WILMER

Wilmer performed exclusively and for the first time in the UK at last year's Congress and took our breath away, he is simply one of the most outstanding performers we have ever worked with.

Wilmer was born in Havana and is a graduate of the prestigious Cuban National School of Art and Dance (ENA) where he specialised in Cuban Folklore dances.

He performed with some of Cuban's most prestigious dance companies including the CONJUNTO FOLKLORE NACIONAL DE CUBA, Cuba's National Folklore Dance Group, in Macumba's SHOW DE LA HABANA, and performed on national Cuban TV.

See video clip of 'Cuba Linda', one of our all time favorite choreographies, performed at the castle last year.

MARIA

Maria performed exclusively and for the first time in the UK at last year's Congress and will return again this year.

Maria was born in Camaguey, and following her training in ballet, mordern and contemporary Cuban folklore, she was a dancer with the world famous Cabaret TROPICANA in Havana and then in the Macumba SHOW DE LA HABANA.

Since arriving in Italy in 2002, she has performed across Europe with her dance partner, Wilmer, at the most prestigious Salsa events.

She teaches both traditional and modern Cuban dance forms and her workshops and performances will be a real treat for all.

See video clip of her performing at last year's Congress.

ZE BRAGA

Bio coming soon....

ILARIA

Bio coming soon...

FRANK SANTOS

Frank Santos is one of the hottest new talents on the UK and international salsa scene.

With a background in hip-hop, merengue and bachata, Frank started to dance salsa in 2001 and went on to study various styles including Puerto Rican, New York, LA and Cuban. He has taught and performed throughout Europe and beyond. Frank has made appearances on television and stage throughout the UK and Europe. His television appearances include the BBC's 'Strictly Come Dance Fever' and the 'Trisha' programme. He has performed with the Leon Rose Project, Iris de Brito, Andrea Stewart and Irene Miguel. His achievements include winning the UISP Italian championship for Cuban and New York-style salsa in 2003, taking part in the Havana Club Tour and performing in Iris de Brito's "El Barrio" musical. Most recently Frank's dance group 'A Yemaya' (for which Frank is the director and choreographer) won the 2008 award for the best UK performance. He is renowned for his dynamic, creative style and seamlessly incorporates this into his teaching technique - whether he's teaching "On 1" and "On 2" partner work, styling, shines or most famously bachata.

ALINA MOSKVINA

Alina Moskvina was born in Russia, from where she moved to Estonia at the age of 13.

She has danced ballet, modern dance, hip hop and flamenco. In 2005 she got into salsa. Her natural talent was recognized very soon, and she performed together with e.g. Miguel Verdecia and Carlos Correa. She also belonged to the Salsa Dance Group Corazon, which in 2005 won the Best Salsa Dance Group Award in Estonia.

In 2007 Alina moved to London and joined Moe Flex Dance Company. She won the North-West Bachata Champion in 2008 with the choreography by Frank Santos.

She currently dances and teaches together with Frank, and is one of the best teachers in ladies style and bachata, thanks to her varied backround in dancing and experiences as Frank´s dance partner

MIGUEL VALENTIN

Miguel started his dance career in the world of Hip Hop. He began his studies in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago with internationally renowned masters including Shawn 'Dante' Harper, Martin Kudelka, Shane Spark, and Patrick Chen. After studying Hip Hop in Chicago, he moved to Los Angeles where he launched his career as a dancer in videos from Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliot and in the movies 'You got Served' and the recent 'Stomp The Yard'. He toured with Samsung Fergi of Black Eyed Peas as a lead dancer.

He began teaching Salsa in Italy in 2005. He joined the group Danzarines de Papatambot by Jorge Santana (dancer and choreographer in the film Dirty Dancing 2) with which he performed at various Congresses in Italy and abroad. In August 2007 he joined Chiquito (formerly Latin Black) and his new dance group, which in a very short period has become one of the most popular dance groups in the world.

PERLA

Perla began her dance formation in modern-jazz and contemporary dance at a leading dance school in Italy and starred in a number of musicals including "Grease," and "Chorus Line".

She studied Cuban dances at 'The Academy of Cuban Salsa', founded by teacher and choreographer Lazaro Martin Diaz and joined the Cuban folklore dance group Azucar Negra, with which she performed at major events across the world including "Festival Latinoamericano 2007" and "Salsitaly 2007", to name but a few.

She is an incredibly talented dancer of Cuban Salsa, Latin-Jazz, modern dance and artistic gymnastics.

IN JULY 2008 she joined Chiquito's dance group, Dominican Power.

CHOCOLATE / YANN EGUIENTA

Chocolate grew up immersed in music and dance, the Afro-Caribbean folk dances passed on to him by his father, Madikera, a professional dancer. As a youth he was drawn to the world of Hip Hop and in 1991, he headed a Hip Hop group as a singer, dancer and choreographer. This led to him performing at many shows and festivals, and several TV appearances as a dancer and Rap singer. He eventually moved on from Hip Hop disappointed with the aggressive atmosphere and vibe and focused his energies on athletics (winning national and regional championships in the tipple jump) and martial arts (became a Tae Kwon Do instructor, 1st Dan). Alongside his university studies, he worked as a coach in athletics and Tae Kwon Do, and developed first class teaching skills. In 2000, he worked with Professor Canguru learning Capoeira and Brazilian dance (samba and pagode Forro) and during his work in Cuba as an agricultural engineer, immersed himself in Timba and Cuban dance. Timba grabbed him as modern, fresh and exciting and he became the founder of one of the most successful dance schools in Montpellier, totally dedicated to Afrocaribean dances. Chocolate is one of the best teachers of Timba, body isolation, reggaeton, and musical interpretation in Europe..

ERNESTO

Bio coming soon.....

WILSON CASTRO

Wilson has danced since the age of six and is one of the most charismatic and exciting personalities we have ever worked with - he has a huge personality and is a natural entertainer and our Master of Ceremonies..

He graduated in ballet, jazz, salsa and folklore dances such as Merengue and Bachata in the Dominican Republic. He was six times undefeated Salsa champion, in the Dominican Republic, and a celebrity on TV all over South America, dancing and competing in Salsa, Merengue and Bachata competitions.

He has fifteen years experience of teaching, choreographing and entertaining at major Salsa events and his lessons are incredibly popular. At the Congress, he'll be teaching Merengue and Bachata as a fun alternative to Salsa, and he'll loosen everyone up with his fun lineups.

MOE FLEX

Crowned the UK’s 'Most Popular Cuban Salsa Teacher 2006’, at our Congress in 2006, Moe Flex is one of the most exciting, inspiring and entertaining characters in the international Latin dance scene today.

The man with the biggest smile in salsa can always be found at the heart of the biggest salsa nights, weekenders and congresses. Moe divides his time between teaching, choreographing and performing salsa, throughout the UK and overseas. Moe also has extensive reggaeton, hip hop, locking, bachata, cha cha cha and On2 skills which he regularly incorporates into his classes and shows.

Moe’s professionalism, enthusiasm and excellence in such a wide variety of disciplines have established him as one of the best teachers around, encouraging and mentoring everyone from first time beginners to professional dancers in his inimitable "all good" style.

YERSIN RIVAS

Yersin Rivas, born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, Yersin started dancing at an early age.

For the last 7 years he has been teaching Cuban Salsa, Cha Cha Cha and Afro Cuban in the UK.

As well as as his passion for dance, Yersin is the resident Cuban DJ at Babylon Lounge Club in Brighton.

Yersin is an energetic person who brings excitement and joy through his dance.

SUSAN HACKLING

Trained in a wide variety of dance disciplines (including jazz, tap & ballet), Susan has been teaching salsa for 10 years & has studied Cuban popular & folkloric dance forms, both in Havana & Santiago de Cuba.

Renowned for her attention to detail, style & technique, she is one of the UK’s foremost teachers of authentic Cuban salsa & her extensive training enables her to help her students achieve greater fluidity in their body movement, a higher degree of musical interpretation & the ability to mix a variety of rhythms.

She also regularly performs Cuban dance shows. Possessing an impressive knowledge of Cuban culture, Susan is a fluent Cuban Spanish speaker, has hosted 15 dance holidays to the island and is cofounder of Salsa Caribe Productions - London's leading promoters of authentic Cuban salsa.

SALSA SWAT TEAM

We are delighted to bring you our very own team, of dancers, animadores and hosts, formed by some of the most charismatic, charming and fun dancers, we've met.

The team is formed by Jimmy Gautier, Frank Renia,
Eric Akhomea,
Alain Joseph, Malik
and Firmin,
all based in the South of France.

DJ FLECHA

DJ Flecha is an International Latin Disc-Jockey (DJ) with an impressive track record. He is currently resident DJ at Floridita, in London, and was the principal resident DJ at the famous Casa De La Musica in Havana, from 2002 to Feb 2008. He mixes in real time a nonstop music session promoting the best of the Latin and Cuban grooves of all times (Son, Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Guaguancó, Salsa, Timba, Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton, Samba, Ballenato, Cumbia). His achievements include:
*Judge of the Second Salsa DJ Competition (April 2007)
*Finalist of the Cuban First Salsa DJ Competition (March 2005)
*Winner of the House Music DJ Festival, Macumba Habana (December 2004)
*Leading DJ of the Casino Competition, Casa de La Música Habana (July 2004)
*DJ time on Radio Taino and Radio Habana Cuba stations (1997-1998)

DJ JAVIER

Javier, winner of the "Most Popular Cuban Salsa DJ " Award 2006 and finalist in the Bacardi DJ Competition 2003, he is one of the most exciting Latin DJ's on the scene.

He came to the UK five years ago from Havana, Cuba, where he worked at the Castillito Cultural Centre and was involved in various musical activities.

He has been DJing in the UK since his arrival, playing Salsa and Timba Cubana, Reggaeton, latin Hip-Hop and R & B to suit the occasion.

He featured in ID London magazine (October 2005 edition) as one of the UKs leading emerging acts in the urban Latin music scene. Currently, you can find him playing at various clubs and events in London and the UK

DJ RICHIE

Medals in ballroom and Latin dance as a
youngster plus a healthy teenage passion
for bop, jive and sharp funk moves led to
Richard's eventual abduction by salsa dance
and music in 1997.

Teaching and DJing since 2000 in a wide
wide variety of London Clubs, Richard's two-year stint with dance troupe Cudance saw him performing a range of Cuban popular dances at events nationally and internationally, including Cuban Day at the Royal Festival Hall and The Festival of Cuban Culture in Paris.

Over the years, Rich has taught residencies and guest slots at many of the capital’s sweetest salsa nights as well as at weekend events.