Salsa Rueda Festival Instructors

	Roberto Borrell bio from Roots of Timba Project Roberto Borrell learned traditional and popular Afro-Cuban dance, percussion, and song from master musicians and dancers while growing up in la Havana Vieja, Havana, Cuba. He is a respected dancer and percussionist of Afro-Cuban Yoruba, Abakua (Calabar), Rumba, Arará (Dahony), and Palo (Congo). He also a master dancer and teacher of Cuban popular dance styles such as son montuno, danzón, and cha cha cha. Mr. Borrell led the Afro-Cuban folkloric group Kubata in Cuba for 10 years before coming to the United States in 1980, where he founded a new company under the same name. Kubata, then based in New York City, performed Roberto’s productions for 10 years in many major East Coast venues, such as the Smithsonian, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. He also was founder and musical director of the famous New York-based Son Grupo, part of Kubata productions. Borrell danced in the front line of the Folklorico Nacional de Cuba for several years and, in major United States venues, has performed and recorded both as a dancer and percussionist, with legends such as Tito Puente, the Machete Ensemble, Chocolate Armenteros, “Cachao” Lopez, and Richard Egües. Mr. Borrell was the co-founder, percussionist and musical co-director of the 11-member Orquesta la Moderna Tradición, one of the only ensembles in the United States that is dedicated to the performance of classic Cuban dance music: son, guaracha, cha cha cha, and especially the lilting grooves of the danzón.
	Felix “Pupy” Insua Felix “Pupy” Insua was born in La Habana, Cuba in 1948 into a family of artists. His natural talents were quickly noticed and he was admitted to the prestigious Grupo Aficionados de Cuba where his technique and discipline was developed as he began training in all aspects of dance and performance. Upon completion, he joined Cojunto Folklorico National de Cuba with whom he trained and performed for three years. During this time, his mentor and acclaimed Cuban performer Juan De Dios Ramos inspired, focused, and polished his tremendous energy, transforming him into an explosive performer. In 1980, Insua was invited to join Raices Profunda, Juan De Dios Ramos’s performance ensemble with whom he was a principal dancer until 1984. During this time he began to gain national and international recognition. He also began training in theater and drama with Teatro de Arte Popular. His reputation was building, and in 1985, he became the Artistic Director of Mulemba, a folkloric ensemble within the Instituto National de Tourismo. Art of Jazz, Toronto Canada. Photo Roger Humbert. Obbalubbe is Pupy's name in the Yoruba-based religion by which he lives his life. Obbalubbe translates to "King of Kings" In 1989, Insua joined Yoruba Andabo, one of the largest and most accomplished professional ensembles in Cuba. He was a principal dancer and choreographer with Yoruba from 1989 to 1993. Yoruba afforded him the opportunity to travel outside of Cuba providing a world stage for Insua. During this time he was commissioned to create choreography for smaller companies and also began teaching. In 1993, Insua formed his own folkloric company, Oriki, which was comprised of Cuba’s finest and up-coming artists. In 1995, Insua left Cuba for New York City. He began his work in the US creating commissioned choreography for various Cuban ensembles and smaller dance companies in the New York City area. He worked as a solo performer with various ensembles and orchestras including Raices Habanera, The Spirits of Havana, Juan Carlos Formel, Paquito de ‘Rivera, and many others. His mastery of the Afro-Cuban technique coupled with this training in classical and contemporary ballet, modern, jazz, and theater has made him one of the most sought after instructors and choreographers in the United States and abroad. He has also conducted a multitude of special intensives and lecture demonstrations at various universities, colleges and cultural institutions throughout the United States and abroad. His wealth of cultural and historical information has led him to participate in many panel discussions related to the dance and the African Diaspora. Insua recently began to focus his energy towards reinventing his company currently known as Oriki Omi Oddara. Insua has been featured in documentaries and films made in both Cuba and the US. Dame La Mano, an award-winning documentary about Cuban Culture and Rumba in NYC, follows his life from the street, to the classroom to the stage. He also appeared in Calle 54, an acclaimed documentary about Latin Jazz, and Pinero, a film about the life of the famous Lower-East Poet. Insua teaches and performs regularly in the New York City area. He continues to inspire and enlighten us as a phenomenal stage presence and gifted and knowledgeable professor of dance and culture.
	duane Wrenn New Orleans, LA native duane Wrenn was born to dance. Learning Salsa at 26 years young, duane excelled quickly and now dances as if he has always known Cuban blood flowed in his veins. President of the successful Energetic Soul Studios in Clawson, MI. duane has a B.S. degree in Exercise Science and is a highly accredited Fitness Consultant. After working as a Personal Trainer to the stars duane has focused mainly on developing his unique dancing style. He now resides in Detroit, Michigan. Over the last six years duane has put his knowledge and experience to use developing several unique classes from dance to aerobic and strength. With over 500 special appearances both locally and abroad his experience and track record speaks for itself. duane created a Salsa aerobic class with an accompanying video aptly named Energetic Salsa™. This basic video teaches its viewers 7 main variations of the basic salsa steps. duane is also the creator of Energetic Soul°sa™ where he combines linear and circular styles of Salsa dancing. This is what duane refers to as "Mi receta y Mi Sazon." Since the Energetic Salsa Video duane has produced three more instructional DVD's. Soulsa Adapt-Ability part I and II, and Con Alma I. For more information click on any DVD title in products section. duane is considered one of the top instructors of Afro-Cuban Salsa (Casino) style dancing in the Midwest . His background ranges from Cuban Rumba, Son, Capoeira, and Break dancing. duane specializes in Casino style dancing with an Energetic Soulsa Twist.
	Manuel Suarez Manuel is the Founder of both 7 Potencias in Havana and CultuCuba in Oakland,CA The 7 Potencias Company was founded in Havana, Cuba on September 13, 1999, by Manuel Suarez, general and artistic director. Although the 7 Potencias Company has not existed for long under this name, its individual members have worked with each other for many years as members of other dance companies, and prior to that, as students at the various dance schools. This high degree of cumulative professional experience, and the investigative work which has gone into the development of the company's own artistic work, has gained 7 Potencias quick acceptance and support by the Cuban public. Just recently in November 2002, 7 Potencias won first place in the prestigious Wemilere Festival in Guanabacoa, Cuba. CultuCuba is an organization founded by Manuel Suarez with the primary objective of promoting Cuban culture and developing relationships with other societies of the world. Through this multicultural institution, CultuCuba not only strives to promote Cuban traditions, but also all other traditions that participate in these cultural exchanges.
	Julian Meija Julián Mejía, born in Manizales Colombia. Started to dance salsa at the age of 17. His interest in Cuban music started at age 9 and since then, Cuban, Classical and classic Rock have been his passion. Julián moved to Miami in 1995 and soon after started learning Casino with Ramani Nicola (Salsa-Casino Dance Studios) and Henry Herrera (Verdaderos Reyes de la Salsa Dance Studios). During his time in Miami, Julian traveled to Cuba as he was interested in learning more about the culture and the music of the island. In 1999, Julián moved to Atlanta and under the name of SALSAtlanta, started the only Casino school and Casino performance group in Georgia. More than 6,000 students have passed through his classes in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia. Julián also conducts salsa classes in different clubs in the greater Atlanta area. Julián has contributed to spreading the Casino style in Atlanta and beyond by conducting workshops in different cities around North and South America. In 2007 was recognized during the 6th Annual International Salsa Congress in Miami by the school Salsa Lovers with the "Alex Award" for his contribution to the world of Latin Dance. He also helps spread the salsa with his website, SalsaCasino.com, and is co-founder of SalsaPower.com, SalsaSpaces.com and webmaster of LatinCoolNOW.com.
	Sidney Weaverling and Ryan Mead Sidney Weaverling is a longtime contributer to of the currently thriving Cuban-style salsa scene in the SF Bay Area, with more than 10 years of experience as a teacher, performer, and choreographer. Apart from her remarkable proficiency with Cuban popular dance, she has extensive knowledge of Brazilian and African styles. Expert in both following and leading, she has given salsa and rueda workshops across the United States and internationally. She has studied at the Escuela Nacional de Arte (ENA) in Cuba with the Caribbean Music and Dance program, and hosted study trips for her students at myriad schools in Miami, notably SalsaLovers and Salsa Racing. A natural dancer and a thorough teacher, Sidney not only has a beautiful and fluid style of movement – she has the teaching experience and attention to detail that enable her to effectively and efficiently transform and inspire dancers at any level. Ryan Mead was studying jazz percussion at the New England Conservatory when he took his first trip to Cuba, and his life was changed forever. He became an avid student of Cuban music and dance, both popular and folkloric, making several more trips to Cuba (most recently on a grant from Stanford). Fluent in Spanish, he has studied Cuban and Miami-style salsa and rueda in Washington DC, Miami, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Ryan has been teaching salsa and rueda classes for more than 3 years, and he is known for his friendly, patient teaching style and energetic, creative calling. While he has internalized an impressive repertory of turn patterns and body movement, his greatest strength as a dancer and instructor is his musicality; most recently he has been innovating a vocabulary of rhythmic calls and steps to aid dancers in the understanding and interpretation of Cuban music.
	Sandra Moro Sleeper Sandra Moro Sleeper, a Cuban American originally from Miami, has been dancing Casino in Austin since 1999. She's been dancing the dances of her culture for more than 30 years. She is the Founder and Director of Street Salsa in Austin, Texas. Street Salsa wishes to empower all to dance and experience the music, rhythms and cultures of Cuba.
	Ramon Ramos Alayo Ramon Ramos Alayo is known and respected throughout the Bay Area as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and as the artistic director of the Alayo Dance Company. He began his dance life at age eleven in Santiago de Cuba, and went on to recieve his master's degree in contemporary and folkloric dance and dance education from the National School of the Arts in Havana. He was the principal dancer in Danza del Caribe and the Narcisco Medina Contemporary Dance Company, and has performed throughout Cuba, Europe, Canada, Belize, and the U.S. In 1997 Ramon moved to the U.S. and began his professional career in the Bay Area. He has performed with a number of the Bay Area's most respected choreographers, such as Robert Henry Johnson, Kim Epifano, Sara Shelton Mann, and Zaccho Dance Theater, and is currently a member of Robert Moses' Kin. Ramon teaches Cuban popular dance, Afro-Cuban Modern dance and children's movement classes at a number of dance schools. In 2003 he founded CubaCaribe, an organization which promotes Cuban cultural and artistic programs and produces Cuba Camp, an annual summer dance camp. His own company, the Alayo Dance Company is known for its unique fusion of Afro-Cuban modern, folkloric, and popular dance presented theatrically.
	Royland Lobato
	Yismari Ramos Tellez Yismari Ramos Tellez graduated from the National School of Art in Havana, Cuba in 1992, with a degree in modern and Afro-Cuban folklore dance. For six years, Yismari worked as one of the key dancers for the Tony Menendez Dance Company, which performed in Cuba, Russia and Italy. She later went on to become one of the senior dancers of the Ballet de la Television Cubana in Havana, where she regularly performed on television, in video clips and in live shows for some of the top bands in Cuba, Musicals, and in international productions in Spain, Ecuador, Panama, and Switzerland. Yismari has also worked with Lady Salsa, an internationally renowned group, performing Cuban son, mambo, cha-cha-cha, and salsa in Australia, New Zealand and Germany. She has taught dance to children in Cuba and EUA for years, and has also taught numerous Cuban Dance workshops in Canada and Europa
	Marcos Ravelo Born in Havana Cuba, Marcos Ravelo, owner and founder of Havana Cuban Dance Studio, chose to make Calgary, Alberta his home in 2001. The transition from Cuba to Canada took place with nothing but high hopes of carrying on the long standing family tradition of sharing the gift of authentic Cuban dance with others. Marcos has taught dance in workshops across Canada in Cities like Montreol, Toronto, Vancouver etc, He has brought his style of dance to cities in USA and foreign countries like Jamaica and Bahamas, His latest work was at the Vancouver International Rueda Congress 2008, where his lessons were taken by hundreds of students and dancers including the best Salseros and Casineros in the world. Since then, Marcos has had the opportunity to showcase some of his energizing and innovative choreography in countless local events, including Calgary’s ExpoLatino, Heritage Day, Vancouver Salsa International Rueda Congress 2007,2008, Calgary's International salsa congress, Lailac Fest, Mosaic Fest, Internatinal Dance Day,Sun and Salsa, Fiestaval and many other events incluiding the Guinnes World Record, largest dance lesson in the world. Marcos Ravelo has also had the honour of opening for local and world renowned musical groups including Pachanga, Puerto Rican Power, Grammy Nominees Maraca, Chuchito Valdes and Grammy Winner Igancio Berroa, La Maquina, La Sonora Dinamita ,Cubanito, Grammy nominees Oscar De Leon,Tres de la habana, Eddy-k ,Grammy Winner Los munequitos de matanzas, Grammy Winner Yoruba Andabo, Grupo Niche, Dayron y El Boom, Mayito Rivera, Joe Arroyo, Los hermanos Flores and Nina Sky. In January of 2007, along with some of his advanced students, Marcos was asked to grace the main stage of the Jack Singer Concert Hall in conjunction with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Soon after, Marcos entered the “So You Think You Can Dance Calgary” dance competition, placing first in the Latin dance category. Marcos Ravelo has continued to make a name for himself and his studio in Calgary as well as internationally, leaving those in his path with an unappeasable hunger for the taste of true Cuban culture!
	Salsa Nick and Serena About Nick: For over 14 years, Nick was a martial arts and movement instructor. Partner dancing and Salsa were a natural progression. For the past 10 years, Nick has been teaching Salsa and in particular, Cuban style Salsa, bringing to it his existing concepts of connection, balance, and fluidity. Nick combines decades of Cuban tradition with modern movement concepts of space, timing, and flow. Presently, he teaches club-style Salsa, Rueda de Casino, cha cha cha, son, and several martial arts. Most recently, Nick returned from intensive study with Yanek Revilla in Santiago de Cuba. Nick has trained and taught all over the U.S., including extended periods in Miami, New York, and Texas. He has also taught in Hawaii and Caracas and throughout California. He has taught at numerous salsa congresses, festivals and cruises and is the co-star of "The Quick And Dirty Guide To Salsa, vol. 4". Nick teaches Casino and Rueda de Casino classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond at festivals and events across the Americas. Nick is the co-director of Salsa Vale Todo and the co-producer of the SF Salsa Rueda Festival. About Serena: Serena is co-director of Salsa Vale Todo and Rueda Vale Todo. She has been trained in many styles of dance including ballet, tap, Afro-Haitian, and Afro-Brazilian. Serena has studied from master instructors in New York, Brazil, Los Angeles, Miami, Cuba, and San Francisco. Most recently she has returned from intensive study with Yanek Revilla in Santiago de Cuba. Currently she performs in local samba dance companies and with Salsa Vale Todo. Serena teaches regular Casino and Rueda de Casino classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond at festivals and events across the Americas. She is continuing her studies of the roots of Cuban Salsa including Son, Danzon, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, and Afro-Cuban Folkloric dances. Serena is the co-producer of the SF Bay Area Salsa Rueda Festival.
	Mike and Simona From Portland to Philadelphia, to Honolulu to Houston - Mike and Simona are spreading their love of Casino Salsa. They started Rumbanana Salsa Group in January 2000 as a way to promote Cuban Salsa dancing in the Pacific Northwest. Both have been dancing, performing, choreographing and teaching Salsa for more than 12 years. Their focus for the past 8 years has been Casino Style Salsa. By carefully studying Cuban dancers, as well as key dancers from Miami, Mike and Simona have brought true Casino Salsa to hundreds of people around the world. Their teaching ranges from small classes to 100+ people workshops. Not only are their workshops and classes filled with meaningful information, but they also make it fun and exciting to learn. Teaching venues have included their own classes in the Northwest, as well as workshops at national events, such as the Houston Salsa Congress, Palm Springs Salsa Congress, Chicago International Salsa Congress, Philadelphia Salsa Congress, Honolulu Salsathon, Summer Salsa Extravaganza in Palm Springs, NW Salsa Congress, Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami and many others.
	Chris Rogicki Christopher Rogicki was born in NJ and started dancing at age 10. During college, he was first exposed to Cuban-style Salsa/Rueda de Casino, Timba and Son, studying with prominent Casino schools and teachers in the US and abroad, from Miami, Havana and Santiago de Cuba to Washington D.C., California, Spain, and Switzerland. During his senior year, Chris directed MEZCLA, the Latino Performing Arts group at Brown University, which taught and performed at various venues, expos, and televised events throughout New England. Upon returning back to the Tri-State area for grad school at Columbia University, Chris pursued a degree in Linguistics with a specialization in teaching and how adults learn. Combining an extensive pedagogical background with his love for Cuban music and dance, Chris has designed and implemented an extensively progressive Rueda de Casino curriculum at Salsa International. Combining Cuban and Miami-styles, he is responsible for teaching and spreading a unique fusion of universal, core-Casino moves which enable his students to develop a well-rounded knowledge and appreciation of the music and dance. Known for his unique style of choreography and really pushing the limits, Chris is also the founder of ¡Fuákata!, the Rueda performance group at Salsa International, located in midtown Manhattan.
	Yussef Breffe My name is Yussef Breffe. I recently came here from Europe where I had the opportunity to share my artistic and professional knowledge about my culture and its tradition of dance. I am Cuban and taught my Cuban rhythms and dance tradition for almost 10 years in my hometown of Havana. I was also able to work for 5 years in Europe with dance companies such as Via Danza, Key 2 cuba, and Minerva. I lived in Italy for the last 3 years and gave dance classes and workshops. I also performed salsa, rueda, rumba, son, and afro-cuban folkloric in nightclubs and parties in Bologna and Milan. In Italy I took classes with Esmil Diaz, a dancer and master (and graduate of the National Institute of Arts in Cuba), and I worked with young talents from the National Folkloric School of Cuba (Folklorico Nacional de Cuba). I would love to teach my country's rich dance and rhythmical culture, whose tradition stems from african, haitian, and spanish roots and which has evolved into the salsa, rueda de casino, and timba that we dance today. But we cannot forget the son and rumba that are still present in our culture and which are also the base of the modern dances I have mentioned.
	Jose Barroso Born in Havana, José Francisco Barroso’s childhood was enveloped in Cuba’s rich artistic and spiritual environment. At a very young age Barroso was dancing the popular Cuban styles of son, casino, rueda, and rumba. Barroso describes these movements as an expression of everyday life in Cuba and as a symbol of the vibrancy of the Cuban people. As a teenager, Barroso competed and was recognized throughout Havana for his skills in the American forms of hip-hop and break dance. Literally discovered dancing on the street corner in Havana, Barroso was mentored by director of Cuba’s Compania Folklorica Raices Profundas, Juan de Dios Ramos, and rapidly began his journey and career in Afro-Cuban dance. Immersed in the dance and music tradition of his ancestors, Barroso delved ever deeper into the significance and roots of his culture. Today, director and choreographer José Francisco Barroso is regarded as among the foremost authorities on Afro-Cuban dance, music, and folklore. His extensive training and dedication yield Barroso accreditation as an Omo Ayán, master of the consecrated Bata; Palo ÑaÑganaga, keeper of knowledge in the Congolese tradition; Omo Elegba, priest of the Orisha Elegbá; and Awo Ifa, high priest of Orunmila. Barroso was a California Arts Council Artist-In-Residence Grant recipient for the years 1995-2000, teaching extremely popular classes for children and adults, in arts centers, community centers, and public schools, and is a 2006 recipient of the ACTA Living Cultures Grant Program. In addition to private dance studios, Barroso has held residency at several universities and colleges such as Stanford University, California State University Sacramento, San Jose State University, Humboldt State University, San Francisco State University, New College of San Francisco, Laney College, and Mills College. Barroso continues to expand and exhibit his already impressive knowledge of Yoruba traditional practices by studying and collaborating with numerous Cuban and African masters of drum, dance and culture.
	Victoria-Hadar Victoria-Hadar is unique to the Latin Dance scene. Her style is defined by its Musicality, Sensuality and Playfulness. Specialized in Cuban dances for more the 18 years, instructor, performer, choreographer Victoria-Hadar began studying dance at the age of 5 with studies in ballet, jazz, Classical Ballroom and Flamenco and has danced ever since. Learned Traditional and Popular Cuban dances in Cuba with top dance teachers including with the Cuban national dance company Ban Rra Rra and in Europe, Victoria-Hadar taught in many Salsa events and congresses Internationally in Europe, the Mediterranean and Canada and across the USA, from NY to CA and Alaska. Graduate from Wingate Institute for Physical Education and a Master degree from CUNY, Victoria-Hadar applies both known and her original approaches to educate students in a way individuals learn according to Their needs and goals and have fun along the way! Since 2002 Victoria-Hadar is teaching at the “NY Center for Cuban Dance” at “You Should Be Dancing” Dance studios in Manhattan, NY. With her enthusiasm and passion, an enormous amount of knowledge, and the ability to pinpoint exactly what the student needs to improve, students love her entertaining and considerate teaching style, whether in an Afro-Cuban body motion, Salsa Suelta, Partner dancing (Casino) or group Salsa (Rueda) class. Victoria-Hadar founded and has performed for the last Eight years with her students dance group "Bailatina" in National, Local and Televised events including in Lincoln Center, Havana Film Festival, WB11, the Lower East side Festival, Copacabana; SOB’s, in an NBA game, Hoboken Arts and Music festival, Cuban Independence day celebration in NJ and in the biggest Cuban annual event of the north Atlantic region – “the Mamoncillo”. Her motto - Dance for your Body and Soul !!! Happy Dancing !!!
	Ninoska Cumaraima and Javier Rosillo Español: Comienzan con el movimiento de la salsa casino en 1999, luego fundó una escuela de salsa casino exclusivo y ritmos latinos. Varios años más tarde tomar la decisión de ampliar sus horizontes en la enseñanza de la danza y la decisión de cambiar de una escuela de salsa a una escuela integral de entonces surge un nuevo y ambicioso proyecto, el Centro Integral de Danza, la escuela dedicada a recopilar tantos estilos de la danza una lugar. Enseñamos salsa estilo cubano, LA, new York, jazz, flamenco, belidance, ritmos tradicionales, afrocubano, ballet,tango entre otros. También somos promotores de la salsa casino más respetados del movimiento en Venezuela, y los productores de la mayor competición de Venezuela. Festival de Salsa English They start with the casino salsa movement in 1999, then founded a school of exclusive casino salsa and Latin rhythms. Several years later decide to expand their horizons in dance education and the decision to switch from one school to a comprehensive school salsa then comes an ambitious new project, the Integral Center of Dance, the school dedicated to collect as many styles of dance a place. We teach salsa Cuban, LA and New York style, jazz, flamenco, belidance, traditional rhythms, Afro-Cuban, ballet, tango and others. We are also promoters of the most respected casino salsa movement in Venezuela, and the most competitive producers in Venezuela. Festival de Salsa Casino.
	Jennifer Gonzalez, Saoco D.C. Jennifer started dancing salsa rueda 10 years ago when she was looking for a good spot for salsa lessons. After having dabbled in lessons on1 and on2, salsa rueda is what stuck! After taking a short time off to have a child, Jennifer looked up her old friends and started working on the website for SAOCO DC. SAOCO DC is the premiere salsa rueda group in Washington DC and has most recently competed in the 2008 Miami Rueda Congress and performs throughout the Washington DC area. That lead to attending the 2006 Miami Rueda Congress which lead to more dancing and eventually performing with SAOCO DC. One night, when SAOCO DC needed a teacher, Jennifer stepped in to teach the beginner session. She loved it! Now, almost two years later, she routinely teaches rueda with SAOCO DC as well as on her own at various studios. She has instructed classes of up to 60 people as well as small groups of only 3-4 people. For the San Fransisco Rueda Festival, Jennifer will be teaching a 'Group Moves' class designed for beginners.
	Leslie Vazquez and Reinier Fernandez (CMV con Ritmo-Mexico City) Rey Fernandez was born in La Havana Cuba. Even though he decided to study Veterinarian Medicine, he was passionate about Cuban Salsa & Timba, this passion bring him to participate in some Cuban Salsa Contests in La Havana, getting recognition because of his creative way to dance. He moved to Mexico City 6 years ago, and after a year, he started to instruct Cuban Salsa with Luis Martinez, el Indio, the first & one of the most important promoters of Cuban Salsa in Mexico. Leslie was born in Mexico City, since little girl, she demonstrated love and a great talent for dancing. After complete a Computer Systems Degree, she decided to dedicate part of her time to her passion, to dance, specially, Cuban Salsa. Since 2000, she learned Casino with Luis Martinez, whom after a couple of years, invited her to be part of his Team of Instructors. Over the last 5 years, Leslie has studied Rumba, Son, Afro Cuban Dance and Casino in La Havana Cuba & Mexico City. Rey & Leslie started a life together as Couple & Dance Partners 4 years ago, they got 1st place as Dance Couple in several Cuban Salsa Competitions in Mexico and also they represented Mexico in the 1st International Cuban Salsa Competition Melia Baila, in Varadero Cuba in 2005, getting the 1st place as well. Both have been teaching, performing & choreographing Cuban Salsa for more than 4 years. In 2004, Rey & Leslie invited a group of friends passionate about Cuban Salsa to create CMV con Ritmo. The name of the group came from the name of the Countries where all members came from: Cuba, Mexico & Venezuela. Over the last 4 years, CMV has participated in some international Salsa Events such as Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami in 2006, Cuba Baila in Vancouver in 2007, Baila en Cuba in La Havana in 2007, Cubamemucho in Munich in 2008 & recently in the 2nd International Cuban Salsa Congress in Mexico City last June. In 2007, Rey & Leslie created their own Cuban Salsa Academy located in Mexico City with a lot of success. Their experience like International Cuban Salsa Instructors started in Vancouver last year, in Munich last March and proximately in the 5th Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami next November.
	Ahmed and Katherine (Starlight Dance Studios - NY) Ahmed Selim has been teaching dance since the age of 13 and is currently director of the Starlight Ballroom Dance Studio, in New Hyde Park, NY with his wife Katherine. Introduced to Cuban-style Salsa/Rueda de Casino in 1997 by a latin dance coach from Miami he acquired a new found love for the style. Since then he has started the first program of its kind in the area dedicated to bringing Cuban style salsa to the public eye as well as incorporating Cuban-style Salsa/Rueda de Casino into all of the programs at their dance studio, which is a first for any ballroom/latin dance studio; and it is also part of a vocational ballroom dance teacher training program which they offer. Having trained under the supervision of such talents as Sally Hammond,Lance Westergard, Elham El Amir, Sonia Quinones, Orlando Pena and Didio Barrera Katherine brings a diverse style and expert training to her students. Her dance styles include Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Middle Eastern Belly Dancing and Ballroom & Latin Dancing. In addition, Katherine is one of Long Island's premiere dance fitness instructors teaching Zumba Fitness, Salsa Suelta and Cardio Ballroom. Although her primary home is Starlight Ballroom Dance Studio, she teaches both ballroom dancing and dance fitness at various locations on Long Island and recently became a teaching artist for American Ballroom Theater's Dancing Classrooms. Over the past 25 years Ahmed and Katherine have taught, choreographed and performed throughout the US and abroad, with numerous appearances ranging from ART TV, A&E, Cablevision, Fox News Channel and Womens Entertainment.
	Eric Johnson Rueda San Diego director Eric Johnson has spent over two years in Cuba studying dance “in the street”, with professional dancers, and as a matriculated student at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana. In April 2004, he performed Rueda de Casino on Cuban national television on the show Para Bailar Casino. Along with his former teaching partner Sarita Streng, Eric is co-producing the documentary “La Rueda De Guanabacoa”, filmed on location in Havana, about a Cuban rueda de casino dance group.
	Kati Hernandez Kati Hernandez was born and raised in, Cuba, where she began her dance training at the age of 9. Kati received her masters in modern dance from the prestigious Artes school in Havana, with an additional degree in teaching, and further concentration in the field of folklorico. Ms. Hernandez is trained in many different forms of Cuban, Modern, and International styles of dance, with an exceptional knowledge of dance history, and experience in choreographing many dance forms. Kati began her performance career in Habana, while still attending the arts school, sharing the stage with master Cuban jazz musicians, such as Bobby Carcases and Chucho Valdes. Ms. Hernandez performed with the legendary Afro-Cuban singer Mercedita Valdez. She was also privileged to dance with the renowned choreographer Santiago Alfonso from Tropicana, and perform in the International Bienal of Habana with the visual artist Manuel Mendive. These early unique experiences revealed her intricate and versatile style. Beginning her international career, Kati Hernandez was chosen as a representative of Cuban dance, touring Spain for six months with Manolito Sibonet y Su Trabuco (popular orchestra). She also toured with Cuban productions in Portugal, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica. To perform and Instruct. Kati resided in Costa Rica for 5 years where she established her career as a teacher and a choreographer, also expanding her range as an actris and dancer/choreographer for television. During this time, Kati also donated her time and skills to different charities for women and girls in Central America. Kati Hernandez is a gifted, enthusiastic and inspiring teacher and dancer, dedicated to spreading the treasures of her Afro-Cuban roots in the United States. Among her recent projects, Kati choreographed for a performance with the Pomona College Afro-Cuban Drumming Ensemble, as well as the teatrical production, "Healing Mars". She has recently performed with master percussionists, Francisco Aguabella, and Lazaro Galarraga. She also performed in an extraordinary unification of Cuban music and dance in Los Angeles at the Cuban Festival, "El Padre de la Patria" with a great producer and musician, Luis Eric Gonzalez. As a performer, choreographer, and teacher Kati Hernandez is truly an illustrative vision of her her heritage in an endless high-energy celebration of Cuban dance and music.
	Damon Webber Damon Webber is the founder of Rueda4fun.com and the director of Casineros que Son Son. Salsa is a huge part of his Panamanian culture. He learned to dance salsa “freestyle” with his grandparents and family friends at an early age while listening to old school soneros like Angel Canales, Bobby Valentin, Roberto Kelly and many others. In 1997 he was introduced to rueda de casino by his then girlfriend who is now his wife. His first instructor was Tomas Montero who taught him that rueda is and should always be fun! Damon danced with Tomas for the next couple of years until he was no longer able to teach the class. In 1999 Grupo Ban RRA RRA of Santiago Cuba began touring the US and thanks to Kay Torres he was fortunate to continue his training with Ban RRA RRA via group and private lessons. This continued from 1999 into the early years of the new millennium. During their absence he continued to train under David Lennamen who we call “El Padrino de Casino” for his understanding of the culture of rueda as it is in Cuba. Damon began teaching rueda de casino formally in 2004 in West LA. He continues to share his knowledge of salsa, rueda de casino and their cultures, with his students and the great people he instructs at workshops. Damon continues his casino education by exchanging information with many of the excellent Casino instructors that will be teaching in San Francisco. He is also expanding his knowledge of the raices of salsa by training with Kati Hernandez in afro-cuban dance. Currently Damon continues to direct Casineros que Son Son, is in his second year of dental school at UCLA and he and his wife are proud parents of their two year old daughter.
	Patricia Martinez Patricia Martinez conceptualized the now ten-member dance ensemble in the fall of 2008. Born and raised in an Afro-Venezuelan community on the Central Coast of Venezuela, Patricia was trained in traditional dances, ballet, flamenco and jazz. She was exposed to salsa early in life because it was simply part of the culture. When she moved to Los Angeles, Patricia began learning Rueda de Casino from Rueda in the Park, the premier local Cuban Salsa group. Today, Patricia is a popular instructor of Rueda de Casino. Classes are held at Zabumba in Culver City as well as other venues.
	Chen Lizra Chen Lizra was named in Havana "La Cubanita de Israel" for her ability to dance like a Cuban woman and live inside the culture as if she was one. Chen studies Cuban dance professionally each year with teachers from the National School of Arts (La ENA) and the National Folklore Group of Cuba (FNC). She trains in both modern Cuban dances and Afro-Cuban folklore, and travels to share her knowledge and transmit the sensuality and sabor. She dances Cuban Rumba, Son, Casino, Rueda, Reggaeton, Cha-Cha-Cha, Mambo and Afro-Cuban Movements. Chen's first passion was gymnastics and as a child she trained and performed for ten year, earning her the amazing ability to dive into an art form making it her own. This was her first encounter with movement and dance. When she moved on, for years she searched for a new passion which would grab her the same way. It was only in 2000 that she discovered Cuban dance and fell in love with it. But it was only when she started traveling to Cuba and discovered all of the Afro-Cuban dance styles and the depth of the art form in Cuba that hooked her for life. Ever since she has devoted her life and passion, through her company Latidos Productions, to promoting Cuban dance and exposing more and more people around the globe to the magic and art of seduction. In 2008 she was named Student entrepreneur Champion in British Columbia, Canada, for her unique vision for Latidos Productions. In 2009 she was nominated for women of distinction in Vancouver, Canada, for her contribution to the city's Arts and Culture. Chen keeps writing articles, touring with exclusive groups to Cuba and educating people about Cuban music and dance, building a reputation as a specialized expert. Chen is a firecracker- when you'll see her on the dance floor, this flirty and seductive personality comes out! Watch out! www.latidosproductions.com
	Alejandro Bouza Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Alejandro Bouza moved to NY in 2002. Upon arrival, he began his dance education at Dance New York. It was there that he focused on the American and Latin ballroom curriculum, both as a student and shortly afterward, as an assistant Instructor Later, Alejandro chose to focus more specifically on Salsa, eventually coming to adopt Cuban Style Salsa as his own through Casino and Rueda. Over the past several years, he has taken numerous Cuban Workshops and Classes, both nationally and internationally, and he continues learning every day. He will always be very thankful to Chris Rogicki for introducing him to the world of Casino and to Gina Noel D'Ambrosio, director of Salsa International for her constant support to the Rueda Casino community in NYC. Alejandro performed for 2 years with the NYC based Rueda de Casino group Fuakata. Notable appearances with this group include performances at the San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival and Columbia University, as part of an annual Latin heritage festival. Alejandro is also a Latin music DJ and promoter and is known for bringing the Salsa and Casino communities together and hosting several dance events each month in NYC. In between traveling to Salsa/Casino Congresses, teaching workshops, DJing from coast to coast, rehearsing, and performing, Alejandro also teaches in the Tri-State area and in NYC at Salsa International, one the premier dance schools in New York.

Roberto Borrell

bio from Roots of Timba Project

Roberto Borrell learned traditional and popular Afro-Cuban dance, percussion, and song from master musicians and dancers while growing up in la Havana Vieja, Havana, Cuba. He is a respected dancer and percussionist of Afro-Cuban Yoruba, Abakua (Calabar), Rumba, Arará (Dahony), and Palo (Congo). He also a master dancer and teacher of Cuban popular dance styles such as son montuno, danzón, and cha cha cha. Mr. Borrell led the Afro-Cuban folkloric group Kubata in Cuba for 10 years before coming to the United States in 1980, where he founded a new company under the same name. Kubata, then based in New York City, performed Roberto’s productions for 10 years in many major East Coast venues, such as the Smithsonian, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. He also was founder and musical director of the famous New York-based Son Grupo, part of Kubata productions. Borrell danced in the front line of the Folklorico Nacional de Cuba for several years and, in major United States venues, has performed and recorded both as a dancer and percussionist, with legends such as Tito Puente, the Machete Ensemble, Chocolate Armenteros, “Cachao” Lopez, and Richard Egües. Mr. Borrell was the co-founder, percussionist and musical co-director of the 11-member Orquesta la Moderna Tradición, one of the only ensembles in the United States that is dedicated to the performance of classic Cuban dance music: son, guaracha, cha cha cha, and especially the lilting grooves of the danzón.

Felix “Pupy” Insua

Felix “Pupy” Insua was born in La Habana, Cuba in 1948 into a family of artists. His natural talents were quickly noticed and he was admitted to the prestigious Grupo Aficionados de Cuba where his technique and discipline was developed as he began training in all aspects of dance and performance. Upon completion, he joined Cojunto Folklorico National de Cuba with whom he trained and performed for three years. During this time, his mentor and acclaimed Cuban performer Juan De Dios Ramos inspired, focused, and polished his tremendous energy, transforming him into an explosive performer. In 1980, Insua was invited to join Raices Profunda, Juan De Dios Ramos’s performance ensemble with whom he was a principal dancer until 1984. During this time he began to gain national and international recognition. He also began training in theater and drama with Teatro de Arte Popular. His reputation was building, and in 1985, he became the Artistic Director of Mulemba, a folkloric ensemble within the Instituto National de Tourismo. Art of Jazz, Toronto Canada. Photo Roger Humbert. Obbalubbe is Pupy's name in the Yoruba-based religion by which he lives his life. Obbalubbe translates to "King of Kings" In 1989, Insua joined Yoruba Andabo, one of the largest and most accomplished professional ensembles in Cuba. He was a principal dancer and choreographer with Yoruba from 1989 to 1993. Yoruba afforded him the opportunity to travel outside of Cuba providing a world stage for Insua. During this time he was commissioned to create choreography for smaller companies and also began teaching. In 1993, Insua formed his own folkloric company, Oriki, which was comprised of Cuba’s finest and up-coming artists. In 1995, Insua left Cuba for New York City. He began his work in the US creating commissioned choreography for various Cuban ensembles and smaller dance companies in the New York City area. He worked as a solo performer with various ensembles and orchestras including Raices Habanera, The Spirits of Havana, Juan Carlos Formel, Paquito de ‘Rivera, and many others. His mastery of the Afro-Cuban technique coupled with this training in classical and contemporary ballet, modern, jazz, and theater has made him one of the most sought after instructors and choreographers in the United States and abroad. He has also conducted a multitude of special intensives and lecture demonstrations at various universities, colleges and cultural institutions throughout the United States and abroad. His wealth of cultural and historical information has led him to participate in many panel discussions related to the dance and the African Diaspora. Insua recently began to focus his energy towards reinventing his company currently known as Oriki Omi Oddara. Insua has been featured in documentaries and films made in both Cuba and the US. Dame La Mano, an award-winning documentary about Cuban Culture and Rumba in NYC, follows his life from the street, to the classroom to the stage. He also appeared in Calle 54, an acclaimed documentary about Latin Jazz, and Pinero, a film about the life of the famous Lower-East Poet. Insua teaches and performs regularly in the New York City area. He continues to inspire and enlighten us as a phenomenal stage presence and gifted and knowledgeable professor of dance and culture.

duane Wrenn

New Orleans, LA native duane Wrenn was born to dance. Learning Salsa at 26 years young, duane excelled quickly and now dances as if he has always known Cuban blood flowed in his veins. President of the successful Energetic Soul Studios in Clawson, MI. duane has a B.S. degree in Exercise Science and is a highly accredited Fitness Consultant. After working as a Personal Trainer to the stars duane has focused mainly on developing his unique dancing style. He now resides in Detroit, Michigan. Over the last six years duane has put his knowledge and experience to use developing several unique classes from dance to aerobic and strength. With over 500 special appearances both locally and abroad his experience and track record speaks for itself.

duane created a Salsa aerobic class with an accompanying video aptly named Energetic Salsa™. This basic video teaches its viewers 7 main variations of the basic salsa steps. duane is also the creator of Energetic Soul°sa™ where he combines linear and circular styles of Salsa dancing. This is what duane refers to as "Mi receta y Mi Sazon."

Since the Energetic Salsa Video duane has produced three more instructional DVD's. Soul*sa Adapt-Ability part I and II, and Con Alma I. For more information click on any DVD title in products section. duane is considered one of the top instructors of Afro-Cuban Salsa (Casino) style dancing in the Midwest . His background ranges from Cuban Rumba, Son, Capoeira, and Break dancing. duane specializes in Casino style dancing with an Energetic Soul*sa Twist.

Manuel Suarez

Manuel is the Founder of both 7 Potencias in Havana and CultuCuba in Oakland,CA

The 7 Potencias Company was founded in Havana, Cuba on September 13, 1999, by Manuel Suarez, general and artistic director. Although the 7 Potencias Company has not existed for long under this name, its individual members have worked with each other for many years as members of other dance companies, and prior to that, as students at the various dance schools. This high degree of cumulative professional experience, and the investigative work which has gone into the development of the company's own artistic work, has gained 7 Potencias quick acceptance and support by the Cuban public. Just recently in November 2002, 7 Potencias won first place in the prestigious Wemilere Festival in Guanabacoa, Cuba.

CultuCuba is an organization founded by Manuel Suarez with the primary objective of promoting Cuban culture and developing relationships with other societies of the world. Through this multicultural institution, CultuCuba not only strives to promote Cuban traditions, but also all other traditions that participate in these cultural exchanges.

Julian Meija

Julián Mejía, born in Manizales Colombia. Started to dance salsa at the age of 17. His interest in Cuban music started at age 9 and since then, Cuban, Classical and classic Rock have been his passion. Julián moved to Miami in 1995 and soon after started learning Casino with Ramani Nicola (Salsa-Casino Dance Studios) and Henry Herrera (Verdaderos Reyes de la Salsa Dance Studios). During his time in Miami, Julian traveled to Cuba as he was interested in learning more about the culture and the music of the island. In 1999, Julián moved to Atlanta and under the name of SALSAtlanta, started the only Casino school and Casino performance group in Georgia. More than 6,000 students have passed through his classes in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia. Julián also conducts salsa classes in different clubs in the greater Atlanta area. Julián has contributed to spreading the Casino style in Atlanta and beyond by conducting workshops in different cities around North and South America. In 2007 was recognized during the 6th Annual International Salsa Congress in Miami by the school Salsa Lovers with the "Alex Award" for his contribution to the world of Latin Dance. He also helps spread the salsa with his website, SalsaCasino.com, and is co-founder of SalsaPower.com, SalsaSpaces.com and webmaster of LatinCoolNOW.com.

Sidney Weaverling and Ryan Mead

Sidney Weaverling is a longtime contributer to of the currently thriving Cuban-style salsa scene in the SF Bay Area, with more than 10 years of experience as a teacher, performer, and choreographer. Apart from her remarkable proficiency with Cuban popular dance, she has extensive knowledge of Brazilian and African styles. Expert in both following and leading, she has given salsa and rueda workshops across the United States and internationally. She has studied at the Escuela Nacional de Arte (ENA) in Cuba with the Caribbean Music and Dance program, and hosted study trips for her students at myriad schools in Miami, notably SalsaLovers and Salsa Racing. A natural dancer and a thorough teacher, Sidney not only has a beautiful and fluid style of movement – she has the teaching experience and attention to detail that enable her to effectively and efficiently transform and inspire dancers at any level.

Ryan Mead was studying jazz percussion at the New England Conservatory when he took his first trip to Cuba, and his life was changed forever. He became an avid student of Cuban music and dance, both popular and folkloric, making several more trips to Cuba (most recently on a grant from Stanford). Fluent in Spanish, he has studied Cuban and Miami-style salsa and rueda in Washington DC, Miami, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Ryan has been teaching salsa and rueda classes for more than 3 years, and he is known for his friendly, patient teaching style and energetic, creative calling. While he has internalized an impressive repertory of turn patterns and body movement, his greatest strength as a dancer and instructor is his musicality; most recently he has been innovating a vocabulary of rhythmic calls and steps to aid dancers in the understanding and interpretation of Cuban music.

Sandra Moro Sleeper

Sandra Moro Sleeper, a Cuban American originally from Miami, has been dancing Casino in Austin since 1999. She's been dancing the dances of her culture for more than 30 years. She is the Founder and Director of Street Salsa in Austin, Texas.

Street Salsa wishes to empower all to dance and experience the music, rhythms and cultures of Cuba.

Ramon Ramos Alayo

Ramon Ramos Alayo is known and respected throughout the Bay Area as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and as the artistic director of the Alayo Dance Company. He began his dance life at age eleven in Santiago de Cuba, and went on to recieve his master's degree in contemporary and folkloric dance and dance education from the National School of the Arts in Havana. He was the principal dancer in Danza del Caribe and the Narcisco Medina Contemporary Dance Company, and has performed throughout Cuba, Europe, Canada, Belize, and the U.S. In 1997 Ramon moved to the U.S. and began his professional career in the Bay Area. He has performed with a number of the Bay Area's most respected choreographers, such as Robert Henry Johnson, Kim Epifano, Sara Shelton Mann, and Zaccho Dance Theater, and is currently a member of Robert Moses' Kin. Ramon teaches Cuban popular dance, Afro-Cuban Modern dance and children's movement classes at a number of dance schools. In 2003 he founded CubaCaribe, an organization which promotes Cuban cultural and artistic programs and produces Cuba Camp, an annual summer dance camp. His own company, the Alayo Dance Company is known for its unique fusion of Afro-Cuban modern, folkloric, and popular dance presented theatrically.

Royland Lobato

Yismari Ramos Tellez

Yismari Ramos Tellez graduated from the National School of Art in Havana, Cuba in 1992, with a degree in modern and Afro-Cuban folklore dance. For six years, Yismari worked as one of the key dancers for the Tony Menendez Dance Company, which performed in Cuba, Russia and Italy. She later went on to become one of the senior dancers of the Ballet de la Television Cubana in Havana, where she regularly performed on television, in video clips and in live shows for some of the top bands in Cuba, Musicals, and in international productions in Spain, Ecuador, Panama, and Switzerland. Yismari has also worked with Lady Salsa, an internationally renowned group, performing Cuban son, mambo, cha-cha-cha, and salsa in Australia, New Zealand and Germany. She has taught dance to children in Cuba and EUA for years, and has also taught numerous Cuban Dance workshops in Canada and Europa

Marcos Ravelo

Born in Havana Cuba, Marcos Ravelo, owner and founder of Havana Cuban Dance Studio, chose to make Calgary, Alberta his home in 2001. The transition from Cuba to Canada took place with nothing but high hopes of carrying on the long standing family tradition of sharing the gift of authentic Cuban dance with others.

Marcos has taught dance in workshops across Canada in Cities like Montreol, Toronto, Vancouver etc, He has brought his style of dance to cities in USA and foreign countries like Jamaica and Bahamas, His latest work was at the Vancouver International Rueda Congress 2008, where his lessons were taken by hundreds of students and dancers including the best Salseros and Casineros in the world.

Since then, Marcos has had the opportunity to showcase some of his energizing and innovative choreography in countless local events, including Calgary’s ExpoLatino, Heritage Day, Vancouver Salsa International Rueda Congress 2007,2008, Calgary's International salsa congress, Lailac Fest, Mosaic Fest, Internatinal Dance Day,Sun and Salsa, Fiestaval and many other events incluiding the Guinnes World Record, largest dance lesson in the world.

Marcos Ravelo has also had the honour of opening for local and world renowned musical groups including Pachanga, Puerto Rican Power, Grammy Nominees Maraca, Chuchito Valdes and Grammy Winner Igancio Berroa, La Maquina, La Sonora Dinamita ,Cubanito, Grammy nominees Oscar De Leon,Tres de la habana, Eddy-k ,Grammy Winner Los munequitos de matanzas, Grammy Winner Yoruba Andabo, Grupo Niche, Dayron y El Boom, Mayito Rivera, Joe Arroyo, Los hermanos Flores and Nina Sky.

In January of 2007, along with some of his advanced students, Marcos was asked to grace the main stage of the Jack Singer Concert Hall in conjunction with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Soon after, Marcos entered the “So You Think You Can Dance Calgary” dance competition, placing first in the Latin dance category.

Marcos Ravelo has continued to make a name for himself and his studio in Calgary as well as internationally, leaving those in his path with an unappeasable hunger for the taste of true Cuban culture!

Salsa Nick and Serena

About Nick:

For over 14 years, Nick was a martial arts and movement instructor. Partner dancing and Salsa were a natural progression. For the past 10 years, Nick has been teaching Salsa and in particular, Cuban style Salsa, bringing to it his existing concepts of connection, balance, and fluidity. Nick combines decades of Cuban tradition with modern movement concepts of space, timing, and flow. Presently, he teaches club-style Salsa, Rueda de Casino, cha cha cha, son, and several martial arts. Most recently, Nick returned from intensive study with Yanek Revilla in Santiago de Cuba. Nick has trained and taught all over the U.S., including extended periods in Miami, New York, and Texas. He has also taught in Hawaii and Caracas and throughout California. He has taught at numerous salsa congresses, festivals and cruises and is the co-star of "The Quick And Dirty Guide To Salsa, vol. 4". Nick teaches Casino and Rueda de Casino classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond at festivals and events across the Americas. Nick is the co-director of Salsa Vale Todo and the co-producer of the SF Salsa Rueda Festival.

About Serena:

Serena is co-director of Salsa Vale Todo and Rueda Vale Todo. She has been trained in many styles of dance including ballet, tap, Afro-Haitian, and Afro-Brazilian. Serena has studied from master instructors in New York, Brazil, Los Angeles, Miami, Cuba, and San Francisco. Most recently she has returned from intensive study with Yanek Revilla in Santiago de Cuba. Currently she performs in local samba dance companies and with Salsa Vale Todo. Serena teaches regular Casino and Rueda de Casino classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond at festivals and events across the Americas. She is continuing her studies of the roots of Cuban Salsa including Son, Danzon, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, and Afro-Cuban Folkloric dances. Serena is the co-producer of the SF Bay Area Salsa Rueda Festival.

Mike and Simona

From Portland to Philadelphia, to Honolulu to Houston - Mike and Simona are spreading their love of Casino Salsa.

They started Rumbanana Salsa Group in January 2000 as a way to promote Cuban Salsa dancing in the Pacific Northwest. Both have been dancing, performing, choreographing and teaching Salsa for more than 12 years. Their focus for the past 8 years has been Casino Style Salsa. By carefully studying Cuban dancers, as well as key dancers from Miami, Mike and Simona have brought true Casino Salsa to hundreds of people around the world.

Their teaching ranges from small classes to 100+ people workshops. Not only are their workshops and classes filled with meaningful information, but they also make it fun and exciting to learn.

Teaching venues have included their own classes in the Northwest, as well as workshops at national events, such as the Houston Salsa Congress, Palm Springs Salsa Congress, Chicago International Salsa Congress, Philadelphia Salsa Congress, Honolulu Salsathon, Summer Salsa Extravaganza in Palm Springs, NW Salsa Congress, Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami and many others.

Chris Rogicki

Christopher Rogicki was born in NJ and started dancing at age 10. During college, he was first exposed to Cuban-style Salsa/Rueda de Casino, Timba and Son, studying with prominent Casino schools and teachers in the US and abroad, from Miami, Havana and Santiago de Cuba to Washington D.C., California, Spain, and Switzerland. During his senior year, Chris directed MEZCLA, the Latino Performing Arts group at Brown University, which taught and performed at various venues, expos, and televised events throughout New England. Upon returning back to the Tri-State area for grad school at Columbia University, Chris pursued a degree in Linguistics with a specialization in teaching and how adults learn. Combining an extensive pedagogical background with his love for Cuban music and dance, Chris has designed and implemented an extensively progressive Rueda de Casino curriculum at Salsa International. Combining Cuban and Miami-styles, he is responsible for teaching and spreading a unique fusion of universal, core-Casino moves which enable his students to develop a well-rounded knowledge and appreciation of the music and dance. Known for his unique style of choreography and really pushing the limits, Chris is also the founder of ¡Fuákata!, the Rueda performance group at Salsa International, located in midtown Manhattan.

Yussef Breffe

My name is Yussef Breffe. I recently came here from Europe where I had the opportunity to share my artistic and professional knowledge about my culture and its tradition of dance.

I am Cuban and taught my Cuban rhythms and dance tradition for almost 10 years in my hometown of Havana. I was also able to work for 5 years in Europe with dance companies such as Via Danza, Key 2 cuba, and Minerva. I lived in Italy for the last 3 years and gave dance classes and workshops. I also performed salsa, rueda, rumba, son, and afro-cuban folkloric in nightclubs and parties in Bologna and Milan.

In Italy I took classes with Esmil Diaz, a dancer and master (and graduate of the National Institute of Arts in Cuba), and I worked with young talents from the National Folkloric School of Cuba (Folklorico Nacional de Cuba).

I would love to teach my country's rich dance and rhythmical culture, whose tradition stems from african, haitian, and spanish roots and which has evolved into the salsa, rueda de casino, and timba that we dance today. But we cannot forget the son and rumba that are still present in our culture and which are also the base of the modern dances I have mentioned.

Jose Barroso

Born in Havana, José Francisco Barroso’s childhood was enveloped in Cuba’s rich artistic and spiritual environment. At a very young age Barroso was dancing the popular Cuban styles of son, casino, rueda, and rumba. Barroso describes these movements as an expression of everyday life in Cuba and as a symbol of the vibrancy of the Cuban people. As a teenager, Barroso competed and was recognized throughout Havana for his skills in the American forms of hip-hop and break dance. Literally discovered dancing on the street corner in Havana, Barroso was mentored by director of Cuba’s Compania Folklorica Raices Profundas, Juan de Dios Ramos, and rapidly began his journey and career in Afro-Cuban dance. Immersed in the dance and music tradition of his ancestors, Barroso delved ever deeper into the significance and roots of his culture. Today, director and choreographer José Francisco Barroso is regarded as among the foremost authorities on Afro-Cuban dance, music, and folklore. His extensive training and dedication yield Barroso accreditation as an Omo Ayán, master of the consecrated Bata; Palo ÑaÑganaga, keeper of knowledge in the Congolese tradition; Omo Elegba, priest of the Orisha Elegbá; and Awo Ifa, high priest of Orunmila. Barroso was a California Arts Council Artist-In-Residence Grant recipient for the years 1995-2000, teaching extremely popular classes for children and adults, in arts centers, community centers, and public schools, and is a 2006 recipient of the ACTA Living Cultures Grant Program. In addition to private dance studios, Barroso has held residency at several universities and colleges such as Stanford University, California State University Sacramento, San Jose State University, Humboldt State University, San Francisco State University, New College of San Francisco, Laney College, and Mills College. Barroso continues to expand and exhibit his already impressive knowledge of Yoruba traditional practices by studying and collaborating with numerous Cuban and African masters of drum, dance and culture.

Victoria-Hadar

Victoria-Hadar is unique to the Latin Dance scene. Her style is defined by its Musicality, Sensuality and Playfulness. Specialized in Cuban dances for more the 18 years, instructor, performer, choreographer Victoria-Hadar began studying dance at the age of 5 with studies in ballet, jazz, Classical Ballroom and Flamenco and has danced ever since. Learned Traditional and Popular Cuban dances in Cuba with top dance teachers including with the Cuban national dance company Ban Rra Rra and in Europe, Victoria-Hadar taught in many Salsa events and congresses Internationally in Europe, the Mediterranean and Canada and across the USA, from NY to CA and Alaska. Graduate from Wingate Institute for Physical Education and a Master degree from CUNY, Victoria-Hadar applies both known and her original approaches to educate students in a way individuals learn according to Their needs and goals and have fun along the way! Since 2002 Victoria-Hadar is teaching at the “NY Center for Cuban Dance” at “You Should Be Dancing” Dance studios in Manhattan, NY. With her enthusiasm and passion, an enormous amount of knowledge, and the ability to pinpoint exactly what the student needs to improve, students love her entertaining and considerate teaching style, whether in an Afro-Cuban body motion, Salsa Suelta, Partner dancing (Casino) or group Salsa (Rueda) class. Victoria-Hadar founded and has performed for the last Eight years with her students dance group "Bailatina" in National, Local and Televised events including in Lincoln Center, Havana Film Festival, WB11, the Lower East side Festival, Copacabana; SOB’s, in an NBA game, Hoboken Arts and Music festival, Cuban Independence day celebration in NJ and in the biggest Cuban annual event of the north Atlantic region – “the Mamoncillo”. Her motto - Dance for your Body and Soul !!! Happy Dancing !!!

Ninoska Cumaraima and Javier Rosillo

Español: Comienzan con el movimiento de la salsa casino en 1999, luego fundó una escuela de salsa casino exclusivo y ritmos latinos. Varios años más tarde tomar la decisión de ampliar sus horizontes en la enseñanza de la danza y la decisión de cambiar de una escuela de salsa a una escuela integral de entonces surge un nuevo y ambicioso proyecto, el Centro Integral de Danza, la escuela dedicada a recopilar tantos estilos de la danza una lugar. Enseñamos salsa estilo cubano, LA, new York, jazz, flamenco, belidance, ritmos tradicionales, afrocubano, ballet,tango entre otros. También somos promotores de la salsa casino más respetados del movimiento en Venezuela, y los productores de la mayor competición de Venezuela. Festival de Salsa

English They start with the casino salsa movement in 1999, then founded a school of exclusive casino salsa and Latin rhythms. Several years later decide to expand their horizons in dance education and the decision to switch from one school to a comprehensive school salsa then comes an ambitious new project, the Integral Center of Dance, the school dedicated to collect as many styles of dance a place. We teach salsa Cuban, LA and New York style, jazz, flamenco, belidance, traditional rhythms, Afro-Cuban, ballet, tango and others. We are also promoters of the most respected casino salsa movement in Venezuela, and the most competitive producers in Venezuela. Festival de Salsa Casino.

Jennifer Gonzalez, Saoco D.C.

Jennifer started dancing salsa rueda 10 years ago when she was looking for a good spot for salsa lessons. After having dabbled in lessons on1 and on2, salsa rueda is what stuck! After taking a short time off to have a child, Jennifer looked up her old friends and started working on the website for SAOCO DC. SAOCO DC is the premiere salsa rueda group in Washington DC and has most recently competed in the 2008 Miami Rueda Congress and performs throughout the Washington DC area. That lead to attending the 2006 Miami Rueda Congress which lead to more dancing and eventually performing with SAOCO DC. One night, when SAOCO DC needed a teacher, Jennifer stepped in to teach the beginner session. She loved it! Now, almost two years later, she routinely teaches rueda with SAOCO DC as well as on her own at various studios. She has instructed classes of up to 60 people as well as small groups of only 3-4 people. For the San Fransisco Rueda Festival, Jennifer will be teaching a 'Group Moves' class designed for beginners.

Leslie Vazquez and Reinier Fernandez (CMV con Ritmo-Mexico City)

Rey Fernandez was born in La Havana Cuba. Even though he decided to study Veterinarian Medicine, he was passionate about Cuban Salsa & Timba, this passion bring him to participate in some Cuban Salsa Contests in La Havana, getting recognition because of his creative way to dance. He moved to Mexico City 6 years ago, and after a year, he started to instruct Cuban Salsa with Luis Martinez, el Indio, the first & one of the most important promoters of Cuban Salsa in Mexico. Leslie was born in Mexico City, since little girl, she demonstrated love and a great talent for dancing. After complete a Computer Systems Degree, she decided to dedicate part of her time to her passion, to dance, specially, Cuban Salsa. Since 2000, she learned Casino with Luis Martinez, whom after a couple of years, invited her to be part of his Team of Instructors. Over the last 5 years, Leslie has studied Rumba, Son, Afro Cuban Dance and Casino in La Havana Cuba & Mexico City. Rey & Leslie started a life together as Couple & Dance Partners 4 years ago, they got 1st place as Dance Couple in several Cuban Salsa Competitions in Mexico and also they represented Mexico in the 1st International Cuban Salsa Competition Melia Baila, in Varadero Cuba in 2005, getting the 1st place as well. Both have been teaching, performing & choreographing Cuban Salsa for more than 4 years. In 2004, Rey & Leslie invited a group of friends passionate about Cuban Salsa to create CMV con Ritmo. The name of the group came from the name of the Countries where all members came from: Cuba, Mexico & Venezuela. Over the last 4 years, CMV has participated in some international Salsa Events such as Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami in 2006, Cuba Baila in Vancouver in 2007, Baila en Cuba in La Havana in 2007, Cubamemucho in Munich in 2008 & recently in the 2nd International Cuban Salsa Congress in Mexico City last June. In 2007, Rey & Leslie created their own Cuban Salsa Academy located in Mexico City with a lot of success. Their experience like International Cuban Salsa Instructors started in Vancouver last year, in Munich last March and proximately in the 5th Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami next November.

Ahmed and Katherine (Starlight Dance Studios - NY)

Ahmed Selim has been teaching dance since the age of 13 and is currently director of the Starlight Ballroom Dance Studio, in New Hyde Park, NY with his wife Katherine. Introduced to Cuban-style Salsa/Rueda de Casino in 1997 by a latin dance coach from Miami he acquired a new found love for the style. Since then he has started the first program of its kind in the area dedicated to bringing Cuban style salsa to the public eye as well as incorporating Cuban-style Salsa/Rueda de Casino into all of the programs at their dance studio, which is a first for any ballroom/latin dance studio; and it is also part of a vocational ballroom dance teacher training program which they offer.

Having trained under the supervision of such talents as Sally Hammond,Lance Westergard, Elham El Amir, Sonia Quinones, Orlando Pena and Didio Barrera Katherine brings a diverse style and expert training to her students. Her dance styles include Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Middle Eastern Belly Dancing and Ballroom & Latin Dancing. In addition, Katherine is one of Long Island's premiere dance fitness instructors teaching Zumba Fitness, Salsa Suelta and Cardio Ballroom. Although her primary home is Starlight Ballroom Dance Studio, she teaches both ballroom dancing and dance fitness at various locations on Long Island and recently became a teaching artist for American Ballroom Theater's Dancing Classrooms.

Over the past 25 years Ahmed and Katherine have taught, choreographed and performed throughout the US and abroad, with numerous appearances ranging from ART TV, A&E, Cablevision, Fox News Channel and Womens Entertainment.

Eric Johnson

Rueda San Diego director Eric Johnson has spent over two years in Cuba studying dance “in the street”, with professional dancers, and as a matriculated student at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana. In April 2004, he performed Rueda de Casino on Cuban national television on the show Para Bailar Casino. Along with his former teaching partner Sarita Streng, Eric is co-producing the documentary “La Rueda De Guanabacoa”, filmed on location in Havana, about a Cuban rueda de casino dance group.

Kati Hernandez

Kati Hernandez was born and raised in, Cuba, where she began her dance training at the age of 9. Kati received her masters in modern dance from the prestigious Artes school in Havana, with an additional degree in teaching, and further concentration in the field of folklorico. Ms. Hernandez is trained in many different forms of Cuban, Modern, and International styles of dance, with an exceptional knowledge of dance history, and experience in choreographing many dance forms. Kati began her performance career in Habana, while still attending the arts school, sharing the stage with master Cuban jazz musicians, such as Bobby Carcases and Chucho Valdes. Ms. Hernandez performed with the legendary Afro-Cuban singer Mercedita Valdez. She was also privileged to dance with the renowned choreographer Santiago Alfonso from Tropicana, and perform in the International Bienal of Habana with the visual artist Manuel Mendive. These early unique experiences revealed her intricate and versatile style. Beginning her international career, Kati Hernandez was chosen as a representative of Cuban dance, touring Spain for six months with Manolito Sibonet y Su Trabuco (popular orchestra). She also toured with Cuban productions in Portugal, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica. To perform and Instruct. Kati resided in Costa Rica for 5 years where she established her career as a teacher and a choreographer, also expanding her range as an actris and dancer/choreographer for television. During this time, Kati also donated her time and skills to different charities for women and girls in Central America. Kati Hernandez is a gifted, enthusiastic and inspiring teacher and dancer, dedicated to spreading the treasures of her Afro-Cuban roots in the United States. Among her recent projects, Kati choreographed for a performance with the Pomona College Afro-Cuban Drumming Ensemble, as well as the teatrical production, "Healing Mars". She has recently performed with master percussionists, Francisco Aguabella, and Lazaro Galarraga. She also performed in an extraordinary unification of Cuban music and dance in Los Angeles at the Cuban Festival, "El Padre de la Patria" with a great producer and musician, Luis Eric Gonzalez. As a performer, choreographer, and teacher Kati Hernandez is truly an illustrative vision of her her heritage in an endless high-energy celebration of Cuban dance and music.

Damon Webber

Damon Webber is the founder of Rueda4fun.com and the director of Casineros que Son Son. Salsa is a huge part of his Panamanian culture. He learned to dance salsa “freestyle” with his grandparents and family friends at an early age while listening to old school soneros like Angel Canales, Bobby Valentin, Roberto Kelly and many others. In 1997 he was introduced to rueda de casino by his then girlfriend who is now his wife. His first instructor was Tomas Montero who taught him that rueda is and should always be fun! Damon danced with Tomas for the next couple of years until he was no longer able to teach the class. In 1999 Grupo Ban RRA RRA of Santiago Cuba began touring the US and thanks to Kay Torres he was fortunate to continue his training with Ban RRA RRA via group and private lessons. This continued from 1999 into the early years of the new millennium. During their absence he continued to train under David Lennamen who we call “El Padrino de Casino” for his understanding of the culture of rueda as it is in Cuba. Damon began teaching rueda de casino formally in 2004 in West LA. He continues to share his knowledge of salsa, rueda de casino and their cultures, with his students and the great people he instructs at workshops. Damon continues his casino education by exchanging information with many of the excellent Casino instructors that will be teaching in San Francisco. He is also expanding his knowledge of the raices of salsa by training with Kati Hernandez in afro-cuban dance. Currently Damon continues to direct Casineros que Son Son, is in his second year of dental school at UCLA and he and his wife are proud parents of their two year old daughter.

Patricia Martinez

Patricia Martinez conceptualized the now ten-member dance ensemble in the fall of 2008. Born and raised in an Afro-Venezuelan community on the Central Coast of Venezuela, Patricia was trained in traditional dances, ballet, flamenco and jazz. She was exposed to salsa early in life because it was simply part of the culture. When she moved to Los Angeles, Patricia began learning Rueda de Casino from Rueda in the Park, the premier local Cuban Salsa group. Today, Patricia is a popular instructor of Rueda de Casino. Classes are held at Zabumba in Culver City as well as other venues.

Chen Lizra

Chen Lizra was named in Havana "La Cubanita de Israel" for her ability to dance like a Cuban woman and live inside the culture as if she was one. Chen studies Cuban dance professionally each year with teachers from the National School of Arts (La ENA) and the National Folklore Group of Cuba (FNC). She trains in both modern Cuban dances and Afro-Cuban folklore, and travels to share her knowledge and transmit the sensuality and sabor. She dances Cuban Rumba, Son, Casino, Rueda, Reggaeton, Cha-Cha-Cha, Mambo and Afro-Cuban Movements. Chen's first passion was gymnastics and as a child she trained and performed for ten year, earning her the amazing ability to dive into an art form making it her own. This was her first encounter with movement and dance. When she moved on, for years she searched for a new passion which would grab her the same way. It was only in 2000 that she discovered Cuban dance and fell in love with it. But it was only when she started traveling to Cuba and discovered all of the Afro-Cuban dance styles and the depth of the art form in Cuba that hooked her for life. Ever since she has devoted her life and passion, through her company Latidos Productions, to promoting Cuban dance and exposing more and more people around the globe to the magic and art of seduction. In 2008 she was named Student entrepreneur Champion in British Columbia, Canada, for her unique vision for Latidos Productions. In 2009 she was nominated for women of distinction in Vancouver, Canada, for her contribution to the city's Arts and Culture. Chen keeps writing articles, touring with exclusive groups to Cuba and educating people about Cuban music and dance, building a reputation as a specialized expert. Chen is a firecracker- when you'll see her on the dance floor, this flirty and seductive personality comes out! Watch out! www.latidosproductions.com

Alejandro Bouza

Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Alejandro Bouza moved to NY in 2002. Upon arrival, he began his dance education at Dance New York. It was there that he focused on the American and Latin ballroom curriculum, both as a student and shortly afterward, as an assistant Instructor Later, Alejandro chose to focus more specifically on Salsa, eventually coming to adopt Cuban Style Salsa as his own through Casino and Rueda. Over the past several years, he has taken numerous Cuban Workshops and Classes, both nationally and internationally, and he continues learning every day. He will always be very thankful to Chris Rogicki for introducing him to the world of Casino and to Gina Noel D'Ambrosio, director of Salsa International for her constant support to the Rueda Casino community in NYC. Alejandro performed for 2 years with the NYC based Rueda de Casino group Fuakata. Notable appearances with this group include performances at the San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival and Columbia University, as part of an annual Latin heritage festival. Alejandro is also a Latin music DJ and promoter and is known for bringing the Salsa and Casino communities together and hosting several dance events each month in NYC. In between traveling to Salsa/Casino Congresses, teaching workshops, DJing from coast to coast, rehearsing, and performing, Alejandro also teaches in the Tri-State area and in NYC at Salsa International, one the premier dance schools in New York.