Instructors

Osbanis Tejeda (Cuba), Anneta Kepka (Poland)

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Osbanis Tejeda, a Cuban dancer, choreographer and musician, has won in 2004 World Rueda Champion, 2003 UK Cuban Salsa Champion competitions. Specialized in Cuban rhythms and percussions Tejeda started his career as a professional dancer in Europe to bring the Cuban culture and music to the European public. Anneta Kepka, 2008 IDO World Ladies Salsa Shines Champion and 2006 UK Salsa Champion, is dance teacher, choreographer and performer. She began her dancing career in Poland with Ballroom Dance. Over the years she has studied various forms of dance, in order to create her own unique salsa dance style.

Osbanis and Anneta at Hamburg Salsa Festival 2009: video 1
Osbanis dancing Casino: video 2
Osbanis, UK Salsa Congress 2006: video 3
Osbanis and Anneta at Salsa Festival in Poland 2010: video 4


U.Tribe (Mike & R.elle), France


utribe2U.TRIBE ("Urban Tribe") was created through the meeting of two born artists and both madly in love with arts, Erell Niane and Mick Viry, in January 2005. The union of these two natures takes us into a world of music and dance fundamentally mixed and diverse. U.TRIBE is a subtle mix between quite technical urban dances, such as hip-hop or contemporary dance, and primary african dances inherited from our ancestors ("the Force is in our Roots"), all of the latter brought in the context of salsa and of the various parallel latin rythms. Mike and R.elle gave U.TRIBE its first choreography "Niña" in February 2005, and the performance took the artists to salsa congresses such as London, Milan, Paris and New York. In less than a year, the two dancers had the opportunity to participate in about 40 events and congresses all around the planet. U.TRIBE has a deep respect for the music, prior to anything else. Both R.elle and Mike could not help but play with the musical heritage of their childhood. Their dance style is flowing and generous, and always in sync with the tempo; a surprising and explosive mix between strength, fieriness, grace, technicity and high sensibility.

In Tampere International Salsa Festival Mike and Erell teach Street Salsa, Ladies' Style, LA-style and Puerto Rican style salsa.

R.elle & Mike teaching: video 1
Salsa show in Stuttgart: video 2
Workshop and show in Bristol: video 3
Tropical Gem & U.Tribe Battle I: video 4
Tropical Gem & U.Tribe Battel II: video 5


Ranses Charon, Cuba

ranses_p1190945.preview Ranses Charon began dancing in Havana, Cuba at the age of 6. He graduaded as a dancer and dance instructor from the institute Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana, in 2003. Charon has worked in the most famous Cuban dance groups - for example in Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, Yoruba Andabo and Havana Rakatan, performing in many European and South American countries. Ranses Charon specializes in traditional Cuban dances, such as son and Afro Cuban dances, but also reggaeton and cabaret are close to his heart.


Ranses dancing in Cuba: video 1
Ranses in Afro Cuban shows: video 2


Israel Gutierrez, Cuba

webisrael1At the age of 12 Israel Guitierrez decided to become a dancer and started takign lessons at the Casa de Cultura in Havana. Five years later at the age of 17 he started the professional apprenticeship of becoming a dancer at the Academia de Danza in the famous Tropicana in Havana. Performances in numerous theatres and stages in Cuba accompanied him with his dancing career. In 1998 he was discovered by Nicole Dürr of the Havana Night Show and after two years of training for his solo role the Musical Havana Night was underway in Germany. In 1999 he received the award for Best Male Dancer for the successful Cuban dance show. Since 2000 Gutierrez has not only been teaching the technique of various dance styles but also actively passed on the Cuban feeling for rhythm to his dance pupils. His energetic choreographies and high knowledge of as well as salsa, classical ballet, modern dance as afro cuban rhythms inspire his students where ever he teaches. Today he can be also seen on stage either as a solo dancer or with his group Son Tropical.

Tampere International Salsa Festival brings Israel Gutierrez to teach Reggaeton, Columbia, Salsa Body Work ja Casino Coreography solo lessons.

Israel's show in Ljubljana: Video 1
Israel in Munich: Video 2
Israel dancing AfroCuban: Video 3


Juan Jose Ortiz, Cuba


juanjoseCuban casino master Juan Jose Ortiz teaches advanced level Cuban couple salsa, casino, in Casino Turns, Master Class Casino and Trio Salsa lessons.

Juan Jose dancing in Cubamemucho salsa festival in Munich, 2008:
video 1
In Romanian salsa congress:
video 2