Artists & Performers
DJs
DJ Mateo Milan - Italy |
DJ Boriqua SF – USA |
DJ Udia Abu Dhabi |
DJ Switch "Jimmy" Lebanon |
DJ Flex London – UK |
DJ Zizou Lebanon |
Kiki
and Eli
Ranked in the Top 10 in the world in 2006 and 2007 (ESPN World Salsa Championships), they are second athletes in Europe in 2007 (European Salsa Championships) and absolute champions in Bulgaria for 4 years in a row (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). These are just some of the couples success stories around the world.
They have succesfully managed to create a respectable profile around the globe as Salsa dancers and instructors. Kikis, being a certified dance coach with 5 years experience abroad, is a genuine quarantee for quality and systematic Salsa teaching in LA and NY styles as well as latinamerican social dances.
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Vito and Stefania
They teach and perform in more of 20 different country around the world including Spain, Germany, Italy, Korea, India, China, France, Greece. Vito y Stefania represent Italy around the world.
They are:
- 1st Runner Up at Asia Open Salsa Championships 2011 (Hong Kong)
- European Salsa Championship 2009
- 1° Place at Rome Salsa Festival 2007
- 1° Place at Rome Salsa Festival 2008
- 2° Place at World Salsa Meeting
- Semi Finalist at World Salsa Championship in Miami - USA 2009
- Semi Finalist at 1° World Latin cup in San Diego-California 2010
Moe
Flex
UK, European and World Champion, in four different categories of dance in Salsa and Street Dance, Best/Most Popular Teacher Award Winner 2006/2007/2008 and 2009.
One of the most exciting, inspiring and entertaining choreographers on the international Latin dance scene today! With the biggest smile in salsa, his boundless enthusiasm for dance is impossible to ignore and he has gained his reputation through sheer determination and talent.
By adding his own personal touch to everything he does, Moe makes every dance experience a positive and memorable one and always leaves you wanting more. He really is an inspiring and motivational role model for all performing artists and celebrities and has worked with the likes of Rolldeep, Tim Westwood, 50 cent, Blu Cantrell, Craig David, Guy Ritchie & Madonna
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BNF
Dance Company
1st Place Champions of the World Latin Cup 2010, BNF Dance Company is originally from Medellin, Colombia, and the BNF is known for the excellent dancers and as one of the top dance schools.
BNF dancers continuously win numerous prizes in famous competitions as solo, pair, and a team. In 2010, BNF team became the World Champion in the International Salsa Cup in USA.
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Michelle
Castro
Michelle has taught and performed numerous times all over the world including Canada, Mexico, Asia, Europe, Puerto Rico, and more than even she can remember! She continues to travel for teaching and performance with her dance team, ESPN Worlds Salsa Champions, PB&G Productions.
Known all worldwide for her clean lines, precise footwork, and always sexy styling, Michelle is a pioneer in the Bay Area by bringing the firsts of many to the San Francisco Bay Area: the most popular Ladies styling classes, the first organized Salsa Dance and Productions Company with 2 training groups, a ladies team, and a traveling professional performance team, the first salsa dance team to organize highly promoted Salsa events, including the #1 Bay Area Social, Hot Salsa Friday, and the production of the Annual SF Bay Area International Salsa Congress. She is a master at breaking down body movements and foot placement, teaching spins, and adding arms styling, head styling and original flair to each step.
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Orlando Felix
Born and raised in Puerto Rico and currently residing in Dubai, Orlando "DJ BoriQua" has been involved with the salsa movement since 1994. He has performed, DJed, and MCed events in the United States, Okinawa, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The San Francisco Bay Area is where he made a name for himself DJing at the most popular Salsa nightclubs from 2005-2009. Since 2006, DJ BoriQua has been one of the main DJs for the San Francisco International Salsa Congress (SFISC) hosted by Ricardo Sanchez & Michelle Castro of Pretty Boys & Girls Productions. In 2009, he was also one of the main DJs for the 1st San Francisco Salsa Festival hosted by John Narvaez & Liz Rojas of Salsamania. As a dancer, Orlando performed professionally for Yemaya Salsa Dance Troupe (based in Sacramento, California), at the 2003 Los Angeles International Salsa Congress. He also performed at the SFISC (2006-2008) and at the Houston Salsa Congress (2008) for AfinKao Dance Company out of Oakland, California.
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James & Alex
It all started back in 2000, when James first started to dance salsa, when a hatred for the music but a love for the dance was enough to get him hooked.
After being a sports coach for over 6 years, teaching was a natural progression to make and 2003 saw him establish regular salsa classes in Dubai. James spent the next couple of years teaching and performing with various dance partners across the Middle East.
During the summer of 2005, James started training with Alex.
From a young age, Alex always had passion for dancing, but it wasn’t until 2002 that she found salsa, a dance that moves her like no other.
It was during 2005 that Alex started dancing with James, who had spotted her on the dance floor and saw her potential. After improving her technique for many months, they performed their first show together at the Dubai Salsa Festival 2005.
From that time, they both knew they could take their dancing to the next level and subsequently never looked back.
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Milla Tenorio
Milla worked in Brazil for eight years, where she managed her own Belly Dance school, teaching thousands of students while concurrently performing a significant number of shows.
For the last 8 years, Milla has been giving spectacular performances throughout the Middle East and North Africa, in countries including Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain and UAE. The venues where Milla performed include some of the best 5-star hotels and theaters of the region. She was special guest at the Aerosmith concert in Dubai, dancing on the stage with Steve Tyler in May 2008.
Milla has also trained several dancers which are gaining popularity in the Middle East and beyond and has created amazing choreographies and themed shows for special events, private parties and dance festivals. Milla and her group can transform any event in unique ways bringing her refined dancing art to life with rhythm, colors and passion.
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Brasileras
An International Dance group Originally from Brazil, under the guidance of Milla Tenorio, specialized in Brazilian Samba and many other dance styles.
They are first class performers, known for their spectacular shows and Choreographies around the world.
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Mambo Clasico
Dubai's premier mambo/salsa dance company, put together by two of Dubai's most successful Salsa Dancers James & Alex. The company was established in August 2008 and in its infancy has brought together some of the most promising and dedicated dancers from the Dubai dance scene and formed a group that could represent Dubai at a local, regional and international level.
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Walid
Tebarki
Walid Tebarki has always been an active and dynamic person. The culture of sport is for him the first request for an healthy mind/body. Certified as a sport trainer since 2000 from the best school in France (Creps de Montry) he used to be in the national aerobic sports team (Aerobic & Fitness World Championship, 4th position).
Walid is also a choreographer, dancer and Pilates instructor. As a choreographer and dancer he worked for many artists and TV shows, events, theatre, music festivals. His style goes from street dance, house dance, hip hop, ragga dance hall to Jazz.
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The Mo Brothers
Mo & Mo Jr are hailed as two of the most dynamic and beloved dancers in the Dubai and Middle East salsa scene. The Mo Brothers have been performing together since 2003 under the umbrella of Salsa Tribal Jam and are known for putting up quality shows and setting new trends in synchronization and creativity. Anyone who has seen these achingly attractive brothers social dance or perform is unlikely to forget their exuberant, hip and sharp style. When it comes to teaching, they bring fun and flirtation to all their salsa, hip hop and ‘very popular’ bachata workshops and have a fantastic ability to make the most complicated moves, simple, joyful and impressive!
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Familia De La Salsa
Familia de la Salsa dance group was formed in 2003 by Royston, Chris & Valerie. Presently, one of the oldest dance groups in Dubai, it has grown to offer lively dance sessions for various communities from varied professions. The Dubai chapter is led by Chris who is supported by 5 instructors, whereas the Washington branch is headed by Roy.
Dancers of Familia de la Salsa, Dubai have performed in major cultural and dance festivals within the city. A major highlight was a themed ‘Phantom’ choreography by duo Eric Lalta (Salsa Dance Squad, Holland) & Chris. A unique success story was the Familia de la Salsa Kids performance at the Dubai Dance Festival 2009. The group encourages young minds to get involved in Salsa theme shows as fitness through dance
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Aasim Radi
A professional dancer with a dance background of over 17 years, Aasim started at an early age and graduated in Dance Choreography and Directing, mainly in Ballet and Contemporary. He was then eager to learn about other dance styles like Hip Hop and Jazz.
Aasim has performed with many international dance companies in Turkey, France and UAE as well as in local and international shows. He won many awards as best Dancer, Choreographer and Director. In 2005 he fell in love with Salsa dancing and started teaching and performing in many events also starting to mix a unique hip hop style with salsa, adding a new dimension to the popular dance forms.
At the end of 2008 Aasim learned about Zouk Lambada and once again he fell in love, this time with this sensual dance. By the beginning of 2009 Aasim decided to teach Zouk Lambada in Dubai. He performed at festivals like the Abu Dhabi Salsa festival and the Dubai Dance Festival.
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Dorsai
Originally from Iran has been dancing from a very young age - contemporary, Jazz classes and the like but never really had any formal training. She was brought up in a household that was filled with art, music and dance.
Dorsi is an integral soul of the zouk community. Her extreme passion and dedication to this beautiful music continues to inspire many to this day. She performed her first international show at the Abu Dhabi International Salsa Festival 2009. Her new found partnership with one of the best Zouk instructors in the region (Aasim) will surely be an exciting venture to look forward to.
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Nayan De Abrew & Samantha Ho
Samantha has been dancing Zouk since 2008, her dance style is influenced by the other dances in her repertoire, including Salsa, Argentine Tango, and Ballroom dance. In 2009, Samantha and Nayan started the first Zouk class in Dubai. Since then, they have expanded the Zouk community in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as helping to introduce Zouk to Oman.
Nayan comes with a professional martial arts background.He was the Under-19 National Champion in Karate (Fighting) 1998 in Sri Lanka and won the Gold Medal in a Common Wealth Karate Championships representing his country.
Nayan and Samantha introduced Zouk-Lambada to Dubai in early 2009. Since then Nayan has performed Zouk Lambada and conducted many Zouk workshops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Bangkok and in Europe.
Nayan and Sam have performed and taught at both national festivals such as the Abu Dhabi Salsa Festival, winning the 'Best Couple Performance' Award and Dubai Dance Festival, as well as international festivals and congresses in Oman, Berlin and Amsterdam.
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Ahmed Salsa
Ahmed Salsa , three times former salsa champion of Dubai, is one of the most well-known salsa personalities not only in the UAE but also around the Middle East. Initially a performer, he has lately dedicated his time to promoting Salsa and Latin music to thousands of people over the years thus changing many people’s lives forever.
Ahmed Salsa, a dance aficionado, is well-known for producing the 2007 International Latin & Salsa Festival for the first time in Dubai, , the first-ever Dubai Dance Festival 2008, and the Annual Dubai Dance Festival 2009 & 2010. He is also the host of the most popular Tuesday Salsa Nights at Barasti Beach in the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Hotel, Dubai’s most popular and exciting Angels salsa & dance themed parties as well as many other events in town!!
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JJ & Leena
Known as the Heart & Soul of the Salsa Scene in Abu Dhabi, JJ & Leena have performed and taught at various international dance events. They conduct classes and organize various weekly Salsa nights at different prestigious venues in Abu Dhabi including 7 star Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.
JJ Shaban, is a choreographer, dance instructor and a Judge, he’s also the Director and Producer of the Annual Abu Dhabi Salsa Festival.
He’s also the founder and lead instructor of “Latin Dance Abu Dhabi” (LDAD) the largest Dance Community in Abu Dhabi. And Co-founder of Zouk Dance Abu Dhabi.
JJ & Leena participated in high profile dance Festivals, events and congresses around the world.
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LDAD Dance Project
Founded in 2011, LDAD Dance Team Project is Latin Dance Abu Dhabi’s Professional Salsa Team, influenced by the style of their principle dancers “JJ & Leena”, they will be performing in Oman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and already booked to perform in other international events around the world.
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Richard Garcia
Professional dancer, instructor and choreographer of Tango & Latin rhythms, Richard Garcia, started his career at a very early age. His dance education varied in sources, where he got trained by the best choreographers in Latin America. Salsa, Tropical, Porro, Merengue, Chachacha, and Samba, were some of the Latin rhythms that Garcia excelled at, let alone Tango, that he majored in since he was 25. Parallel to his Latin formation, Garcia picked up contemporary dance, ballet and jazz. The pursue of excellence was crowned in 2007 when Garcia was awarded the first place in Argentine Tango for adult couples, by IDO (International Dance Organization), making him the world tango dance champion of 2007.
In 2010, Garcia was awarded 2nd place in the World Tango Championship that took place in Moscow, Russia.
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Gustabo Arboleda
The National champion of tango in 2004 in Participate in Buenos Aires Argentina in the festival with BNF and with the best dancers of tango (2005), and the winner of the Salsa Championship in Santiago California U.S.A (2010). Worked and performed for the most important dance company in Colombia and Dubai; specialized in Tango, Salsa, Porro, Foxtrop, Bolero and much more.
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Sylvester & Revona
Sylvester started dancing in 1996 with Pantsula, Ballroom and Latin American. During his career life he achieved a lot of accolades. During his decade-plus of dancing he was pronounced as an undefeated amateur champ in South Africa both in Novice and Pre-Champ sections. During his professional Ballroom and Latin career, he won most of the national competitions in South Africa. He went to represent South Africa at the World South American Showdance in Russia and was ranked 13th in the world. He was an official Fifa mascot "Zakumi" during soccer world cup in South Africa 2010
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Martina Cancio
Martina Cancio is a Professional Latin and Oriental Dancer and Master Teacher from Brasil. She started her dance studies in 2001 with Latin and Ballroom dancing and soon got into the Belly dance life... She has been on the Dance Course from the University Federal Of Bahia where she study based on Ballet, Modern Dance, Contemporary and Afro.
She has been performing and teaching in many Countries throughout Europe, Africa and Middle East. She is licensed as an Official Professional Dance Artist from the Brazilian Government since 2007.
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Luisa Suaza
Dancing since the age of 6 and taking part and winning dance competitions since the age of 8; Luisa Suaza, is a sweet, dreamer, dynamic, taleted and creative person with a work experience of 16 years.
Luisa has performed, taught, and competed nationally and internationally in numerous contries.
Specialized in various dance forms especially Tango, salsa, Belly Dance, jazz, contemporary, street dance and hip-hop.
She was a principle dancer in BNF Dance Company, and her credits include 2nd place World salsa champion 2009 & 2010 and 1st place in the World Latin Dance Cup.
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DJ Mateo
was born in Chile but grew up in Milano, Italy. He has discovered his passion in Latin music when he was 15 years old. He is currently a resident DJ at the most well-known Latino Nightclub in Milano, “Zoolatino” where the history of salsa in Milano has happened . He has been invited to play music and worked with international salsa events around Europe, South America, Australia, Middle East countries and represented Chile at the latest World Salsa Meeting Milan 2011.
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DJ Boriqua
Hailing originally from Puerto Rico, DJ BoriQua (aka Orlando Felix), is a DJ, MC, dancer, and performer who moved to Dubai from San Francisco, California in late 2009. Orlando started DJing "Latin Night" while living in South Korea and Northern California from 1999-2004. He arrived to San Francisco in late 2004 and has managed to DJ at the hottest salsa nightclubs in the area eventually becoming one of the prime time DJs at the San Francisco International Salsa Congress from 2007-2009.
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DJ Udia
In 2005 he started DJing at various salsa parties around Dubai thanks to DJ Switch who recognized his hidden talent and ear the music. Currently resident at the Dubai’s biggest salsa nights, Ahmed (aka DJ Udia) plays a variety of music for all, but his heart lies in urban salsa. Though known for his hardcore salsa sets, DJ Udia has played a range of events, from international salsa congresses to intimate Latin clubs at both home and abroad. Having played to dancers, music aficionados and local Latin communities he knows keep the crowd moving. Additionally, being able to see things from a dancers perspective he understands what keeps feet on the floor and works hard to keep the dancers 'in the zone' all night.
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DJ Switch “Jimmy”
Kicking off his DJ Career in 1993, DJ Switch played all sorts if mainstream music to please the crowds. With time he started to move towards the RnB genre of music that gave him his extra fame.From 1999, DJ Switch pushed the RnB Genre in Dubai until he was introduced to Salsa as a dancer first and then as a DJ. This lead to the creation of Salsa Fusion nights with Salsa and RnB being played back to back, hence the name DJ Switch which he undertookin 2001 as he started switching between Salsa & RnB on his Fusion Nights.
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DJ
Flex
One of the most exciting, inspiring and entertaining choreographers on the international Latin dance scene today! With the biggest smile in salsa, his boundless enthusiasm for dance is impossible to ignore and he has gained his reputation through sheer determination and talent.
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DJ Zizou
DjZIZOU is one of the leading Salsa & Latin DJs in the UAE. With more than 32 gigs of salsa tracks on file, he’s got more mania than you ever wished for. Having played at the most prestigious latin venues in town and beyond, he’s known for his sexy selection of salsa music that just keep you dancing. Balancing melodies with heart thumping rhythms, DjZIZOU reads his dance floor like no other.
DjZIZOU specializes in NYC salsa, puertorican salsa, salsa jazz and old skool mambo, as well as chacha & bachata, and has been a regular spinning at Salsa/Mambo Socials in Dubai, but also keeps the dance floor hopping at many annual events in the UAE.
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