The Nashville Salsa Machine is a twelve-piece salsa band which will feature the vocal talents of three of Nashville’s most dynamic and powerful singers – Marcela Pinilla, Rachel Rodriguez and Alison Brazil! Led by saxophonist/musical director Rahsaan Barber, The Nashville Salsa Machine is compised of Nashville’s most accomplished instrumentalists and features a repertoire that not only showcases the rich musical legacy of tradtiional salsa, but also brings new audiences to the genre with performances of contemporary Latin hits and new arrangements of universally-loved songs by artists ranging from Sting to Stevie Wonder....

Champion salsa dancer (RaymondPacheco) turned DJ for the love of Latin music with an ultimate goal of sharing my love of this amazing music with the world! "I am a Champion salsa dancer turned DJ for the love of Latin music with an ultimate goal of sharing my love of this amazing music with the world! I DJ every genre of music but my main focus is on salsa, Batchata, Kizomba, but I also DJ hip hop, pop, EDM and much more!"...

DJ Oso is quickly becoming a Salsa & Bachata DJ sensation!  Hailing from Orlando, DJ Oso has deejayed at the Tampa Salsa Bachata Festival and on the Aventura Dance Cruise.  ...

DJ Pablo is one of the founding fathers of organizing salsa events in the Nashville community.  He began hosting Funtopia Salsa events at various locations in 2005.  He dedicated every weekend to deejaying salsa for almost a decade.  Now, he enjoys helping out the various organizers who have followed his awesome example.   ...

DJ Alex, aka Alejandro Vicencio, hails from Mexico and has been active in the Nashville Salsa dance scene since 2005, when he joined the first Casino Rueda Salsa team in Nashville--Salseros de todo el mundo, which later became Music City Salsa. Alex competed in the 2008 Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami, FL.  Since then, he has grown into a music lover and regulary deejays in Nashville's hot Latin dance spots. ...

Jacob Heiss website DJ Jacob Heiss is Chicago's leading Kizomba and Zouk DJ.  DJ Jacob retired from his day job in 2016 and has been on the DJ road ever since.   ...

Raymond (18 years old) & Jenalyn (15 years old), 3x World Salsa Champions, Miami (2) & Las Vegas. Taught by Vanesa Stay from Latin Energy in Toronto. COMPETITIONS & AWARDS World Latin Dance Cup - SalsaOn2 Amateur ChampionsInternational Hustle & Salsa Competition 1st Place (7 Divisions against Adults) OrlandoWorld Latin Dance Cup - Junior Salsa Division 1st Place World Junior Champions Las VegasLatin Energy Gala & World Cup Qualifier 1st Place (Against Adults) TorontoIHSC Competition 1st Place (8 Divisions) OrlandoToronto Salsa Festival 1st Place (Against Adults) TorontoFalls Premiere Ball 1st, 1st, 3rd Place NiagaraWorld Latin Dance Cup - Adult Amateur Division 1st (Cha Cha), 3rd (World Amateur) San DiegoTriple Threat Dance Competition Judges Choice Award TorontoMontreal Salsa Festival Adult Competition 1st Place (Against Adults) MontrealArts Acclaim Award (City of Brampton) Mayor’s Award BramptonCrystal Leaf Ballroom Competition (Salsa) 1st Place (5 Division...

Jean Franco Vergaray A proud native of Lima, Peru, Jean Franco is a well-known salsa dancer, choreographer, performer and instructor.  He performs and teaches nationally and internationally including destinations such as Lima, San Diego, Boston, D.C., Philadelphia, Miami, Nashville, etc. Jean Franco is currently a resident teacher at Sol Dance Center in Astoria, Queens, New York. Jean Franco's dance milestones include beginning to salsa dance at the wee age of 18 with the Mambo Bravo Latin Dance Company, graduating to the professional team under the direction of Ruby Espinosa; and only eight years after taking his first salsa steps, Jean Franco has spread his dance passion worldwide several times over with many wonderful teams, partners and as a solo artist. ~Awards & Competitions~ World Salsa Summit 2013-Same Gender Male Couple-3rd Place  ...

Franklin Liranzo's website Franklin Liranzo is a Latin dancer and professional photographer based in New York City. His formal training in dance dates back to 2008, when he joined Mambo Bravo Latin Dance Studio. In 2011, Franklin founded his own professional team, Los Divos, and they performed and competed throughout the United States. Franklin is the reigning US Male Solo Champion 2016, as well as the 2016 Canada Salsa Congress Bachata and Cha Cha Champion with partner Monique Richards.  He also competes professionally with Lucia Jimenez from Costa Rica.  As an accomplished photographer, Franklin has worked nationally and internationally at dance congresses as well as with famous companies such as Ann Taylor, Victoria Secrets, and Burju Shoes. Franklin is currently pursuing his Masters degree in Digital Photography at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. COMPETITION TITLES US Male Solo Champion 2016-1st Place Canada Salsa Congress 2016-Bachata Couples-1st Place ...

Fernando Palacios is an instructor, performer, and choreographer based in New York City who has trained under such talented pioneers of the salsa community such as Eddie Torres and Griselle Ponce. In the 10 years of his dance career, he has performed with and helped direct various dance companies throughout New York City. He has been featured on the television shows "Quiero Ser Estrella" (Telefutura) and "Despierta America" (Univision), and performed with legendary salsa musicians such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jose Alberto “El Canario," and Tito Nieves, among others. He is known not only for his skill as a social dancer and incredible stage presence, but also for his charisma, passion, and humility....

Melanie Castillo's website ***Melanie Castillo*** Melanie Castillo, a native New Yorker, is known for her powerful footwork styling and her electrifying presence on the dance floor. Being half Puerto Rican and half Dominican, music and dance have been always present. Beginning at only five years old, Melanie has formally trained all her life.  She incorporates ballet, jazz, tap, and other forms of dance. In 2011, Melanie and Elvis Collado teamed up and worked with Tito and Tamara, and Billy Fajardo. During that same year Melanie co-founded Las Damas and began working with Ismael Otero and Caribbean Soul. Melanie was also head instructor and choreographer at the Salsa Sensation Dance Studio in Long Island, NY.  ***Elvis Collado*** Elvis is the reigning World Salsa Summit Just Salsa Champion 2016 with competitive partner, Brianna Rios. They are also the 2nd Place WSS 2016 Just Hustle champs.  He travels worldwide teaching, perfo...

As founder of the Wisconsin Salsa Open, Co-Director of Salsabrosa and Las Salsabrositas young ladies' Salsa & Samba styling team, Daniel Balderas knows how to make hard work fun! Las Salsabrositas are between ages 4 and 15 and recently won "Best in Show" at the Chicago International Salsa Congress....

Bembe Cincinnati Jeff Link's Latin dance passion began in 2007 when a Dominican pushed Jeff into Bachata and Merengue.  Then, he met Duane Wrenn of Energentic Soul in Detroit, MI and that's when his passion for Cuban Salsa took over. From then, Jeff Link has blossomed through studying with Juan Mejia, dancing all over Atlanta, GA and Austin, TX (Move Dance Company), and finally landing in Cincinnatti.   Jeff Link teaches Cuban dancing full-time in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas. "Very few things make you forget about anything else that is going on in your life while doing it, and dancing is one of them. I love that feeling of a dance when everyone else disappears and it's just you two on the floor. That's when I am most happy," says Jeff.   You can find Jeff out dancing almost every night. If you see him, say hello!...

Cuban Salsa Cincinnati Robert specializes in Cuban dances, but teaches all latin dances. Robert’s 13-year dance & 6-year teaching background includes Salsa Casino, Salsa LA On1, Salsa NY On2, Son, Bachata, Merengue, Chachacha, Cabaret, Tango, Kizomba & Ballroom. Few instructors have even taught & performed all styles of salsa. From this wide variety of study, he has learned and shares with his students principles fundamental to all dances. Robert has trained & performed salsa casino, salsa rueda, salsa On1 & On2, and bachata with a variety of teams including: Cincinnati’s Salsa Underground (On1, On2), Salsannati (On2), and Columbus’s Club Tropicale (Rueda De Casino). Currently Robert performs with The Atrevidos (On1, Bachata, & Cabaret) and is the director and choreographer for Cuban Salsa Cincinnati and its performance team Casino Reál. Book a lesson with Robert if you want to really understand Cuban dance, lead & follow technique,...

Francisco Nacion is originally from the Dutch island of St. Maarten and grew up in Long Island, New York.  He was a member and team captain of Alfred Pena's Rythmology Dance Team. He has performed at the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Salsa Congresses.  Francisco has the ability to entice the beginner and the advanced dancer simultaneously with his elegant style and knack for breaking down great moves that people can easily remember. Francisco's leadership in the Nashville salsa scene is extensive.  Francisco has hosted Free Salsa at Salsa Restaurant on Tuesdays for the last two years.  He re-ignited the Music City Salsa team with his awesome choreography, which became the basis of the team's qualification to compete in the 2014 World Latin Dance Cup in San Diego and then Miami.   He and his wife, Sue Helleee, support their own bachata team, the Sisco Dance Team. Francisco's dance passion has grown into the Bachata Rueda niche, which has captured the he...

Lucas Latin Dance Company Kendra Lucas is Nashville's leading lady in Casino Rueda Salsa.  She began her dance education while training as a professional figure skater. In 2007, Kendra fell in love with Casino Rueda, began attending congresses nationwide, and has since shared her rueda passion as an instructor at multiple congresses throughout the southeast.  Kendra's team, Nashville Rueda, is a Nashville staple.  She hosts bimonthly salsa socials at Bar 404 and teaches weekly at Miss Fit Academy.  Check her out at Lucas Latin Dance Company.   ...