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Artists
Go to: Juan Matos & Amneris Martinez | Farid & Adil | Jazzy & Alexis | The Salsa Kings |
Juan Matos & Amneris Martinez (USA / Italy)
Juan "Pachanga" Matos was born in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He moved to the United States in April of 1996. Little did he know that within three years he would become one of New York's top male dancers.
Not of legal age yet, Juan started visiting clubs to watch his parents, who were at the time Santo Domingo's top hustle dancers. They were his prime influence and main inspiration in dancing, which slowly became Juan's dream. He was never quite sure which dance form he wanted to pursue until 1997, when he saw mambo. He visited Victor "La Magica" Pacheco's class and was instantly hooked. However, after just 2 months of mambo classes, Juan was forced to take a break due to a back injury. After being noticed at a club when social dancing, with only street knowledge and little technique, Juan was able to learn and perform a whole mambo routine in less than seven days. A lot of hard work and dedication helped Juan to progress to the next level; becoming a performer in a group called, "Magic Combination Dancers."
At the beginning of 2000, Juan was invited to join a dance group, directed by Osmar Perrones, who was one of the instructors last year (Yamulee Dance Company). A couple of months later, Juan was also invited to train with, "Santo Rico Dance Company" (founded by Wilton Beltre and directed by Thomas Guerrero). After a year of training with Santo Rico Dance Company, Juan developed what is now called "Pachanga style." This unique style is why all eyes are fixed on him in New York's mambo scene. Whether it is during a social dance or a dance performance, Juan is considered to be one of the best, hottest and most influential dancers of his generation. He has been a huge inspiration for the majority of the "on2" professionals in the salsa world. Natural talent, pure, smooth, classic, and fast feet best describes this talented young man. Juan has created a name for himself on the International platform as a teacher as well as a performer.
Farid & Adil (Morocco / France
Farid started dancing salsa in 2001. He discovered Mambo style in 2002 during the Paris Salsa congress and was impressed by the Vasquez brothers' style. One year later he presented his first show, "the X-Men", during the same congress. The show was a big success. Since then Farid has performed in many countries such as United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Germany, United States (New York and Los Angeles). In year 2003 Farid founded his own school and dance formation - Salsa Conga.M/p>
Farid's dance style is a mix of speed, seduction, humour and craziness. Farid is also a musician - he sings and plays the percussion. A natural born performer, Farid loves the crowd and the stage, and his performances are always original and dynamic.
Tamambo & Ania (UK / Poland)
Tamambo's dancing originates from the African/American Rn'B/Hip Hop scene of the 80s. By incorporating his own flavour into the Puerto Rican style Salsa, he promotes what is now recognised around the world as "London Style" Salsa. His influences lie in Flamenco and Contemporary dance, in which his interpretation of the dance has taken a theatrical form.
Tamambo was one of the driving forces behind the London salsa scene before exploding onto the world stage. Performing and teaching On1 and On2, he rapidly earned his reputation as one of the very few instructors in the UK to raise and develop the new generation of salsa dancers, instructors and performers in the nation.
As one of Europe's top all-round instructors teaching both On1 and On2 and specialising in teaching complex, yet leadable partnerwork routines for the dance floor, he has fast become a very sought after name in Salsa.
Ania Chagowska has been dancing since she was a 6-year old girl. It all started with ballet classes, then modern jazz and other forms of dancing. She studied at an afternoon ballet school, took part in many different workshops and gained stage experience performing with Folk, Contemporary and classical Ballet choreographies. All that had helped her to adopt salsa steps at a great pace. Trying to use her knowledge and talent, she has managed to create her own original style in salsa becoming one of the leading female dancers in Europe. She successfully mixes femininity and elegance with a funky street flavour and encourages her students to look for their own crazy style mix.
Now, teaching and performing together Tamambo and Ania Chagowska create a duo and are getting rave reviews with their two brand new contemporary influenced choreographies, Violin Solitude and Senales de Humo (2008).
This couple has achieved unity in front of their audience, making every single ingredient excel into an explosive mixture of attitude, power, showmanship, passion, flavour and style.
The Salsa Kings (Gdynia, Poland)
Professional dancers, teachers and coaches, they are acknowledged specialists in both ballroom and Latin dances, especially salsa and mambo. Recognized in Poland and throughout the world as leaders of "The Salsa Kings" Monika and Mek are admired for their incredible temperament, charisma and the ease with which they move. Both specialize in NY style mambo and especially in so called "body movement", which they effectively bring into their classes with diverse dance groups. For over ten years, Monika and Mek have drawn inspiration and gained experience in the following areas of dance: salsa, mambo, modern dance and modern jazz and hip-hop. Monika's particular specialties include salsa-hip-hop and Ladies Styling. Since February 2005 she has been part of the all-star cast of the renowned hip-hop show "12 benches". Mek specializes in so called "shine steps", elegant solo footwork based on NY mambo and modern dance. Along with the cast and crew of "Teatr Okazjonalny", he is part of the upcoming modern dance shows: "Carpet Show" and Samuel Beckett's "The Square".