OUR LATINO INSTRUCTORS
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Salsa (Claudia) Mendoza De Rodriguez
​OWNER DIRECTOR
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Born from a Famous Flamenco Dancer and Uruguayan father, from the age of 5 she started salsa dancing to movies. She got her nickname Salsa Baby from being the youngest in her area to be involved in the community. The name Salsa has stuck with her for over 18 years. Getting her professional start with Picante Latin Dance one of the biggest event organizers on the latin scene and most recently teaching for Latin Dance Australia and expanding into her own dance school. She started assistant teaching in 2004 at Newcastle University. From 2005 she was apart of Candombe Groups in Sydney YAUGURU and URUMBE, in 2007 she created her own performance group Naturally Salsa. She loves to bring people together with smiles and joy as thats what dancing is all about and  her aim when teaching her students. ​​

Ysrael Joel Rodriguez
​OWNER DIRECTOR
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Moving to Australia in 2005 from Lima, Peru to be with his father and brothers in a better country with more opportunities. He realised there is a gap in the market in Campbelltown and wanted to introduce this area to the amazing latino culture he grew up with. His aim is to increase awareness of latin culture, food, and all types of latino dances from Salsa to Merengue and all in between. ​He loves his Cuban Salsa either listening or dancing. Don't know a name of a song? This guy is the one to get it for you! Social dancing is one of his favorite ways to dance!

2008 - Claudia Teaching with Picante Latin Dance
2009 - Claudia Performed at International Bachata Festival Zouk Bachata
2010 - Claudia Performed and Taught at Darling Harbour Fiesta
2010 - Both Performed at International Bachata Festival
2012 - Both Created Forbidden Dance Company
2012 - Performed at Pachanga & Silisila Night Club
2018 - Teaching for Latin Dance House & Latin Dance Australia
2018 - Teaching Cuban Workshop for Ritmo Festival
2019 - Created Dance Latino
2019 - Teaching Cuban Workshop for International Bachata Festival
2019 - Taught Basic Rueda on Carnival Cruise Lines
2019 - Performing at Sydney Salsa Mambo Convention, Wollondilly Illuminarte, Multicultural Day, FEAST Campbelltown and many more.

Tamara Fuego
REGGAETON & SAMBA


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Born in Chile and raised in Australia, Tamara’s love for dancing began in South America where she was influenced by its rich roots in Latin music, hypnotic rhythms, breathtaking landscapes and colourful culture.  At the age of 7 she began dancing and performing Chilean folkloric dancing and flamenco at Latin festivals and clubs. As a child she also trained in jazz, singing and acting.
In 2007 she began her training in samba, salsa, bachata and reggaeton with LDA and has trained samba under renowned international artists including Luana Bandeira, Mayara Lima, Gabrielle Castro, Alex Coutinho, and Kellyn Rosa.

2007-2010 Performed for LDA samba swat team & Sydney Salsa Congress
2010- Performed for Rhythm Brazil
2011 to Current- Performing for Batucada Brazil for the past 8 years
2011 to 2014- Performed at the Brazilian Festival
2012- Performed for the Australian Olympic athletes homecoming parade
2013- Performed at Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2013 - Performed in Auckland, NZ for Bras ‘N’ Things Brazilian range launch.
2015- Bar Brazilia resident dancer
2016-2017- Ipanema Grill Restaurant resident dancer
2016- Taught Samba classes
2017 to Current- Performing for Salsa Kingz for their “Ricky Martin Tribute Shows”
2017 to Current- Performing for Aluminus Entertainment.
2018- Performed at the Universal Music/ EMI after party for the Aria Awards & Uruguayan Festival
2018- Taught children from 2-8 years mixed Latin dancing including salsa, reggaeton, bachata and samba. Along with adult classes as well.
2018- Performed “The Aluminus Goddess Show” production for Aluminus Entertainment
2018- Performed at the Spanish Film Festival and The Spot Festival

Este Mantas
BACHATA

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Meet Estefania, your Bachata teacher. Born in Spain, the land where Flamenco and guitar music shines. Her dancing trip started at the age of 3 when she danced to Disney movies. 
As a child, she had 2 years of flamenco classes and 2 years of rhythmic gymnastics. Moreover, she had 10 years of music training that gave her a huge knowledge of rhythms and musicality. At the age of 20, she took dancing serious and she joined The Aberdeen Dance Society in Scotland, where she started learning all Latin styles, from salsa, bachata, merengue, foxtrot, ballroom, tango, and others.
Dancing is her huge passion and a lifestyle for her. Since then, she hasn’t stopped learning and spreading her love for dancing with the world.
2013 Training at the Sottish Salsa Congress
2013-2014 Taught Salsa and Bachata for beginners at Santé Fitness Studio, Minneapolis (US)
2016 / 2018 Taught Salsa and Bachata for beginners and intermediate at Nice, (France)
2017 Performed Ladies Shines with Escola Salsa Dance in Barcelona, Spain for dancing events.
2016 - 2019 Training at European dancing festivals: IX Madrid Salsa FESTIVAL, Top Bachata Festival, BCN Sensual Congress, Barcelona Salsa Congress, and others.

Robert Michaels
​ZOUK

Robert has been dancing zouk for 10 years. He Loves Zouk with a passion and you wont see him dance anything else. His teaching style is unique with fantastic technique and lead tips. His favourite thing to do is to head to the zouk social dance floor on the weekend to live in the Zouk World.

2009 - Salsabor Canberra.
2010 - Started teaching beginners at both salsabor and kmotion.
2010 - Performing zouk with Latin heat for 2 years and went on to being their choreographer for more routines. 
2012 - Taught for step up dance for 2 years
2014 - Teaching for Salsa Republic for 2 years and at the same time was performing with Latin Dance Australia and Choreographing with them.
2016 - Started to teach with Go dance and I was teaching zouk, salsa and bachata. 2017 He was teaching salsa, bachata and zouk with zouk amor including choreography and performances.
2019 - He started with us Dance Latino and have never looked back.

Bec Dunshea
​ZUMBA

TBA​

Max Morte
SALSA & BACHATA trainee

Max has started his journey , love and passion for latin dancing in Melbourne 2011. The rich arts, culture, diversity and music in this vibrant city has deeply influenced his dance in many dance styles and flavours. His Goal is to share that fun, excitement, learning, experience and expose the melbourne flavour to the south west sydney community.

Melbourne 2011 - 2014 Trained by Salsa Foundation, Flavoured Rhythm, Loco Mojo Dance, Bamboleo Spin City Dance, Hub Bachata Project,

Performed (salsa on1, salsa on2, cha cha, bachata)
Melbourne Latin Festival, Byron Bay Latin Festival, Portsea Latin Festival, Johnston st Festival, Filopino Festival, Cuban Jazz Festival, Sydney Latin Festival,

Latin 24/7 Salsa Foundation Xmas Party, Salsa Foundation Showcase, Flavoured Rhythm Showcase Track Night Club Congo room Federation Square Dance for Kids Cancer Appeal Redcross Appeal Weddings Competed (Salsa, Bachata,Shine Solo)

Australian Open VIC State Championships Australian Open National Championships Bachata State VIC Championships Bachata National Championships Australian Solo Championships Brisbane

​Sydney 2015 - 2018 Trained by LDA Performed (Salsa on1, SWAT Salsa on2, Bachata) Sydney International Bachata Festival LDA Ball Salsa Paladium Competed (Cha Cha, Salsa on2) Australian Latin NSW State Championships Australian Latin National Championships Brisbane Salsa Solo Competition
Salsa