Refinery Dance was created in 2024 by Gemma Jordan after traveling interstate and overseas for bachata festivals and feeling so inspired by the experiences that she wanted to recreate those same opportunities for people right here in her home town, Perth.

What is Bachata?
Bachata is a vibrant social dance built on connection, designed to be shared with everyone from close friends to new faces on the dance floor. Unlike rehearsed stage routines, it is a spontaneous, shared language where leaders and followers use rhythm and body movement to "converse" in the moment. At Refinery, we teach you this language so you can step onto any social floor in the world and feel instantly at home within the community.

Bachata continues to evolve as a dance style around the world since originating in the 1960's in the Dominican Republic. With that, comes a change of techniques, influences, fusions with other styles and new trends. For example, Bachata Sensual is now the most popular iteration of the dance style however it comes with particular technique and movements ofter overlooked. After traveling, competing, training and dancing with people from many other countries Gemma was determined to share these learnings with the Perth community.

Being the worlds most isolated city, Perth has a tendency to plateau as time goes on across many industries. However, Refinery Dance is committed to ensuring their teachers are also still students. As teachers, it is our responsibility to aim that what we share with the community is current, safe and socially danceable in order the preserve the longevity of our community and to allow us to integrate seamlessly into bachata communities around the world, as it one of the most beautiful parts of learning a social dance.

Our vision is that dancers of all levels have access to quality classes and events that foster ongoing learning, growth and inspiration.