James Cobo is a North Carolina–based salsa instructor, choreographer, and co-founder of CoboBrothers Dance Co. (CBDC), which he founded with his brother, Milton Cobo. Active since the early 2000s, he’s best known for on2 partnerwork built on clear structure, musical timing, and social-dance usability. He co-directs CBDC with his wife and current partner, Peiwei Cobo.
From CBDC’s home base in the Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill area, James teaches ongoing semesters and workshops and performs with company teams; his teaching focuses on technique, connection, and long-term dancer development.
Beyond CBDC, James has performed and taught across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Oceania. In 2018–2019 he trained with Irôko (directed by Ernesto Bulnes and Denisse Cambria) and continues Afro-Cuban studies under Marisol Blanco—training threads that inform his approach to timing, body movement, and repertoire.
James also co-choreographed the 2022 Raleigh Little Theatre production of In the Heights.