Rauw Alejandro teaches salsa in Celebrity substitute

You have known Rauw Alejandro, Raulito, Raúl, El Zorro, but have you ever heard of Rauw Alejandro el maestro? Of course not, but you will in the upcoming episode of YouTube's hit series Celebrity Substitute, in which the Latin superstar trades his tour wardrobe for a trench coat and glasses, stepping in as a disguised substitute teacher to deliver a surprise lesson in salsa music and dance.

With a wink to his theatrical side, Rauw enters dressed like a 1970s detective and briefcase in hand. "What's up, class!" he says in a deadpan voice, before the room explodes in wave of shocked laughter and applause as students realize who's standing in front of them, as you can see in this exclusive clip for The Latin Times.

He is there to teach about "the Caribbean and the Caribbean sound. Salsa, What is Salsa. They are going to learn what is salsa today," he explains as the describes dance and salsa dance in particular as "freedom." Of course, Rauw ends the lesson the only way he knows how: with a full-blown dance party, with Rauw's new song Mirando Al Cielo, as the soundtrack.

The clip is part of Season 2 of Celebrity Substitute, which premiered September 10 and continues rolling out new episodes every other Wednesday through December. The show, hosted by Julian Shapiro-Barnum (Recess Therapy) and executive produced by EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Ampersand), brings celebrities into real classrooms to surprise students with unexpected lessons on all kinds of topics, from music to literature and science to self-expression.

Rauw's episode is set to debut on this Wednesday, October 8, joining a star-studded lineup that includes Renée Rapp, Role Model, Gigi Hadid, Ed Sheeran, Malala Yousafzai, and more.

A Full-Circle Cultural Moment

Rauw Alejandro's surprise teaching moment comes on the heels of a major artistic and personal chapter. In late September, he released Cosa Nuestra: Capítulo 0, a conceptual album rooted in salsa, reggaetón, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and a continuation of his 2024 record Cosa Nuestra. The project was praised for blending nostalgia with experimentation and for honoring Latin musical lineage.

Just weeks earlier, Rauw was honored with the Hispanic Heritage Award for Vision, recognizing his impact on global Latin culture and his genre-expanding contributions to music. His Cosa Nuestra World Tour 2025 has drawn sold-out crowds across Latin America, the U.S., and Europe.

In that context, his turn as a substitute teacher feels both playful and intentional.

Teaching with Purpose

Produced in collaboration with Amazon, each Celebrity Substitute episode includes a moment where the company clears items from a featured teacher's Amazon Classroom List, a new tool designed to streamline how educators request materials and receive support. Viewers can directly contribute to real classrooms, transforming surprise celebrity moments into tangible resources for teachers and students.

"Celebrity Substitute works because it pairs joy with generosity," said Julian Shapiro-Barnum. "Rauw brought heart, rhythm, and soul to his lesson, and the kids were all in."

With his signature charisma, a salsa playlist, and a message of cultural pride, Rauw Alejandro reminds us that Latin music doesn't just fill stadiums, it inspires classrooms, too.

Originally published on Latin Times