Thomas Guerrero & Santo Rico Thomas Guerrero started dancing socially in 1991. He was recruited from the social scene by Wilton Beltre in 1995 and became one of the original members of Santo Rico Dance Co. Upon being recruited Thomas had no prior dance training. Most of his training came through learning choreography and eventually performing with Santo Rico Dance Co.
As a professional dancer Thomas, now Director and President of Santo Rico, has only danced for said company, from their first local performance at "Gozamba," a Dominican Festival in Washington Heights, NY, to teaching and performing at venues across the globe, spanning 3 continents and over 17 countries. Tomas' achievements include becoming one of the stars of the world famous off-Broadway Comedy Dancical, "Latin Madness," and also performing in prestigious venues such as The Hyatt Hotel, The Conneticut Convention Center, Salsa Congresses all around the world, and Madison Square Garden alongside several Salsa superstars, like Tito Puente, Oscar De Leon, Marc Anthony, Papo Luca y La Sonora Ponceña, La India, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle, Raulin Rosendo, Jose Alberto "El Canario", Johnny Pacheco, Norman Headman, and performing and choreographing for Hip Hop Superstar Eve's video of her hit single, "What Y'all Want" in 2000.
Thomas is also the pioneer of the world-famous "Santo Rico" spinning technique used by Salsa lovers all over the world.
Jessica Ortiz Jessica began performing at an early age with the Starlite Dance Studio. Dancing and teaching for over 9 years, Jessica then began performing around the world as part of a Latin dance duet with Juan Matos.She has danced with Abakua of Frankie Martinez since January 2005 also she currently performs with the Yamulee Dance Company and is part of a new Dance Duet with Adolfo Indacochea.
Lori Perez Lori has been performing for five years. She began at the age of 15 with Young Ambition with which she danced for three years. She is now dancing with the Abakua Latin Dance Company for two years. Recently she has been traveling the world partnering with Frankie Martinez, director of Abakua. Lori has also just completed her second year at New York University.
Hacha Y Machete
Turkish salsa dancer meets Puerto Rican Salsero, and it was love at first dance. Well, the story goes something like that. Victor grew up in Lawrence MA in a household that adored salsa and mambo music. Burju grew up in Queens NY surrounded by Puerto Rican and Dominican friends. They met through an amateur dance group formed at Boston University whose main objective was putting together a choreography for the school’s annual Latino talent exhibition. Victor was recruited among a few other non-BU students to help in the project. Burju and Victor became dance partners. Amidst their dancing a romance began to bloom and the rest is history. Today, Victor and Burju are engaged and soon to be married. Talk about “Unity Through Salsa”… ? www.hymstyle.com
Team members coming to Brit Salsafest: Burju Hurturk
Victor Perez
Hector De Jesus
Sasha Jimenez
Susana Montero
Susana Montero, is one of the principal stars of British Salsa. Why? Simply because of her vast knowledge of dance and salsa, her sheer dancing skills, and her excellent teaching abilities, which have men, women and teachers coming back class after class. All this wrapped up in one of the most likeable personalities around.
This has all helped to make Susana one of the most sought after Salsa teacher/dancers in the UK.
Past achievements include winning the British Championship and the coveted Bacardi Competition, including a chance to perform to one of the most prestigious audiences in the Salsa world, at the Congresso de Bacardi in Puerto Rico, where Susana and her dance partner Leon Rose received one of the loudest and longest standing ovations of the entire week, after their debut performance. www.monterouk.com/
Edie 'The Salsafreak'
Edie has taught and performed in over thirty different countries throughout Europe, the Caribbean, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. Edie's contribution to Salsa was recognised with the International Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Paul Young at last year's UK Congress. She also received Best International Instructor at the British International Salsa Festival 1999 and was the Guest of Honour at the Curacao Salsa Festival 2000.
She has taken first place in numerous dance competitions, including the famous Mayan competition out of Los Angeles, California, and the International Salsa and Hustle Pro Salsa Championships in Miami, Florida. She has appeared on television, film, and radio, and co-stars in 15 instructional Salsa videos on the world market. www.dancefreak.com
Leon Rose
Leon Rose is one of the freshest innovators on the UK Salsa scene. His inspirational style generates enthusiasm and commitment to the art of Salsa dancing as demonstrated when he won the 2000 UK Bacardi Salsa and 2001 Salsa Club competitions.
He was born and educated in London and comes from a Caribbean background where he learnt to appreciate a wide variety of good music from an early age. During these years, Leon attended The Anna Scher Theatre School, which led to many appearances on stage, popular children's shows to several televised dramas.
Leon has performed salsa on television and stage, from appearances with Enrique Iglesias on Top of the Pops (BBC) and The Des O'Connor Show to The Royal Albert Hall in aid of Princess Diana Landmine Fund, Hackney Empire and various prestigious venues around the UK and the rest of the world.
As a choreographer and Salsa instructor Leon enjoys every aspect of dancing from encouraging the novice to working with the advanced and inspiring the best. Leon has taught several workshops around Europe including some of the big festivals. His natural exuberance and Salsa spirit ensures that to see him in action - Salsa is Life. www.salsalife.co.uk
Neeraj Neeraj Maskara has been dancing salsa for about 7 years. His background in dancing has been mainly Jazz Ballet. He has become increasingly popular in the salsa scene for his vibrant shows and excellent teaching. As an instructor, he is known for his originality, precision and clear explanation of everything he teaches. As a performer, he always manages to capture the audience with his choreography and expression. He not only demonstrates cool moves, dynamic body movements and great choreography but he also manages to leave a lasting impression on you with his friendly and fun-loving personality. Don’t miss out this opportunity of attending his classes!!!
Candice & Lautaro
Lautaro
Lautaro Arino´s success was first prompted with Club Latino, Sweden, and
their routines ”Thriller”,”Aladdino Latino”,”M.A.S.H.”, and then with Sacuye
Latin Dancer (which he co-founded), with “Vogue”,”Aves Maria”,Baila que
Baila”,”Fosse Mambo”,and “Mix Show”. His group won the 2002 Albert Torres
Annual European Salsa Team Competition in Haarlem, Holland, and he is the
2nd place winner of the Swiss Championship 2004.
One rare strength Lautaro possesses is his knowledge in both, Casino, the
Cuban Salsa and Cross Body Style Salsa. Starting off as so many did, dancing
Cuban Salsa he has never stopped developing it and masters both styles. He
also has a passion for Cha Cha Cha, and Son. Having more than six years of
teaching experience he loves to share the tricks and secrets he has learned
around the world. His greatest strength, however, is his diversity in being
able to teach many different styles and disciplines of Latin and AfroCuban
dances.
Candice
Candice was born in Hong Kong, but grew up in the Hispanisized island of the
Phillipines, where she grew up listening to Spanish folk music and dancing
Rural/Barrrio and Maria Clara folk dances such as Bagol, Basulto, Paseo de
Lloilo, and Carinosa. From a young age she did ballet, jazz dancing, and
then progressed to The Art of Striptease and hip-hop, and was always active
in the performing arts. She has currently returned from Havana, Cuba, where
she has been studying Cuban Cabaret dancing. Candice started dancing salsa
5 years ago and has been addicted to it ever since. Candice’s strongest
characteristic in her dance is her strong sexuality and sensuality, which
comes from her love of music and dance, and is expressed in her movement.
She has a seductive nature on the dance floor, which is both flirtatious,
and intoxicating. Candice has starred as a salsa dancer on "Dance", a pilot
TV show on Channel 4, A music video for Groove Factory,"Human Instinct" a
programme for the BBC, "Auf Wiedersein, Pet" for the BBC, amongst other
televised appearances.
She is also the British Salsa Champion of 2003, and a two year consecutive
place winner of the Tropicana Salsa Championships.
Candice's strength is in her diversity of being able to dance and teach all
styles of salsa (Cuban and Cross Body) with her partner Lautaro,and also her
LADIES STYLING classes, which she can conduct for both Cuban and Crossbody
dancers. www.bailattelo.com
Jaime Jesus & Lil Liz Jaime Jesus & Little Liz of Latin Dance Australia, have taken the salsa world by storm. Rated as 2 of the worlds best Instructors and performers, they have been contracted to teach and perform in 2006 at no less than 20 international events all throughout Asia, Europe and the America’s.
Famous for their LDA Style salsa, world class teaching and performances, Jaime and Liz are without a doubt Australia’s most sort after Salsa dancers. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cePpEJNZvGw –
Irene Miguel
Professional dancer, trained in classical ballet, contemporary, jazz and hip hop. She lived and worked in London and New York for 13 years. She has been dancing and teaching salsa since 1993.
She trained with the best international teachers in cuban style, on one salsa and mambo, includying Homero Gonzales, Eddie Torres, Jason Molina, Seaon Bristol, Frankie Martinez and Nelson flores.
Irene has been dancing and teaching all over the world for over 12 years and has both performed and taught at the most important salsa congresses includying Puerto Rico ( 2000/2001 ) where she danced as Seaon Stylist´s dance partner and Edgard del Rosario´s. She has worked in Londres, Nueva York, Grecia, Suiza, Suecia, Cuba, Republica Dominicana, Dinamarca, Paris, Miami, Argentina, Madrid , Murcia, amongst other places.....
Irene has performed with some of the best international dancers includying Leon Rose, Tamambo, Dean Maynard, Angel Ortis, Seaon Bristol , Edgard del Rosario, Susana Montero, Laith Sami, Carlos Aragon and Gustavo Pinat
- European Champion.
- International Judge for the Bristish Salsa Championship, Club Salsa UK, -Congreso Bacardi Paris, and offical Judge for the The International Salsa Open.
- UKA qualified.
Salsa Dance Squad
Salsa Dance Squad is the biggest show team from Holland, Internationally best known for their original and theatrical shows. The leaders of the group, Eric & Lina, are two very creative dancers who inspire audiences everywhere with their shows. They recently received 2 life-time achievement awards at the UK Salsa Congress 2005 and the West Coast Salsa Congress 2005 in Los Angeles. They always have high expectations and work hard to achieve their goals.
At the Brit Salsafest in 2006 they performed the Masquerade Ball, a beautiful mix between ballroom and Salsa danced to a blend of classical music and salsa, which was a huge success and destined to be performed at The Winter Gardens.
Emma Moore
Having danced from an early age, Emma went on to study dance full time at The London Studio Centre for Performing Arts. Graduating three years later, she worked for a number of touring dance companies at home and abroad as both a choreographer and performer.
Drawing on both her dance background salsa has become a way of life for Emma who, along with her dance partner Mushi, has travelled the world performing, teaching and DJing. In 2002, Emma and Mushi were honoured with an award for the Most Inspiring Newcomers and in 2003 were invited by Susana Montero to judge the British Salsa Competition. Emma also features on Susana Montero's Ladies Styling video sold worldwide.
Emma currently teaches and DJs at Salsology, the UK's largest club night. www.salsology.com
Marchant Birch Marchant Birch was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. He has been living in England since 2000. Trained from an early age in Ballroom and Latin American, he is a much sought after mambo/salsa performer and teacher both in the UK and internationally. Marchant has achieved success with a number of different dance partners over the years. Most recently, his dynamic partnership with Miriam Oppel culminated in their winning the Best UK Dance Act award at the UK Salsa Congress 2006. Their ëTake Fiveí show also received high acclaim from the mambo king himself, Eddie Torres.
In 2005, Marchant founded Alchemy Dance Company, an ongoing project which incorporates mambo, ballroom, and classical jazz techniques. In 2006 he started the Alchemy Dance Academy which provides the opportunity for the general salsa public to improve their dancing by way of the Alchemy method of dance training. It is pioneering the Alchemy Way that is now Marchant's main focus, by developing both the dance company and academy. www.alchemydance.co.uk
Salsa Dance Squad
Salsa Dance Squad is the biggest show team from Holland, Internationally best known for their original and theatrical shows. The leaders of the group, Eric & Lina, are two very creative dancers who inspire audiences everywhere with their shows. They recently received 2 life-time achievement awards at the UK Salsa Congress 2005 and the West Coast Salsa Congress 2005 in Los Angeles. They always have high expectations and work hard to achieve their goals
Nicky and Gormack
Nicky & Gormack met in London after they had both been dancing for almost 2 years (Nicky Cuban and NY style, Gormack Cuban style). Nicky quickly introduced Gormack to NY style and consequently they decided to form the appropriately named company “The Salsaholics” and spread the word about NY style back up in Nicky’s home town of Leeds. Since then, their addiction has led them to teach all over the UK. Their reputation for teaching technique in a fun yet comprehensive way is now wide spread. Teamed with Gormack’s creative and unusual moves they are now 2 of the North’s most sought after teachers.
They stepped away from performing for a couple of years when they became parents, but are now launching themselves back on the stage… and will be performing and teaching at The Cannes Salsa Festival in addition to other key UK events throughout the year.
Whilst having no professional dancing background, they have both spent most of their teenage years dancing (R & B, Hip Hop, Ceroc etc) and this is reflected in their unique style. Teamed with their sense of fun, their passion, their background (Gormack is French/African) and their training (Irene Miguel, Edgard Del Rosario, Super Mario, Susana Montero, Leon Rose, Ramiro, Nelson Flores, Seaon Bristol, Frankie Martinez, Juan Matos and Eddie Torres… just a few of their teachers!) this talented couple are definitely ones to watch out for…whether dancing NY Style, Cuban Style, on1 or on2!!!!!! www.thesalsaholics.com
Mel C
Mel first started dancing salsa in February 1999 and after only a few months, she started assisting Mauricio Reyes (Founder of Latin Motion) with his Intermediate/Advanced classes. In the December of 1999 she taught her first beginners class for Latin Motion and her teaching career started from there.
Mel specializes in teaching all levels of salsa from beginners to advanced, ladies styling and is known for her footwork and body movement. She has taught all over the UK and Europe, at congresses and numerous weekend events.
She has trained with Special Tee, Nelson Flores, Frankie Martinez and Eddie Torres to name but a few.
She formed Carpe Diem Dance Company in 2003 and the group has performed in UK and Europe at some of the biggest salsa events in the world, including the UK Salsa Congress and the British Salsa Congress.
Mel choreographs all of the Carpe Diem shows and is supported by Alicia Greated.
Lossie and Gareth
Laucinda aka Lossie was trained at the London Studio Centre where she studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary Dance, Music and Theatre. It was during this time that she performed in the West End and toured with a Theatre Company. She has been teaching, performing and choreographing dance for 16 years with a wide variety of people. She started teaching and performing Salsa in 2000.
Gareth studied Flamenco at the ‘Greenwhich Dance Agency’ in London. He received a BA Honours Degree in Dance covering a variety of dance related topics including choreography, anatomy, contact improvisation, stage production. He performed in various shows including the Edinburgh Festival. He then went on to train at The Northern School of Contemporary Dance where his studies included, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz and Contemporary Music. Gareth started teaching & performing Salsa in 2002.
Together they have trained with several Mambo / Salsa teachers & performers, including an ‘Arts Council’ funded training week in 2003 with Frankie Martinez & private training with Emma & Mushi. They are continuously investing in their training & recently spent a week in New York. They teach ‘New York Cross Body ‘On2’. Together, they run the ‘Encuentro Latino’ Dance Company in York. www.encuentrolatino.co.uk
Franklyn and Brigitte
Brigitte said au revoir to France and came to live in Sunny Manchester 15 years ago. But every cloud has a silver lining (even Mancunian ones) and whilst here Brigitte discovered salsa. Now there’s no looking back and Brigitte is hooked on Salsa for life!
Dance has always been part of Brigitte’s life, having spent most of her teenage years dancing ballet, jazz and rock’n’roll.. her parents said to study more, but twinkle toes knew better.
She currently teaches with Franklyn, her dance partner, at Copacabana’s in Manchester. Their classes are fun, funky and very popular. Although high pitched commands are her trademark, no helium is used and except for the odd bruised toe and black eye, no one is usually hurt in her classes.
Brigitte and her dance partner are well known in the Salsa world and are regularly invited to teach at many venues and congresses in the UK and abroad. www.salsacrazy.co.uk
Alicia Greated
Alicia developed a passion for dancing from the age of two and a half when she started learning ballet. The Academy of Ballet (Edinburgh) awarded her a scholarship of excellence through which she continued to develop her classical ballet skills. Her interest in performing started when she danced in various performances at the Kings Theatre (Edinburgh) and performed with the Royal Scottish Ballet in the Nutcracker Ballet.
Alicia has studied and worked in various places in the UK and internationally. Through these experiences she broadened her interests in music, dance and movement and experimented with many different styles and approaches, including African dance, hip-hop and capoeira. Alicia has also had an ongoing love for playing music.
Teaching Experience
In 1996 Alicia had her first real taste of salsa when she attended her first beginner’s class while working in Brazil. In 2000 Alicia gained her (OCR) Royal Society of Arts Certificate in Teaching Exercise to Music. She began teaching aerobics and salsa at the University of Birmingham when she was studying for her PhD - this when her interest in salsa developed. Inspired by Mel C’s interest in ladies styling and emphasis on body movement, Alicia sought to develop these aspects of her dancing.
Alicia has taught for Latin Motion in Birmingham since 2001. She has worked with MelC for many years both performing with Carpe Diem and teaching with Mel C in venues in the UK and abroad. She also taught at the last two UK Salsa Congresses. Alicia qualified as a teacher of dancing (Club Salsa) with the United Kingdom Alliance (UKA) in 2005.
Alicia specialises in teaching beginners’ fundamentals and ladies styling/body movement.
Lee & Shelley With their combination of infectious enthusiasm and technical partnerwork, Lee and Shelley represent some of London’s hottest new talent.
Both are established performers in their own right. Shelley has taught with SuperMario and trained and performed with Iris de Brito and her Latin Soul Sisters, the Manhattan Mambo dancers and Richard Marcel, with numerous appearances on National TV including the Kiss FM Urban Music Awards. Lee has worked with the South of England Latin Formation Team (the British Champions), appearing at the Royal Festival Hall, and the Diablo Dance Company. Lee also worked with Iris de Brito to choreograph sections of the musical El Barrio. Shelley and Lee are both members of the Leon Rose Project.
As a dance partnership, Lee and Shelley perform and teach around the UK and Europe, with highlights including Move It Dance London Olympia 2006, the Salsa UK Congress 2005, Britfest 2006, Mambocity Five Star 2005 and 2006, London Latinfest 2005 and congresses in Austria, France and Spain. Their shows are guaranteed to bring high energy and a sense of fun to any event. Teaching as a couple, they place importance on demonstrating and explaining concepts of leading and following in particular.
Shelley and Lee are available for group and individual salsa lessons, from partnerwork to shines and styling, and are able to teach both “On 1” and “On 2”. Bookings range from choreographies and advanced lessons at established salsa nights to corporate events with a Latin twist, fun “ice-breaker” lessons and funky shows. www.leeandshelley.co.uk
