Joao N. Rocha & Mafalda Amado 
Joao N. Rocha - Dancing,
it's my Life Passion!
"I was born in Lisbon,
Portugal, where I had my education studying Business administration. Salsa was
my 1st love, around 11 years ago. Kizomba came into my life almost 4 years ago,
taking the line from my master and friend Kwenda Lima, who told me
"Kizomba is danced by two people in just one body" this comment
changed my view and these days I say "I love this culture more than my
own".
Having
inspirations such as Master Petchu, Kwenda Lima and Afrolatin Connection I have
developed my own style. In May 2010 I was invited to perform Semba at the
prestigious Africadançar. In the last year I've been teaching and performing at
several events in Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Serbia, Czech Republic,
Poland, Romania, Latvia, Sweden, France, Holland, Norway, Austria, Italy, Finland,
and most recently organizing the 3rd edition of my own Festival in Lisbon
"the LIKE Festival" as well as being judge at Africadançar Finals in
Madrid 2010 and Head Judge in Africadançar UK Finals 2011. In October 2010 I
moved to London to teach and contribute to the growing kizomba scene in the UK
joining the "We Love Kizomba" team. Passionate about dance, love to
live life and share moments with good people!"
Mafalda Amado
Mafalda was born in Porto, in 1987. She started dancing salsa in 2001, but soon enough
discovered the magic ways of kizomba and semba in which she fell in love with.
In 2007, Mafalda became a member of "Afrolatin Connection" group,
which she was part of for three years. When she won the first international
kizomba championship in the event "Africadançar" in 2008, her career
boomed and many opportunities came along from then on. Next year Mafalda was
awarded with the third place in the first Salsa Open competition in Portugal.
Since then, she has been performing and teaching in numerous kizomba and salsa
festivals around the world, as in clubs, weddings and private parties,
television shows and videoclips. She developed her own style, specializing in
kizomba's body movement, having worked with many different people. All of this
happens along with the Fine Arts graduation that Mafalda finishes this year.
Kizomba, workshop: Video 1
Kizomba&Semba: Video 2
Kizomba&Semba: Video 3
Frank Santos Frank Santos is originally
from the Dominican Republic. At the age of 3 he learnt Bachata from his
grandfather and hasn’t stopped dancing
since then. Frank grew up in Italy where he started to develop his talent in
dance.
He has taught and performed
throughout Europe and beyond – in France, Holland, Poland, Latvia, Bratislava,
Slovenia, Italy, Germany, Israel, Denmark, Sweden, Bulgaria, the U.S.A and Cuba
just to name 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.
Bachata workshop: Video 1
Bachata: Video 2
Dominican Bachata: Video 3
Salsa:
Cécile & Terry
Cécile "Chechi" Ovide
Cecile was born in France, to a family Creole from Martinique.
From childhood, she was introduced to the "Dance" and was fast reaching
the professional level. The diversity of talent ranging from classical ballet tohip-hop through Modern Jazz and contemporary dance, allowed her to integrate a number of companies. Today she is specialized in salsa of all
genres: Salsa Casino, Los Angeles style, and the New Yorker.
After meeting with Terry at a dance school where she was teaching at the time, she, like her
partner, continued to work all the styles they were to encounter.
Since the founding of her school, Cécile has demonstrated her talents, not as a dancer and choreographer, as well as a designer as she is also responsible for all the costumes Terry and Cécile use in their shows.
Terry "la guagua" Tauliaut
Terry was born in France, near Paris. When he was 8 years old his family left the metropolis to return to Guadeloupe. From an early age he developed a passion for dance, and soon became an outstanding dancer in traditional Creole. Terry already proved unbeatable as a dancer in Hip Hop and
other dance styles prevalent among young people.
At the age of 19 he discovered salsa and this discovery marked a turning point in his life. He devoted himself to studying and learning the dance. Regular practice of this ever-growing passion led him to become champion of salsa in Guadeloupe at the age of 23. Later he was invited to join, as a teacher, one of the most prestigious dance schools of Paris. And when he met Cecile, they began training together. Soon after they joined U Tribe, the renowned company known worldwide.
In August 2007, Terry and Cecile, always alongside U-Tribe, decided to undertake an adventure of a different scale and opened their own dance school, Salsalianza.
Carlos Cinta
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