Liethis Hechavarria - First Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer. Originally from Santiago De Cuba, Ms. Hechavarria received her early training as a dancer from her parents, dancers Danys “La Mora” Perez Prades director of Oyu Oro Afro Cuban experimental ensemble in New York City and Sergio Hechavarria Gallardo director of Folklorico de Oriente, and Chuck Davis at Alvin Ailey American dance center. At a age 6, she was a member of Adiro Omode (Corazon de Niño) in Santiago de Cuba. She also attended Escuela Nacional de Danza Moderna de Santiago de Cuba.

Michael "Michelito" Herrera is the former Musical Director of the world-acclaimed Cuban folkloric dance group Yoruba Andabo. Alongside General Director Yosvany del Pino, Miguel led Yoruba Andabo for four years, in which he managed the musical arrangements, vocal and musical instrument performances, as well as the artistic dance repertoire of an exceedingly-talented group of dancers and musicians. A self-taught dancer and musician, Miguel has been deeply immersed in Cuban folkloric dance and performance since he was six years old, performing in child dance ensembles. A native of La Habana, Cuba, he has shared the world stage with some of Cuba's and Latin America's most prominent musicians and artists, including Chucho Valdes, Juan Formell & Los Van Van, Oscar de Leon, Xiomara Laugart from Yerba Buena, Calle 13 and Juanes in stages all over the globe, including the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Brazil and Cuba. Most recently, Miguel performed with Yoruba Andabo and Chucho Valdes at Carnegie Hall in New York City in November of 2012.

Michael currently resides in Miami, Florida, and is the director of the Cuban orchestra Timbashe, an ensemble of musicians that fuse Cuban funk music, timba with many AfroCuban rhythms that normally do not get blended in with more mainstream Cuban popular music, such as Timba with Mozambique and Changui. Miguel holds vocal and percussion duties in Timbashe, and the group is composed of former members of Yoruba Andabo.

Miguel's dance and musical expertise in his workshops spans from teaching students methods and techniques in the Bata drums, Rumba, Abakua dances, Columbia, and Tambor Yuca.

ROBERTO BORRELL Musician - Dancer - Teacher

Thirty-five years of performing and instructing Afro-Cuban Folkloric Dance and Cuban Popular Dance has enabled Roberto Borrell to develop a unique and entertaining style of teaching.

At a time when elegance and style counted for everything Roberto Borrell turned the nights on fire dancing to the intricate rhythms of great Cuban performers such as Chappottin, Orquesta Aragon and Neno Gonzalez. He learned to dance during the heyday of the legendary Havana Social Clubs. Perfecting what is known as Cuban Popular Dance, Roberto became a master of Danzon, Son, Son-Montuno, Guaracha and the Cha-Cha-Cha.

When Roberto was 18 he was noticed by Cuba's Conjunto Folklorico Nacional and asked to join the celebrated performance group. In a trial by-fire situation he was schooled in the traditional Orisha songs, dances and rhythms by the most renowned Afro-Cuban folkloric dancers and percussionists of the time. His innate talent and facility for learning allowed him to start performing with the group immediately.

As Roberto continued to develop his performance skills he began to cultivate his abilities as a choreographer and musical director. Starting as the orchestra leader for his own group in Cuba , Union Cienfueguera, through to his highly successful San Francisco based orchestra, Moderna Tradcion, he continued to direct musical groups and shows for over 30 years.

By the time Roberto left Cuba he had developed a wealth of knowledge and a diverse mastery of Cuban music and dance which also included dancing Rumba en la calle, excelling in playing the Bata for Tambores (Yoruba religious ceremonies), choreographing for Carnival and performing on the National Stage.

In order to get the highly tuned performances that he required for his shows, Roberto began to train the dancers and musicians himself. Once in New York, Roberto focused his energy on teaching. With an authentic historic perspective, he worked on creating a meticulous method of teaching that combines music and dance with the evolution of Cuba's musical history. He teaches his students how to listen; one of the most valuable skills that a dancer can have. Along with a surplus of charm and charisma, Roberto has a generosity of spirit that transpires and inspires all of his students.

From a student in Cuba's pre-revolutionary dance halls to a prolific performer of Afro-Cuban dance and percussion, Roberto is able to harness the eros of the stage and direct it towards the world of teaching. If authenticity, raw talent and compassion are what you are looking for, Roberto Borrell is the teacher for you.

Sidney Weaverling is co-director and co-founder of Rueda Con Ritmo. She first studied dance as a teenager, and after several trips to Cuba she began teaching Salsa and Rueda in 1999. She is a longtime contributor to the currently thriving Cuban Salsa scene in the SF Bay Area, and has taught and performed across the United States and internationally. As a former student of theater and film, Sidney is a talented director with a keen aesthetic vision. A natural dancer and a thorough teacher, Sidney not only has a beautiful and fluid style of movement - she has the teaching experience and attention to detail that enable her to effectively and efficiently transform and inspire dancers at any level.

Ryan Mead is co-director and co-founder of Rueda Con Ritmo. Ryan has been teaching Cuban Salsa since 2005, and to date he has taught and performed across the United States, and internationally in Cuba, Mexico, Canada, and New Zealand. Besides being a dancer, Ryan is also a percussionist (he began playing at age 8) - he is an alumnus of the New England Conservatory and has taken several trips to Cuba to study both dance and music (once from a grant from Stanford). As both dancer and musician, Ryan is uniquely positioned to illuminate the inextricable connection between dance and music. Aside from his creativity as a choreographer, he is perhaps best known by lovers of Cuban dance and music for innovating a vocabulary of rhythmic calls and steps to aid dancers in the understanding and interpretation of Cuban music.

Kati Hernandez brings to the to the United States her humble, yet explosive and uplifting energy. Kati's knowledge of dance and choreography reveals her intricate and versatile style, making her a highly sought-after performer, nationally and internationally.

A native of Cuba, Kati grew up surrounded by the sounds of the drum and the Afro-Cuban tradition. Her dance studies included folkloric, popular, modern, ballet, choreography, composition and staging. Her earlier performances include the Havana International Jazz Festival with Cuban stars such as Bobby Carcases and Chucho Valdez and the Bienal Internacional de la Habana with Afro-Cuban music and performance icon Mercedita Valdez and visual artist Manuel Mendive.

Kati's international journey began where she went to Spain to tour with the well-known orchestra Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco soon after graduating from Art School in Cuban (en la especialidad de Danza). Kati's fiery, refined style awarded her the invitation to tour Internationally with several Cuban music and dance productions throughout Portugal, the Bahamas and Costa Rica, where she later resided for five years. This gave her the opportunity to refine her talents in teaching and choreographing dance, and to expand her range as an actor and dancer/choreographer for television. Kati also volunteered her time and skills teaching dance to children and young women in impoverished communities throughout Central America, empowering them to use dance as a medium for expressing emotions, experiences, hopes and dreams.

Following her extensive travels, Kati moved to the United States. In California she taken on the responsibility to teach and cultivate Afro-Cuban culture by producing regular events and workshops that create a community that bridges dance and music across cultures. She is the co-founder of KimBamBula Production which produced the annual "Essence of Cuba", a paramount reunion of Afro-Cuban masters in Los Angeles including members of the renowned group Los Muñequitos de Matanzas with California's finest Cuban folkloric masters. Kati recently created one of her dream projects, "Isupo Irawo", an ensemble of Legendary Afro-Cuban masters from around the world. This group features Maestro Lázaro Galarraga, one of founding members of the Conjunto Folklorico de Cuba, who has been a lifelong inspiration to Kati, and recently a mentor to her development. Their most recent performances include the Esalen International Music and Dance Festival and the opening act for the world-renowned Brazilian jazz percussionist Airto Moreira at Avila Beach, CA.

Kati's other accomplishments in Los Angeles include: The Ford Amphitheater popular Cuban music production of "La Charanga Cubana" , "Tropicana in Hollywood" where she was a choreographer, costume design advisor and production coordinator; the dance installation "Fire"directed by Judith Davis and presented at Pomona College; UCLA's film project, "Raiz" and choreographed for the Santa Monica College dance company Global Motion In addition, She is praised for her tribute piece to legendary Afro-Cuban master percussionist Francisco Aguabella at Esalen in Big Sur, CA.

Kati guest teaches dance classes and lecture at several colleges and universities and dance studios in the country including the University of California, Irvine, University of Oregon, Eugene. She continues to tour, bringing her flavorful Afro-Cuban dynamite to national Afro-Cuban folkloric and salsa dance conferences. Currently, Kati is the artistic director and choreographer of her own community-based, Afro-Cuban dance and music experimental project, Afro-Cuban/ Casino (cuban salsa) "KimBambula" and “Pa’ La Orilla”. Eager to spread the roots of Cuban Dance, she is now the co-founder of Afro-Timba, a dance fitness program that she is currently touring nationwide along with her own training dance Programs “Oricha Therapy,” “Kati’s Cuban dance Map” & “Afro-Cuban 4 Mambo”. Kati is known for her unique teaching techniques, her vibrant energy and flavor on the dance floor. Her work is a true illustration of her heritage and an endless celebration of Cuban dance and music.

Duane Wrenn was born to dance. Learning salsa at 26 years young, Duane quickly excelled to be considered one of the top dancers and instructors of Afro-Cuban Salsa in the Midwest. His dance background ranges from Cuban Rumba, Son, Capoeira to break dancing and hip hop.

He is a fitness consultant and instructor of dancing to Cuban rhythms. Duane founded the company Energetic Soul in 2000 and since then has developed three programs that focus on the art of dancing as a conversation. He has also co-developed two other unique programs - AFRO-tImBa with Kati Hernandez and SoulChiSa with Dr. Jeya Aerenson. Each of the five programs are designed to teach general and specialized audiences salsa dancing and how to utilize what they are learning as a vehicle to add spice to their daily life on and off of the dance floor.

Born in New Orleans, Duane currently resides in the Detroit, Michigan, where he hosts workshops and teaches group classes. His hobbies are writing, foot massage and looking for top destinations to listen and dance to Cuban music.

Juan Carlos Blanco Riera was born and raised in Havana, Cuba where he became a Master Afro-Cuban Artist in Dance & Music. He has been teaching Afro-Cuban music and dance in San Diego since 1997. His performance career began as a youth with the folkloric arts company, Cumballe, and Oba Ilú, in his hometown of Guanabacoa, which also happens to be the epicenter of Afro-Cuban folklore. He was recruited and later directed by Juan De Dios Ramos Morejon, in one of Cuba's most renowned folkloric companies, Raices Profundas (Deep Roots). He spent 9 years with Raices Profundas during which time he rose to the level of lead male dancer and soloist, touring Latin America and Asia. His professional artistic experiences led him to the theatre where he worked in productions with various companies including Teatro de la Habana. He danced, acted and choreographed for Arte Popular, directed by Tito Junco. Juan Carlos was a dancer for the innovative modern dance company, Alabama. He also spent several years as percussionist and instructor of Afro-Cuban dance with the Franco-Haitian company Ban Rra Rrá, directed by Isaias Rojas Ramirez. He was charged with the responsibility of training professional Cuban dancers and educating foreign students through the Instituto Superior de Arte and the Escuela Nacional de Arte. He was also artistic director of Afro-Cuban folkloric ensemble, Arawe until coming to the United States.

Juan Carlos came to the United States in 1997 and has been an integral force in founding our Cuban music and dance community in San Diego ever since by consistently promoting this rich culture via classes, events and performances for the community. Planting seeds wherever he goes, he also taught one of San Diego County's very first Rueda de Casino workshops in North County in 1997. Blanco has been featured in various Afro-Cuban productions throughout California as dancer and guest choreographer for groups including Olorun, Alafia, and Taifa among others. In 1998 he founded the San Diego-based Afro-Cuban folkloric ensemble, Omo Aché, which performs in schools, universities, and multi-cultural venues throughout California. He has taught Afro-Cuban Percussion & Dance to youth and adults, K-8, High School, Universities and Community Colleges throughout the United States and internationally. He's taught at various institutions in California including UCLA, UCSD, Palomar College, Grossmont College, Cal State San Marcos and Humboldt State University. He has traveled throughout the United States teaching Master workshops in the states of Michigan, Arizona, Maryland, Oregon, Illinois, Ohio and California.

He created the event, Noche Cubana, to celebrate with the commUnity a lo Cubano and continue spreading the love and appreciation for Cuban music & dance from its African roots to its most contemporary urban expressions. To this day, Noche Cubana, is San Diego's biggest and funnest Cuban music & dance party, always featuring live performances and authentic Cuban sabor (flavor). He currently continues teaching Drum & Dance Class Series, workshops and regular weekly classes . Check out his weekly schedule or upcoming classes/events at omoachecubanculture.org Juan Carlos is proud to be a cultural ambassador through teaching, performing and creating out of the love, passion and respect for his culture and a great desire to share it with the commUnity and world.

Mike Eskeldson is the fearless leader of Rumbanana Salsa Group, a Rueda de Casino team headquartered in Corvallis, Oregon. He loves to share his addiction of Cuban music and dance and to continuously seek out new information, resources, and music. Mike has been spreading his love of Cuban salsa across the United States as well as in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. He co-started Rumbanana Salsa Group in 2006 as a way to promote Cuban dancing and music in the Pacific Northwest. He has been dancing, performing, choreographing, and teaching Casino and Rueda for over fifteen years and has brought Casino and Rueda to thousands of people around the world.

Mike’s teaching ranges from small classes to over 100-person workshops. Not only are his workshops and classes filled with meaningful information, but he has a knack for making this dance fun and exciting to learn. Teaching venues have included Mike’s own classes in Corvallis, as well as workshops at national events, such as the San Francisco Salsa Rueda Festival, Rose City Salsa Festival, Houston Salsa Congress, Palm Springs Salsa Congress, Chicago International Salsa Congress, Philadelphia Salsa Congress, Honolulu Salsathon, Summer Salsa Extravaganza in Palm Springs, NW Salsa Congress, and many others. Mike is available for performances, workshops, and special events.

Wilfredo Guilbiac Rodriguez is a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher with a degree from Escuela de Artes Varietur in Havana, Cuba. While there, he specialized in Afro-Cuban technique, modern dance, and Cuban popular styles and worked with some of the country’s most important names in these fields.

International performances and teaching gigs at dance festivals have taken him to Germany, France, Curacao, Mexico and all over the US. Wilfredo was also selected as a judge in the first annual World Latin Dance Cup with producer Albert Torres. Currently he teaches classes in San Diego and is the artistic director of La Tribu dance group.

Reinier Fernandez Armesto, born in Cuba and currently lives in Mexico. Co-director of CMV Con Ritmo, widely recognized internationally since 2005.

Is co-founder and co-director of the internacional salsa event Casino Mayan Congress in Cancun, the largest event in Mexico of its type.

Reinier has taught workshops at many international events in Miami, Vancouver, Venezuela, Estados Unidos and Mexico.

He has maintain the title of National Champion of Rueda de Casino since 2009 in Mexico and has received other important condecorations in competitions in Miami and Cuba.

He has also participated with his dance company CMV con Ritmo in multiple international events (Germany, Canada, USA, Cuba and Venezuela,) always representing his Cuban heritage.

Español Nacido en Cuba y con residencia en Mexico, Co-Director de la Compañia de Baile CMV CON RITMO, reconocida a nivel nacional e internacional y fundada en el 2005.

Uno de los fundadores y organizadores del Congreso Internacional SALSA CASINO MAYAN CONGRESS CANCUN, el mayor de su tipo en Mexico.

Ha sido invitado a impartir talleres y conferencias en diferentes Congresos organizados en ciudades como Miami, Munich, Vancouver, Caracas, Mexico DF, San Francisco y diversas ciudades de Mexico.

Desde el 2009 ha sido 1er. Lugar con su Compañía de Baile en todas las competencias en que ha participado en la modalidad de Rueda de Casino y varios lugares obtenidos en la modalidad de Pareja como 3er. LUGAR en el congreso de MIAMI 2006, 1er. lugar MEXICO 2008, 1er. lugar CUBA 2008.

Con su Compañía de Baile CMV CON RITMO, ha participado en diferentes eventos nacionales e internacionales mostrando lo que se hace en Mexico con las raíces de la cultura cubana por ejemplo en Munich, Vancouver, Miami, Cuba y Venezuela.

Dedicado al 100% al desarrollo y expansión de la cultura cubana por Mexico y el mundo, ahora lo tendremos con nosotros en nuestro Festival a realizarse del 7 al 10 de junio en Atlanta, Estados Unidos.

Maritza Baida, Rueda de Casino Instructor and Director of Baila Cubano San Diego, Inc. From the tender age of 5 years old, Maritza has been a set of happy feet dancing to a variety world dances from Broadway tap, Rhythm tap, Jazz, Ballet, modern dance, hip hop, Hawaiian Hula, Mexican Ballet Folkorico, Flamenco, Belly-dancing, East Indian Banghra, Brazilian samba to LA style salsa but her passion and love is in Cuban dances of all kinds. While she may be a US-born Latina of Honduran-Ecuadorian heritage, she has been exposed to the Cuban style salsa since 1998 and developed her skills more since 2003.

Having studied under many Cuban dance masters over the past 8 years, she has taught rueda de casino in dance studios in Tacoma and Seattle. Her strength is developing beginner dancers in learning rueda and organizing dance events so everyone can dance and learn. In 2011, she moved to San Diego and on her own and with support from other San Diego instructors, she has been building an ever-growing Cuban dance community. Maritza performed in amateur and semi professional Cuban dance teams for congresses in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Vancouver BC, Palm Springs and in local events in San Diego. Networked with all the Cuban dance instructors in San Diego and beyond, she has been an avid advocate to promote, preserve and practice Cuban dancing and keeping the Cuban music alive in San Diego.

In 2011, she created a blog to bring all Cuban dance and music events into one news-feed for San Diegans as well as for the world traveler looking for a Cuban dance/music outlet in San Diego. Maritza earned her Masters in Counseling with an emphasis in Student Development in Higher Education and has worked in higher education for over 20 years. Currently working at the California State University San Marcos as an Academic Advisor by day and then teaching rueda de casino by night. She brings her love of developing students and teaching skills together to create a fun and welcoming environment to learn this infectiously happy dance called Rueda de Casino.

Check out her blog at www.sandiegorueda.com where she hosts and promotes a Cuban dance parties at the beach each month.

Tim Snedeker has over 20 years of dancing experience. He began his journey dancing linear LA style for about four years prior to discovering Cuban Salsa. Tim has experience in all the Latin Genres including cha cha cha, bachata, and rumba. Tim was first introduced to Casino Rueda while studying abroad in Spain where he found a new passion for dance and teaching. Upon returning to the states he began teaching students at a high school allowing him to continue his own personal development as well as grow a community in North County San Diego. In 2002 Tim connected with Eric Johnson and became part of his performance team, Rueda San Diego, where he learned to evolve from the linear style into more authentic Cuban patterns for nearly a decade. After Eric relocated to San Francisco, Tim was called upon to lead the group continuing the presence of rueda de casino in San Diego.

In 2010 Tim created his own performance team called “enRuédame Mas”. They perform throughout San Diego as well at the San Francisco Rueda festival. Tim continues his own personal development and growth by attending workshops. In 2015 he traveled to Cuba with Rueda con Ritmo, where he had an opportunity to perform with the rueda all stars at the holguin festival. Tim continues to be a leader in the Cuban Salsa community in North County SD by teaching classes three times a week and hosting dance socials at the beach.

Robert Morales was born in New York City and at the age of 13 his family moved to Puerto Rico where he lived for 20 years listening to Salsa Tropical and Mambo. He was introduced to Cuban salsa and Rueda de Casino in 2000 when he moved to Orlando, Florida. Robert has traveled abroad to take intensive classes with many Rueda de Casino instructors. He also participated in Rueda de Casino performance groups such as Salsa Heat (Florida) and Rueda Madness (CA) where he met Laura Cristina.

Robert has a bachelor’s degree in business management and has 20 years of experience working in the corporate training and development field. He is currently studying eLearning and Instructional design which includes the application of Adult Learning Methodology…something he applies when teaching Rueda de Casino.

In 2012 Robert and Laura founded Rueda in the Park Santa Ana Chapter. They host weekly classes for the community. They also host several Cuban themed events in the community with the purpose of teaching, promoting and supporting Cuban music, musicians and dance instructors. They recently traveled to Habana, Cuba to take dance lessons with Cuban instructors, meet the founders of Rueda de Casino, and learn more about Cuban culture.