Alex Da Silva
The name, Alex Da Silva is synonymous with LA Style. He is a one man institution symbolizing the glamor and the passion of salsa. Winner of major championships year after year, he is a dancer's dancer. He is also a teacher of teachers. Having lived in San Francisco for 8 years, 90% of the instructors were taught by him! Alex has taught some of the most famous celebrities in the U.S. including J. Lo, Will Smith, and P. Diddy. He teaches in the most prestigious LA studio's and is constantly in demand to give workshops around the world. In his latest appearance on "30 Seconds to Fame" on FOX, he took home the grand prize without a sweat. The premier instructor of So You Think You Can dance is coming to the Seattle Salsa Congress to teach four workshops, worth the price of admission alone!

Antonio & Vanesa
In October 2001 Son Rumberos were formed. Comprising of Jose Antonio Soto and Vanesa Losa, Son Rumberos bring a very polished performance with influences from Afro Cuban from Jose and classical dance from Vanesa. This exciting combination of dances gives Son Rumberos a very unique style of Salsa with dips, drops, acrobatics, technique and sabor. A very special welcome to these championship dancers who are coming all the way from Spain.

Candy Mena
This Dominican salsa goddess has danced with almost everybody [Yamulee] who's anybody [Mambo King "Eddie Torres"]. But we're not going to be [Cesar Perez] name-droppers here [Caribbean Soul]. Really [Angelo Rito], her talent [Jhesus Aponte] stands on it's own [Ismael Otero] and it's not important [Jai Catalano] who she's danced with [Juan Matos] or who she's performed with around the world [Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Jose Alberto "El Canario", Tony Vega, El Gran Combo]. What's important is that she's COMING TO SEATTLE! I still can't believe it!

Csaba & Vali
Csaba is the complete package dance combo with titles and credentials ranging from choreography, ballroom, salsa and right through to Latin American and hip hop! Originally from Hungary, Csaba was truly born to dance. An ever evolving artist full of energy, passion, charisma, style, class and sensuality right here in front of your eyes. Csaba discovered the art form of dance at the age of 11 and became the Hungarian Youth Ballroom and Latin American Champion at only 16 years of age. Internationally, Csaba has worked with Backstreet Boys and N'sync. Locally he won the Strictly Dancing Championship with Luda Kroitor and also has National titles of Australian Salsa Champion and Australian Hip Hop Champion under his belt. Csaba has also featured on both Australian and New Zealand versions of "Dancing With The Stars"!

Vali is a Greek Goddess of the salsa beat and the most exciting body shaker of the dance arena! With an impressive 20 years of Jazz, Salsa, Ballroom, Contemporary, Ballet and Hip Hop, Vali is set to detonate the floor on fire. As a lover and practician of all styles of dance it is no surprise that Vali is already recognized by her amazing styling and her immaculate shines. She is largely responsible for introducing Kizomba and Zouk in the Australian scene. The queen of modern dirty dancing has also won the Australian Salsa Classic Team Championship and the NSW state title! A dancer who is not afraid to feel the funk and guarantees to mesmerize your dance as she continues her strong delivery of Street Latin.

Jayson Molina
Jayson has been in the Salsa business for over 20 years. Starting at the age of 8, Molina began under the guidance of mambo king, Eddie Torres and has grown artistically as a dancer to be one of the headliners of salsa congresses worldwide.  He is one of the reasons why people travel thousands of miles across the globe to events like the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress and West Coast Salsa Congress, attracting over 20,000 people annually.

Jayson has been teaching ever since the age of 12, growing up in New York City where the soul in Salsa comes from. Molina has traveled the world spreading the Salsa fever and creating international awareness everywhere his path has taken him. He has shared the stage with stars such as, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, La Sonora Ponceña, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tito Nieves, Tito Rojas and Oscar D’Leon.

Molina was one of the first to bring Salsa to Europe and because of his love for teaching, he opened up his own dance school in Rome, Italy in 2001. He lived there for almost 4 years dancing with his partner, Alessandra Lo Piero, and  directing his group, Los Rompecabezas, who celebrated their Five Year Anniversary with a stellar show at the 2005 Puerto Rico Salsa Congress with an anthological piece highlighting his most famous choreographies. 

Molina spends about 50 percent of his time away from home – attending congresses, teaching workshops, performing, choreographing and training groups. Apart from Italy and Puerto Rico, he has trained dance companies in places like Spain, Venezuela, Chicago, California, and Germany

Juliet McMains
We are proud to present a dance scholar and artist whose extensive research into the history of salsa includes interviews with more than seventy-five dancers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including many of the Palladium Era Stars. She has also traveled to Cuba to research the rich history of AfroCuban rumba and folkloric dance. Juliet is currently writing a book on the history of salsa/mambo, in which she explores issues how codification of salsa for sale in the 1990s radically changed the social practice. Juliet's first book, Glamour Addiction: Inside the American Ballroom Dance Industry, received the Congress on Research in Dance 2008 Outstanding Publication Award. She has also written on swing, ballroom, rumba, and salsa, and been invited to give presentations at academic conferences around the world. Juliet has been teaching salsa since 1997 and has introduced thousands of students to the excitement and joy of improvisational social dancing. As a ballroom dance professional, Juliet traveled internationally to perform and compete, won championships in the U.S. and Canada, and twice been named a U.S. National Rising Star finalist. She has a Ph.D. is Dance History and Theory from the University of California at Riverside. Juliet McMains is currently an Assistant Professor in the Dance Program at the University of Washington. She will be presenting a lively and enlightening multi-media lecture on the history of salsa.

Oliver & Luda
...'nuff said. Ok, for those who don't know, take a deep breath; here goes — 5 times World Salsa Champions: 2007 ESPN World Salsa Champions, 2006 ESPN World Salsa Champions, 2005 ESPN World Salsa Champions, 2001 IDO World Salsa Champions, Founder & Director of Latin Motion Dane Academy, and Founder & Director of the Australian Salsa Classic. Now let's distill all these trophies, awards and accomplishments: Simply put, we are bringing the reigning world champions, the crown jewels of salsa to the Northwest for the very first time.

Born in Australia of Chilean descent, this young man has been dancing salsa for 15 years and is Australia's most undisputed talent. Although passionate about Salsa and Mambo, Oliver's dance experience also extends to Rueda, Merengue, Zouk Lambada, Kizomba, Samba, Cumbia, Cha Cha, Rumba, Afro Cuban Rumba, Jive and Paso Doble as well as Modern dances such as the Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Quick Step and Jazz. In addition to his dancing expertise, he is also a well known percussionist playing in some of Sydney's top Salsa bands, mastering the timbales, congas and bongo amongst other percussive instruments. Oliver was also given the Best Male Instructor Award at the biggest Salsa Congress in the world, the 2006 West Coast Salsa Congress in Los Angeles. Yes, our 2007 congress was great but this year we're taking it (and you) to the next level!

Pretty Boys & Girls
Ricardo and Michelle make their home in the Bay Area and have been performing, teaching, judging, and promoting salsa for many years. They have taught and performed all over the world numerous times in New York, Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hong Kong, Italy, France, Austria, Germany, Brussels, London, Malta, Greece, Puerto Rico, and more cities than they can remember! Known all over the world for their clean lines, precise footwork, and always sexy styling, Ricardo and Michelle are pioneers in the Bay Area by bringing the firsts of many to the San Francisco Bay Area: the most popular styling classes specifically for the Ladies, the first organized Salsa Dance company and productions Company with 2 training groups and 1 professional performance team, the first salsa dance team to organize highly promoted Salsa events, including the the Annual SF Bay Area International Salsa Congress. They are masters at breaking down body movements and foot placement, teaching spins, and adding arms styling, head styling and original flare to each step. PB&G group principally dance "On 1" but they are not LA Style. They dance "On 1" with a NY Style flavor.

Ricardo Linnell
In the past year, Ricardo has emerged on the national salsa scene as one of the industry's most accomplished salsa instructors. His teaching resonates throughout his professional team, Hurricane Tumbao, as they have been taking the USA by storm from coast to coast with their fast-paced, energetic, and sharp choreographies. Ricardo believes that what makes a salsa dancer great is a solid foundation in the basics. That foundation allows you to dance free without worry or concern and enjoy the music and the movement of your partner. This philosophy along with the belief that anyone can learn something from anyone else who has something to offer is what has formed Ricardo into the exceptional teacher he has become. Last year he was one of the most requested instructors to return to the Seattle Salsa Congress and we are very pleased to have him teaching this year again.

RicaSalsa
RicaSalsa Dance Company has influenced hundreds of dancers/performers, creating over 30 choreographies, and participating in local as well as international events. Over the years, RicaSalsa has become a local Salsa icon known for its fresh ideas and innovative performances. This organization continues to stimulate the community with artistic risk-taking and passionate dancing. Under the leadership of Ricardo and Tianne, RicaSalsa is recognized as a unique dance company, mixing club style dancing with formal dance techniques.

The RicaSalsa Dance Company was founded by Ricardo Téllez. The goal was to create a dance company to express the beauty and diversity of Latin music. In recent history, Ricardo and Tianne placed 2nd at the LA Salsa Competition and 5th at the ESPN World Salsa Championships in Orlando, Florida. Tianne Frias has performed, taught, and choreographed in Modern, Ballet, Ballroom, Argentine Tango and Salsa for over 17 years. Since teaming up Ricardo Tellez, Tianne teaches, directs, choreographs and performs Salsa with RicaSalsa Dance Company. Tianne believes that everyone is born to dance. It is her mission to help others to express their joy and ecstasy through movement exploration, beauty, and meaningful dance art.

Somos El Son
Somos El Son was created in Seattle, WA nine years ago by the Chavez brothers, known in the salsa world for their incredibly fast and technical shines as well as innovative choreographies. Co-Directors Israel and Victor Chavez were born and raised in Mexico City and have been dancing salsa since early childhood. Their dancing developed in the "streets" of Mexico, and the Chavez style is known for its raw essence. They strive to bring their innate passion for Salsa to our local community and actively continue to expand their influence into the Seattle Salsa scene.

Yesenia Peralta
A T T I T U D E ! This girl wrote the book. Yesenia's the bomb! Outside of her workshops, she was the life of the party at last year's Seattle congress. Why do you think women have been asking...no, telling us, "Pleeeeze bring Yesenia back. She's so much fun!" So once again, Yesenia will be bringing the S T Y L E back to Ladies Styling. To give you a little background on this amazing dancer, in April 2005 Yesenia was named ambassador of Goodwill for Israel. And in May, the same year, she was honored at the West Coast Congress held in Los Angeles in appreciation for her contributions as a dancer and instructor in the World of Music and Dance. She is Owner and Creative Director of Yesenia's Dance Factory in NJ. And her professional dance company, Sangre Nueva, performed at the NY Salsa Festival in 2007. Let's crank up the volume for her return to Seattle this November.