Barbara Capaldi - Adaliz Rivera - James/Leah Bunting - Isabel Chicky Garcia - Sonya Saamova Elmore - Rafael Benitez   Joe Figueroa

Edwin & Evelyn Figueroa Munoz
Salsero's Internacional Dance Company and Salsa-In-Motion Dancewear Boutique
2101 Orthodox St.
Philadelphia PA. 19124
(215)535-4388

Visit our Salsa-In-Motion Dancewear boutique located on premises, for all the lastest styles in dance shoes,dance-sneakers and accessories for men, women and children.  Great fundraiser for dance groups and romoters of special events. Visit our website http://salseros-int.com

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Razala
“The Keys to Salsa Rhythm and Moves”

Rafael Benitez
215.426.6385

Mission Statement:

“To bring Salsa dancing to the world!” This beautiful and sensual dance, which is deeply rooted in my Latino heritage can be taught to and experienced by all ages and races – Razalsa!..

I love the feeling of being free while I am dancing. It is about having fun, enjoying the thrill of Salsa. I have spent my life perfecting the steps that make up this dance we call “Salsa”.

I first remember learning dance steps as a young boy in Puerto Rico. At the age of five my father would hold my hands and guide me through the basics. I caught on immediately and soon was dancing for the crowds at the Fiestas de Patronales. At the age of 12 we moved to the United States and I was introduced to New York Salsa. My oldest brother spent weekends attending dances at The St George Hotel and the “El Caborojeno”. When he came home he would show me all the dance steps. Further inspiration was provided by Roberto Roena, choreographer for Ismael Rivera and El Gran Combo and Papito JalaJala. I also have admired Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis JR and Fred Astaire for their technical prowess and fluid styles.

The love of Salsa was instilled by my father and brother, for which I am eternally grateful.

• Clubs

  • Rock Lobster
  • 8th Floor

Salsa deeply satisfies the mind, body and soul. It is an exercise in coordination and stamina. Dancing Salsa will give you countless hours of pure pleasure. Come get lost in the Salsa rhythm and moves!

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Sonya Saamova Elmore
 website: www.lalunadancestudio.com,  info@lalunadancestudio.com  phone: 215 638-0418.

^{(see Sonya and her partner Jesus dance at www.clubmayan.com)}

Sonya Elmore is the Artistic Director & Co-Owner of La Luna Dance Studio and the Founder of Luna Negra Dance Company whose unquenchable thirst for dance has touched the lives of students and spectators everywhere. Sonya has traveled all over the world teaching, competing, and judging in Salsa and International Latin while developing a strong international reputation as one of the most talented and passionate dancers in the US.

Sonya has been a featured instructor at such national events as the World Hustle Dance Championships, the Edmonton Salsa Congress, the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress, the Philadelphia Salsa Congress, and was a lead choreographer for the Salsa routine that broke two records in the Guinness Book of World Records. She was also a finalist in several national dance competitions including the Club Mayan World Salsa Competition, the Vaseline Intensive Care Smooth Moves Competition, the International Hustle & Salsa Competition, and the United State’s largest ballroom dancing competition The Ohio Star Ball Championships.

Sonya has been featured on several television programs including NBC 10 Philadelphia News, FOX29 Good Day Philadelphia, and “The Dating Story” on TLC, in addition to producing her own instructional video on Ladies Styling in Salsa. Her notoriety and acclaim has helped to bring Salsa and Latin dance into the mainstream community of Philadelphia where she has founded and solidified numerous relationships to perform with local organizations like Cuba Libre Restaurants, Brasil’s Night Club, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Bensalem School District, and the Alzheimer’s Association of the Delaware Valley.
 

Barbara Capaldi
856 858 6083 - 856 661 9166 dance@atriumdance.com

Barbara is one of the most versatile dance instructors in the tri-state (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware) area.  She has been a dance instructor for 15 years and is able to perform and teach Lindy Hop, International Standard & Latin ballroom, American Smooth & Rhythm, and WC, and Hustle but is currently specializing in Salsa and Swing instruction.

Accomplishments:

• Starring in Atlantic City Casino Dance Productions.
• Television Commercials.
• Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship teaching and performance.
• Coach and instruct the University of Pennsylvania's Ballroom Dance Club and the Onda Latina Latin Dance Performance Team.
• Licensed instructor for 14 years.
• Currently teaching salsa in a number of clubs in the tri-state area.
• Owner and chief instructor of Atrium Dance Studio.

Qualifications:

• Studied ballet, jazz, tap, belly dancing, and flamenco.
• ISTD Associate Member, modern division.
• Associate Degree/Applied Arts Associate Degree USISTD Modern Division.
• Bachelor's Degree Teaching/History/Art from Rutgers University.
• Currently pursuing Licentiate Degree USISTD Modern.

ATRIUM DANCE CENTER - Rte 130 Pennsauken, NJ, For more info check out their web-site. will be posted soon.  located 2 blocks south of Browning rd (past Burger King) in Pennsauken. Cha Cha Cha, Bachata, Merengue, Foxtrot, Swing, Ballroom, and much more. www.atriumdance.com.

Feel free to call or email me for more information.

Adaliz Rivera
215 856 7133  maestraenphilly@aol.com

Currently teaching at Muevete Dancers Studio

Adaliz has always been a music lover (she has a singing voice you would not believe), but its through her dancing that she has been able to attain the natural high that comes when you love something.

Even though she has been instructing for a short while, since 1992, she has managed to develop a unique teaching technique by competing in different Latin dance competitions, performing individually and in group settings, and choreographing various routines for groups of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

She doesn't compete any more, she is able to attain personal satisfaction by teaching her gained skills to her students and seeing the progress and enjoyment they obtain from her.

Her resume includes:

• Winner of Annual Latin Dance Competition of 1992.
• Member of "Phillies Finest Latin Dancers" in 1993.
  • This organization was very active in Puerto Rican cultural and charitable events.
• Second place finish in the Annual Latin Dance Competition of 1993.
• Dance instructor at "Salseros Internacional Dance Company", 1996.
• Member of "Latin Rhythm Group", 1997 - 1998.
• Sponsored by the "Latino Leadership Alliance of Bucks County"
  • Taught different Cultural Latin dances to a group of children for performances at charitable events & festivals. They performed at the 1997 and 1998 International Day Festival in Langhorne; The First Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs Pride Awards Banquet, Pennsylvania's Latino Conference in Harrisburg as well as many other festivities.
• Dance instructor at "Pennsport Racquet & Fitness Center", 1998.
• Currently teaching at Salseros Internacional but does freelance choreography, performances,
• Lead singer for "Caliente" since 1993.
• She also teaches basic Salsa to audience members at performances. 

  

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James and Leah Reinhard Bunting
Rittenhouse Dance Academy, 225 S. 17th Street, 4th Floor,  Philadelphia, PA 19103. (215) 545-5235.  www.rittenhousedance.com

James Bunting - An alumnus of the University of the Arts with a BFA. in Dance, and subsequent training at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet. He danced and toured with the Koresh Dance Company for eight years as a premier performer.  During this time - Jim not only developed his facility in jazz, modernm, and ballet, but also became an accomplished ballroom/ Latin dancer and instructor.  It was through this that he met his wife, Leah Reinhard-Bunting.  In 1999, Jim received a Fellowship Grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for original choreography, which resulted in the piece “Immortal.”

Leah Reinhard- Bunting, with a background in ballet, studied primarily at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet training under Olga Kostritsky and Gloria Govrin.  Her other training includes work with master teacher Cherie Noble and summers at the School of American Ballet in New York.  During that time Leah was invited to dance with the Pennsylvania Ballet for five seasons.  After her ballet career, she turned to ballroom/ Latin dance, eventually teaming with her husband James.  They have taught salsa together at club Brasil’s since January 1998.

This summer, Jim and Leah opened the Rittenhouse Dance Academy, serving the needs of all age groups through a variety of classes, with special emphasis on ballet, jazz, salsa, and Argentine tango. They seek to create an atmosphere which is simultaneously challenging and supportive.

Classes are taught in ballet, jazz, and Argentine tango - Salsa is no longer taught by them.

Isabel "Chicky" Garcia

I am proud to be a Nuyorican raised in the South Bronx.

Being the youngest of six siblings, I always admired, envied, and watched my brothers and sisters, who were always dancing salsa, cha-cha-cha, merengue, etc. I was too young then to be in the New York City nightclub scene, but when I became legal, no one could stop me.

I began going to clubs like the Corso, Casablanca, Ipanema, Copacabana, Palladium, Barney Goggles, Roseland, SideStreet and many more. At these nightclubs, everyone danced Mambo on "2" so that's how I learned to dance. Since I was going to these night clubs three to four nights a week, I improved quickly. I was able to learn new moves, meet and interact with experienced professional dancers. Dancers such as Eddie Torres, Mario Diaz, Angel Ortiz, Stacey Lopez, Argelio Diaz, Rodrigo Bellony, and many more. Once I had the pleasure of dancing with these dance luminaries, I knew then that I was coming into my own as a dancer.

All my dancing experiences have been through dancing in clubs. After relocating to New Jersey in the early 80's, I realized that no one danced on "2" in this area. So I then began to teach Mambo on "2" locally.

In 1997, Jose "Papo" Diaz and I started our business. Jose and I taught and performed Mambo on "2" throughout New Jersey.

As I branched out into Philadelphia, I met (Evelyn Figueroa), who enjoyed watching me dance and asked me to teach her how to dance Mambo on "2". I agreed, and here I am teaching Mambo to the students at Salseros Internacional Dance Company.

Background:

• City College of New York - Majored in Accounting.
• Mercer County College of New Jersey- Majored in Business Administration.
• Graduate of Barbizon Modeling School.
• Coordinated Miss Puerto Rico Pageant in New Jersey - 1996 & 1998.
• Executive Member of Latina Women's Council of Mercer County.
• Member of Desfile Puerto Riqueno Committee of Mercer County.
• Member of Latino Chamber of Commerce of Mercer County.

Performances and Competitions:

• El Desfile Puertoriqueno De Mercer County- 1998.
• State Of New Jersey Department of Labor – 1999.
• Olney High School, Philadelphia, PA. – 1999.
• YWCA of Mercer County New Jersey – 1998.
• City Hall of Trenton, New Jersey - Puerto Rican Week – 1998.
• Tierra Colombiana Restaurant & Night Club, Philadelphia, PA.-1999

Mambo on "2" Workshops in New Jersey-PA.

• Rutgers State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey – 1999.
• Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey –1999.
• The College of New Jersey, Ewing New Jersey –1998.
• Mercer County Community College, West Windsor, New Jersey – 1998.
• Latina Women's Council of Mercer County, N.J. – 1998.
• Penn State University- PA – 1999.

From May, 1999, to October, 2000, I performed the following services at Salseros Internacional Dance Co. (call the dance studio for schedule):

• Mambo on "2" - Beginners & Intermediate Class.
• Ladies Only Styling Classes - Once a month.
• Children Salsa Classes - Once a month.
• Beginners Salsa Classes.
• Choreograph Salseros Internacional Dance Company's Adult and Children Dance Troupe.
• Available To Teach Private Mambo Dance Classes.

As an experienced Latina Dancer/Instructor, I enjoy helping my people as well as all other cultures learn how to dance this exotic, exciting, passionate dance called MAMBO/SALSA.  I always tell my students and friends that the music and the dancing have to come from the heart.  "Just like the lotto, you've got to play to win".  I guarantee you that if you keep dancing, you will always be smiling. "Que viva la musica Latina"

                                                Joe Figueroa
                info@livinginrhythm-intl.com  / 302-494-3835 /  Pennsylvania, New Jersey & Delaware          

Barbara Capaldi - Adaliz Rivera - James/Leah Bunting - Isabel Chicky Garcia - Sonya Saamova Elmore - Rafael Benitez  Joe Figueroa