Supermario
Super Mario has, in a very short time, created a name for himself in Salsa, not only through his students in the UK and Europe, but as far as Australia, Japan and the USA, where many successful teachers and performers admire his dancing ability and imagination. Mario was born in India, an accountant by profession has been dancing salsa since 1998. (He has no prior dance background). Mario's style is fast and smooth, which allows both men and ladies freedom to improvise. He prides himself that none of his moves are choreographed, and all his moves can be used effectively with any follower even if they have never danced with him or his students before. Super Mario, also known as, The Million Moves Man, rapidly became a recognisable figure on the salsa scene. He has made a name for himself, with his smooth style and endless unique combinations and his amazing presence on the dance floor. He has taught at a number of respected salsa festivals/congresses and is constantly expanding his teaching skills through successful workshops around the world. Even from his early days when Mario was just a student, he always showed promise, and when he started teaching, he quickly gathered a following of loyal students. The big break came in Toronto, when he was asked to teach at one of the biggest salsa congresses in the world. Super Mario is based in London. He specialises in cross body style, dancing on the '1' or the '2', focussing mainly on moves and combinations, with a lot of emphasis on leading techniques. For his contribution to Salsa music as a Dancer and Instructor he was given an award at the LA Congress 2004. For his contribution in promoting salsa in the UK and Israel, he was given awards at the British Salsa Congress 2003, and the Israel Salsa Congress 2004. Super Mario has taught in more than 25 countries
Burju i Victor (Hacha y Machete) from Boston, USA
Hacha Y Machete (HYM Style) was the first official Massachusetts based professional New York Style “ON 2” Latin dance company. The company was formed in 1999 by a group of friends with the intent of enriching and educating New England about the New York Style of dancing salsa/mambo through our performances and classes. Under the direction of Burju Hurturk and Victor Perez the group has earned a remarkable reputation both locally and internationally for their innovative choreography, original style, and high caliber of dancers. Their dedication and passion has earned them spots on some of the world’s most prestigious stages such as the West Coast World Salsa Congress, the New York Salsa Congress, in some of the biggest night clubs in Boston, New York City, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Washington D.C., and along side well known salsa bands such as Sonora Carruseles and El Gran Combo.
Today, Burju and Victor continue to direct their company with the original goals in mind. To enrich, educate, and promote a positive and inspiring environment for all salseros. To share their love and appreciation of the music and dance throughout the communities they reach.
Tamambo (London, UK)
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 recognized throughout 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 specializing in teaching complex, yet leadable partnerwork routines for the dance floor, he has fast become a very sought after name in Salsa.
He has taught and performed at the most prestigious congresses and festivals throughout the world, leaving his trademark everywhere he travelled. His most acclaimed choreographies were Jala Jala (2005), Donde (2006) and his first solo Cha-Cha performance of Sofrito (2006/7).
Whenever there’s an audience, Tamambo makes every single ingredient excel into an explosive mixture of attitude, power, showmanship, flavour and style.
Mitchell i Monica (Clave y Tambo) from Hannover, Germany
Mitchell Provence (born in Curacao) always had music in his culture and country but he never were attracted to Salsa untill the fall of 2000 in Holland. His brother came with his team member from Curacao to visit the first salsa congress in Holland. He invited Mitchell to come with him. What Mitchell saw there was a surprise cause he never thought that salsa developed that much. He had in mind that salsa was cuban Style like they dance in his country. He went with my brother all three days to this Congress. His brother showed him the basics and he practiced hard. After three months he went to his first party. Mitchell forgot his other dream wich was basketball and he chose dancing. Receiving a lot of help from friends and teachers such as Eddie Torres, Frankie Martinez, Leo Garcia wich helped him cultivate his knowledge of latin music he became the dancer that he is right now. Something more important for him is having his own interpretation of the music and that is what made him dancing.
Monica Melito was born in Germany from a Bolivian mother and a Brazillian father. The first time she saw Salsa was in 2002 in Hannover. She felt pretty stupid cause being a Latina she thought she could dance just by moving hips and shaking her body. But when she saw other people moving to salsa she thought she was in Mars). From then on she started taking classes at Salsa Del Alma. A half a year after she met Assal and Gus. With them she went to various International Congresses and what she saw there made her think that she was in Jupiter. From then she practiced intesively with Assal. Gaining help from Leo Garcia (New York) she understood the structure and language of the Music. In year 2004 in Zürich she met Mitchell and they started practising together. She learned a lot from him, for example:dancing on2, discipline and others. That made her the dancer she is today...
Assal Arian (Madrid, Spain)
Assal Arian is a professional dancer, she has been educated in the following dance forms: Ballet,Modern,Jazz and Flamenco. Her vast knowledge of the versatile dance techniques has enabled her to develop a very unique style in salsa, she is known for her body movement and Rhythm classes. She has also toured around Europe together with Tamambo performing “Donde”. She moved to Spain to expand her knowledge in Flamenco and Is studying at the most famous Flamenco School in the world Amor de Dios in Madrid
Monika i Mek (The Salsa Kings) form 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 is among 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”.
Ania Chagowska (Salsa Libre) from Warsaw, Poland
Ania is 24. She has been dancing since she was 6-year old girl. It all started with ballet classes, then modern jazz and other forms of dancing. She was studying in Ognisko Baletowe in Lublin, took part in many different workshops and gained stage experience performing with Folk, Contemporary and classical Ballet choreograpies. All that had helped her to adopt salsa steps at a great pace. Her first experience with salsa was in Berlin in the Havana Club. She was amazed by this very climatic and vivid dance and begun being interested not only in salsa but in the Caribbean culture, music and history as well. She has learned taking classes with international stars as well as observing people dance socially. Trying to use their knowledge and talent, she has managed to create her own style. Right now Ania is one of the very few Polish dancers acknowledged internationally. She has performed and taught with Neeraj Maskara all over Europe (for instance. UK Salsa Congress, Hamburg Salsa Congress) and she continues to spread her passion for dance in Warsaw, Poland. She is the one who started teaching classes especially for the Ladies concentrating on their style, in 2002. Currently she runs 2 students dance teams as well as her representative dance formation Salsa Libre, who has performed in many European Cities. Also she cooperates with the Polish TV, Program 1, she has been invited to judge a dance competition for young artists “Dolina Kreatywna) in 2006. Besides these together with Marek Domański they run the biggest salsa school in Poland and with their team they try to share her love for dance by teaching, performing and organizing events to promote salsa in Poland.
SHO
Ale Miodowska is a leader and co-founder of SallsHall Ortodox and, at the same time, a dancer and dance instructress. Ale specialises in yoruba dances, traditional Cuban rumba, salsa and dancehall. As a dancer, she performed with such groups as "José Torres y Salsa Tropical", "Sonido Tres" (Cuba), "Calle Sol" and "Ritmodelia". In years 2002-2004, she was a dancer and instructor in the group "Los Bailadores". Among Ale's teachers are Afro Crudo (afro), Pedro Ros (samba and Afro-Brasilian dances), Orvill Small (salsa), Susana Montero (salsa), Jay (hip-hop) and Jorge Camglley (rumba). During a three-month stay on Cuba, she was learning Afrocuban dances from Rainel Fernández Ballester (rumba, yoruba - Orisha), Joyce Vasallo Martinez (yoruba - Orisha) and dancers from groups such as Conjunto Folclórico Nacional de Cuba (yoruba - Orisha) and Grupo Afrocuba de Matanzas (yoruba - Orisha). Ale's dancing style is characterized by a huge amount of elements from afro, rumba and hip-hop. In her dance, she can perfectly match each intrument. The knowledge of many Cuban rhythms allows her to improvise to live music. Ale's dance workshops provide also some information on the Latinoamerican culture.
Nikodem Bakowski is a founder of SHO, musician and dancer. He began learning Latin percussion in 1997, under the guide of Mexican percussionist Divid Saucedo Valle. Then he was learning on Cuba, with such well-known percussion players as Macho Calderón (Aguii-Yo), Duniesky Barreto Pozo (Bamboleo, BuenaVista Social Club), Grupo Afrocuba de Matanzas, etc. For three years he played timbales in "Son de Cuba", a group founded by famous Cuban musician Renell Valdez-Caperro. He also co-operated with following bands: DAAB, Noche de Boleros, Conexion and Banda Virtual. At the present moment, he is a member of "Ritmodelia", a group playing batucada - Brazilian samba. He also plays congas in "Milagros y Su Clave" and congas in latin-jazz "Carnival". Since 2000, he teaches the basics of conga and timbales. He dances salsa, son, traditional rumba and Afrocuban dances, which he acquired at home and abroad (the Czech Republic, Cuba).
Gosia "Salsa Sabrosa" (Polska)
Małgorzata Kulpa to mistrzyni świata i wielokrotna mistrzyni Polski Formacji show-dance. Od kilku lat uznawana za jedną z najlepszych tancerek oraz instruktorek salsy w Polsce. Założycielka szkoły i jedynej w Krakowie formacji salsy 'Salsa Sabrosa'. Wszechstronne umiejętności taneczne Małgosi, począwszy od tańca nowoczesnego, poprzez taniec latynoamerykański i kończąc na jakże ekspresyjnej salsie, pozwalają jej na łączenie wielu stylów tańca, fascynują niesamowitym wyczuciem rytmu i estetyki tanecznej. Zadziwiają mistrzów tańca niepowtarzalnym stylem przepełnionym magią i namiętnością przy bardzo wysokim poziomie tańca.
Klaudia Oleksak (Polska)
Klaudia Oleksak
Nenè Vásquez (Percussionist)
Nenè Vásquez is a Latin percussionist from Venezuela, living in Germany, had worked with a lot of famouse latin bands for example with Celia Cruz, Shakira, Aterciopelados (Grammy winner), Molotov, Sebastian Schunke, Brasilectro, Studio Record for Mousse T., Sampler Percussion for Ueberschall and much more. He has participated in more than 30 latin and european CDs and he was nominated 1998 as Best Percussionist in Venezuela, as Best musician of Venezuela in foreign countries and in the year 2003 for the Award Schock (best collaboration at a columbian song of the band Sonorama). Unplugged MTV 1998 with Aterciopelados. At the end of the year 2004 he worked in Africa also official for the German President Horst Köhler. Without doubt at the moment he is one of the best percussionists.
DJ Dave
Dave, based in Muenster, Germany, famous for his great Alphabet in the NY mambo music, is one of the best DJ's in Germany. He has been inspired by a lot of masters in the DJs scene, for instance by Henry Knowles. Dave is regularly invited as an artist to international events all over Germany, such as the Hamburg or Munich Salsa Congress. Also, he organizes his own smaller events, which focus on great mambo music, such as Subway to Salsa (Oct 2006). For more info check his website: www.latin-flavor.de
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