Adalia Ellis: Conference Organizer & Instructor
Founder of Salsa Queen Productions TM, Ms. Ellis is a world traveler and dancer whose roots are in the "Dirty South". Born in Hartsville, South Carolina, Ms. Ellis discovered her love of dance in her family's living room. As a young adult she went to private school on Vancouver Island, Canada where she became a principle member of the school's performing arts group, Maxwell Baha'i Youth Workshop. While a member of this group she learned a range of expression through Hip Hop, Step Dance, Modern Dance, West African, Irish High Step, Persian dance and much more. She went on to be part of a simillar dance program in Seattle, Washington and traveled to Southern Africa with the dance troupe, Generation of Hope.
Ms. Ellis' involvement in such programs exposed her at a young age to the diversity of expression found in dance. The discovery of her love for Latin dance and music mirrors her childhood experience, in her family's living room. A natural dancer, Ms. Ellis was drawn to the rhythm and soul in Latin music. Her life's path eventually took her to Korea where she became an avid dancer. Ms. Ellis attended her first Salsa Congress in Seoul and traveled to the Taiwan Salsa Festival where she learned from UK and World Salsa Champion, Iris di Brito. She became certified as an instructor with the Salsa In Academy under the direction of Son Na-Ri. While in Seoul, South Korea she started the first series of Latin Dance Bootcamps in Korea with the You Can Dance Studio in Itaewon, Seoul.
Ms. Ellis recently returned to Myrtle Beach where she is studying for her master's degree in education. She decided to blend her love for teaching, dance, and Latin culture by organizing the first Latin Dance Conference in Myrtle Beach. Her aim is to encourage and foster unity as well as a sense of family within the Latin dance community. She brings to the conference not only her passion for dance, but also the ability to teach beginners in an encouraging and supportive atmosphere.
Contact Info:
[email protected]
http://www.salsaqueenproductions.com/
Salsa Queen ProductionsTM
Anana Johari Harris *Returning Instructor*
Rooted in New Roads, Louisiana, Ms. Parris's love for dance was sparked at a young age by watching her mother dance and it is to her mother that she is most grateful for such a gift. Her training in West African Dance began under Master Dancer Kadiatou Conte, Artistic Director of Balafon West African Dance Ensemble who was a premiere dancer in Les Ballet Africans, the national dance company of Guinea. It was in Balafon under the teachings of Kadiatou Conte that Ms. Parris first learned the connection of West African dance to salsa. Ms. Parris began attending salsa session at area Afro-Latino promoted events in Washington, D.C., which exposed her to a different variety of salsa expressions.
Later, she explored the modern and Caribbean dance disciplines of dancer, choreographer and producer Vonntanice Turner to diversify her training. After moving to Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. Parris became a performing member of Giwayen Mata, a vocal, percussion and dance company exposing her to world renowned choreographers like Ron Brown. During her time with Giwayen Mata, Ms. Parris studied West African, South African, Haitian and AfroCuban rhythms, songs and dances.
Presently, Anana Harris Parris is founder and owner of AfriSalsaTM, a brand and company dedicated to promoting cross cultural and healthy experiences through events, dance instruction, community development programs, corporate diversity workshops, language expansion sessions and an AfriSalsa fights HIV/AIDS Campaign. Through AfriSalsaTM, Ms. Parris has teamed up with Vonntanice Turner, Taller Portobelo Norte and the Latin American & Caribbean Community Center to begin traveling the world educating communities on the historical and cultural benefits of dance and music through panel discussions, cultural immersion workshops and community building socials.
Contact info:
[email protected]
www.AfriSalsa.com.
AfriSalsa TM
Milton "Clave" Isley *Returning Instructor*
Mr. Isley has been a Salsero for four plus years and a lover a music of all kinds his whole life. His first love of music and then finding his second love of Latin dance has combined to make him the dancer, performer and teacher he is today.
He performed in the 2007 Orlando Salsa congress with the chroeography of LA Salsa poineer Edgar "Tun Tun" Mendez and has performed for various events in S.C., G.A. and N.C.
Mr. Isley is not only a teacher but also a student, he has attended various Salsa Congresses around the world taking instruction for the likes of Eddie "The Salsa" Freak, Super Mario, Leon Rose, Jimmy Rumba and a host of other great salsa instructors over the years. He takes this experience into the class room where he teaches LA style salsa with his own flare to his students.
Contact info:
[email protected]
Clave Brothers
Christian McCullen *Returning Instructor*
Mr. McCullen lives and works on the coast of Wilmington, NC. He is an avid music lover with a deep passion for diverse rhythms in all types of music. Intrigued primarily by the bass guitar, he was drawn to the sounds of swing music at the age of 14. By 1999 Salsa, Swing, Argentine Tango, and Bachata helped him express how he felt about music and dancing to a wide range of people. The dedication and intense study of Salsa and Tango did not occur until Mr. McCullen started teaching at Babs McDance in 2005. “Salsa music is the only music that could invigorate even the most uninspired”.
Mr. McCullen started with a nightclub Cumbia style salsa and quickly found the On1 xbl style after many trials and pains. The On 2 mambo transition occurred when he started teaching and listening to more traditional style salsa. Some musical influences include Cachoa, Hector Lavoe, El Gran Combo, Oscar de Leon, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz, La Sonora Carruseles, and the Buena Vista Social Club.
Contact Info:
[email protected]
Christian McCullen
Shantelle Smalls
Shantelle Smalls’s discovery of her love of dance began when she saw an African Dance Performance her senior year of High School. This performance motivated her to attend Columbia College where she received a BA in dance. This gave her the opportunity to explore ballet, contemporary, jazz, African, Indian, and many other dance styles. When she graduated she began her career in Ballroom and Latin Dance at Fred Astire Dance Studio.
Shantelle then opened her own studio, “Love of Dance,” were she offers Latin: Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba, Rhythm: Shag, East Coast Swing, Ballroom: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Others: Hip Hop/Jazz, Line Dance, Beginning Yoga, Contemporary, Ballet, and Tap. Soon after she created three dance companies: “Love of Dance Salsa Company”, “Adult Company”, and “Junior Company”. These companies are to promote togetherness and allow dancers to know that any and everyone can dance. Love of Dance Companies allows the development of collaboration while teaching and educating its dancers and the people who experience the company members’ abilities.
Contact Info:
Shantelle Smalls
[email protected]
www.loveofdance.ning.com
Ramon "Monchito" Gil
Ramon Gil (Monchito) a Puertorican raised on the “Enchanted Island” has taught a Salsa Social Workshop for all ages at the Capital Senior Center for the last 2.5 years & organized Columbia’s 1st Salsa Social at that venue on Feb. 7, 2009.
In 2007 he joined Susan Zaglin’s Salsa Greenville SC dance team choreographed by Edgar Mendez, was instructor for their Thursday Salsa dance event for 1.5 yrs and assisted with the 1st Congresito de Greenville in 2008.
Contact Info:
[email protected]
Ramon Gil
Anthony
Anthony's four year's of Salsa dancing have led him to this focus - create a pleasurable experience for the lady on the dance floor. His experience in performing at local clubs and restaurants as well as appearing on the AfriSalsaTM Beginner Salsa DVD, does not compare to the pleasure of providing a 1-on-1 fun experience on the Salsa floor. Starting with Casino/Cuban style salsa, Anthony began ON 1/La Style and learned to enjoy mixing Casino and On 1 together and now dances mainly On 1. He enjoys teaching beginners how to get the most out of partner dancing by helping them understand the details of the lead/follow technique through a very patient and no pressure approach.
Contact Info:
[email protected]
Anthony
