Entertainment and Performers

	Herman Olivera This dynamic SONERO is currently the lead singer of the "Eddie Palmieri Orchestra" , where he is featured on five cd's with the nine time Grammy Award Winner & Master Pianist including "Masterpiece/Obra Maestra" with the late, great Tto Puente which garnered two grammys. Herman Olivera is considered by many as one of the very few SONEROS left in the true salsa genre. He has and continues to tour all over the world, appearing as a featured vocalist in many prestigious festivals, T.V. shows, etc., including stints with The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band & The Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Band.
	The Son Caribe Band Since the Son Caribe Band debuted on the Latin music scene in Hawaii, it has been the band of choice for live Latin music by all! Son Caribe has opened concerts for every major Latin music event since 2002. They performed as the opening band for Latin music luminaries and multi-Grammy award winning mambo king TITO PUENTE, international singing legend and queen of salsa CELIA CRUZ and the king of Latin jazz PONCHO SANCHEZ. As well, they've performed with L.A. Bandleader JOHNNY POLANCO, New York Salsero LUISITO ROSARIO, L.A Salsero CHINO ESPINOZA, Miami Bandleader TITO PUENTE JR., and veteran salsa singer FRANKIE MORALES.
	Manuel Dos Santos Manuel Dos Santos has been dancing for over 12 years. Although his repertoire includes hip-hop, Capoeira and Latin Ballroom, his passion is definitely Salsa and Kizomba. While growing up in Angola he learned how to dance Kizomba and other African rhythms such as Semba, Kuduro and Rebita (known as the Angolan Rueda). He has later on started dancing salsa and trained under Mas Mambo and Gabriel "Matanza" Mambi, who is his mentor. He has performed on stages worldwide including Amsterdam, Bermuda, Japan and in several American and Canadian cities. Manuel's vision is to create dance awareness. At DSantos Dance School dance is not just dance, it is a form of expression, an art, a passion, and a lifestyle.
	Edwin Rivera Edwin Rivera is one of the most popular salsa superstars in the world’s salsa scene. Edwin of Puerto Rican origin was born & raised in the Bronx, New York. Now residing in Los Angeles, Edwin is one of the most popular Latino dancers in the world, especially after starring as Roberto Roena/Cheetah Solo Dancer in the movie “El Cantante” with Salsa superstar Marc Anthony and actress Jennifer Lopez.
	Emily Alabi Emily Alabi is from San Francisco, CA, and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. She is and has been a part of one of the hottest Pro-couples on the International circuit, a 9- time National and International Salsa Dance Champion and she, along with her dancer partner Junior are currently the youngest internationally traveling couple. She is indeed, one of the best salsa dancers in the world.
	Junior Alabi Junior Alabi is from San Francisco, CA, and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. He is and has been a part of one of the hottest Pro-couples on the International circuit, a 9- time National and International Salsa Dance Champion and he, along with his dancer partner Emily are currently the youngest internationally traveling couple.
	Serena Cuevas Starting in New York City, Serena has been dancing Ballroom & Latin club dances for 16 years. Over the years, Serena has competed in some of the most prestigious competitions including ESPN World Salsa Championships, World Latin Dance Cup and World Mayan Bachata Competition. She has performed and taught in over 40 cities around the world. Today Serena is based in San Diego, California and directs Deseo Dance; an Exclusive Ladies Styling company.
	Las Bomberas de la Bahia Las Bomberas de la Bahia was founded in November 2007 and is the San Francisco Bay Area’s first & only all-women's Bomba ensemble. The group is composed of Bay Area activists, educators, and artists who actively contribute to growing the tradition of Bomba and work to maintain & support Puerto Rico’s oldest African influenced music and dance tradition, which formed in Puerto Rico's sugar cane plantations by slaves as a form of resistance. Las Bomberas de la Bahia have performed throughout California for educational institutions, cultural centers, and cultural festivals. www.bomberasdelabahia.com
	Norka Nadal Norka Nadal, director of the group Bámbula is a scion of one of the great bomba families of the region of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Norka is a percussionist, singer, dancer and specialist in the instruction of Mayaguez style Bomba and Plena; and is the only female that does this in New York City. She is the founder of the Women’s Bomba Jam Sessions and when she’s not on stage, Norka works behind the scenes as a choreographer in independent projects; she also leads percussion, dance and singing workshops at some of the NYC public schools. Currently aside from her group Bámbula, Norka is the lead vocalist for the Afro Caribbean group Ilu Aye which plays Afro music from Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico.
	Boricuas de Hawaii Boricuas de Hawaii is the only Puerto Rican Folklore Dance Group on the island of Oahu. This group presents the lively Seis Chorreao, Bomba and Plena dances. Boricuas de Hawaii strives to perpetuate the history and culture of the Puerto Ricans who migrated to Hawaii in the early 1900's. The Director, Kathy Montalbo-Marzan is a third generation Puerto Rican born and raised in Hawaii, who has been dancing and teaching for many years.
	Albert Torres New this Year! Albert Torres will be offering a HISTORY OF SALSA workshop. Not to be missed! Albert Torres is the world's premier producer of live Salsa Music and Dance events. His passion for Salsa has been an inspiration to a countless number of people from all walks of life and his continuous efforts to globalize Salsa have made a major impact on the preservation and accessibility of both Salsa Music and Salsa Dance around the world. Founded in 1992, Albert Torres Productions Inc. (ATP) has created and co-produced over three hundred and fifty spectacular Salsa Dance Events known as SALSA CONGRESSES all over the world. To learn more about Albert Torres and his events, please visit www.alberttorresevents.com

Confirmed Dancers & Performers for 2011

Ahtoy WonPat-Borja - New York
Ben “El Bachatico” - Costa Rica/Hawaii
Boricuas de Hawaii - Hawaii
Carlos Chang & Elisabeth Larson - Hawaii
Charlotte & Edwin Bugarin - Hawaii
Charito Rivera - Hawaii
Edwin Rivera - Los Angeles
Emily & Junior Alabi - Los Angeles
George Garcia, Tango - Hawaii
"Greg Henry's" Hawaii Salsa Kids - Hawaii
Herman Olivera - Florida
Hot Salsa Dance Company Dancers -Hawaii
Jerome L. Mester - Hawaii
KeKaiulu Hula Studio - Hawaii
Las Bomberas de la Bahia - San Francisco
Manuel Dos Santos - Toronto, Ontario
Norka Nadal - Puerto Rico/NY
Noelani Hernandez - Hawaii
Phillip & Kimberly - Hawaii
Serena Cuevas - San Diego, CA
The Son Caribe Band - Hawaii

DJ Franky Villalobos - Puerto Rico
DJ Chino - Miami
DJ DaLion of Judah - Hawaii
El Control DJ Jose - Hawaii

Local Artists:

• Madalene Aponte: With over 22 years of experience as a fitness professional Madalene has dedicated her life to bring health, dance and fitness to all. Madalene was an olympic Tae-kwondo athlete and traveled the world competing for Puerto Rico’s womens team. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a BA in Exercise Physiology and Theatre Performance.
  Diana Walton: a professional Salsa dancer, group exercise Instructor, Zumba Instructor and Make-up Artist. A mother of two, proud army wife and A breast cancer survivor Diana inspires all to do their best and stay healthy and happy!
• Angel Arcangel has been dancing since 5 years old. She was trained in hip hop, jazz, ballet, ballroom and other forms of dancing. Her passion in dancing quickly transitioned into the art of Salsa and Choreography. She has trained with Eddie Torres and Santo Rico dancers in New York and has performed at Salsa Congresses in Hawaii and the mainland. Angel currently teaches at YMCA, Pan Pacific Ballroom, Dream to Dance Studio and choreographs for Beauty In Motion Dance Company.
• Ben “El Bachatico”
  Born and raised in Costa Rica, Ben “El Bachatico” began his dancing career in his home country nearly 8 years ago; shortly thereafter he moved to Hawaii, where he trained in salsa with Greg Henry for over a year. In 2008 he moved to New Mexico and began training and teaching salsa, bachata and Argentine tango at the prestigious Double Time Dance Studio. It was this “Club-Style Bachatango” that first got him his teaching and performing debut at Chicago Latin Street Salsa Congress in Summer of 2010. His classes have become a favorite among students of all levels, as he focuses on the fundamentals of leading, following and musicality, applying tango principles within the framework of bachata.
• After a year of becoming dance partners, Phillip and Kimberly have quickly become one of Hawaii’s next big latin dance acts. Combining prior training in mambo, ballet, hip hop, modern dance and ballroom, this couple has blended their talents to showcase fantastic latin dance pieces throughout the islands. Phillip and Kimberly have performed to a wide range of audiences, sharing their exciting dance performances to people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Noelani Hernandez is from Honolulu, Hawaii. Noe has been involved with the Hawaii Summer Salsa Festival since 2001. For 15 years her passion for Latin dance and music has taken her to train and perform in Hawaii, Los Angeles, Phillidephia and Puerto Rico.
  Her most memorable performance was dancing for the Queen of Salsa "Celia Cruz" in Hawaii 2002.
  
• Jerome L. Mester II
  Jerome began his journey in dance with music as his guide. His dedication to the relation of music to dance and the interpreter (the dancer) has demarcated him as a refined and melodic dancer. Jerome Mester challenges his students and partners with finding their own voice in the music and honing their skills to freely express themselves. Music is the pulse of his freedom and he loves to share that liberty with others through dance and its instruction.
• Charito Rivera is known respectively for integrating cultural dances into one whole captivating performance. She introduced the Hawaii BachaTahitian Ensemble to Hawaii and the Mainland in 2010. Charito is proficient in Bachata, Salsa, Merengue, Chachacha, Filipino Tango, "Binasuan" (Glass Dance), "Tinikling" (Bamboo Dance), Hula, and Tahitian.
• George Garcia
  George Garcia has been teaching and performing dance for more than thirty years. For the past twelve years, he has devoted his passion exclusively to the art of the Argentine Tango. George has studied with the tango world's finest master teachers and finds his inspiration from teaching his students. He teaches and performs at various tango events in the USA and abroad and was a featured performer in the 2006 and 2007 Tango Libertad Show in Tokyo, Japan, also serving as a judge of the World Tango Festival competitions. George is the founder of Hawaii's Argentine Tango community. In Honolulu, he presents his innovative Argentine Tango Boot Camps, runs weekly classes, gives workshops, private lessons and organizes workshops with visiting celebrity instructors.
• Carlos Chang
  Carlos Chang was born in Peru and raised in Vancouver, Canada where he began his training in the art of International Latin Dancesport. Dancing for only 10 years, he is a former Canadian Latin Champion and a Canadian Representative to the World Latin Championships. He has traveled the world competing and performing throughout North America, Asia, Australia and Europe.
• DJ Da Lion of Judah is a dancers DJ. He has been a Salsa Instructor for 10 years and an International Salsa Competitor and Performer for six of those years. He was the promoter and head DJ at Zanzabar Tuesday nights from 2002-2008. Judah is known for his LATIN music knowledge, and has DJ'ed on LA's "Latino 96.3" Radio station and Las Vegas' "La Calle" radio. Presently he is resident DJ at Che Pastas Ritmo Latino and Indigos Salsa after Hours. He is licking his chops to DJ for the talented dancers coming from abroad.
• Franky Villalobos has been DJ’ing since he was 15 years old in his hometown of Mayguez, Puerto Rico. He has been playing Latin music for the Honolulu scene since 1991 and is known for DJ'ing at KQMQ, Eurasia Night club, Panama Hatties and many other special events over the years. He was also the MC for numerous events including the Mini Fania All Star Concert.