2011 Salsa Rueda Festival's Performers and DJs

2011 Salsa Rueda Festival's Performers and DJs
Home - 2011 Ticket Prices - Register - Hotel Whitcomb - 2011 Instructors - 2011 Performers/DJ's - 2011 Schedule - 2011 Vendors - Instructors Track - Private Lessons

Home - 2011 Ticket Prices - Register - Hotel Whitcomb - 2011 Instructors - 2011 Performers/DJ's - 2011 Schedule - 2011 Vendors - Instructors Track - Private Lessons

www.timbalive.com

Timbalive

The Timbalive project burst into the music scene in Miami in August 2008, created by Leo Garcia (Director, Timbals, Vocals), offering the best of Cuban Music with a mix of different rhytms from around the world and sophinsticated production techniques, offering a spectacular live show. Timbalive is a group of Miami, and all membersare highly trained musicians from music schools in Cuba, some of them have played with the better known around the world as Amaury Gutierrez, Willy Chirino, Albita Rodriguez, Isaac Delgado, Manolin (doctor of Salsa), Group Afrocuba, Carlos Manuel, Luis Enrique, Rey Ruiz, Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz, Paulo FG, Clave y Guaguanco, Oscar de Leon ... and have come together to realize their musical dream, the largest and most successful group of Timba United States and the world. In May 2009 Timbalive began recording his first album with the musical production of Bayron Ramos (trombone / arrangements / music production) and executive producer Leo Garcia (Director, Timbales, Vocals / Executive production), with songs of their own inspiration and other composers such as Juan Formel and Amaury Gutierrez. The new album, "From Miami a la Habana" is available since November 2009.

Team Bahia

Team Bahia (TIMBAHIA) is an all-Star band assembled by Dj Waltdigz. Their purpose is to play contemporary Cuban music specifically Timba and their repetoire will consist of 12 cover tunes that are hot in the Salsa clubs as spun by WaltDigz. Every year the playlist will change according to what is felt are the songs that the dancers respond to the most...simply the hits. As well as the music, every year the personnel may change to spice things up and to keep it unique & fresh. The intention is to allow the musicians as well as dancers to "let loose", have fun & enjoy!!!!!!!

Rumbache

Representing the younger generation of Bay Area’s salsa scene, Rumbaché mixes Salsa, Timba, Bomba, Funk and anything else they can to spice up the mood and get everyone off of their feet! Their debut studio CD will be released in April of this year.

photo by Patrick Hickey

Dj WaltDigz

Dj WaltDigz is a veteran dj and music collector from the San Francisco Bay Area. He's had the pleasure of playing a variety of music (Hip Hop,Soul, Salsa,Timba and Reggaeton) at many popular clubs and concerts around the Bay and across the country.

Concerts Dj'd: Goapele, Ivy Queen, Don Omar, Tego Calderon, 90 Millas,Orishas, Ricardo Lemvo, Timba Loca, Cuban Timba All-Stars,Danny Lozada, El Pikete, Charanga Cubana, B-Side Players.

DJ Dark Rum

Rick "DJ Dark Rum" Washington has been passionate about music since childhood. He played bass guitar to Jimi Hendrix tunes at 13, DJ’d high school hip hop parties at 16, and produced tracks for a hip hop artist at age 21. In the early 90's, the young naive DJ/producer walked into the Salón Rosado Benny Moré (aka - La Tropical) in La Habana Cuba and experienced an Afro-Cuban cultural awakening that would change his life forever - Timba! Later, with the assistance of high school friends Walter Vela &Alvaro Batista, Rick created Añejo Productions, a DJ/event promotion group committed to providing their hometown of San Francisco with the best in Salsa con Timba y Reggaeton. Their first infamous club event "LA TROPI-CAL" @ il Pirata has been going strong "every last Friday of the month!" for almost 8 years; its weekly sister party "La Bodeguita del Medio" @ Lil Baobab has been carrying on for over 3 years. In addition to the aforementioned, he has organized concerts for such artists &bands as 90 millas, El Pikete, La Charanga Cubana, Chalo y su Ache, Danny Lozada, &Pepito Gomez as well as various Bay Area artists.

www.anejoprod.com

DJ Antonio

Salsa Vale Todo was co-founded and is co-directed by Salsa Nick and Serena. The group has a Cuban Salsa foundation with a emphasis on Rueda De Casino. They also incorporate Samba, Afro-Brazilian, Son, Hip Hop, Capoeira, Kung-Fu and other styles of Salsa into their choreographies. Salsa Vale Todo has performed locally at numerous venues including Mission in the Mix, Roccopolco, Bollywood, and Cavallo Point. Nationally at Xtreme Cuban Salsa Weekend in Corvalis, SalsAtlanta 10, Palm Springs, and various venues in Reno, Nevada. Internationally in Vancouver at Cuba Baile, and in Cancun at The Salsa Casino Mayan Congress. SVT and their directors Nick and Serena were responsible for creating the First Salsa Rueda Festival and are looking forward to a great Third year of promoting the best Salsa Festival in the U.S. www.salsavaletodo.com
		Rueda Vale Todo RVT was created, conceptulized and is directed by Nicholas Van Eyck and Serena Wong in April of 2009. They are dedicated to Rueda de Casino in it's many forms. They perform free called circles as well as choreographed pieces but are all created around and playing with the concept of La Rueda. The members of RVT perform as often as twice a month. They have performed locally at Salsa Clubs around the Bay, at The 2010 Salsa Rueda Festival and they debuted Internationally at The Salsa Casino Mayan Congress in Cancun. They are excited to help host and perform at this years Salsa Rueda Festival in S.F.

Salsa Vale Todo was co-founded and is co-directed by Salsa Nick and Serena. The group has a Cuban Salsa foundation with a emphasis on Rueda De Casino. They also incorporate Samba, Afro-Brazilian, Son, Hip Hop, Capoeira, Kung-Fu and other styles of Salsa into their choreographies. Salsa Vale Todo has performed locally at numerous venues including Mission in the Mix, Roccopolco, Bollywood, and Cavallo Point. Nationally at Xtreme Cuban Salsa Weekend in Corvalis, SalsAtlanta 10, Palm Springs, and various venues in Reno, Nevada. Internationally in Vancouver at Cuba Baile, and in Cancun at The Salsa Casino Mayan Congress. SVT and their directors Nick and Serena were responsible for creating the First Salsa Rueda Festival and are looking forward to a great Third year of promoting the best Salsa Festival in the U.S.

www.salsavaletodo.com

Rueda Vale Todo

RVT was created, conceptulized and is directed by Nicholas Van Eyck and Serena Wong in April of 2009. They are dedicated to Rueda de Casino in it's many forms. They perform free called circles as well as choreographed pieces but are all created around and playing with the concept of La Rueda. The members of RVT perform as often as twice a month. They have performed locally at Salsa Clubs around the Bay, at The 2010 Salsa Rueda Festival and they debuted Internationally at The Salsa Casino Mayan Congress in Cancun. They are excited to help host and perform at this years Salsa Rueda Festival in S.F.

photo by Patrick Hickey

Las Que Son Son

Las Que Son Son, a San Francisco based, all-women dance company, performs a broad repertoire of Cuban dance genres ranging from contemporary popular to traditional folkloric. Founded in 2006, Las Que Son Son has been under the artistic direction of Cuban dancer and choreographer Yismari Ramos Tellez since 2008. LQSS dancers have studied with the prominent Cuban, Haitian, and Brazilian dance instructors of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Ramón Ramos Alayo, Susana Arenas Pedroso, Royland Lobato, José “Cheo” Rojas, Conceição Damasceno, and Yismari Ramos Tellez. They are also trained in such dance forms as flamenco, hula, ballet, and modern. The company's performance history includes San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival (2008, 2009); CubaCaribe Festival of Dance and Music (2007, 2008, 2009); Storm of Roses (2008); San Francisco Salsa and Rueda Festival (2009); and numerous soirees and club events. The mission of Las Que Son Son—to study and perform dance in a collaborative environment—is based on the notion that dance is a vital artistic practice that shapes community and builds solidarity among diverse cultures, ethnicities, and ages.

www.lasquesonson.com

Maisa Duke and Energia Do Samba

Maisa was born in the America's capital of the African Diaspora, Salvador, Bahia Brazil and as far as she can remember, dancing is what she enjoyed most. Maisa started entering and winning dance contests when she was ten years old. Her ability to move her perfectly toned body to the complex, frenetic polyrhythmic beating of samba music has never been done with such beauty and grace in the SF Bay Area. Maisa immigrated to the U.S. in 1998. She has been teaching dance for over 10 years. In 2000, she founded Energia do Samba Dance Company. Her dream is to share Samba with the world. The name Energia do Samba (The Energy of Samba) was chosen by Maisa because it is the energy, or more specifically, the positive energy of Samba, that she believes is the essence of Samba. Energia do Samba's dancing is the embodiment of that energy. Prior to the birth of Energia do Samba, Maisa performed with many dance groups in California. Maisa Duke/Energia Do Samba has performed at many celebrity functions, including Robin Williams' 50th birthday and events for the late Christopher Reeves, and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown at City Hall, Warriors basketball team, San Francisco Giants games, Academy of Sciences in S.F., California Music World in Oakland, Ethnic Dance Festival, The Queen Mary in L.A, for Pele, the most famous soccer player in the world, and many, many other events.

LAS BOMBERAS DE LA BAHIA

Las Bomberas de la Bahia was founded in April 2007 and is the Bay Area’s first & only all-women's Bomba ensemble. The group is composed of Bay Area activists, educators, and artists who actively contribute to growing the tradition of Bomba and work to maintain & support Puerto Rico’s oldest African influenced music and dance tradition, which formed in Puerto Rico's sugar cane plantations by slaves as a form of resistance. Las Bomberas de la Bahia have performed throughout the Bay Area for educational institutions, cultural centers, and cultural festivals such as UC Berkeley, Holy Names University, San Francisco State University, Laney College, La Pena Cultural Center, Galleria de la Raza SF, Brava Theater, Yoshi’s Jazz Club SF, El Rio, Roccapulco Supper Club, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco LGBT Dyke March, The Women's Building SF, NCLR, Xicana Moratorium in Dolores Park SF, the Riley Center and many others.

Rumbanana Rumbanana was formed by Mike and Simona in January 2000 to promote Cuban Salsa music and dance in Oregon. We've done shows, workshops, classes and yes - we have partied and traveled to some of the major Salsa hot spots since our humble beginning. The original group started in Eugene, but in 2005 Rumbanana has transitioned to Corvallis. Our mission is simple. We want to infect as many fun people as possible with the Cuban Salsa virus. Once you get it - there's no cure, only relief through lots of Salsa dancing and partying. Rumbanana Salsa Group is a super, fun crew of people that love Casino, Rueda de Casino and meeting lots of people. We're all about having a great time and promoting Cuban music and dance. We love to party...just ask anyone who's been to an event with us. We're usually the hotel rooms that are the loudest and most often kicked out by hotel security. UNA BULLA!!!
		SALSAtlanta Under the direction of Julian Mejia, the SALSAtlanta Performance Group is a co-ed dance troup representing the SALSAtlanta Dance Company, Atlanta, GA. The group specializes in Casino and Rueda de Casino routines that are influenced by Afro-Cuban, Son, Guaganco and modern Salsa dance movements. The dance troup has performed and competed on the local, national and international stage -- of note, the group placed 3rd at both the 2004 World Rueda de Casino / Cuban Salsa Congress and Championships in Miami, FL and 2007 Cuban Salsa Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada).

Rumbanana

Rumbanana was formed by Mike and Simona in January 2000 to promote Cuban Salsa music and dance in Oregon. We've done shows, workshops, classes and yes - we have partied and traveled to some of the major Salsa hot spots since our humble beginning. The original group started in Eugene, but in 2005 Rumbanana has transitioned to Corvallis.

Our mission is simple. We want to infect as many fun people as possible with the Cuban Salsa virus. Once you get it - there's no cure, only relief through lots of Salsa dancing and partying.

Rumbanana Salsa Group is a super, fun crew of people that love Casino, Rueda de Casino and meeting lots of people. We're all about having a great time and promoting Cuban music and dance. We love to party...just ask anyone who's been to an event with us. We're usually the hotel rooms that are the loudest and most often kicked out by hotel security. UNA BULLA!!!

SALSAtlanta

Under the direction of Julian Mejia, the SALSAtlanta Performance Group is a co-ed dance troup representing the SALSAtlanta Dance Company, Atlanta, GA. The group specializes in Casino and Rueda de Casino routines that are influenced by Afro-Cuban, Son, Guaganco and modern Salsa dance movements. The dance troup has performed and competed on the local, national and international stage -- of note, the group placed 3rd at both the 2004 World Rueda de Casino / Cuban Salsa Congress and Championships in Miami, FL and 2007 Cuban Salsa Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada).

Fuákata

Fuákata was founded by Christopher Rogicki in October of 2007 to promote Cuban-style Salsa and Timba music in the NYC area and beyond. The group is comprised of both a student and semi-pro team and are the only ones in the tri-state area which specialize in Casino and Rueda de Casino. Fuákata strives to showcase the beauty of Cuban Salsa, its evolution, and the diversity of styles it embodies. Co-directed by Evelyn Ramirez, Chris and Evelyn have traveled everywhere between San Francisco and Germany to teach, perform, and get training from some of the best instructors and choreographers in the world. Notable performances of Fuákata include the San Francisco Rueda Festival, Latino Heritage month events at the Bronx Museum, Columbia University and NYU, Cuban Salsa Nights at Iguana's and Havana Central in NYC, and SALSAtlanta 10.

Afri-K-sineras

Is an all female dance ensemble based in Los Angeles. The group hinges on the knowledge that life and culture originated in Africa and that African music and dance are the roots of all music and dance. Although the ensemble’s starting point is the traditional dance of Cuba called “Rueda de Casino”, the array of styles that the company performs include: Traditional West African Dance, Samba, Cumbia, Tambor, AfroPeruvian, Black vernacular dances such as the Lindy Hop as well as fusions of the genres. Patricia Martinez-Foy who is afri-K-sineras’ artistic director conceptualized the eight-member ensemble.

D.C. Casineros

Founded in March 2005 in the legendary Adams Morgan nightclub Habana Village, the DC Casineros' mission is to entertain, educate, and connect the DC Metropolitan community by teaching and performing Rueda de Casino. The DC Casineros are all about sabor, and love to infuse their casino style with as much Afro-Cuban influence and moves as the music allows.

Rueda Con Ritmo

The Rueda Con Ritmo performing group is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Co-directed by Ryan Mead and Sidney Weaverling, the group performs original choreographies that incorporate Cuban and Miami-style salsa, rueda de casino, son, cha-cha-chá, mambo, and comparsa. True to its name, Rueda Con Ritmo has developed a unique, highly musical style that fully embodies the polyrhythms and accents of the music. The group is looking forward to its third performance at the Salsa Rueda Festival this year.

CMV con Ritmo

CMV con Ritmo was formed in 2004 by a group of friends crazy about Cuban Salsa & Rueda de Casino. The name of the group was created from the Countries' names where all members come from: Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela.
Since then, Rey and Leslie have dedicated all their love and passion to lead CMV Team, as well as to promote Cuban Salsa and Rueda de Casino in Mexico City.
Over the last 5 years, CMV has participated in several national and international Cuban Salsa Events such as Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami, Cuba Baila in Vancouver, Baila en Cuba in La Havana, Cubamemucho in Munich and in the International Cuban Salsa Congress in Mexico City. they have
done workshops, classes and performances in some of these events. Recently, CMV was invited to perform at the International TV Show “Sin Reservas”, transmitted at Ritmo Son Latino Channel. They were interviewed about what Rueda de Casino is, Which has been their experience as Cuban Salsa Instructors and Performers, and Why people should learn this wonderful way to dance.
Their engine is to have fun, to make lot’s of friends & of course, to promote the Cuban Culture through the most representative popular Dance of Cuba: La Rueda de Casino.

Fuego Latino

Directed by Luis Fabila, Cesario Ruiz, Bonny Masters and Basilo Diego, Fuego Latino is a community-oriented salsa rueda dance group, based in Watsonville, CA. Classes and performances are held to share the fun and fire of salsa with salseros of all ages.

Salsa Con Rumba Dance Co (Mexico-Washington)

Salsa Con Rumba Dance Company was created by Christian & Dana Camarena in 2004. Both of which have spent the last 10 years traveling & studying everything from NY style in Puerto Rico, Flamenco in Sevilla, to Casino in Mexico. The whole thing started because after all this traveling around & learning, there was no one to dance with when we got home! What started as a few salsa classes in 2004 has turned into the biggest Latin dance school in Eastern Washington! Our focus is Casino, several of the Cuban dance genres, Linear Salsa (On1 & On2), having fun, & spreading the love of all types of Salsa.

Eugene Casineros

Born in 2008 out of a desire to dance Rueda de Casino in Eugene, Oregon, this small “grass roots” effort has transformed to become a very active and fast growing Social Dance group. Without professional instructors, the core of the group is our 16 member performance team. Through Sunday Social dances, free introductory lessons, workshops, performances, house parties and “renegade” dancing in the streets, we have worked tirelessly to build community and share the joys of Cuban salsa, Rueda de Casino and Cuban music. Our ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and dance experiences vary greatly and give us much to draw from. Our collaborative choreographies are firmly rooted in Rueda de Casino and FUN, but also borrow from Son, Mambo, Cha cha cha, Salsa, Rumba, Orishas and more. We have performed at local venues around the Willamette Valley in Oregon. In 2010 we stepped onto the big stage at Eugene’s Hult Center to perform at the “Dance For A Reason” charity event in front of an audience of nearly 1800. We are looking forward to appearing for our third consecutive year at the 2011 San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival.

	Ritmo y Movimiento Ritmo y Movimiento is Ryan Mead and Sidney Weaverling's advanced Salsa and Rueda student group, and is based in San Francisco. The group performs unique choreographies that are strongly rooted in traditional Cuban dance but are inspired by other dance forms and traditions as well. They are excited to be performing this year for the second time at the San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival.
Casineros Unidos Casineros Unidos, founded in April 2010, comprises a coalition of dancers that represent a breadth of dance schools in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Our members are performers and/or instructors in various art forms including Afro-Cuban, Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Salsa, Samba and Wushu. Recognizing not only the wellness benefits of dance, but also the joy of Cuban Salsa, our mission is to help foster the growth of Casino and Rueda by raising awareness and encouraging a fun and inclusive dancing/learning environment. To this end, in addition to teaching at various venues, we perform in many events for charities and other organizations, support dance schools and their events, and put together one of the largest Cuban salsa parties in the GTA – Havana Nights – held typically on the last Friday of every month (http://havananights-toronto.blogspot.com/).
	Street to Stage Bio Rene Thompson's Minneapolis "Street to Stage" dance group was established in 2007. This team of professional dancers pulls from rich diversity of backgrounds. Their specialties as a dance team include Afro-Cuban dance as well as traditional popular dances like Son, Mambo and Cha cha cha.
San Diego Afincao! San Diego Afincao brings Rueda de Casino flavor to Southern California. Under the direction of Vidal Cordova, Afincao! highlights Cuban popular dance such as Casino, Son and Rumba and projects its performances with energy and passion for Cuban music and dance. Put together with members of Vidal's Salsa Casino group classes, San Diego Afincao' showcases fun and energetic performances with dancers of all experience levels.
	The Alchemia Theater for Life Dancers The Alchemia Theater for Life Dancers are a theater and dance performance group of differently-abled adults based in Santa Rosa, CA. Alchemia dancers study and perform many styles of dance with their choreographer, Erika Smallen. During the past two years they have been studying Salsa Rueda. Last year, they performed "Salsa Fever" at the North Bay Dance Festival and the Footloose Dance Show in Sonoma County. Dancing and performing allows Alchemia dancers to gain self-confidence, showcase their hard work, and be a part of a wider network of artists. The Salsa Rueda Festival is a wonderful performance opportunity for these amazing dancers.
Nippori Rueda Team "Nippori Rueda" is from Tokyo, Japan and was established in 2005. Our purpose is to introduce Rueda to people in Japan and we have worked to promote Rueda constantly. Our team has gradually grown and we have become the first team that performs Rueda with more than 50 people in Japan. We have also attended Miami Rueda Congress since 2006 and won third prize last year. We will show our performance with very popular music from Okinawa.
	Más Movement Manifestation (MMM) Más Movement Manifestation (MMM) formed in January 2010 and performed their first choreography to the Bamboleo song 'Pantalones' at the Vancouver Rueda Festival in April 2010. With experience ranging from 2 to 10 years, MMMs collaborative creativity, combined with the beauty and meaning in its choreography create a unique sabor (flavour) for dancers and audiences alike. MMM's fluid approach to gender roles, cooperative model of organization and willingness take take their dance to the streets represent the group's quest for social transformation through dance. They have subsequently performed at various events including the In the House Festival (2010), the Cuban Fiesta at the Howard Johnson (2010) and will be performing at the San Francisco Rueda Festival in February 2011. More info. at www.masmovement.ca/mmm.
¡enRuédaMe Mas! ¡enRuédaMe Mas! of San Diego, CA came together just over a year ago under the direction of Tim Snedeker. Many of the members are former dancers of the group Rueda San Diego, headed by Eric Johnson, a group that has taken part in the last two SF Rueda Festivals. Due to Eric Johnson’s commitments to the documentary “La Rueda De Guanabacoa,” which will be showcased at the Havana Film Festival New York 2011, Tim Snedeker is pleased to have the opportunity to represent San Diego Casino dancers. Tim has been a well known Casino dancer and instructor in the San Diego community for over ten years. This will be his first ever presented choreographed piece for this festival.
	Grupo MinneAmi Grupo MinneAmi is based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, where interest in Rueda and Afro-Cuban dance has enjoyed rapid growth during the past several years. The name cleverly describes their passion for bringing the Miami Sabor! to Minneapolis. Grupo MinneAmi has enjoyed performing at various Twin Cities clubs, dance festivals and community events during the past two years. They were awarded "Best Formation" at the Twin Cities Open competition in July of 2010. They are excited to make their debut performance at the 2011 San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival. Members are also part of the group MinneAmi Salsa, founded in 1997 by Jim Schuchman and Carol Tonkin. Choreography for their current routine was created by several members with assistance from Joy Davina.
Rueda Pa’ Gozá Rueda Pa’ Gozá from Portland, Oregon has been dancing together since 2007. We love Rueda de Casino and Timba, and want to share this with as many people as possible! We don't have a director and we share choreographing duties - a very democratic crew! All of us are looking forward to the San Francisco Rueda Festival and sharing our dance with everyone. Thanks to Nick and Serena!

Ritmo y Movimiento

Ritmo y Movimiento is Ryan Mead and Sidney Weaverling's advanced Salsa and Rueda student group, and is based in San Francisco. The group performs unique choreographies that are strongly rooted in traditional Cuban dance but are inspired by other dance forms and traditions as well. They are excited to be performing this year for the second time at the San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival.

Casineros Unidos

Casineros Unidos, founded in April 2010, comprises a coalition of dancers that represent a breadth of dance schools in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Our members are performers and/or instructors in various art forms including Afro-Cuban, Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Salsa, Samba and Wushu. Recognizing not only the wellness benefits of dance, but also the joy of Cuban Salsa, our mission is to help foster the growth of Casino and Rueda by raising awareness and encouraging a fun and inclusive dancing/learning environment. To this end, in addition to teaching at various venues, we perform in many events for charities and other organizations, support dance schools and their events, and put together one of the largest Cuban salsa parties in the GTA – Havana Nights – held typically on the last Friday of every month (http://havananights-toronto.blogspot.com/).

Street to Stage Bio

Rene Thompson's Minneapolis "Street to Stage" dance group was established in 2007. This team of professional dancers pulls from rich diversity of backgrounds. Their specialties as a dance team include Afro-Cuban dance as well as traditional popular dances like Son, Mambo and Cha cha cha.

San Diego Afincao!

San Diego Afincao brings Rueda de Casino flavor to Southern California. Under the direction of Vidal Cordova, Afincao! highlights Cuban popular dance such as Casino, Son and Rumba and projects its performances with energy and passion for Cuban music and dance. Put together with members of Vidal's Salsa Casino group classes, San Diego Afincao' showcases fun and energetic performances with dancers of all experience levels.

The Alchemia Theater for Life Dancers

The Alchemia Theater for Life Dancers are a theater and dance performance group of differently-abled adults based in Santa Rosa, CA. Alchemia dancers study and perform many styles of dance with their choreographer, Erika Smallen. During the past two years they have been studying Salsa Rueda. Last year, they performed "Salsa Fever" at the North Bay Dance Festival and the Footloose Dance Show in Sonoma County. Dancing and performing allows Alchemia dancers to gain self-confidence, showcase their hard work, and be a part of a wider network of artists. The Salsa Rueda Festival is a wonderful performance opportunity for these amazing dancers.

Nippori Rueda

Team "Nippori Rueda" is from Tokyo, Japan and was established in 2005. Our purpose is to introduce Rueda to people in Japan and we have worked to promote Rueda constantly. Our team has gradually grown and we have become the first team that performs Rueda with more than 50 people in Japan. We have also attended Miami Rueda Congress since 2006 and won third prize last year. We will show our performance with very popular music from Okinawa.

Más Movement Manifestation (MMM)

Más Movement Manifestation (MMM) formed in January 2010 and performed their first choreography to the Bamboleo song 'Pantalones' at the Vancouver Rueda Festival in April 2010. With experience ranging from 2 to 10 years, MMMs collaborative creativity, combined with the beauty and meaning in its choreography create a unique sabor (flavour) for dancers and audiences alike. MMM's fluid approach to gender roles, cooperative model of organization and willingness take take their dance to the streets represent the group's quest for social transformation through dance. They have subsequently performed at various events including the In the House Festival (2010), the Cuban Fiesta at the Howard Johnson (2010) and will be performing at the San Francisco Rueda Festival in February 2011.

More info. at www.masmovement.ca/mmm.

¡enRuédaMe Mas!

¡enRuédaMe Mas! of San Diego, CA came together just over a year ago under the direction of Tim Snedeker. Many of the members are former dancers of the group Rueda San Diego, headed by Eric Johnson, a group that has taken part in the last two SF Rueda Festivals. Due to Eric Johnson’s commitments to the documentary “La Rueda De Guanabacoa,” which will be showcased at the Havana Film Festival New York 2011, Tim Snedeker is pleased to have the opportunity to represent San Diego Casino dancers. Tim has been a well known Casino dancer and instructor in the San Diego community for over ten years. This will be his first ever presented choreographed piece for this festival.

Grupo MinneAmi

Grupo MinneAmi is based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, where interest in Rueda and Afro-Cuban dance has enjoyed rapid growth during the past several years. The name cleverly describes their passion for bringing the Miami Sabor! to Minneapolis. Grupo MinneAmi has enjoyed performing at various Twin Cities clubs, dance festivals and community events during the past two years. They were awarded "Best Formation" at the Twin Cities Open competition in July of 2010. They are excited to make their debut performance at the 2011 San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival. Members are also part of the group MinneAmi Salsa, founded in 1997 by Jim Schuchman and Carol Tonkin. Choreography for their current routine was created by several members with assistance from Joy Davina.

Rueda Pa’ Gozá

Rueda Pa’ Gozá from Portland, Oregon has been dancing together since 2007. We love Rueda de Casino and Timba, and want to share this with as many people as possible! We don't have a director and we share choreographing duties - a very democratic crew! All of us are looking forward to the San Francisco Rueda Festival and sharing our dance with everyone. Thanks to Nick and Serena!

www.timbalive.com		Timbalive The Timbalive project burst into the music scene in Miami in August 2008, created by Leo Garcia (Director, Timbals, Vocals), offering the best of Cuban Music with a mix of different rhytms from around the world and sophinsticated production techniques, offering a spectacular live show. Timbalive is a group of Miami, and all membersare highly trained musicians from music schools in Cuba, some of them have played with the better known around the world as Amaury Gutierrez, Willy Chirino, Albita Rodriguez, Isaac Delgado, Manolin (doctor of Salsa), Group Afrocuba, Carlos Manuel, Luis Enrique, Rey Ruiz, Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz, Paulo FG, Clave y Guaguanco, Oscar de Leon ... and have come together to realize their musical dream, the largest and most successful group of Timba United States and the world. In May 2009 Timbalive began recording his first album with the musical production of Bayron Ramos (trombone / arrangements / music production) and executive producer Leo Garcia (Director, Timbales, Vocals / Executive production), with songs of their own inspiration and other composers such as Juan Formel and Amaury Gutierrez. The new album, "From Miami a la Habana" is available since November 2009.
		Team Bahia Team Bahia (TIMBAHIA) is an all-Star band assembled by Dj Waltdigz. Their purpose is to play contemporary Cuban music specifically Timba and their repetoire will consist of 12 cover tunes that are hot in the Salsa clubs as spun by WaltDigz. Every year the playlist will change according to what is felt are the songs that the dancers respond to the most...simply the hits. As well as the music, every year the personnel may change to spice things up and to keep it unique & fresh. The intention is to allow the musicians as well as dancers to "let loose", have fun & enjoy!!!!!!!
		Rumbache Representing the younger generation of Bay Area’s salsa scene, Rumbaché mixes Salsa, Timba, Bomba, Funk and anything else they can to spice up the mood and get everyone off of their feet! Their debut studio CD will be released in April of this year. photo by Patrick Hickey
Dj WaltDigz Dj WaltDigz is a veteran dj and music collector from the San Francisco Bay Area. He's had the pleasure of playing a variety of music (Hip Hop,Soul, Salsa,Timba and Reggaeton) at many popular clubs and concerts around the Bay and across the country. Concerts Dj'd: Goapele, Ivy Queen, Don Omar, Tego Calderon, 90 Millas,Orishas, Ricardo Lemvo, Timba Loca, Cuban Timba All-Stars,Danny Lozada, El Pikete, Charanga Cubana, B-Side Players.
		DJ Dark Rum Rick "DJ Dark Rum" Washington has been passionate about music since childhood. He played bass guitar to Jimi Hendrix tunes at 13, DJ’d high school hip hop parties at 16, and produced tracks for a hip hop artist at age 21. In the early 90's, the young naive DJ/producer walked into the Salón Rosado Benny Moré (aka - La Tropical) in La Habana Cuba and experienced an Afro-Cuban cultural awakening that would change his life forever - Timba! Later, with the assistance of high school friends Walter Vela &Alvaro Batista, Rick created Añejo Productions, a DJ/event promotion group committed to providing their hometown of San Francisco with the best in Salsa con Timba y Reggaeton. Their first infamous club event "LA TROPI-CAL" @ il Pirata has been going strong "every last Friday of the month!" for almost 8 years; its weekly sister party "La Bodeguita del Medio" @ Lil Baobab has been carrying on for over 3 years. In addition to the aforementioned, he has organized concerts for such artists &bands as 90 millas, El Pikete, La Charanga Cubana, Chalo y su Ache, Danny Lozada, &Pepito Gomez as well as various Bay Area artists. www.anejoprod.com
		DJ Antonio

CMV con Ritmo CMV con Ritmo was formed in 2004 by a group of friends crazy about Cuban Salsa & Rueda de Casino. The name of the group was created from the Countries' names where all members come from: Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela. Since then, Rey and Leslie have dedicated all their love and passion to lead CMV Team, as well as to promote Cuban Salsa and Rueda de Casino in Mexico City. Over the last 5 years, CMV has participated in several national and international Cuban Salsa Events such as Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami, Cuba Baila in Vancouver, Baila en Cuba in La Havana, Cubamemucho in Munich and in the International Cuban Salsa Congress in Mexico City. they have done workshops, classes and performances in some of these events. Recently, CMV was invited to perform at the International TV Show “Sin Reservas”, transmitted at Ritmo Son Latino Channel. They were interviewed about what Rueda de Casino is, Which has been their experience as Cuban Salsa Instructors and Performers, and Why people should learn this wonderful way to dance. Their engine is to have fun, to make lot’s of friends & of course, to promote the Cuban Culture through the most representative popular Dance of Cuba: La Rueda de Casino.


		Fuego Latino Directed by Luis Fabila, Cesario Ruiz, Bonny Masters and Basilo Diego, Fuego Latino is a community-oriented salsa rueda dance group, based in Watsonville, CA. Classes and performances are held to share the fun and fire of salsa with salseros of all ages.
Salsa Con Rumba Dance Co (Mexico-Washington) Salsa Con Rumba Dance Company was created by Christian & Dana Camarena in 2004. Both of which have spent the last 10 years traveling & studying everything from NY style in Puerto Rico, Flamenco in Sevilla, to Casino in Mexico. The whole thing started because after all this traveling around & learning, there was no one to dance with when we got home! What started as a few salsa classes in 2004 has turned into the biggest Latin dance school in Eastern Washington! Our focus is Casino, several of the Cuban dance genres, Linear Salsa (On1 & On2), having fun, & spreading the love of all types of Salsa.
		Eugene Casineros Born in 2008 out of a desire to dance Rueda de Casino in Eugene, Oregon, this small “grass roots” effort has transformed to become a very active and fast growing Social Dance group. Without professional instructors, the core of the group is our 16 member performance team. Through Sunday Social dances, free introductory lessons, workshops, performances, house parties and “renegade” dancing in the streets, we have worked tirelessly to build community and share the joys of Cuban salsa, Rueda de Casino and Cuban music. Our ages, ethnicities, backgrounds and dance experiences vary greatly and give us much to draw from. Our collaborative choreographies are firmly rooted in Rueda de Casino and FUN, but also borrow from Son, Mambo, Cha cha cha, Salsa, Rumba, Orishas and more. We have performed at local venues around the Willamette Valley in Oregon. In 2010 we stepped onto the big stage at Eugene’s Hult Center to perform at the “Dance For A Reason” charity event in front of an audience of nearly 1800. We are looking forward to appearing for our third consecutive year at the 2011 San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival.