www.nunovanda-jdfreestyle.blogspot.com
Nuno
Furtado and Vanda Gameiro are originally from Portugal, the country that
they have been representing at the international salsa congresses and
festivals. They are professional salsa dancers and teachers but they have
dance training in several other styles, like Contemporary, Jazz, Funk,
Classical Dance, Tango, etc.
Their work on Salsa is based on styling, dynamic and musical interpretation.
They travel mostly in Europe and Middle East but they have also been to New
York and Puerto Rico.
In Portugal they have their own school and Dance Company called JD
Freestyle.
Originally from Guadalajara
Mexico, Francisco moved to the Los Angeles in 1988.
Francisco's introduction to Salsa occurred when he accompanied his
girlfriend to a nightclub. Motivated what he saw, he immediately set about
teaching himself the basics by watching the best L.A. salseros of the day:
Albert Torres, Laura Canelias and Joe Casini.
Soon the steps came and he discovered that he had a natural ability for dance, a gift for rhythm and a deep understanding of the music. This, paired with the inspiration and influence of the Nicholas Brothers, Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, led Francisco to create his own innovative style.
Eventually he began teaching his brothers, Luis and Johnny. Francisco and Johnny later went on to found Los Rumberos Dance Company. They became known for their flashy, fast-paced footwork, keen sense of timing and the ability to hit an accent at the end of a quadruple spin perfectly.
Years later, it was clear that Francisco had found his niche in Salsa. He
had been chosen to dance on stage before thousands alongside Celia Cruz,
Tito Puente, Charo and many other revered Latin artists. His credits include
an extensive list of films, music videos, television programs and
commercials. He continues to perform, choreograph and instruct for audiences
and students around the world.
Through his success, Francisco remains a humble, down-to-earth man,
crediting "faith as my strength". A generous heart and loving soul, he puts
family and friends before fame and fortune, and works tirelessly to share
his gift and passion for Salsa with others all around the world. His
greatest and most enduring strength comes from "believing in one's self and
teaching those who continue to dream."
Video & Television
Experience
Jennifer Lopez – Video clip - "Waiting for Tonight" - 1999
Marc Anthony - Video clip - "I need to Know" - 1999
Jerry Lewis TV Marathon 1998 & 1999
Dance With Me - Movie - Sony Picture -1997
Multiplicity – Movie - 1996
Selena The Movie & Selena Video "A Boy Like That"- 1995
Awards Fashion Show
Pie In the Sky
Coca Cola & Coca Cola Light Commercial
Miller Draft
Payless Shoe Source
La Paz Party Line Dancer
Sabato Gigante
Live Performances
Asia & Europe Tour -2000 till present
West Coast Salsa Congress at Los Angeles – 1999 till present
Bacardi Salsa Congress Puerto Rico - 1998,1999,2000,2001
Congresso Bacardi Mexico - 2001
Casino Du Liban Jounieu, Lebanon - 1999
Jeff Kutasha’s, "Ole Ole" - Century Super Club, Los Angeles - 1999
Joaquin Ayala Magic Show "The Time is Now" The Orleans Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
- 1999
John Anson Ford Theater “ Los Angels “ 1998
Celia Cruz & Johnny Polanco "Move To The Groove Ball"
Salsa Congress - Curacao 1999
Charo Tour Holland America Cruise Line
Ruben Blades & Gilberto Santarosa Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
Johnny Polanco –Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
Paul Getty Center Grand Opening
Contests
The Conga Room 1998 Professional Div. - Champion
The Conga Room 1999 Professional Div. - Champion
Sabado Gigante 1998 Dance Company - Champion
Mayan Club 1997 Professional Div. - 2nd Place Finalist
Training
Salsa, Mambo, Bachata, Afro-Cuban, Merengue, Cumbia and Cha-cha
Latin American Dance techniques
Rumba, Mambo, Cha-Cha, Guaguanco, Guaracha, Charanga, Pachanga
Mexican Folkloric & Indigenous Dances
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Farid
'El Conguero' Ferchach (France) |
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Teacher, Performer, Choreographer, Singer, Entertainer, Percussionist |
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Smooth Turn Patterns, Fast Partner work, Spinning, Singing |
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"Farid started dancing salsa in 2001. He discovered Mambo style in 2002 in the Paris Salsa congress and was influenced by the Vasquez style. One year later he presented his first show during the same congress “ the X-MEN” which was a success and a large success, confirmed in the Uk Congress 2003. Since then he worked as performer and instructor in many countries such as England , Ireland, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Morocco, Tunisia, New York, Los Angeles and many more... His shows are very original, with crazy costumes and mixing salsa with different dances. Farid is a musician (singing and playing percussion), his style is a mix of speed, seduction, humour and craziness.... He likes the crowd and the stage. He founded his school in 2003 : SALSA CONGA (www.salsaconga.com). Now he organizes trips and events for the salseros/as around the world (www.salsavoyages.com)." |
Mouaze Konaté from Paris (France), is a very well known salsa dancer and showman, charismatic character "on and off stage". Mouaze has been invited all over the world ( China, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Morocco, Spain....) for his pedagogical skills and his unique body moves. Watch out for his Workshops and his Shows with Fanny Frosini the new talent ! at the 1st Lebanon Salsa Festival.
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CLAUDIA y VANIA ( Bari, ITALY) |
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"EL SABOR DIFERENTE" |
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Cuban salsa, bachata, son, Cuban rumba, reggaeton, salsaton, rueda de casino, lady styling , Afro |
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Claudia and VANIA are
professional dancers coming from Bari ( Italy ) |
Grégory and Fernanda founded
the Granda Dance Project.
They teach bachata in several dance schools around Belgium, such as in
Brussels and Leuven.
*Fernanda has chilian roots and has been dancing since childhood. Her smile
and generosity are a treat to bachateros, putting them immediately at ease.
*Grégory has a musician’s background, but has now become obsessed: bachata
as a way of life! He is a master in sharing with joy, his sense of rhythm
and movement.
*The Granda Dance Project is also the foundation for other projects such as
the Smooth Parties and Bachatando, the first International Bachata Festival
of Brussels."
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ZIAD KASSIS Creator of SALSA LEBANON© and TANGO LEBANON©, he is one of the most remarkable dance personalities in Lebanon and the Region, whom through his remarkable skills, Talent, innovations and artistic imagination is an inspiration to many. He could drive the Dance Scene in Lebanon to enter the new Dance Generation, opening new Horizons for Dancers creating the first links with the International Dance Scene in Ballroom and Latin (DanceSport), Tango Argentino and Salsa Dancing. |
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Sahar Abou KHalil Sahar Was born in Lebanon and started dancing at the age of 7.she is a leading choreographer, judge in IDO , performer and teacher with a background in ballet, jazz, contemporary, yoga ,Ballroom dancing, Argentine Tango,and Salsa ** She participated with salsa dance squad project performance during the 4th Cyprus salsa congress 2009, "INSOMNIA SHOW" ** She was also member in famous company in Lebanon as "CARACALLA DANCE COMPANY " performing in many countries China , Dubai , Oman , Cyprus, Greece ...& TV shows as " Star Academy " **It all started back in 2000, when Sahar first started to dance salsa.
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INAKI
FERNANDEZ |
London, UK |
www.bachatauk.com |
Bachata, Kizomba, Salsa |
Inaki was
born in the North of Spain but grew up in Madrid. He moved to London in
2004, bringing with him several including Holland,
France, Spain, Ireland, Brussels, Sweden, Latvia, UK, Texas,
Switzerland, Geneva, Surinam, The LDA founded by world renowned teachers,
Susana Montero and Super Mario, focuses predominantly on technique.
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KIKI &
ELI (Athens, Greece) |
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Dancers, Choreographers, Instructors, Promoters, Producers |
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Sport Salsa, on1 , on2 |
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They have been in the top-ten
couples of the world in 2006 and 2007 (ESPN World Salsa Championships-
on1). |
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FADI
(London, UK) |
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Fadi is a man of many talents, equally at home teaching salsa or DJing reggaeton. He discovered salsa in 2002 and since then has gone on to teach and DJ throughout the UK and abroad. In a comparatively short time he has developed a proven track record in many areas and has established himself nationally and internationally. He regularly works with some of the biggest names around the world, be they DJs, singers or dancers. Fadi has worked with organizations as diverse as the Latin Collective UK and the Salsa School of Malta. He is a key member of Moe Flex Dance and the Cubana Cabaret Dance Company. And the best bit of all this? It’s only just beginning… Fadi the DJ If you need a DJ then Fadi is the man for you. Professional and highly versatile, he has DJ’d around the world – in Lebanon, Spain, Italy, Malta, Holland, Ireland and throughout the UK to name but a few. He has competed internationally with great success: • 2005 Spanish DJ Championship: 3rd place • 2006 UK Arabic / R&B DJ Championship: 4th place • 2006 London Urban DJ and International Beat Championship: 1st place DJ Fadi’s sets are known for keeping the dancefloor jumping and the crowd smiling; he plays music that makes you want to stay on the floor right until the very last track and beyond... A UKA-qualified teacher, Fadi teaches Cuban salsa, la rueda and cross-body salsa On1 at weekly classes, private lessons and weekenders. His teaching credits include: • Moe Flex Dance Company • Strictly Salsa Uk (High Wycombe) • Simply Salsa (Café Rez) • Explore Salsa • Salsa Explosion (Bar So) • Salsa Cubana • Latin Krazy (Bar Salsa) • Salsa Unleashed (Bar Salsa) • Latin Collective UK (Uxbridge) • Salsa School Of Malta • Bar Salsa / Havana Fiesta / Bar Cuba (London) Fadi the Dancer A combination of tuition from some of the top teachers in the UK and his passion for salsa saw Fadi competing early on in his dancing career. He was a success right from the start: • 2003 Tropicana World Open Salsa Championships: 1st place amateur level • 2004 Salsa UK Championship (Bar Salsa Open): 3rd place professional level He is regularly seen heating up the floor in clubs all around London and beyond, and continues to find new and creative ways to indulge his passion. His infectious sense of humor and smooth clean style mean he is highly in demand and is rarely seen sitting a track out. |
NIZAR
(Lebanon)
Nizar Sleimen is originally from the Bekaa - Lebanon, Nizar started his dancing in 1995 at the Fahd el Abdallah Folkloric dance Company. He discovered Latin dances in 2001 and started his learning at Arthur Murray Lebanon Academy for a 6 months period. It was a pure coincidence that brought him in connection with salsa at a club in Luxemburg, where he used to work. He started taking lessons with Ruben, a major Cuban instructor there.
When he moved to Paris, he joined the Pachanga dance club, with it’s 7/7 program of salsa teaching, all styles (LA (Alain “Alf), Cuban (Alex), NY (Isaac “El Tiburon”), Puerto Rican (Felipe Polanco), Colombian, and Rueda (David Fagour)). To extend his knowledge, he participated in numerous congresses around Europe (Paris, Luxemburg, UK, Rome, Bucharest, Greece, Cyprus, Berlin, Marseille) and the Middle East (Dubaie). In these congresses, he learned from the main salsa instructors worldwide (Mario, Frankie Martinez, Leon Rose, U-Tribe, Johnny Vasquez, Luis Vasquez etc.). Back to Paris, he won the first place in Bachata during the national Puertorican day at la Pachanga in 2002.
Back to Lebanon, he brought with him his unique way of dancing on the salsa scene, combining a fusion of Cuban body movement with LA style and introduced bachata for the first time in Lebanon at the Mont la salle salsa event in 2003.
Not only known as an excellent dancer, renowned for his fast clean figures, his teaching technique is well known to be precise while enhancing on the reason of doing any step or figure in a certain way, while focusing on the music interpretation and the fun during the dance.
His specialty is Cuban salsa, on “One” and L.A style, and he is the only Cuban salsa teacher in Lebanon, as well as the only “Casino” instructor.
Fady Hannah-Shmouni:
A recent graduate, Fady will practice child psychiatry in Canada this fall. Fady was born in Iraq but forced to move after the first Gulf war. He grew up between Canada, Iraq, Dubai and Jordan where he started dancing salsa. He has performed and instructed throughout the Middle East and Canada. Fady was the ambassador to the Middle East for the Medsalsa Congress. Additionally, Fady dances and instructs Argentine Tango.
His salsa credits include: UK Salsa Congress, Mediterranean Salsa Congress, Gandia Salsa Congress, and the Dubai Salsa Festival.
Abby Lindenberg:
A trained dancer in ballet, jazz, hip hop and modern, Abby worked in NYC as a professional dancer and choreographer. Her credits include: Liza Minnelli’s Liza’s Back! London and Broadway tour, MTV Video Music Awards, Samsung, Toyota, Rolex, among others. As a choreographer she has worked internationally for industrials, casino shows, cinema, and live stage performances. Some of her works include: "Fire & Ice," Atlantic City; Ici Disi Madrid, Spain; NewHolland’s annual conference in Seville, Spain; “La Luz” New Years Fiesta, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Her salsa credits include: UK Salsa Congress, Mediterranean Salsa Congress, Gandia Salsa Congress, and the Dubai Salsa Festival.
Dance Towards Peace:
Dance Towards Peace was established in 2007 as a means of spreading the message of peace through dance. Fady, and native born Iraqi and Abby, a native born American decided to share with the world that differences can be overcome. Para Los Ninos, a dance combining both modern and salsa, was the first dance created in this effort. Fady and Abby have performed Para Los Ninos at the UNICEF 3rd Arab Media Humanitarian Forum in Dubai, UAE, the UN Day in Amman, Jordan, 6th International UK Congress, the 6th International Medsalsa Congress, Spain's First International Dance Congress in Grandia, Valencia and the Dubai Salsa Festival.
Mirella Victor Zakar was born in
Beirut.
Her passion for Dance started at a very early age and her story begun when
she first started taking Ballet-Jazz classes, then shifted to Latin Dance
Sport and all other kinds of couple dances.
With years passing by, she showed up her talent in being a very good
performer & choreographer, later on she started teaching & coaching many
levels moving into the dance world.
Mirella participated in many competitions, as she became champion in Latin
dance in 1996 and 2001(Olympic). She even earned titles as being a judge in
both the LDSF & the IDO.
The career couldn’t continue without having her own Dance School, which was
established in 2004 under the name of Mirella Dance Club. The academy offers
different classes in all the various couple dances & entertainment
shows etc…..
Knowing that Salsa is latest trend in the dance world today, Mirella
attended various International Salsa Congresses held in: Greece, Turkey,
Cyprus, and Los Angeles …. And now looking forward to be a part of the
Instructor’s board in Lebanon’s 1st International Salsa Congress 2009!
Alicia Awakian
· Latin and Ballroom dancer and teacher since 2001.
· Being a musician (Piano player), Alicia is known for her sensual dancing and her amazing music interpretation.
· Latin Parties Organizer and dance performer both nationally and internationally.
· International Dance Organization (IDO) Lebanese Salsa Champion from 2005 – 2007 & IDO judge since 2005 to date.
· Participated in European Salsa Championship (Bournmouth-UK, 2007).
· Participated in many world Salsa Congresses such as (UK Salsa Congress in 2006 and 2007) and (Cyprus Salsa Congress 2008) in addition to many Latin, Standard and Argentinean Tango Seminars.
· No doubt, Alicia gave a big boost for the Salsa scene in Lebanon and the Middle East with their clean and clear dancing.
Alicia is a very popular dance instructor that continues to update herself on a regular basis, nationally and internationally.
SEVAG SOLAKIAN
Sevag was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on the 4th March 1982. He started dancing in 2001 in Nameless Dance Academy in 2008, he became I.D.O. salsa champion. He performed in many kind of dances in event and parties: Bachata, ChaChaCha, Rumba, Tango, Salsa...He spent most of his time dancing and teaching. He beleives that Salsa introduces and brings peace to our life. Dancing connects people from different Cultures. We all aim to learn, enjoy and dance.
Introducing for the 1st Time "ZUMBA" dance fitness @ the LEBANON INT'L SALSA FESTIVAL!
Soline Khanito Torkomian, Lebanese Dance Trainer Adjudicator and Choreographer. Born on 1981, Adjudicator in “World Dance and Dance Sport Council” and “Lebanese Dance Sport Federation”. Descendant of a family of Artists and Dancers; Started dancing at the age five; Has been teaching for more than 10 years in Tap Dance, Latin , Ballroom Dancing, Flamenco and now Zumba in her Dancing school and in many Fitness and health clubs.
Soline believes that Life without a touch of Art, is very tight.
Taiser Saati [Tesero] :
Was early introduced to the dancing atmosphere back in 2003, in
Amman/Jordan. Where he enrolled in Med-school. Professionally dancing and
instructing L.A & N.Y STYLE SALSA in addition to Nuevo Argentinean Tango
Bachata, Reuda De Casino.
His Passion was clear to be one of a breed, in a diminutive matter of time
his Presence on the dancing scene was valued as one of the hot instructors
in the district .He performed choreographed ,in a range of A class Venues
Around the capitals participated in Congresses festivals salsa jams
including Cyprus,Uk,Bulgaria,Swistezrland,UAE,Lebanon.
.his Character, audience, upshot were always
unique catchy & unforgettable
Graduating in 2010 Taiser hopes to have the opportunity
to bond his passion to music and salsa through his Medical line of work
FOUNDER OF ECHO –SALSA DANCE COMPANY
Contacts: +963 933 235 235
Rana kalpakji:
To have the gracious gift of dancing with a star is granted by this young
lady...Her infatuation to dancing is rarely found in a scene.
started her dancing journey Back in 2005.rana is obliged to have found
salsa as a way of fashion, life and a sense of living a Leading spirit,
energetic approach, seductive smile are
few of her characteristics. She performed in a lot of theatrical scenes&
dance occasions, representing her dance bequest as a real artist. Her
choreographies and dance techniques are noticed for there irregularity &
aptness, A master on stage playing with every note and beat to sway your
heart to the wonderful world called delusion.
Rana and Taiser partnered up and established ECHO-SALSA Dance Company
Rana is a French literature graduate working at the Canadian embassy
Damascus Syria.
Believes That Salsa Is a Message of God
we are blessed to be chosen to deliver.
