Artists

Tony Lara & Daniela de Francesco, Italy

www.ilovebachata.com

Tony Lara and Daniela are the Worlds most sought after Bachata couple today! Tony now recognised as the "Bachata Trojan" is one of the pioneers that has made dancing Bachata a Worldwide phenomenon.

Together they have been invited to teach and perform at some of the Worlds biggest and prestigious Salsa Congresses (UK, Los Angeles, Zurich, Sydney) and have literally taught hundreds and thousands of people to dance Bachata and Reggaeton in 4 continents and 100s of cities. Their classes are always packed and the reason for this is simple, together they produce a learning atmosphere, which is not only informative, but it is extremely creative and most of all packed with fun and laughter.
They also have a 9 Bachata instructional DVD set from Bachata Beginners to Advanced, from Ladies styling to Bachata Tango. They have literally sold their DVDs all over the World to students and teachers alike. Not only are they very popular teachers but as performers their shows are very creative, diverse and fun to watch, leaving crowds smiling and entertained everywhere they perform, it is no wonder then that have the reputation as the Worlds most loved Bachata couple!

Gabryel & Begona, Spain

Gabryel born in Seville, Spain. It has always been interested in music and dance, which led him to learn dances as Sevillanas, flamenco, ballroom, Latin, etc. He was introduced into the Latin dance, especial y Bachata, immediately began to develop his style and technique. He decided to travel to Santo Domingo in the search for the roots of Bachata and learned different styles. His style is very strong and very sensual and merges with some other styles (traditional Dominican), but with some very strange interpretations. For him, interpretation is the key to bachata.

Gabryel has a very personal and particular style. Heavily influenced by the Italian and Spanish style style.A with energy and expressiveness. The passion for Bachata makes it important event promoter, creating exclusive parties Bachata since 2005. Bego Gabryel & Bachata organized the biggest event of Spain, TODOBACHATA, with an attendance of over 1500 people worldwide.

Begona born in Seville and began its first steps in dance 10 years ago. In the world of Spanish dance. Begona has a very sensual style. His influences are Dominican, Italian and Spanish style, a fusion that makes it special and different. Begona & Gabryel and Spain became champion of Bachata. Increasingly, Begona and Gabryel are internationally recognized as the leading exponent of Bachata in Spain. The number of styles and shades are very different from what they teach in their workshops: Bachata Sensual, Bachatango, Acrobatic Bachata, Rueda de Bachata, Bachata funky, Bachata Style girl, girl style.

Frank Santos & Alina Moskvina, UK and Estonia

Frank Santos is one of the hottest new talents on the UK and international salsa scene. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Frank grew up in Italy where he started to develop his talent in dance. 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 - in France, Holland, Poland, Latvia, Bratislava, Slovenia, Italy, Germany, Israel, Brussel, Denmark, Sweden, Bulgaria, the U.S.A and Cuba to name but a few. 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. Frank’s current passion is working with bachata and contemporary dance to evolve a new style that fuses the most exciting elements of each. As an instructor, performer and choreographer Frank continues to make a significant contribution to the salsa and bachata scene. After seeing his work you will realise the drive, commitment and enthusiasm he brings to any arena. A special thank you to Matar and Morena of La Rumba, Italy, for encouraging and helping Frank to fulfil his dream.

Alina Moskvina, Estonia

Alina Moskvina was born in Russia. At the age of 3 moved to Estonia where started dancing balley. After only a couple of years despite the young age she was performing in big events. The early success and passion for dance lead her to develop and learn other type of dance such as modern, hip hop and flamenco. At the age of 15 she was being tought by one of he best dancers in Estonia Juri Kuvaitsev who has won a number of championships along Europe in hip hop, ballroom and modern dance categories. Salsa started for her in 2005 and after a short period thanks for her natural talant and the amount of dance in her background she was noticed and invited to perform with professional salsa dancers, such as Miguel Verdecia and Carlos Correa. Alina was also invited to join the Corazon dance group, which in 2005 won the title Best Salsa Group in Estonia. In 2006 Alina started teaching in the biggest salsa school in Estonia Casa de Baile. In 2007 she moved to London. Where she collaborated with Moe Flex Dance Company, performing with Moe Flex in UK and Europe. In 2008 Alina won the North-West Bachata Championship with the show choreographed by Frank Santos. Meanwhile being a part of Frank Santos A Yemaya dance company Alina and the rest of the team achieve to receive the award as best UK performers 2008. Alina is currently working side by side with Frank Santos, choreographing, teaching and performing around UK and Europe. Her knowledge of different dance styles along with influence of her dance partner Frank Santos make Alina Moskvina one of the most recommended teachers for lady style in salsa and bachata..

Inaki Fernandez, Spain/UK

Inaki Fernandez from Madrid, Spain, is one of the UK’s most sought-after teachers of Latin dance both here and abroad. He specialises in salsa, kizomba, Argentine tango, cha cha, and of course bachata. In 2004, shortly after winning several Spanish championships in salsa and bachata, Inaki arrived in the UK and was quickly asked to join the world-famous "Leon Rose Project." This year sees him forming an exciting new dance partnership with Miriam Oppel.

Performances with The Project have taken him around the world, to events across the USA, Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia. Inaki regularly travels to the Middle East, and was the first international teacher to visit Syria. Teaching at a number of different club venues across the UK and fostering a strong community of bachata fans in the process, Inaki is also one of a team of world-class teachers at the prominent Latin Dance Academy in London. The brain-child of salsa heavyweights Susana Montero and Super Mario, the LDA focuses predominantly on dance technique and is fast becoming known as the only place for the serious salsa dancer to learn. Outside of the teaching arena Inaki is an experienced choreographer, having produced and performed in many pieces for television and the music industry across the globe. He has also been invited to judge competitions worldwide. Inaki’s extensive dancing credits include the Thriller Live Musical in 2005, and performing in Maria Torres "Salsation" production at Salsa Kingdom in 2008.

Many years ago Inaki’s unique footwork and body movement combined with his energy and intensity earned him the title "King of Bachata", and all this expertise has been poured into his "Bachata Volume 1" teaching DVD. Bachata fans have the double delights of not only seeing one of the most sensual bachata dancers at work, but in addition Inaki is partnered by the inimitable Susana Montero as they lead you through the basics of timing, body movement and footwork. See www.bachatauk.com for further details.

Silvia Almaraz, Spain/UK

Silvia was born into a Spanish culture full of music and dance. From an early age she cultivated a love for dance, with a background in ballet, Modern Jazz, ballroom, flamenco and belly dancing.

Known for her devotion to all things dance oriented, friends asked her to try Salsa. From her first salsa class she was hooked and her need to learn more started a journey through all styles of Salsa, Bachata and Cha Cha Cha. With her already well established dance technique and experience she was soon noticed and admired for her distinctive style on dance floors around Spain. Cross-body style and particularly Mambo New York on 2 salsa soon became her main passion. It was this passion together with a desire to progress as a dancer and a teacher that inspired her to travel to New York, the home of Mambo on 2, to learn more closely from Eddie Torres. After her experiences in New York and particularly with Eddie and Maria Torres she returned to Spain with a new zest and mixing what she had learnt with her background in dance she soon developed her own unique brand of styling and was soon travelling across Spain giving a series of ladies styling workshops and performing at many Spanish salsa clubs and events. With the philosophy of constantly learning and developing and her love of travel, Silvia now resides in London. After 8 years learning, 6 years teaching and performing Salsa and Bachata, her love and passion for dance has never been stronger. Silvia can be found teaching in central London together with performing and teaching Bachata internationally and is currently working on a number of workshop and performance projects.

Quote: "Dance is one of the best ways to lose yourself in the moment!"
Teaching Styles: Cross body on 1 (L.A), Cross body on 2 (N.Y), Bachata, Salsa, Cha Cha Cha

Bolivar Severino De La Cruz, Dominican Republic

Bolivar Severino De La Cruz is one of the hottest new talents of the N.Y. salsa style in the Dominican Republic. He was surrounded by bachata music from his early age. He first started to dance dominican styles such as merengue, bachata and dominican salsa, then he developed his skills by attending several courses in Puerto Rican Salsa. He opened his first school at the age of 22. He has experience in teaching different types of dances people coming from all over the world. His ability to speak fluently foreign languages such as English, French, Italian and Spanish enables him to work with foreigners. Two years ago he discovered "on2" salsa style and since then, this style became his most favourite. He has participated in several salsa festivals in the R.D. and Europe taking classes with famous International Teachers. So as to improve his skills and professionalism, he participated in 2009 in a special course of Ballroom and Latin dances recognized by the International Dance Sport Federation(IDSF). He teaches merengue, bachata and salsa "on2". His bachata style is really particular because he combines the bachata original step with other dances. He is great influence for local dancers and teaches them to become instructors. His classes are intensive and exhausting but full of fun thanks to his Caribbean nature.

Lee El Gringuito, USA

Lee El Gringuito has traveled around the world performing his exciting Latin dance and magic shows. Over the past eleven years he has performed for hundreds of thousands in over 47 States and six countries. In fact, in the last five years alone he has taught well over 100,000 people how to Latin dance throughout the United States and have taught more College Students to Latin dance then anyone in the World! As well as teaching more people to dance Bachata in the United States then anyone in the World! Recently, he has shot episodes for Ambush Makeover, FOX Television, NBC, ABC Univision, Telemundo and appeared on the final episode of America’s Got Talent. In 2005, he was nominated as Salsa Instructors of the year. In 2006, & he was chosen to represent Latin America at the World Bank International Showcase of Talent seen by thousands in over a hundred countries around the world. In 2007, he taught over 6,000 Microsoft employees to Latin dance at Coors Field in Denver Colorado and was nominated as Novelty Act of the Year by the APCA Entertainment Bureau. He has won countless awards and competitions including the Natura Park Dance Competition, Punta Cana Dominican Republic as well as being a Finalist in the DC Ortanique Salsa Competition. In 2007, Lee El Gringuito produced his first Instructional DVD, which is being called "the most comprehensive beginner Salsa DVD ever made!" In 2008, he released his much anticipated 3 DVD Bachata Set. 2009, has brought much excitement inclu ding being nominated again as APCA Novelty Act of the Year, as well as being seen on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno dancing Bachata. Lee was recently featured on the Cover of On Tap Magazine & was the winner of "Bachata Instructor of the Year." In 2009 he is scheduled to teach & perform in over 100 Cities World Wide. His shows have been called "Amazing from beginning to end", Reno Hilton and Fox Televison’s Ambush Makeover calls Lee "One of the Hottest Dancer’s in the country." Lee brings a fun, sexy form of entertainment that will leave your audience breathless...

Giuseppe Amato

Giuseppe grew up in the south of Italy, where he started to dance folk music, felt as an interpretation of the nature forces and energy through the expression and the moves of the body; charismatic dance animator and sport instructor in several touristic venues across Europe, he developed his salsa and bachata skills, studying, dancing, teaching and leading workshops in Italy, Spain and Poland, taking also part in several latin dance and "rueda" competitions. He strongly does believe that the most important thing in dancing bachata is to feel the passion, the joy and the energy of the music, combining them with enthusiasm and creativity, with original body moves and artistic interpretation of this dance: that’s the reason why his classes are a great mix of fun, joy, competence and energy !!

Gosia, Salsa Factory, Poland

www.salsafactory.eu

Gosia Fangrat Dancing was always close to her heart and was an important part of her life (Music School, Ballroom Dancing...). Gosia’s first contact with salsa was in 1997 during her two-year long stay in Paris. She started with Colombian salsa, then she learned Porto Rican style, Cuban salsa, LA and NY styles which became her most favourite. She participated in many workshops and festivals with world-famous instructors. Gosia also loves to travel and during each of her trip she tries to dance salsa on different international dance floors. Since the beginning of 2003 Gosia runs her own courses. Salsa is her great passion but bachata became her love ;) She was the first instructor who started organizing regular bachata classes in Poland. Gosia constantly wants to broaden her horizons, is very versatile and open minded towards everything connected with bachata. That is why she teaches all bachata styles as well as other caribbean dances like merengue & zouk. Moreover she organises various bachata bootcamps with foreign instructors and Bachata Lovers Festival in Poland, which was her own idea. The magnetism and highly professional approach made her instantly becoming a valuable salsa & bachata instructor. Thanks to her pedagogical studies Gosia is able to teach every student with endless patience.

DJ’s

  • DJ Tony Lara
  • DJ Oso
  • DJ El Gringuito
  • DJ Tresorman