Instructors

Bernardo De La Vega (Mexico)

Bernardo de la Vega was born and raised in Mexico and moved to the US when he was 18. Bernardo has created a fusion of salsa, cha cha, afro-cuban and flamenco. His unique style and amazing body movement define his dancing. He has trained under many world-renown instructors from all around the world and currently lives in New York.

 

 

 

 

 

Julissa Cruz

Latin Vintage (Richmond, VA / Puerto Rico)

Native of Puerto Rico, Julissa Cruz is no stranger to rhythm. With a 16 year educational background that includes Salsa/Mambo, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Tap, and Musical Theatre; she is easily recognized as one of the most versatile performers/ choreographers in Latin Dance. She began her formal training in Pennsylvania, where she developed her hunger for movement with competitions in Musical Theatre and Jazz. Julissa later moved to Central FL, where the Latin dances are largely influenced by the Hispanic culture that inhibits there. She served as the director of the Salsa Heat Professional Dance Company of Orlando FL for 4 years, Choreographing and performing such memorable routines as “Fuerza Gigante” and “Mambo Herd”. Julissa has partnered up with the late Andres Echevarria of Salsa Heat, Benjamin Cartegena of Salsa Synergy, and now partnered with the creative and talented Mr. Gordon Neil. Bringing a new flavor to the mambo scene, this partnership is definitely one to catch live.

She most recently teamed up with Millo Aldea (creator of BornToSalsa.com and its Reality show “Making the Team”), for one of the first Latin dance theatre productions called “Migue” (migueonstage.com) as head choreographer. “Migue” was shown on April of 2009 in Orlando, FL and was televised on the local channel 9 news. Julissa is one of the few female dancers in the Salsa community who you can credit as being a well-rounded and trained dancer, teacher and performer.

From salsa congresses to teaching workshops, to performing with recording artists Charlie Cruz and Tito Nieves, Julissa has been seen on various stages stretching from Los Angeles to New York, London to Shanghai, from Mexico to Bermuda. She has taught and performed in several countries all over the world. Julissa currently resides in Richmond VA and has been impacting the creative arts community with her expertise and ability to teach others. Opening up her company, Latin Vintage Productions LLC, Julissa plans on bringing more members into the salsa/Latin community through the several classes and events she offers, as well as the promotion of the culture throughout the world.

 

Daniel S. Enskat (New York)
CO-Artistic Director, Founder. Baila Society

Daniel holds Master’s Degrees in History, Politics and Law, and speaks six languages fluently, currently studying his seventh language, Mandarin. He was born in Germany, lived for a decade across Europe and Asia, and the United States awarded him an O-Visa status as a “person with extraordinary abilities.” Daniel studied Jazz and music theory, and his love for music and dancing, combined with his passion for history and culture, led him to study the musical and cultural roots of Salsa. As a professional tennis player, martial artist and part-time model, Daniel used his athletic abilities to study many different dance forms including ballet, jazz dance, Dunham, and ballroom, before focusing exclusively on Salsa.

After founding BAILA Society with Ahtoy WonPat-Borja and Joseph Rivera to promote ‘Sophistication in Salsa’, Daniel as Co-Artistic Director trained a selected group of professional dancers to represent BASo on stages around the world as BAILA Society Dance Company (repertory dancers and principals) and BASo Alto (apprentices).

 

Ahtoy Wonpat-Borja (New York)
CO-Artistic Director, Founder. Baila Society

Ahtoy is the Co-Artistic Director of BAILA Society (BASo). She began her professional dance training in childhood in Guam and studied classical ballet and modern dance with the Houston and San Francisco Ballet Companies. As a young dancer, singer, and actress, she held lead roles in full-length ballets, musical theater productions, symphony concerts, and musical revues.

Ahtoy became a top International Latin Ballroom competitor in the collegiate circuit while attending Columbia University, was later one of the principal dancers and instructors of Santo Rico Dance Company, and has since traveled the globe to perform, teach, and judge international dance competitions while directing and choreographing for BASo’s repertory company.

 

Jhonatan Ramos & Vivian Reyes (Colombia)
Directors, Founders. Cali Salsa Pa’l Mundo

Vivian Reyes and Jhonatan Ramos, professional dancers of Cali Style, have been dancing for over 10 years.

Jhonatan and Vivian are former dancers of the Colombia Ballet National of Salsa, in which they were consecrated as Colombian Cultural Ambassadors for the OEA. They also hold the ACE award plus others.

Representing Colombia around the world they always stand up with their dancing in cultural expressions.

CALI SALSA PAL MUNDO started in 2010 in Brentwood, Long Island and today is based in Queens, NY

 

Vanessa Beltran-Medina (Columbia, MD)

Vanessa was born in Ceiba, Puerto Rico and has always had a passion for dance since she was a little girl. She attributes her love of dance to her mother, Maria, as she always remembers watching her dance and shine with joy whenever she danced. Eventually out of all the music genre’s she grew up listening to, Salsa and Merengue was the music that filled Vanessa with the most energy and excitement. It wasn’t until she went to high school where she was able to apply that passion with proper technique and structure. In high school she danced for three years and was in the Junior Dance Company her senior year.

Over the years Vanessa has performed at many school, corporate, and local community functions. She has competed in many events in the DC & Baltimore area and has one all but one (a jack and jill competition at a social venue.) Vanessa has a passion for dance for the art of it and for the joy she gets from introducing people to Salsa. She is well known for her natural and smooth style, and over the years students have gravitated to her for her attention to detail and commitment to excellence that she holds for herself and her students.

Vanessa remains humble and focuses on God first, family second, and then everything else. She has a kind heart and a warm soul. Her goal is to share her love of dance to all she can and is most satisfied with the philosophy of dance as an art and watching people grow along their journey.

 

Antonio Doza-Williams (Washington DC)

Antonio Doza-Williams, of Dominican background, has been dancing since the age of 3. After many years of studying hip-hop, he took an interest in dancing Salsa. In 2008, he trained with the world renouned dance team ClaveKazi. His amazing Isolation and Body movement brings an intriguing style to the floor. Known for his great performance presence, he brings so much heat to the stage that he guarantees all eyes are on him. Antonio has traveled throughout the US showing off his talents and to other countries such as the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Japan, Colombia and Guatemala.

 

Jose “Pete” Cabrera & Gladys Rodriguez
Directors, Pkante Dance Company (New York)

In 2004, Jose Cabrera attended his first dance class at the Yamulee Dance School after he saw their pro-team perform a t the New York Salsa Congress. With no prior dance training, Jose, a natural born salsa lover, began taking classes and was soon hooked on salsa dancing. In only six months, Jose quickly went from a basic beginner to an advanced level dancer and was invited to join Yamulee’s student team Bajari. Shortly, thereafter, Jose was selected to join the Yamulee Pro-team. Jose has danced, instructed and performed at venues within the United States and around the world; these include Salsa Congresses in Switzerland, Canada, Dominican Republic, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Jose has also performed alongside Salsa superstars like Gilberto Santa Rosa, Oscar de Leon, Jose Alberto “EL CANARIO”, Raulin Rosendo, Cano Estremera, Michel, and Sexappeal. Jose’s consistent example of perserverance and relentlessness has earned him recognition for his impressive choreographies, and performances. Jose’s dedication motivated him to begin his own dance company PKANTE; which translated means spicy. His patience and ability to teach shines, partner-work and spinning techniques attracts students and dancers alike from all walks of life.

Gladys Rodriguez took her first dance steps at the Santo Rico Dance Co. She quickly advanced and in 2005 was invited to join the the Yamulee Dance Co. student team Bajari. Gladys’ dedication and passion for dance earned her an invitation to the Yamulee Pro-team where she participated in performances throughout the states and internationally. Although, she loved dance she decided to take a break and concentrate on completing her college education. In 2008, Gladys returned to Yamulee and continued her training, and began teaching the Ladies Styling Class where she contributed styling ideas which were incorporated within the dance routines. Currently, Gladys has joined PKANTE Dance Co. and brings flavor, grace and passion to her performances and styling classes. Gladys continues to embrace her love of dance. “Styling is not a technique, it is something that comes from the connection you make with the music and eventually transforms you, revealing itself in a most perfect yet simple form.”

 

Julian Castro – (Colombia)
Director, Salsaoco

Founded in 2009, Salsaoco is a collaboration of eleven professional and experienced Colombian style dancers from New Jersey. Their style is a high speed, musically precise explosion of energy with incredibly fast foot patterns and jaw-dropping lifts. Apart from performing, the group shares their expertise in their hometown as well as at dance events around the country helping promote this unique style born in Colombia.

 

Manuel Dos Santos (Toronto, Canada)

Manuel Dos Santos has been dancing for over 11 years. Although his repertoire includes hip-hop, Capoeira and Latin Ballroom, his passion is definitely Salsa. He has trained under Mas Mambo and Gabriel “Matanza” Mambi, who is his mentor. He has performed on stages worldwide including Barcelona, Amsterdam, Bermuda and in several American and Canadian cities. Manuel’s vision is to create Salsa awareness. At DSantos Dance School salsa is not just a dance, it is a form of expression, an art, a passion, and a lifestyle.

 

 

 

 

Noel Rodriguez – Philadelphia
Director, Calle Luna

International performer and instructor, Noel Rodriguez, has quickly become one of Philadelphia’s hottest young rising stars in the Salsa community. Former member of renowned dance company Art In Motion Latin Dancers, Noel traveled across the country performing in Salsa Congresses showcasing his unique ability and talent. Noel has also been a featured entertainer with La Luna Entertainment Group performing at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

Noel is well versed in several forms of Latin dance including New York style Mambo, LA style Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and Cha Cha making him a versatile dance instructor. His smooth style, fast footwork and outrageous turn patterns attract many students to his classes. Known for his approachable demeanor and never-ending smile, Noel can always be found dancing with students from beginner to advanced until the last song of the night. Noel found his passion for salsa at La Luna Dance Studio several years ago as a student and now has returned as an instructor bringing with him a wealth of experience and knowledge. Noel teaches group and private lessons for all levels.

In addition to being the director of CALLE LUNA, as well as La Luna’s Semi-Pro Salsa Team, CALLE SOL, He also travels and performs with world-renowned Jayson Molina.

 

Roberto Figueroa (Boston)
Director, Rumba Y Timbal

Rumba y Timbal was founded in 2007 by Roberto Figueroa. Roberto spent several years working as the Latin Director of Jam’nastics (a non-profit organization). He formed his own company with a vision of growing and building it into one of the best salsa companies in Boston. Rumba y Timbal has developed its own style which blends Cuban rumba body movements, fast footwork, spins and acrobatics with elegance. We are committed to enriching the lives of those we teach, working with Youth’s especially inner city school’s around Boston, and promoting Latin Culture and Diversity.

 

Michelle Reyes (Washington DC)
Director, Owner Salsa DMV

Michelle Reyes is a salsa dance instructor in the DC Metro area and has been teaching dance for over ten years. She has a salsa dance studio in Bethesda, MD and founded her company, SalsaDMV, three years ago. SalsaDMV which stands for DC, MD, VA, is a great place for the beginner dancer learning to take their first steps to the seasoned salsero looking for a great place to dance!

Michelle has over 100 students from the DC metro area that take latin dance classes weekly. She is an active and predominate member of the DC salsa community. Seven years ago she also started a weekly salsa night in Bethesda which has now become the largest & longest running salsa night in the area- “Salsa Tuesdays” at The Barking Dog!

Personally, Michelle has competed locally and won salsa dance competitions, performed nationally and internationally at various salsa congresses, and trained with some of the best salsa coaches in the world! She has also choreographed and trained 7 student groups, judged high school and adult salsa competitions, and has taught at major salsa congresses and festivals. She was a featured instructor last year at The Baltimore Salsa Fest! She is a fun and energetic person and absolutely LOVES her chosen career- DANCE! Salsa dancing is her passion and she knows how lucky she is to be able to share this art with everyone. Michelle can make dancing very easy to learn and her easy going and encouraging approach will make you want to continue to learn more!

 

Niss Albaig (Baltimore, MD)
Director, Founder, SalsaNow

Niss Albaig combined his love of dancing and people to become a Ballroom dance Instructor in 1994 for the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Bethesda, Maryland. Proficient in both smooth and rhythm dance styles, he keeps his professional training current and innovative. He has trained, choreographed, and participated in local and national showcases with top professionals in the dance industry. Niss was a part of several dance teams and is now the director and a choreographer for the SalsaNow Performance Team. He is one of the most respected and favored instructors in the Baltimore area, as well as a preferred instructor for Johns Hopkins University’s Hopkins Dance Club and Goucher College’s Salsa Club.

He is often invited by colleagues to teach and also is asked to participate in some of the city’s most notable events and community fundraisers. As part of Dancing with Grace Productions, Niss was a lead latin dance instructor for 3 years. A co-founder of SalsaNow he continues teaching dance with an emphasis on technique and style. While having the natural talent for dancing, he also has a rare ability to clarify and break down the most complicated of steps for any student. Currently working as a Senior Systems Engineer for an international company, Niss is a loving husband and a devoted father to two young daughters. He has a friendly, sincere and magnetic personality that people love, and has the knowledge and teaching style that appeals to students with instruction they can understand and follow easily. Students like his patience and compassion, and can look forward to a fun class while drawing from his vast experience in many forms of club and social dance (Salsa, Hustle, Rueda, Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Bachata, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Fox-Trot, Tango, Quickstep, Swing/Jive, West Coast Swing, Rumba, Mambo, Samba).

 

Steven Zaloga (Washington, DC)
Director, Dynamix

Dynamix is a salsa performance group based in Washington D.C., made up of dance and fitness teachers, performers, and choreographers from across man disiplines. Blending a variety of cultures, music, and styles to create provocative routines, Dynamix has performed throughout the United States and is available for performances and instruction.

Carlos Gonzalez (Rhode Island)

Director, MamboPaTi

Mambo Pa Ti Dance Company was established in 2009 by founder and current director Carlos Gonzalez, based out of Providence. RI, this talented group teaches and performs on2 (NY Style) Salsa. With their funky, sexy style Mambo Pa Ti strives to think and perform outside the box while staying true to the salsa’s mambo roots. Their routines and instructions incorporate many styles ranging from raw Afro-Cuban movements to the graceful and elegant. As a group Mambo Pa Ti is confident that it will leave a definitive mark on the salsa community and raise the bar in RI and around the world. www.mambopati.com

Lee “El Gringuito” and Kat “La Gata” (Washington, DC)
Director BachataCongressDC

Lee “El Gringuito” and Kat “La Gata” joined forces to create a riveting dance duo that is known for its passionate, exciting, and innovative style of dancing and teaching.  They have been seen on the final episodes of America’s Got Talent, Fox Televison, Ambush Makeover, Telemundo and Univision. Through their vast knowledge and experience, the Duo today focuses on the Latin Dances, and more specifically, the dance ofBachata.  They have taught more people to dance Bachata in North America than anyone in the World, traveling to over 550 Cities World Wide.   The Duo has come together with great momentum in efforts to spread their love for dance with much more to come!  Gringuito is the founder of the DC BachataCongress, currently in it’s 4th Year.  The festival is the Largest Bachata Festival in the World with close to 5000 attendees in 2011.  They have over 15 Bachata Meet Up groups nationwide, bringing Bachateros together for the common love of Bachata!   Countries they have taught performed & DJed in : Spain,Mexico,Canada,Bermuda,Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic,Switzerland,France,Lithuania,Poland, Ireland,The Netherlands, Finland,Sweden, and The Bahamas

Lee “El Gringuito” & Kat La “Gata” have DJed, taught, performed and or Emceed at the Following Festivals 

 DC Salsa Congress 2007, 2008, 2009
Reno Bachata Festival, Jan 2009, Jan 2010, Jan 2011
San Fransisco Bachata Festival July 2008
DC Bachata Congress 2009
Sexy and Sensual Dance Festival London, UK Oct 2009
Aventura Dance Cruise Nov Bahamas, Nov 2009
All Star Salsa Weekend, Cancun, Dec 2009
2nd Annual Reno Bachata Festival, Jan 2010
LA Bachata Festival, Feb 2010, Feb 2011, Feb 2012
Tampa Salsa Congress, March 2010
Finland Bachata Festival June10-13 2010
2nd Annual San Fransisco Bachata Festival July 2010
4th Annual DC Bachata Congress Aug Organizer
10th Annual NYC Salsa Congress 2010
2010 Todo Bachata Festival Nov 2010 Sevilla Spain
2011 Poland Bachata Lovers Festival Warsaw, Poland
2011 Zouk & Bachata Fest Montreal, Canada
2012 March Baltimore Salsa Fest
2012 March 2nd Annual Dominican Republic Bachata Festival
2012 June Sensual Bachata Vacation, Pugali Italy

Susan Leiter (Baltimore, MD)
Owner, AliveWithDance

Susan’s life reads like a rich tapestry – diverse, colorful and exciting! Teaching for over 34 years, she’s trained in all levels and styles of both Latin and Smooth dances — including performance techniques and choreography – with some of the world’s best coaches and choreographers. She competed (and placed) professionally, and with students, in national and world level competitions including the United States Ballroom Championships and the World Professional Smooth and Latin Ballroom Dance Championships in Madison Square Garden where she and her partner ranked in the top 8 of the world’s 57 best professional teams. Today she passes these skills onto a variety of students, all ages, all skill-levels and all over the United States who want to hone their techniques in both private and group settings. For 8 years Susan organized, ran and was the resident teacher at, Baltimore’s largest and most successful Salsa night where the classes were upwards of 80 people on any given night.

After writing and teaching the extracurricular Latin dance programs at Johns Hopkins University for 12 years, she expanded her instructional palate to include childhood education, weekend workshops, dance technique and isolation classes and dance cardio classes for women and eventually founded the company AliveWithDance.

She is patient, funny, and takes great pride in explaining how to do what seem like impossible moves to even the most beginner students and brings her passion for teaching and commitment to the craft to every aspect of AliveWithDance.

 

Yadiel Suarez (Washington, DC)
Salsa Alarde

I studied a style of salsa dancing called Casino with a dance school in Miami, the world-famous Salsa Lovers Dance Studios. As soon as I completed all the levels to be learned, about 10 levels including Master Level. I was trained and became an instructor for the school. I also taught for Salsa Mia located in Miami Beach Fl, a very well known salsa school in Florida that has being broadcasted on NBC, ESPN, Univision, CBS early show, among other Media outlets, and promotional events. I performed private events for both schools.

I recently moved to the DC area, and the first thing I did was to look for schools that teach Salsa Casino; to my surprise I have not found anything similar to the Miami Style or its method of teaching. I encountered two groups in the area that has similarities and soon started teaching with them, as well as, performing at different private events including government facilities in the DC area with DCcasineros and DanceInTime. I am currently a member of the professional performance team of DCcasineros, where I help choreograph; and also teach to the performance team every other Sunday and to their advance class twice a month. I am currently teaching Salsa twice a week as a staff member of Dance Institute of Washington (DIW) located in Columbia Heights, D.C as I launch my own Salsa School “Salsa Alarde.”

(Note: I am the white one in the middle of the picture.)

Definition of what I teach…

Miami Style Salsa (Classico Cubano, Casino)

Miami style salsa evolved from the Cuban style of salsa but it is a more refined, technically stronger and advanced style of Cuban salsa. Advanced Miami salsa moves tend to be intricate and pretzel-like and require a flexible follower to execute the moves. Many of the Miami moves are the same as Casino Rueda moves and the style is still more circular than linear. Open breaks or the Guapea basic (leader and follower break back and then push off each other) with a tap are the most common basic steps in Miami style salsa. Cross body lead variations are common but are executed in a more circular fashion. In my personal style I use Casino moves and track moves, into a more intricate style.

 

Earl “GoGo” Rush (Washington DC)
Stuck on Salsa

Earl “GoGo” Rush is a Salsa dance instructor and event promoter based in the greater Washington D.C. area. Earl has taught Salsa and Cha Cha for 11 years and has been dancing for 15. He is also de founder of StuckOnSalsa

 

 

 

Barbara Bernstein (Baltimore, MD)
Director, DanceInTime

Barbara Bernstein directs DanceInTime, a Cuban Salsa School in the DC area. Bernstein has produced shows for the Kennedy Center, the Verizon Center, the DC Convention Center, and other venues, and was chosen to judge the first two “Amateur Salsa/Rueda Championship” contests in Miami (in ’04 & ’05). She’s taught workshops and/or performed at events in the DC metro area as well as NY, Miami, Philadelphia, Puerto Rico, Vancouver (Canada), and Dublin (Ireland). Among her more interesting gigs were teaching Salsa to the Baltimore Raven’s Cheerleaders and producing a multi-cultural show for a World Bank Gala in DC. DanceInTime was featured on the Fox 5 Morning News with Holly Morris and in a Washington Post article in the Weekend Section. Bernstein also speaks and performs at Hispanic Heritage programs and has produced both a short documentary film on Cuban Salsa and a CD on Rhythm and Timing. She also teaches at George Mason U, U of Maryland in College Park, and the Peabody Institute for Music