Saturday Night World Champion Show

Saturday, May 6th, 2017
8:00PM - 10:30PM

Millennium Maxwell House
Room - Grand Ballroom Central
2025 Rosa L Parks Blvd Nashville, TN 37228

World Champion dance performers have come from across the globe to WOW us! See the dance elite LIVE on stage! Guided by our lovely Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Jay Stylz! It will be a gorgeous celebration of dance, artistry, and charity. World class lighting, sound and production provided by Event Audio, Events Plus, and Billy Ramirez.

Dinner Show & Auction Schedule

7:30 Doors open.

8:00p Opening Act.

8:30p Show begins.

9:20p Intermission.

9:35p Show resumes.

10:30p Show ends.

It's PARTY time!

Saturday Show Line-up

1 Lola Monet - Afro-house
2 Luis Loredo & Cynthia Mendez - Zouk
3 Matthew Stewart & Mallory Evan - Paso Doble
4 Jenalyn & Raymond Pacheco - Salsa
5 Steve Ciki & Lady Maren - Semba Kizomba
6 Sylvia Sykes & Ramiro Gonzalez - Old Skool West Coast Swing
7 Rebecca Ludwick & Kris Swearingen - Classic West Coast Swing
8 Jean Franco Vergaray & Fernando Palacios - New York Mambo
9 Terri Atkinson & Olaniyi Gaiusboyade - Bachata
10 Salsabrositas - Salsa
11 Carolina & Diego - Tango

INTERMISSION - 15 MINUTES

12 Franklin Liranzo - Mambo
13 Cristi Boone & Clinton Lacerda - Zouk
14 Melanie y Su Candela - Hustle
15 Jhanelle Simpson & Tin Man Cleveland - Kizomba
16 Terri Atkinson & Atrevidos Dance Company - Bachata
17 Laura Keat & Nick Williams - Lindy Hop
18 Jeff Link & Bembe Cincinnati - Casino Rueda
19 Jorge Elizondo - Legend Talk - Bachata
20 Fausto Felix & Maria Ramos - Bachata
21 Melanie Castillo & Elvis Collado - Mambo
22 Lola Diaz & Fabian Salas - Tango
23 Jenalyn Pacheco & Luka Milacic - Ballroom Cabaret
24 Clyde Harris & Summer Elkin - Ballroom Cabaret

Pre Video

Featured Artists/Instructors

Jorge Elizondo

Bachata Fusion website Jorge Elizondo's Bachata Boot Camp tour includes 500 cities throughout North America and Europe, where he has taught tens of thousands of students. Jorge produced 35 instructional DVDs ranging from beginning Bachata to salsa, and his work has been sold in over 40 countries. Jorge's mission is to spread the love of bachata all over the world and encourage people to live a healthy, active lifestyle. Jorge's love of dance began in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, where the sounds of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the United States meet. In this unique environment, Jorge's training in music theory and Latin dance led him to create "Bachata Fusion," which combines original and popular turn patterns and body movements from traditional bachata, tango, cha cha, and salsa. For more information about Jorge Elizondo: *Cool Bachata article*Jorge's Podcast Jorge also suggests these Youtube videos: *Cool Bachata video 1 *Cool Bachata video 2...

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Terri Atkinson

Atrevidos Dance Company Terri Atkinson specializes in salsa and bachata styling. In 2011, Terri began ballroom teaching in Cincinnati and created Atrevidos Dance Company. Terri's Atrevidos has grown into three successful performance teams: Atrevidos Bachata Cabaret Pro Team, Atrevidos Bachata Student Team (aka Atreviditos), and Atrevidas Ladies Styling Team. Terri and her dance company perform and teach at various Latin dance events, festivals, and congresses all over the U.S. Terri was recently named America's Best Bachata Follow by the Mafia of Beats Congress Facebook Group. Other great Terri Youtube videos: Cool Terri dance video Another cool Terri dance video...

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Jay Stylz

Bachata for Dummies website “If it ain’t sexy, don’t do it!” Jay Stylz (from Texas) is one of the most popular Latin dance instructors in the US, and he has fast become the most sought-after emcee at salsa & bachata dance festivals all over the world. He is known for his smooth dance style and entertaining dance humor. Jay has helped hundreds of thousands of dancers learn through his teaching videos on his website, dfwsalsa.com, where he houses more than 20,000 lessons. ~Jay's instructional website for bachata: Bachata for Dummies ~Jay's website for salsa: DFW Salsa for Dummies ~Great Jay videos: Cool Jay video 1 Cool Jay video 2 ...

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Fausto and Maria

Fausto & Maria's website Fausto Felix & Maria Ramos are New York's fiercest bachata team! Fausto is the currently reigning 2-time World Champion for the World Salsa Summit's Team Division 2015 and 2016. He is also a 2-time World Champion in the World Latin Dance Cup's Just Salsa Division for 2014 and 2015. They began dancing together in 2014 and have since dazzled audiences with their high octane performances. Fausto and Maria both trained with the legendary Santo Rico Dance Company, eventually becoming a pair of their lead dancers. Maria, after Santo Rico, started her own wildly popular dance group as well: D'Cor Dance Company. In less than a year, her group has gained international recognition. In her early career, Maria performed as a back-up dancer for some of the world's biggest acts such as Shakira and Kanye West. She has also appeared in several commercials and on shows likes Saturday Night Live. Fausto and Maria have won numerous competitions individually, Fausto...

Clyde Harris and Summer Elkin

~Clyde Harris and Summer Elkin~ Clyde Harris is dedicated to Professional Ballroom and Latin Dance Competition for over 15 years now and teaches private lessons for World Champion Productions, where he is the Regional Dance Director. Clyde and Summer Black Elkin began competing in a category called Cabaret Exhibition or Theater Arts since April of 2013. Their style is highly influenced by Tony Lee and David Elkin. With Clyde's Theater background partnered with Summer’s strong ballet background make their dancing a very unique and impressive partnership. COMPETITION TITLES *2016 UCWDC World Cabaret Exhibition Champions 2016 *2x Triple Crown Rising Star Grand Champions *2x USDC National finalists for Open Theater Arts *2014 United States Rising Star Theater Arts Champions...

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Luka Wolf and Jenalyn Pacheco

Luka & Jenalyn, only 19 & 16 years old, are the youngest Professional Cabaret couple in North America and have been making waves in the ballroom world! COMPETITION TITLES 2016 Blackpool Exhibition Invitational Finalist2016 Michigan Dance Challenge (Professional Cabaret) 1st Place2015 World Amateur Cabaret Champions (Paris Worlds)2015 North American Imperial Show Dance Champions- Adult Division- Spring Tulip Festival of Dance2014 World Dutch Open Cabaret Champions 2014 North American Imperial Show Dance Champions- Youth Division - Spring Tulip Festival of Dance1st Place- La Classique du Quebec 20151st Place- Toronto Open Amateur Showdance1st Place- Crystal Leaf 2014- Toronto1st Place- Platinum Ballroom Competition 2014- Miami1st Place- World Summit 2014- Miami1st Place- Niagra Premier Falls Ball - Niagra ...

Steve Ciki and Lady Maren

Maren and Steve, aka MSKiz, are NY-based International Kizomba & Semba artists who always bring the heat to the dancefloor. After achieving national and international success in competition, they have returned home to build up the US talent in the Afro Rhythms social dance scene. ******* LADY MAREN *******Lady Maren has a background rich in Afro/Latin music and dance studies. She uses Kizomba & Semba performance and instruction as a part of a larger mission to reunite the different branches of the African Diaspora. ******* STEVE CIKI *******Originally from Guadeloupe, French Caribbean, Steve CIKI grew up listening to Zouk music. The 1st time he heard Kizomba, it felt like something he knew, something he grew up with… Indeed, it reminded him of his childhood in the Caribbean. Kizomba brings feelings of freedom, happiness, and sharing. Dancing Kizomba became a natural expression and a reflection of his lifestyle as a lover of Kizomba and its roots. COMPETITION TITL...

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Lola Monet

Lola Monet, "Queen Beatz," is the leading AfroHouse, Kizomba, Tarraxinha, Afro beatz, and Afro rhythms party stomper! She is the owner and founder of Rhythm & Beatz Dance Company in Los Angeles, California. Lola teaches and performs salsa, bachata, banda, chacha, merengue, cumbia, ballroom show dance, hip-hop, dancehall, kizomba, semba, afro and tarraxinha. Her primary emphasis is on loving oneself through self-expression in dance, rhythm, and the art of connection. Lola colloaborates with Roger Milan as her main dance partner. Lola Monet's dance rhythms stem from her parents' origins. Lola's father is Nigerian and her mother is white, black and Indian. Her dance studies began at four years old and when she was only six, she began performing on stage as a praise dancer at church and expanding her talents into modern, lyrical, cheer, and tumbling. At the age of 16, Lola received her first big gig as a hip-hop dancer for the Los Ange...

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Jhanelle and Tin Man

Jhanelle & Eugene "Tin Man" have taken the Urban Kizomba world by storm! As a fairly new partnership, they share more than 25 years of dance experience. Since partnering, the pair have taught and performed all across North America including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, New York, and Indianapolis, and Texas. ***Eugene "Tin Man" Cleveland*** Hailing from Rochester, New York, Eugene "Tin Man" Cleveland began his dance studies 17 years ago and has been most famous for breakdancing. His present passion is Urban Kizomba and he has been dancing that for over a year. ***Jhanelle Simpson*** Jhanelle Simpson is from Toronto, Canada and has performed many styles of dance over the past nine years, including salsa, bachata, and kizomba for the last three. ...

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Raymond and Jenalyn Pacheco

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

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 ...

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Franklin Liranzo

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 ...

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Melanie Castillo and Elvis Collado

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...

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Salsabrosa and Salsabrositas

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. At any given time, these young dynamos are ready to perform more than five different routines! They do routines with only children and also mix in adults. In 2016 alone, Daniel's teams performed and competed in the World Salsa Open in Puerto Rico, Chicago Salsa Congress and St. Louis Salsa Congress. Co-Director Jenn Sarda helps choreograph the all-girl teams....

Sylvia Sykes

Sylvia Sykes website Sylvia Sykes began dancing in 1966, competing in 1970, and teaching in 1979. She has studied with many of the dance greats, including Frankie Manning, Dean Collins, Maxie Dorf, and Willie Desatoff. Her extensive studies and travels have made her an expert on regional dance styles and she is known for her expertise in, and the preservation of the older forms of Swing dance. In addition, she is credited with helping to preserve the Balboa by introducing the dance World Wide. In 1985, Sylvia and Jonathan Bixby co-founded the Santa Barbara Swing Dance Club--a twice-monthly live-music dance club that they continue to run. She is still teaching her weekly classes that she started teaching in 1979, plus she teaches out of town over forty weekends per year. She is the most sought-after head judge in the modern Lindy Hop & Balboa dance scenes and is now part owner and head judge of the International Lindy Hop Championships. Her dance troupe ran for fifteen years, per...

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Ramiro Gonzalez

Ramiro's website A nationally renowned champion dancer, Ramiro Gonzalez grew up dancing in a West Texas town called Kermit. At the age of 16, he began teaching ballroom dance. Today he travels, performs and teaches many styles of dance, focusing especially on Swing, Swing-Out and Salsa. In addition, he operates his own hair styling business. Currently he resides and teaches in Dallas, Texas. Ramiro actively participated in the competitive swing dance circuit for more than 13 years with high success. He regularly won and placed highly in many "Strictly Swing" and “Jack-N-Jill” divisions. First place finishes include: the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championship, Dallas DANCE, Boogie by the Bay, Capitol Swing, Chicago Classic, Texas Classic, American Swing Dance Championships and the USA Grand Dance Nationals Championship. Ramiro was inducted into both the WSDC National Swing Dance Hall of Fame at the US Open Swing Dance Championships in Nov. 2013 and the National Living Legends...

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Nick Williams and Laura Keat

Nick William's website ~Nick Williams~ Nick has embodied the passion and spirit of swing dancing ever since his first lesson in 1998. The depth of his understanding of Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag stems from studying with the original dancers. Nick’s desire for authenticity, combined with his passion for dance evolution, leads to a style known for precision, lightness, musicality and dynamic energy. His successes include World Lindy Hop Champion, US Open Swing Dance Champion, American Lindy Hop Champion, National Jitterbug Champion, International Lindy Hop Champion, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown Champion, American Classic Balboa Champion and California Balboa/Swing Champion. He is also an accomplished choreographer and has been featured on the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance. As an instructor, he is known for his ability to break down movements and technique to create a fun and light-hearted learning environment. His true love of music and dancing will ...

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Rebecca Ludwick and Kris Swearingen

Kris & Rebeca's website Kris and Rebecca began dancing together in the winter of 2011, debuting their first routine at The Chicago Classic. Since then they have placed top 5 in the Classic division at numerous NASDE (National Association of Swing Dance Events) events along with a number of Jack n' Jill and Strictly titles. Rebecca combines her decades of ballet experience with Kris's hip hop inspired movement to create a style of West Coast Swing that has been described as "a beautiful combination of power and grace." When instructing, they unite Kris's years of experience as a school teacher and Rebecca's extensive knowledge of dance to produce an atmosphere that is both extremely educational and thoroughly enjoyable. While understanding that people learn to dance for many different reasons, they ultimately strive to inspire dancers to have fun on the floor. COMPETITION TITLES 2015:Chicago Classic - 2nd Place Classic DivisionMADJam - 6th Place Classic Division 2014:America's C...

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Benji Schwimmer and Nicole Clonch

Benji Schwimmer is an American professional dancer, choreographer and actor. On August 16, 2006, he was announced as the winner of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance and has choreographed for both the U.S. and the international versions of the show. He co-starred in the 2010 film Leading Ladies. Schwimmer is known for his versatility in mixing the arts of solo dance and partnering. He works for the non-profit group, Dancers Everywhere Making a Needed Difference (D.E.M.A.N.D) and is the songwriter, producer, and vocalist for pop-rock band The Weekend Forecast, who are signed with Executive Music Group. When not creating art, Benji is involved in several causes including Human Rights, AIDS Awareness and the better treatment of animals. Benji also writes music and is currently working on an album. ~Awards & Competitions~ *9-Time US OPEN Professional Showcase Champion*United States Caberet Champion*Season 2 Winner of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance*OUT Magazine's...

Carolina Zokalski and Diego Di Falco

Carolina & Diego's Website Carolina Zokalski and Diego Di Falco are Tango Legends. Their tango journeys combined while they toured with the famous Forever Tango, becoming the youngest tango dancers in the history of American Musical Theater on Broadway. The couple was nominated for a Tony award for ”Best Choreography”and the artistic image of Diego Di Falco was used in all the show’s promotional materials, including the major billboards in Times Square. They have since performed in more than thirty cities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Israel, and Japan. They sold more than 7,000 instructional videos of their first series between 2000 and 2004. Now, they enjoy their very own Authentic Argentine Tango School in Summit....

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Fabian Salas and Lola Diaz

***Fabian Salas*** Fabián Salas is a famous Master Argentine Tango dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Buenos Aires, with over 30 years of professional experience. Partnered with his wife, Lola Diaz, they have taught thousands of tango fans worldwide and specifically in Argentina, Brazil, USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, UK, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Finland, Russia, Greece, Turkey, and other countries. In 1992, Fabian became one of the first professional Argetine Tango touring teachers in history and in 1995, he pioneered the development of a revolutionary way of understanding, teaching and dancing the tango. Fabian assisted in filming the famous motion picture Evita in 1996, and a year later became internationally recognized for his principal dance role in the award-winning film The Tango Lesson. Since then, Fabian hosted BBC’s “The real… Buenos Aires” and “...

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Alex Chern and Victoria Lim

Dallas Tango Festival ***Victoria Lim*** Victoria started dancing Argentine Tango in Dallas, Texas and recognized as organizer and DJ in the community. She has evolved as a dancer and teacher in a community that is visional and open minded about the dance and brings the same qualities to her teaching. Victoria is known for her graceful yet dynamic style and unique musicality. Over the years, Victoria immersed herself in the world of Argentine tango and continued to hone her techniques in the various tango styles – salon, milonguero, Nuevo and stage. She embraces the beauty of each style and recommends her students to find the styles that they enjoy the most. In her teaching Victoria focuses on the simple mechanics of movement while emphasizing the importance of precision in technique and maintaining solid connection with your partner and the music. She channels on two main elements: creating an organic, natural embrace for leaders and followers, and musicality. ***Alex Chern*...

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Luis Loredo

Born in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico, Luis Angel Loredo came to the states when he was 9 years old. Although, his family is filled with musicians, it wasn't until his freshman year in high school that Luis Loredo began to tune into the sounds of music. But once he did, music took over his life very quickly. Bass guitar was his instrument of choice and like any other musician, he began exploring a multitude of other instruments including piano, organ, flute, guitar, and drums. He played in his church band as a bassist while traveling around the states for 10 years. At age 25, Loredo found himself in a club listening to bachata. The heavy bass beat and acoustic guitar stole his heart. But there was one problem: he couldn't dance at all. His body could not translate what his heart was feeling. So he began training with Arlington's Marcus Negron, who taught him salsa on 1 for about one-and-a-half years. Right after, Loredo began to train with the well-known Roberto Lay and his Dall...

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Cristi Boone and Clinton Lacerda

Cristi & Clinton's website Clinton Lacerda and Cristi Boone are true pioneers of Brazilian Zouk. They have taught and performed in world-renowned Zouk events throughout Brazil and Europe, such as Uaizouk in Uberlândia, ZimZouk in Porto Alegre, Recife Zouk Congress, BSB Dança Zouk Congress in Brasilia, Zouk in Rio in Rio de Janeiro, International Zouk and Lambada Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Vienna Zouk Congress, Zouktime in Brno, All Stars Festival in Budapest, Prague Zouk Congress, Dresden Zouk Family Meeting, Berlin International Zouk Congress, Zurich Zouk World Cup, Corpo Carioca in St. Petersburg, Oman Zouk Holiday in Muscat, Oman and ZNL Music Festival in Rosarito, Mexico and various other cities around Europe and the USA. ***Clinton Lacerda*** Clinton is a full time professional dance choreographer, teacher and performer of Brazilian dances specializing in Brazilian Zouk Lambada, Samba de Gafiera, Bolero and Forró. Clinton started dancing in 1999, at th...

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