7:00 - 8:00pm: Beginning Salsa Lesson
8:00 - 9:00pm: Salsa Patterns
9:00 - 10:00pm: Beginning Bachata Lesson with Rodchata
10:00 - 12:00am: Dance Social with top bay area DJs
$5 all night
For the month of April, here is the line-up for our Friday:
FRIDAY APRIL 1
Salsa: Rodchata & Camille
Bachata: Rodchata & Camille
Camille Yannantuono (Switzerland)
A versatile dancer, after graduating high school she spent 1 year as a college cheerleader and than headed out to join the Marine Corps, it wasn't until her last year in the Marines in 2001 that Camille was introduced to Salsa. Camille along with her partner started their team "Positive Energy" in Jan of 2005. They decided to make it a dance company to allow for their love of fusion dancing- Currently they have a Salsa/Argentine Tango, Bachata, Salsa/Waltz and currently they are working on a Salsa/West Coast swing routine. Camille met Ross Todorovic in Buenos Aires, Argentina when she was training in Argentine Tango and currently trains and performs with El Studio Tango and is loving the new adventure.
Rodney "Rodchata" Aquino (San Francisco)
A certified instructor, his dance background includes Latin International Ballroom, salsa (on1, on2 mambo, and Cuban son, Casino), cumbia, chachacha, merengue and bachata. His first encounter of the bachata dance was in the New York area in the 90’s. He embarked himself into dancing bachata and studying the culture and since revolutionized bachata dancing in USA and the world.
FRIDAY APRIL 9
Salsa: Ricki Anaya & Big Bad Mike
Bachata: Rodchata
Ricki Anaya (San Jose)
Ricki's dance experience began with her passion for social dancing in Cumbia, Salsa, and Merengue. She studied with various prominent teachers throughout the greater bay area and is continually learning. Her ability to understand both the leader and follower roles in the dance give her the tools needed to help those learning to dance. Ricki has participated in dance competitions and placed 1st in Merengue at the Metronome April Follies event 2006, and recently qualified for the finals for the Afinkao Dance Company Jill and Jill event as a leader.
Big Bad Mike (San Jose)
Mike trained & performed in Stephanie Palmeri & Danny Zepeda's dance group, "Sol Y Fuego" between 2002 and 2006. Mike previously taught salsa classes for several years in two San Jose downtown nightclubs; Club Miami & Miami Beach.
Rodney "Rodchata" Aquino (San Francisco)
A certified instructor, his dance background includes Latin International Ballroom, salsa (on1, on2 mambo, and Cuban son, Casino), cumbia, chachacha, merengue and bachata. His first encounter of the bachata dance was in the New York area in the 90’s. He embarked himself into dancing bachata and studying the culture and since revolutionized bachata dancing in USA and the world.
FRIDAY APRIL 15
Salsa: Umesh Lakshaman
Bachata: Rodchata
Umesh Lakshaman (San Jose)
Prior to his Salsa Journey, Umesh has been dancing different styles from college years but has been a avid salsa dancer for the past few years. Umesh has assisted other instructors at various classes in the Bay. A prior regular at Miraido's and other local salsa hotspots, he currently dances semi-pro for the Montuno Dance Company under the tutelage of Isidro Corona and Ariel Lehaitre ( US Salsa open champions).
Rodney "Rodchata" Aquino (San Francisco)
A certified instructor, his dance background includes Latin International Ballroom, salsa (on1, on2 mambo, and Cuban son, Casino), cumbia, chachacha, merengue and bachata. His first encounter of the bachata dance was in the New York area in the 90’s. He embarked himself into dancing bachata and studying the culture and since revolutionized bachata dancing in USA and the world.
FRIDAY APRIL 22
Salsa: Greg Bachaterov & Morgan Campbell
Bachata: Rodchata
Greg (Palo Alto)
Greg is a teacher, performer, choreographer, and a performance team and dance school director who has performed locally and internationally. Trained as a child in ballet and Russian folk dances, Greg has developed a passion for social dances like Salsa and Bachata while in graduate school. After helping to build a Bachata community and teaching Salsa and Bachata in Toronto, Canada during 2008-2010 he moved to Bay Area in January 2011. He is now sharing his passion for dancing and altruism by teaching Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and organizing dance socials for various humanistic causes at Stanford. These socials are open to everyone free of charge. Greg’s fun-filled classes focus on musicality, fusion of different dance styles, deep partner connection, and development of social dancing skills. When Greg is not dancing he is in the lab doing cancer diagnostics research at Stanford or in the campus gym playing basketball.
Morgan Campbell (Sonoma)
Morgan Campbell’s thriving passion for music and dance began before she can remember. Beginning dance, gymnastics, and piano at age 5 only led her to follow these paths as she grew up. Morgan began learning salsa in 2003 with JAS Dance in Santa Rosa and at Sonoma Dance Academy. After joining Sangre Latina in 2008 she really began to diversify her Latin and Ballroom dance styles including Cha-Cha, Meringue, Bachata, and more. After three years of dancing and performing with Sangre Latina she recently joined the Ricasalsa crew in San Francisco. Outside of her rigorous Salsa training she continues to take jazz, modern, hiphop, and yoga classes as well. She is a very patient and upbeat dancer, looking to deepen the dance community and share her passion with as many as she can.
Rodney "Rodchata" Aquino (San Francisco)
A certified instructor, his dance background includes Latin International Ballroom, salsa (on1, on2 mambo, and Cuban son, Casino), cumbia, chachacha, merengue and bachata. His first encounter of the bachata dance was in the New York area in the 90’s. He embarked himself into dancing bachata and studying the culture and since revolutionized bachata dancing in USA and the world.
FRIDAY APRIL 29
Salsa: Rodchata
Bachata: Rodchata
Rodney "Rodchata" Aquino (San Francisco)
A certified instructor, his dance background includes Latin International Ballroom, salsa (on1, on2 mambo, and Cuban son, Casino), cumbia, chachacha, merengue and bachata. His first encounter of the bachata dance was in the New York area in the 90’s. He embarked himself into dancing bachata and studying the culture and since revolutionized bachata dancing in USA and the world.
