it for the long haul.
One day, a local bachata instructor invited me to assist in his class. I wasn’t certified, but in Mexico, there’s no formal requirement to teach Latin dance—what matters is passion and connection. From the first class I assisted and taught, I felt a deep sense of purpose, and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to teach dance for the rest of my life.
However, I didn’t want to just teach—I wanted to do it well. I sought out resources to improve my teaching methodology, completing a diploma in Humanistic Dance Therapy and certifications in dance anatomy, cardio-dance, choreography, and more. These tools gave me a broader perspective, but experience remained my greatest teacher.
As I taught more, I began to notice something profound: people came to class not just to learn dance, but to feel seen, to heal, to connect. Many were there to shake off the weight of the day, to find a moment of joy, or to rebuild trust in their own bodies. I realized my role extended beyond teaching technique—I was holding space for transformation. In every class, I began weaving in elements from my background to create an environment that nurtured both movement and emotional safety.
Then the pandemic hit, and everything paused. I kept teaching online, doing my best to bring moments of joy and movement to people’s homes. As the world slowly reopened, I started teaching outdoors in Mexico City and that’s when I met Jerry.
Jerry was visiting from Houston and wanted to improve his bachata. We connected instantly through dance. Soon after, we began exploring Brazilian Zouk together, a dance form that is both incredibly technical and wildly expressive. We were captivated. Even though we lived in different countries, Zouk became our shared language. We traveled together to festivals, studied in Brazil, and used every opportunity to deepen our understanding of the dance.
A year and a half ago, I moved to Houston with him and in January of this year, Jerry and I opened GenZouk, our own dance school dedicated to sharing Brazilian Zouk in a welcoming and supportive environment.
GenZouk is more than just a place to take dance classes. It’s a community. Every class is carefully designed to be inclusive, safe, and joyful especially for those new to Zouk or to partner dance in general. Jerry and I bring complementary strengths to our teaching: he brings a structured, scientific approach; I focus on emotional awareness, connection, and creativity. Together, we offer students not just the technical tools to dance well, but the emotional tools to feel confident, expressive, and free.
Our mission is to build a Zouk community in Houston where people can dance, connect, and belong. We want students to leave each class not only knowing a few new steps, but feeling inspired, supported, and part of something bigger.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to where I am today has definitely had its share of challenges. One of the biggest obstacles was starting a new dance school in a city where our niche dance style, which comes from Brazil, isn’t widely known. Unlike more mainstream dances like hip-hop or salsa, it doesn’t have the same level of marketability, so building awareness from scratch was a significant challenge.
Additionally, building from scratch in Houston meant that we had to introduce ourselves and our dance community from the ground up. Dual hatting as teacher and community builder, it requires a lot of passion and dedication, especially when people are not familiar with the dance or the culture around it.
Another layer of difficulty was adapting my teaching style from Mexico to the U.S. While I did study some English growing up, there is still a big challenge to overcome the language barrier and adapt my teaching technique, references, and humor. Also, the cultural differences meant that many people here didn’t grow up with dance as a natural part of their lives, it’s necessary to create a newly adapted ciriculum that starts with teaching the basics of moving to music and break some cultural barriers, such as being more comfortable with physical touch.
Finally, creating community guidelines (how to social dance safely, promote inclusivity, while preventing bad actors and harrassment) that resonate with the Houston Community has been crucial. It’s all about making everyone feel included, valued, and safe while learning and enjoying social dance.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At GenZouk, our mission goes beyond teaching people how to dance. Our goal is to change how people feel when they move and to create space for them to truly connect with others. Dance is the tool, but what we’re really building is a deeper sense of connection, confidence, and community.
At the heart of this school is the partnership between Jerry and me. We come from very different backgrounds, which makes our approach unique compared to most dance teachers. My experience in cultural management and dance therapy brings the artistic and human side of dance, while Jerry’s background as an engineer brings structure, organization, and precision. Together, we balance each other — technical but expressive, organized but also creative and deeply human. That blend shapes everything we do at GenZouk.
And then there’s our community, which is truly what makes us different. It’s not just about Jerry and me; it’s about the people who have chosen to grow with us. Many of them have everyday careers outside of dance, but you can feel their passion and dedication every time they show up. We’ve built a space where people like that can come in and stay, not because we’re chasing numbers or profit, but because we want quality — a community that grows in a healthy, sustainable way.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Jerry and I met in Mexico City when he traveled from Houston to improve his bachata. As our relationship grew, we faced the challenge of a long-distance relationship during the pandemic. After almost 3 years, we decided we didn’t want to keep the distance, so I made the big move to Houston. Even though I had an established career and my own dance school in Mexico City, with consistent classes and a strongly developed social dancing scene, I chose to move for love. Most people don’t know that part of our story; they might think I just always wanted to move to the U.S., but it was truly for our relationship. And that decision led to the start of GenZouk in Houston.
Pricing:
- Drop-in Class 20$
- Monthly Sub 60$
- member.life/genzouk
Contact Info:
- Website: https://member.life/genzouk
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/danydancemx
- Other: https://instagram.com/genzouk
