Founder of Los Soneros Del Swing, Cruz was born and raised in Chicago of Puerto Rican descent. His love for dance started as a childhood dream to be on stage and share his talent with the world. Today, Cruz is recognized as one of the most complete and decorated Latin dancers in the country and has had the opportunity to share his work with dancers all over the globe as an instructor and performer. As a choreographer, his resume includes work for artists such as Michael Stuart, Brenda K. Starr, Oscar D’Leon, Fulanito and hip-hop artist COMMON.
ANGEL ORTIZ | NEW YORK
A legend within the salsa community, Angel began his professional dance career in 1989 as a principal dancer for the Eddie Torres Dance Company. In 1997 Angel was featured as a performer and instructor in the first salsa congress in Puerto Rico. Experience, precision footwork, style with technique, and ability to teach with clear definition, defines Angel's career in Salsa.
CHRISTIAN AND JACKIE | PUERTO RICO
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Christian and Jackie have worked as professional dance partners for four years. They have taken their talent to different cities of the world including Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and Dominican Republic as well as several cities throughout the United States. Their precision and dedication has won them recognition as one of the strongest competition couples in the current competitive circuit. Most recently they have taken 1st place at the 2009 Puerto Rico Salsa Open as well as the 2010 Texas Salsa Open which qualifies them to compete at the ESPN World Salsa Championship.
Accomplishments:
1st place at the Texas Salsa Open 2008 and 2010
1st place at the Campeonato Nacional de Baile de Salsa de Puerto Rico 2008
2nd place at the 6to Campeonato Nacional de Baile de Salsa 2007 de Puerto Rico
4th place at World Salsa Open 2007
1st place at Puerto Rico Salsa Championships 2007
MELISSA ROSADO | NEW YORK, NY
One of the top international instructors and performers of NY Style Mambo “On 2”, Melissa Rosado is an energetic and explosive dancer who is known all around the world for her powerful stage presence, passion for teaching and sexy body movement and styling both on and off the dance floor. In addition, her humble attitude and welcoming personality is what makes her popular amongst the mambo community today. She has an ability to effortlessly follow any lead and is known to be one of the best examples and instructors of the Eddie Torres technique.
FRANKLIN AYALA | NEW YORK, NY
Franklin was born and raised in New York City and has trained with some of the most prominent dancers and professional dance instructors worldwide. As a dancer, Franklin has proven to be extremely versatile, excelling at teaching, performing and competing, while also having a vast knowledge of Latin music. He was inspired by his family and his culture at the early age of three, to embrace Latin music and his love of Latin music was one of the driving factors that led him to dance. Franklin debuted as a dancer in 1997 with the Mario Diaz Dance Review and has since performed at some of the most well known and well attended Salsa Congress’ throughout the world.
Accomplishments:
Recipient of the 2009 Alex Award at the Miami Salsa Congress
1st place in the triple threat category at the 10th Annual IHSC in Miami 2009
4th in World and 1st in the US at the World Salsa Championships in 2007
Recipient of the Cuban Pete Award 2003
SERENA CUEVAS | SAN DIEGO, CA
With a combined 14 years of dance training including ballroom and salsa and 8 years of teaching experience, Serena has created a unique name for herself. She trained with the best then founded Deseo Dance Company in 2008. Her style incorporates Salsa & Mambo technique with highlights from Jazz & Modern dance. Serena is most known for her ladies styling, detailed body movements and fast solo spins.
Major Accomplishments:
2010 Los Angeles Top Soloist Finalist
2009 Mayan World Bachata Champion
2007 ESPN World Salsa Champion
Major Features:
Dancing With the Stars
Gatorade National Ad
Tu Estilo
AL “LIQUID SILVER” ESPINOZA | LOS ANGELES, CA / MIAMI, FL
Al Espinoza, also known as "Liquid Silver" has choreographed Hip Hop and Pop Locking dance teams all over California. He has performed for the capital, and many cities throughout the United States. He is currently taking the world by storm with his new style of dance, which combines both Hip Hop and Salsa, creating what is now called "Pop'n Salsa." Al's style of Salsa amazes audiences with his incredible body movements and rhythm.
HENRY HERRERA | CUBA / MIAMI
Born and raised in Havane Cuba, Henry Herrera is the founder and director of Salsa Racing Dance Studios, inc. in Miami. His experience as a dancer extends back to his childhood years when he competed in municipal events and television programs throughout Cuba. Today Henry shares his passion for Casino and Cuban style salsa with dancers around the world.
Accomplishments:
2003 International Hustle & Salsa Champion
1st place Telemundo’s Musicomania
2001 IHSC Rueda Division Champion
Major Features:
From Justin to Kelly
Miami Vice
2003 Latin Grammy Awards
HOOKED ON2 | MIAMI, FL
Ignacio and Ivette, otherwise known as Hooked On2, have dedicated themselves to the world of Salsa for a little over 12 years. Six of those years were spent teaching and dancing Casino Rueda. Captivated by the classy styling and intricate footwork of the New York Style On2/Mambo about six years ago, they began to make their transition. From that point on they were hooked, and “Hooked On2” was born. Ivette and Ignacio have been featured in salsa events across the country as well as collaborations with fellow dance companies and solo artists.
MELANIE RIVERA | SAN DIEGO, CA
Founder and Director of Sininho (See-neen-yo) Samba Dance Company, Melanie has Combined the Rio style of samba with her background in salsa, Tahitian, cabaret, burlesque, and freestyle to develop an original and exciting fusion.
Rivera’s talent has been highlighted on the internationally televised show Sabado Gigante and at salsa and Brazilian events across the United States including Turks and Caicos, Hawaii, San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego, Guam, Chicago, and Mexico to name a few. In 2009, Melanie paired with Serena Cuevas of Deseo Dance Company and in 2010 they are back with a brand new samba/salsa fusion routine and a hot new Bachata routine.
RENE GUEITS | MIAMI, FL
Founder of the internationally acclaimed dance company Salsa Lovers, Mr. Gueits is responsible for the explosion of Casino Rueda all over the Miami Florida area, and beyond. His ballroom and tango experience led him to create a systematic process for teaching salsa using Casino Rueda as a basic format to guide students through the fundamental steps of salsa. He is known for his high energy and unique teaching style and for his ability to engage students and simplify the learning process.
SALSAOCO | NEW JERSEY / COLOMBIA
Founded in 2009, Salsaoco is a collaboration of eleven professional and experienced Colombian style dancers from New Jersey. Their style is a high speed, musically precise explosion of energy with incredibly fast foot patterns and jaw-dropping lifts. Apart from performing, the group shares their expertise in their home town as well as at dance events around the country helping promote this unique style born in Colimbia.
NELSON GASTON VIDARTE | ARGENTINA
Founder of Enrgy One Dance Company, Nelson Gaston Vidarte was born in La Plata, Argentina where he embraced the art of dance and excelled in Jazz, Tango, and Salsa. His devotion to Salsa commenced in 1995 with his dance partner, and sister, Erica Natalia Vidarte. He commenced his professional dance career after winning many competitions and contests throughout Argentina and has continued to share over 15 years of experience performing and teaching salsa around the world. His style is a combination of NY Mambo, Los Angeles Flashy Salsa and Puerto Rico’s sensual rhythm with a unique blend of body movements, footwork and turn pattern.
BARBARA CRADDOCK | SOUTH FLORIDA
Recipient of several accolades, Mambo/Salsa legend, Barbara Craddock, is a schooled ballroom dancer who specializes in clave-based Latin dance. With a stellar professional dancing career, she progressed into producing and directing a successful series of Latin dance shows and lectures. Barbara, and famed dance partner, Pedro "Cuban Pete" Aguilar (1927-2009), served as choreographic consultants to the Miami City Ballet’s unprecedented Latin ballet, Mambo No. 2 a.m., and were commissioned to choreograph Latin Magic, for the University of the Arts School of Dance. Barbara upholds Cuban Pete’s legacy by performing, lecturing and teaching his methodology at universities, museums, libraries, and other venues including dance congresses.
YOEL MARRERO | MATANZAS, CUBA
Former member of El Grupo de Danza de la Universidad de la Habana: “Alma Mater”, Yoel Marrero has dedicated his life to investigating traditional Cuban dance forms and the promotion of Cuban culture and dance throughout the world. He specializes in traditional Cuban Casino and employs a systematic process of his own design, MCC or Método del Cuadro de Casino, to teach and reproduce the original choreographic qualities and techniques of the style as it was created on the island in the 1950’s and its evolution since then. Currently, Yoel is the director of Miami Casino Dance Studios in Miami Beach as well as “Casino Para Todos”, a project to promote the Casino in its traditional form.
KIMBERLY RIVERA | BRONX, NY
At the age of 12, Kimberly Rivera began her salsa training with David Melendez at the world famous Starlite Dance Studio in NYC. At the age of 15, she began her professional career as a principal dancer with Estilo Classico Dancers under the direction of intentionally acclaimed dance duo Jai & Candy. By the age of 22, Kimberly was performing with world class instructors including Andy Cruz, Jamie Josephson and Adolfo Indoncochea and in 2006 began training under the incomparable, The King of Mambo, Eddie Torres. Soon after she joined the world famous Eddie Torres Dancers and began touring as one of his principal partners. Her style is best described as soulful, elegant and aggressive; blending mambo with the rhythm of soul.
HENRI VELANDIA | PRINCETON, NJ
Performer, choreographer and founder of “HotSalsaHot” the preeminent salsa school in the Princeton, NJ area. Native to Venezuela, Henri's formal dance training is in classical ballet, jazz, modern dance and international Latin. His style is a unique fusion of hip-urban street roots with formal ballroom technique, ballet precision, and the freedom of modern dance. Incorporating expressive body styling and footwork, these forms are seamlessly blended into a unique and fresh approach to salsa dancing infused with Henri's stylish grace and sensual ease.
Accomplishments:
2nd place, professional division, Philadelphia College Showdown 2010
4th place, Philadelphia SalsaFest 2009
2nd place, ESPN World Championship qualifying, Philadelphia Salsa Congress 2008
MARISOL BLANCO | CUBA / MIAMI
Specializing in Afro-Cuban and traditional Cuban folkloric dances, Marisol holds a Masters Degree from the Instituto Superior de Artes in Cuba. Her teaching and dance experience includes traditional pop and Afro-Cuban dances in such prestigious institutions as el Conjunto Nacional Folklorico, CNF and La Escuela Nacional de Arte, ENA. Today, Marisol spearheads the Afro-Cuban dance department of DAF Studios in Miami.
ANDRES MENESES | CHICAGO, IL
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in both San Juan & Viña del Mar, Chile, Andrés has been dancing and listening to music as far back as he can remember. As an instructor, Andrés has been teaching for the last 20 years and full time for the last nine as part of Latin Street Dancing, the Chicago based dance company which he also manages together with founder Lisa “LaBoricua”.
JEAN CARLOS CABALLERO | VENEZUELA
Founder of Social Style Dance Academy in Venezuela, Jean Carlos possesses over 20 years of experience as an instructor, performer and promoter of Latin dance and culture throughout Venezuela and the world. Their objective is to spread awareness of all areas of the arts including dance and theatre throughout underprivileged areas of their native country and beyond. His dance style is energetic and precise with a hint of Afro-Cuban and folkloric influences.
BEN CARTAGENA | ORLANDO, FL
Founder of Salsa Synergy Dance Company in Orlando, Ben’s dance and performance background includes Salsa, Mambo, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Capoeria. Native to Puerto Rico, he is no stranger to the sounds of salsa and afro-Caribbean rhythms. His resume includes six years as a principal dancer for the Salsa Heat Professional Dance Company of Orlando, FL as well as work with world-renowned choreographers Napolean and Samantha from the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance and SYTYCD season five finalist, Jonathan Platero. Today, Ben is an active instructor, choreographer, performer and director of the Salsa Synergy Dance Company.
NERI TORRES |CUBA / MIAMI, FL
Founder of IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Company and Festival, Neri was born in Havana, Cuba. She trained in ballet, modern, and Afro-Cuban dance at Havana's Instituto Superior de Arte, and holds a Masters Degree from the University of Colorado. As a dance instructor, Neri has taught classes and lectures for several institutions including Florida International University, University of Miami, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, New World School of the Arts among others. Currently, she is a professor at Miami Dade College.
Major Features:
Toured as principal dancer and choreographer for Gloria Estefan.
Estefan’s Grammy awarded video “No Me Dejes de Querer”, choreographer.
For Love or Country with Andy Garcia and Charles Dutton.
The Lost City (2006) directed by Andy Garcia, choreographer
Awards:
Proclamation by the City of Miami, Individual Fellowship and Certificate of Artistic Merit from the State of Florida
Glamour magazine’s "Woman of the Year”, 2000
KARLA PALOMINO | MIAMI, FL
Performer, choreographer and business owner, Karla has traveled to over 50 different countries around the world, as both an instructor and performer, sharing her unique ladies style and spinning ability. In 2009, her love & passion for dancing inspired her to open SALSAMOR Dance Studios in Miami where she now teaches dance full time.
