2012 Salsa Rueda Festival's Dance Performers

 
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Salsa Vale Todo was co-founded and is co-directed by Nicholas Van Eyck and Serena Wong. 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, Baobob, and Cavallo Point. Nationally at Xtreme Cuban Salsa Weekend in Corvalis, SalsAtlanta 10, Palm Springs, Miami, 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 Fourth year of promoting the best Salsa Festival in the U.S.

www.salsavaletodo.com

  
 

Rueda Vale Todo

RVT was created, conceptulized in April of 2009 and is directed by Nicholas Van Eyck and Serena Wong . 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 and 2011 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, Conceiçăo 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.

 

  

Salsaddiction

Salsaddiction (SA) Dance Company in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, promotes a wide variety of Latin dance styles including Cuba's Rueda de Casino. The company was founded by Dr. Usukuma Ekuere in 1998. Originally from Nigeria, Usukuma arrived at the University of Alberta, via England, to do his post doctoral work. At the same time he bgan teaching "Salsa on Sunday" classes. Sundays in Edmonton soon changed from the traditional day of rest to a day of salsa dance (thus his students wanted "..addiction" added to the school's name). The teaching at SA is well known as an enjoyable way to learn salsa well enough to have enormous fun dancing it. And, as a Latin dance teacher observed some years back, "we all began here as students of Usukuma". Today Edmonton has become a city where salsa can be danced most nights of the week. So, if you can visit us, please know you're invited to join in some great salsa dancing on Thursdays at the famous "On the Rocks" nightclub. As for the SA Rueda Team Usukuma formed in 2003, it continues to perform regularly at charity, cultural, community events and at provincial & international Salsa Festivals. The Rueda Team is most excited, for the 4th year running, to be coming to San Francisco's amazing Rueda Festival!

 

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.

Las Puras Dance Company

Las Puras Dance Company: The unique women that have formed Las Puras Dance Company have one thing in common, a love of Cuban popular dance that feeds their souls. Under the artistic direction of Yismari Ramos, Las Puras perform with a style that is technically pure and full of passion and grace.

 

 

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.

  

 

Casineros con Ache

"Rueda in the Park" started as an organization in July 2004, and its members were soon after requested to do demonstrations and performances. Therefore, Rueda in the Park's performance team, Casineros con Ache was born. Although Rueda in the Park's members have been performing and doing demonstrations throughout their communities, the group was officially started in 2007. Most recently they have performed at the Gallo Center for the Arts for the finale of the "The Day of the Dead" show, and in the West Coast Casino Rueda Congress. Growing each year, Casineros con Ache continue to show their love of cuban music and their joy in dancing Rueda de Casino. Una bulla!

  

 

Casineros que Son Son

Casineros que Son Son was founded by Damon Webber in 2008. CQSS was formed by members of Damon's Rueda4fun rueda de casino classes in West Los Angeles. The group has a distinctive style which, as its name implies infuses son flavor and footwork into the rueda format. Although the emphasis is on casino style salsa, CQSS members are well rooted in many other dance forms, such as Afro-Cuban, Haitian, Salsa, Jazz and Ballet to name a few. As a result the artistry displayed during a CQSS performance is a collaborative effort of CQSS members. As a fairly new group, CQSS have performed at the Palm Springs West Coast Casino Congress/Salsa Extravaganza, the Xtreme Cuban Salsa Weekend in Corvalis Oregon...UNA BULLA...and last year’s first San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival, as well as venues in Los Angeles and neighboring area. CQSS is currently training in Afro-Cuban and popular dance under the supervision of Kati Hernandez, of the prestigious Artes school in La Havana, as she helps them to expand and understand the raices of their movements and dance. The members vary in age, background and profession but find common ground in their passion for the dance, culture, music and love of each other’s company. It is truly dancing RUEDA for fun!

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 Basillio 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 age

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.

 

 

Street to Stage

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.

 

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.

 

 

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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!

Bruno Rivera and Ann Dolan

Bruno started dancing Casino in 2004 and since then have been learning and teaching Rueda de Casino. In 2007 he met Rene Thompson who took him as his pupil teaching him the traditional Cuban dances as well as the rich Afro-cuban culture. He has performed in Minneapolis, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Detroit and the state of New Mexico.

Ann's training originated in Ballroom which evolved into a passion for Latin Dance. This led her to Rene Thompson's group in 2008. Ann has performed with various groups nationally and internationally. Bruno and Ann have been performing together since 2009.

SA Chicas Solamente

"SA Chicas Solamente" came into being as a result of Salsaddiction students in Edmonton, Alberta, Cda, seeing delightful women-only ruedas at Vancouver and San Francisco Rueda Festivals. Two years ago, aware of their enthusiasm, Usukuma Ekuere asked one of his teachers to start an all-female rueda team out of Salsaddiction's Dance Co (SA). The Chicas did their first performance at the 'On The Rocks' nightclub for Valentine's Day 2010, then performed at the April, Vancouver Rueda Festival. Since that time they have also performed at Edmonton's Heritage Days and at the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Salsa Festival. SA Chicas have now worked up a new routine and look forward to sharing it at a North American highlight – the San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival."

Street Salsa Performance Team

Street Salsa's performance team came together last year under the direction of Sandra Moro Sleeper with a desire to share their love of Cuban dance. They are a very diverse and collaborative group of individuals who are helping to integrate Casino dancing and Timba music into the existing Austin dance community. Although they have performed locally in the Austin community, this will be their first performance outside of their hometown.

The LA Influence Team

The LA Influence Dance Company started its 1st Generation Team in 2010 & consists of 12 dancers. Currently The LA Influence has three dance teams ranging in various levels and ages. Each team goes through intense training on the specific style of dance they will be performing. This prepares our dancers to not only perform memorized choreography but to also take what they’ve learned out to the dance floor.

Rueda de la Calle

Rueda Rockets

Rueda Rockets began in 2001 in Moffett Field here in the SF bay area, by Steve Frankel. The Rueda Rockets claim to fame is to be the first group to dance Salsa Rueda on the Moon. Unfortunately, Steve is unable to dance with us due to a recent surgery on his knee.

Salsa Gente

Salsa Gente's (www.SalsaGente.com) performance brings together dancers of Salsa Gente and Sabrosura, in choreography by Nick and Serena of Salsa Vale Todo. SalsaGente, formerly known as Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz brought Salsa Rueda to hundreds of people over ten years, with fun classes and 95 performances between 2001 to 2011. The founders of Salsa Gente, have studied with renowned teachers in Miami and Havana and have explored Rueda de Casino all over the world.

Sabrosura is a student run organization at the UCSC campus, whose mission is to spread the Latin American/Caribbean culture and rituals through the art of dance. Check out their Facebook page HERE

Bombolayé

Bombolayé was born in New York City through collaboration between Victoria-Hadar, Alexander and Nayelli. The mission of the group is to portrait the diversity and richness of Cuban Salsa. From Salsa Suelta to Rumba, from Rueda de Casino to Son.

Timba Casino Mexico