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Vancouver Rueda Festival, April 9 - 11, 2010
The festival is finally here!!!
NOTE: Online sales are now CLOSED. Purchasing at workshop locations or events is CASH only. Full access pass wristbands can be picked up at the ...
Email: info@cubansalsavancouver.net
Bio
Workshops: Rumba, Casino with Two Follows
Dancing for 31 years, Alexis was trained in the Gaviota Company, where he learned mambo, son, cha cha cha, rumba and Afro-Cuban movement. Afterwards, he danced in the Tropimar Dance Company for one year, then trained in the 7 Potencias folkloric company for 4 years and the Circulo de Fundadores del Extilo Rueda de Casino with Juan Gomez in Havana, Cuba. He won his first championship at the age of ten and went on to win numerous others including the Festival of Bailes Populares (a combination of all Cuban dances) in Havana. Throughout Alexis' professional career he has performed with some of the finest Cuban dance companies. His dancing has taken him worldwide, performing at Expolatino 2008, Edmonton Salsapalooza 2008, Vancouver's Cuba Baila 2008, Calgary Salsa Congress 2008 and 2009. Alexis has taught at various studios and companies within Calgary such as Habana Cuban Dance Studio, Mambo Production, Decidedly Jazz Company, and Latin Corner Dance Studio.
Workshop: Rumba
Growing up in Cuba, I was accepted into the Escuela Nacional de Arte (National School of Art) in Havana when I was 12 years old, and I graduated when I was 17. I trained in Latin, contemporary, & traditional African & Afro-Cuban styles. I also had training in acting, gymnastics, & choreography. When I graduated (2003), I won a position with the dance company, Compania Contemporanea Nacional de Cuba,(National Contemporary Dance Company of Cuba) and performed in many settings around Cuba. I continued working with this company until I came to Canada in January, 2007. After 3 months here, I won a spot on the first season of the television show, "So You Think You Can Dance Canada." I made it to the Top 8 (top 4 females). After the show finished, I joined the Top 10 touring across Canada with a show featuring a variety of performances from our program.Since them i've been working with wonderful choreographers such as Paul Becker (choreographer on SYTYCDC) on a couples of film,including "Serority Wars"shot in Victoria bc, and more recently "Sucker Punch" directed by Zack Snyder which will be released in 2011.I'm currently teaching and performing in Vancouver, working with a variety of schools and dance studios, and participating in concentions, workshops,fstivals,and other events all around Canada.I can't wait to meet you and chare with you my passion for dance!
Workshops: Salsamatics, Advanced Rueda de Casino from Santiago de Cuba
Serena has been dancing professionally since 2000. She has been trained in many styles of dance including ballet, tap, and jazz. Most recently she feel in love with salsa and Brazilian dance. Serena has trained in New York, Brazil, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. Recentaly she has returned from intensive study with Yanek Revilla in Santiago. Currently she performs in local samba and salsa dance companies and teaches dance at the YMCA. Serena is the co-director of Salsa Vale Todo and the co-producer of the SF Salsa Rueda Festival.
Serena is available for private lessons, workshops and special events. Contact Serena at:
415-608-6180
Workshops: Advanced Rueda, Salsa Workout, Musicality
Ryan Mead is a co-director and co-founder of Rueda Con Ritmo, a Cuban-style dance school and performing group based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With more than five years' experience teaching Cuban and Miami-style salsa, Ryan has given workshops across the country, from Atlanta to Alaska, and in Mexico. Ryan also has nearly two decades of experience as a percussionist – he is an alumnus of the New England Conservatory, and has taken several trips to Cuba to study music (most recently on a grant from Stanford). Being both dancer and percussionist, Ryan is uniquely positioned to illuminate that most fundamental, yet seldom discussed, part of dance – its connection with the music. Most recently he has been innovating a vocabulary of rhythmic calls and steps to aid dancers in the understanding and interpretation of Cuban music.
Sidney Weaverling is a co-director and co-founder of Rueda Con Ritmo, a Cuban-style dance school and performing group based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a longtime contributer to the currently thriving Cuban-style salsa scene in the SF Bay Area, with more than 10 years of experience as a teacher, performer, and choreographer. She has given salsa and rueda workshops across the United States and internationally. She has studied at the Escuela Nacional de Arte (ENA) in Cuba with the Caribbean Music and Dance program, and hosted study trips for her students at myriad schools in Miami, notably SalsaLovers and Salsa Racing. A natural dancer and a thorough teacher, Sidney not only has a beautiful and fluid style of movement – she has the teaching experience and attention to detail that enable her to effectively and efficiently transform and inspire dancers at any level.
Sergio was born in Havana, the capital city of Cuba which has long distinguished by a history of commerce in rum & cigars, and equally by its passion for music and dance.
After finishing the level of superior technician in electric systems he began to work in the tourism and service industries, specially as a bartender and a cultural activist. In this role he had success promoting and organizing musical groups and comedy events.
At the end of the 90’s he moved to Japan where his passion for Cuban music and dance continued to grow. For around seven years, he worked as assistant manager and part time DJ in one of the most famous latin clubs in the heart of Tokyo, where a love for Cuban and latin music maintains the exciting, vibrant salsa tradition seven days a week.
At the same time he act in ‘NHK’ a TV show, for one of the most popular channels promoting the culture and education of different citys. Two years ago he moved to Canada and works with the talented, traditional Cuban music band ‘ Puro Son’ as sound assistant and DJ.
La Salsomana was already an accomplished Salsa Collector when went to live in Cuba for 1 year back in 93. Her love affair with the modern sounds of Timba began. The early 90's was the golden age of Timba with bands like NG la banda, Reve, Paulito and Van Van dominating the Cuban scene. La Salsomana has been collecting Timba and Son ever since, keeping up to the date with the latest Timba produced in Cuba and abroad and she is sure to keep the dance floor packed with her best selections.
"Y Que Viva La Musica"
Janeth "La Salsomana"
A Vancouver based dance troupe directed by Colombian born siblings Diego & Erika Sanchez, Grupo America 2 time world champions at the 2007 & 2008 World Cuban Salsa Championship at the Miami International Rueda Congress. In 2004 & 2006 they also placed first in the Vancouver Cuban Rueda Competition and placed second twice. Grupo America professional division is also a successful dance company that tours extensively every year, presenting a riveting show of modern and traditional dance numbers from all the America’s. They perform in over 200 school shows ever year traveling all across Canada with hopes of teaching their culture and inspiring young people to DANCE. Grupo America also participates in international festivals traveling to China, Japan, Pakistan and New York in the last couple of years. Grupo America also has an adult student dance team plus a teen & kids group. They are also pleased to announce the Grand Opening of their NEW dance studio by Metrotown where they boast to be the Lowermainland's most complete Latin dance studio specializing in Salsa, Mambo, Argentine Tango, ChaChaCha, Bachata, Cumbia, Flamenco, Merengue, Brazilian Samba & more! www.grupoamerica.net or 604-517-4644
Formed less than a year ago, this Chicas group was inspired by seeing women only ruedas in Vancouver, in past years, and in San Francisco. With all that enthusiasm Usukuma asked one of his rueda teachers to start up an all female rueda out of Salsaddiction Dance Co (SA). The dancers include experienced and new members of Salsaddiction's full performing team. They have trained in their homes and after main practices for the last 8 months and did their first performance Valentine's Day at Edmonton's "On The Rocks" salsa nightclub! Chicas now look forward to doing their routine at a festival of the standard Vancouver has set. As Alberta's first all female performing rueda group they hope to gain more skills in the workshops and enjoy dancing with many casineros at the 2010 Vancouver Rueda Festival !
Salsabrosa is proud to be Canada’s first all female Rueda de Casino team. Fourteen sexiful ladies representing all corners of the globe – brought together by the heart and soul of Cuban salsa in Vancouver – Julio Montero (www.vancubansalsa.com)
Vancouver based Cuban Salsa troupe Más Movement Manifestation (mmm) formed out of Más Movement dance school in January 2010. With experience ranging from 2 to 10 years, Manifestation’s style of collaborative creativity, combined with the beauty and meaning in its choreography create a unique sabor (flavour) for dancers and audiences alike. Manifestation's fluid approach to gender roles, cooperative model of organization and willingness take take their dance to the streets represent the group's quest for connection and social transformation through dance.