Egyptian Salsa and Bachata dancer Mennasita has made history by winning three first-place titles at the World Salsa & Bachata Summit Championship.
About this global achievement, Mennasita—who co-founded some of Egypt’s biggest dance events, including:
Brass Monkeys Studios (Co-founder)
El Gouna Dance Festival (Co-founder)
says that her passion for Salsa began in childhood.
Salsa is more than just a dance; it is an expression of culture, energy, and connection. For many, it becomes a lifelong passion, and few embody this love as fully as Mennasita, also known as Menna Hesham—a renowned Salsa dancer, instructor, and studio owner who has spent over a decade mastering rhythm, footwork, and movement.
The Beginning of a Dance Journey
Mennasita’s love for dance started in her hometown of Cairo, Egypt, when her mother took her to her first ballet class at the age of 7. She trained in ballet at a semi-professional level for 20 years. Growing up, she was exposed to the rhythms of Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata during her high school years.
Her journey into Latin dance began in the early 2000s, at a time when Latin rhythms were relatively unknown in Egypt. As a teenager, she took her first formal Salsa class and soon realized that her passion for dance could be more than just a hobby. However, she pursued two careers simultaneously, working as a pharmacist by day and a dancer by night.
Growing Latin Dance in Egypt
When Mennasita started teaching Salsa and Bachata, there was a clear lack of availability for these dance styles in Egypt. The country had a rich history of folk and classical dance, but Latin dance was still considered niche. Undeterred, Mennasita took it upon herself to introduce these dances to the Egyptian public, offering classes that blended technical skills with the cultural essence of the music.
In the past decade, there has been a massive surge of interest in Salsa, Bachata, and other Latin dance
