Artists
Inaki Fernandez (Spain)
Specializes in salsa, kizomba, argentine tango, cha cha and … bachata! One of the most sensual Bachata dancers at work!
Between 2004 and 2011, was part of the famous ‘Leon Rose Project’. Notable experiences in dancing, teaching and performing at the most prestigious Salsa Congresses and Theatres around the globe.
Having taught for Susana Montero & SuperMario, Inaki developed a new way of teaching that focuses predominantly on dance technique. Is also known as the instructor for the serious latin dancer.
Teaches and performs in various cities in USA, Canada, Europe, Russia, Asia and the Middle East.
Experienced choreographer, having produced and performed many pieces for the music and entertainment industry, including Thriller Live Musical (2005), Maria Torres’ ‘Salsation 2008’, Salsa Kingdom’s ‘The Magic of Salsa 2009’ and BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ (2009).
Larry Shao (Taiwan)
Taiwan based salsa instructor and choreographer, best known for his methodical teaching style and musical choreographies.
Dedicated to foster the salsa social dance culture in Taiwan, having established La Salsa Taipei Dance School in 2007 (the most prominent On2 style salsa studio in Taiwan) and cultivated hundreds of social dancers over the years.
Director of Taipei Mambo Project (established in 2008) and La Salsa Taipei Dance School as well as the promoter of Formosa Salsa Fiesta.
Directs and choreographs for the dance group Taipei Mambo Project. Under his guidance, the performance team has made appearance in various congresses and festivals including Seoul Salsa Congress (2008), Hong Kong Salsa Festival (2009, 2012), Bangkok Salsa Vacation (2009), Japan Salsa Congress (2011, 2012, 2013), Asia Latin Music and Salsa Festival (2012, 2013), Taiwan Latin Salsa Festival (2012), Osaka Shine (2013), SalsaMeMucho (2013), Formosa Salsa Fiesta (2014, 2015), Taipei Salsa Festival (2014), Mambo Dance Festival (2014), and Singapore International Latin Festival (2015).
Gupson Pierre (Canada)
Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Gupson is the artistic director of Attitude Dance Studio, Singapore. He has more than 15 years of formal training in Ballet and Jazz and has injected the same dedication into Salsa.
As one the pioneers in the Singapore Salsa scene, Güpson has been teaching Salsa in Singapore for the last 14 years. He’s the first Salsa Instructor based in Asia to be honored at the 2008 West Coast Salsa Congress in Los Angeles California. Started teaching in the 2008 New York Salsa Congress and credited in introducing the Cross Body Style, Salsa and dancing On1 and On2 in Singapore as well as Bachata, Casino Rueda and Exotic Dance.
He continues to perform and teach Salsa extensively in Asia and around the world.
Sao Mai & Johny Nguyen(Viet Nam)
Sao Mai
Hailed to salsa in late 2005, Sao Mai immediately fell in love with the dance and became the first Salsa Queen of Viet Nam in 2006. After winning two Vietnam Salsa Championships in 2006 and 2007, Sao Mai dediceted her time in popularizing salsa all over Vietnam. Many of her followers are now Vietnam's champions as well as leading instructors in Hanoi, Haiphong, and Hochiminh City. She is the Art director of Beso Latino Dance Studio, which is now one of the major channels to spread out love for salsa, bachata and other Latin dances in Vietnam.
Besides being a sought-after instructor, Sao Mai is also well-known as a choreographer, with her work in "So you think you can dance Vietnam" in the past few years. With background in bellydance, dancesport, sexydance and jazz, sao Mai has found a unique way to bring her own interpretation to the music. She has traveled all over the world, inlcuding U.S., Europe and Aisa to teach and perform. Her gracefully smooth, passionate and sensual style is a pleasure to watch and experience.
Johny Nguyen
Started with ballroom in 2004, dancing quickly became Johny's obsession and love affairs. he finally decided to dedicate himself to salsa. In 2011, he was honored to be Vietnam Salsa Champion, and in 2012, he ranked 1st in Vietnam salsa Solo Competition. Johny immediately grows in multiple International Salsa Festivals. Fun tricks, interesting and unpredictable combinations are John's special signature style. He has traveled all over the world, inlcuding U.S., Asia to teach and perform. Johny is now the Director of Beso Latino Dance Studio, one of the most popular latin dance studios in Vietnam.
Gary Foo & Chen Mun (Singapore)
Gary Foo
A unique and showy dancer widely recognized in salsa scenes around the region.
Was one of the final participants for the World Salsa Championship 2007 – Asia Qualifying Leg held in Singapore and the choreographer and competitor for En Motion Dance Crew in 2012 World Salsa Championship (Team Category) whereby the crew achieved 5th placing, the highest placed Singapore Team. Most recently, Gary had won the 1st Runner-up in the prestigious World Latin Cup 2013 Professional Bachata Category Asia Qualifier!
His students had gone on to win Asia Professional Bachata and Salsa titles and others carved their own dance teaching careers.
Chen Mun
Finds passion in salsa dancing for its sizzling beats and incorporation of a variety of styles and techniques. To her, dancing is expressing feelings in motion and an endless journey into the world of dance.
A versatile performer, she has by date performed at International Dance Congresses and events in San Francisco, Sydney, Taiwan, Bangkok and is also one of En Motion performance team's lead dancer.
Won the Singapore Jack & Jill Salsa Competition (2011) and part of the En Motion Dance Crew which achieved 5th placing in the 2012 World Salsa Championship - Team Category. In 2013, she and her partner, Page, won the Asia Bachata Championship and represented Asia for the World Bachata Championship. In 2014/2015, the couple achieved 1st Runner up & 2nd Runner Up in the Asia Salsa Professional Championship and won the 2015 Asia Bachata Championship Professional Category!
Ana Palma & Basil Nadela (Philippines)
Ana Palma
Dance teacher and choreographer based in Manila, Philippines. She runs A Dance Company in Manila, founded Cachimbo Dance Company Manila and Sueños Dance Studio as well as currently organising the Manila Boracay Latin Dance Festival. Her expertise includes: Latin American Ballroom, Salsa, Belly Dancing and Samba.
Professionally trained, Ana entered the competitive dance circuit in 1999 at The Philippine DanceSport Competition. She began to consistently dominate and achieved various illustrious successes for the next seven years in competitions across Southeast Asia.
Starting from 2006, she decided to focus more on her professional career as an instructor. She worked for the next five years as a choreographer for ABC 5’s Shall We Dance, Philippines while simultaneously being the main physical fitness consultant for several large multinationals companies based in Manila.
Ana is now hooked on salsa and her style of teaching and performing has given her a chance to join and perform at several Salsa festivals and congresses (Hong Kong Salsa Festival 2011 & 2012, China Salsa Festival 2011 and Salsa Bangkok 2011).
Basil Nadela
Born and raised in Cebu City, Basil Nadela is a lover of dance. He dabbled in different forms, from Latin and Standard Ballroom to Hip Hop to Filipino Folk Dance. His passion lies in Salsa and Argentine Tango where he’s explored and developed his freedom of movement and expression. Basil has created his own style where one can truly say he is a Filipino Salsero. Basil is a member and choreographer of the Cachimbo Dance Company and member “J” Brothers y Los Compadritos Academia de Tango.
Garbiel Marques (UK)
Gabriel Marques (United Kingdom)
International Artist Penang Salsa Fiesta 2015
Has been in the salsa scene for the last 8 years
Learned from leading UK instructors Yersin Rivas and Jimmy Lobe
Taught in Brighton, UK under Jimmy Lobe and Aaron George Moyo
Currently, a freelance Cuban salsa instructor in Penang
He likes to incorporate his own elements from other dance styles into his lessons
Sam Sopiee (Malaysia)
Director of Havana Estudio. Specializes in a groovy smooth Salsa style heavily influenced by Mambo, and of course Rueda de Casino! With experience in Bachata and 21 styles of DanceSport, Sam started teaching Salsa and Rueda in 2002, and Bachata in 2003. Known in the KL salsa scene. Short stints with Razz 'M Tazz dancers, Eddie Torres dancers, and Salsa Lovers dancers in Boston, and Attitude Dance Studio, and Jitterbugs in Singapore. Performed for ADS in LA and for HE in LA and Tokyo. Continues to develop and be influenced and inspired by good dancers everywhere.
Celebrating our 17th Anniversary, Havana Estudio is going back to our roots, complementing our Salsa on1, Salsa on2, and Rueda de Casino with elements of Son, Salsa Cubano, and a fusion of folkloric groove.
Amar Singh (Malaysia)
Founder and instructor at the Dance Blaze Academy.
His dance genre includes salsa, bachata, reggaeton, Afro-Cuban Rumba (Guaguanco), hip hop and total body isolation.
2005 – 2010, resident instructor at Salsa Havana Club, KL.
2010, 'The Malaysian Latin Dance Tour by Amar', conducting workshops covering Thailand, United Kingdom, nd India.
He was a judge at The Refugee Children’s Dance Competition 2011, The Malaysian Latin Dance Championships in 2011& 2012.
Amar's one mission is to spread the joy of dance across Malaysia and the rest of the world
Mavis Tan & Fairuz Jamil (Malaysia)
Mavis
2010 Malaysia Rising Star Competition Bachata Division 1st Runner-Up
2011 Malaysian Latin Dance Competition Salsa Division Champion
2012 India International Dance Congress Competition Salsa Division 2nd Runner -Up
Rhythm Identity Bailamos Pro Team member led by Lion Gak from Korea
Instructor and Choreographer of Rhythm Identity Bailamos Pro-Am and Bailamos Amateur Teams
Performed in various countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok and India
Fairuz
2012 India International Dance Congress Competition Salsa Division 2nd Runner -Up
Rhythm Identity Bailamos Pro Team member led by Lion Gak from Korea
Instructor and Choreographer of Rhythm Identity Bailamos Pro-Am and Bailamos Amateur Teams
Performed in various countries including Malaysia, Bangkok and India
Azlan Ahmad McKechnie (UK)
Experienced in Kizomba and Argentinian Tango
Performed Kizomba at several prominent events, including London’s Mambocity, Scottish Salsa Congress and Zouk SEA Festivals
First local Kizomba instructor since August 2011. Taught in other cities including Edinburgh, Cape Town and Sydney
Cherie Thum (Malaysia)
Penangite but currently based in Kuala Lumpur
Specializes in Lambada-Zouk and Kizomba.
Experienced in Salsa, Bachata.
Trained by Brazilian Bebe Genivaldo Moreira Duarte and French Ashod (aka DJ Ashhh)
Participated in various international dance congresses, including performance at the 2011 Manila Salsa Festival
Guest instructor with dance schools in Bangkok, Singapore, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Kuala Lumpur
Leynard Jerome Theseira (Malaysia)
Director of EchaleSalsita Dance Company
Creator of Dancing in the Streets 2013.
Organiser of numerous events, both dance and non-dance over the past 20 years.
Performer of primarily the following genres: Salsa, Bachata, Lambazouk, Merengue and contemporary.
Teaching and performing for almost 20 years in the UK and Asia.
Strong Technical Basic training by John Pamplin in Cardiff 1998.Trained with numerous other teachers including Super Mario, Suzanna Montero, Josie Neglia, Angel, Berg, Solange and Juan Ruiz