About Us

Marcela‘s passion for dance began as a young girl. Born and raised in Peru, at the age of four she was enrolled in Ballet School where she studied classical Ballet for nine years.
She also studied and trained in Latin Rhythms and Peruvian Folk Dances.

Marcela continued her passion for dance in college. While pursuing a Business Degree, she enrolled in Latin and Folk dance classes as part of her elective course curriculum. She developed a diverse variety of in Dance rhythms and skills, including: Salsa, Merengue and Cha-Cha.

She moved to Boston, MA in 2001 where she started teaching private Latin Dance classes. Marcela always has believed that combining dancing as a form of exercise with proper nutrition results in a balanced and healthy lifestyle; therefore, in 2004 she decided to study Holistic Health and became a Reiki Practitioner. She then moved to San Diego, CA in 2006 where she started her Reiki Practice.

In 2008, Marcela become Certified as Zumba Instructor at the IDEA National Convention in Los Angeles, CA. Knowing that the “Zumba movement” was helping thousands of people to get fit and healthy through dancing, she started her own career as a Zumba instructor. She currently teaches Zumba at Dance North County studio in Encinitas and she also continues to teach
Latin Dance throughout San Diego.

Marcela is a gifted and skillful dancer; It is her true passion and commitment to Dance and Health which has led her to help hundreds of people attain healthy lifestyles through dancing.

Marcela Alva

Certified Zumba & Latin Dance Instructor