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| is considered one of the top teachers and dancers in the United States and is constantly in demand for his work shops. He has performed, coached and choreographed for the stage and movies, including Deadly Dance and the film Evita. He is also known in the video world--Billy Idol's Rebel Yell, Nona Hendrix' I Sweat, and Look into Your Eyes, in which he was a featured Tango dancer. Angel is no stranger to television, appearing on Good Day New York and serving as Ryan's Hope's choreographer. He has won championships in Hustle, Swing, Cabaret and Ballroom--over 26 titles in the Swing Dance Championships, the 1997 SOS Grand National Championships, and the 1998 ASDC Championships, and they placed second in the Professional Strictly Swing division at the 1998 "Swing Fling" Dance Festival. Angelo has traveled all over the world to teach Salsa/Mambo, Argentine Tango, WestCoast Swing and everything else that has to do with dance. |  |
has been dancing ballroom for about 15 years, specializing in Tango and West Coast Swing and has performed and choreographed for stage, video, televisionand film. Recently she created, directed and produced the show Tango Fusion. Previous projects include the development of two teaching videos and creating and producing the show La Noche de Tango. In addition to her classes at Close Contact Dance Studio, she teaches workshops throughout Canada. | | has studied ballet and modern dance since childhood and has studied and performed Argentine Tango with some of Argentina's most famous dancers. She was dancing with a modern dance company when she first discovered Argentine Tango. Her mentors include: Fabian Salas and Gustavo Naveira, co-stars of the film "The Tango Lesson" and Mariela Franganillo from "Forever Tango." Maria studied Tango intensively for several months in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has performed in the United States with Fabian Salas and Roberto "El Alamen" Tonet from "Forever Tango," and she has performed in Europe and Argentina with Gustavo Naveira. Before moving to NYC, she taught tango in Washington, DC. Sarah strongly believes Argentine Tango is one of the most creative, expressive and satisfying art forms. | | is originally from Michigan but has been a New Yorker for the past 20 years. He trained under Alan Gaskell, Howard Richman, Susanna Stein and Craig Underwood and has taken extensive classes at various country western conventions and hoe-downs. His professional associations have included the Learning Annex, and he currently teaches at the Manhattan Plaza Health Club and The Big Apple Ranch, in addition to his classes at Close Contact Dance Studio. James is director/choreographer/ performer for the Manhattan Prairie Dogs, a country western, line dance and two-step team which has won awards at the Big Apple Country Dance Festival in New Jersey and the Atlantic States Open at the ASGRA Rodeo in Washington, D.C. |  |
| began teaching ballroom dancing in 1987 and has worked for both major chain studios, two highly acclaimed and respected studios in London, and was coach and instructor of the University of Maryland's ballroom dance program for two years. He has a background in musical theater, with a degree from Catholic University, and is a member of Actors Equity. We are excited about welcoming Jose back to Close Contact Dance Studio. |  |
began dancing ballet, tap, jazz and folk at the tender age of 4. Her interest in Argentine Tango was sparked when she began studying with masters such as Juan Carlos Copes, Carlos Gavito, Pupy Castello and Michael Domke. Other trainers have been Bobby Petri and Mambo legend Freddie Rios. Dierdre was a featured dancer on MTV's The Grind in 1993/94 and did a tango "dance shot" commercial for Kodak-Alizé, along with a promo tour. She sometimes performs with a folk dance troupe ranging from Flamenco to Afro, Cuban and South American dances. She also has extensive knowledge in the Latin/Club dances including Cumbia and Bachata. Dierdre has been on staff at Close Contact Dance Studio for two years. |
| began his dance career studying ballet, jazz, and theater. He has toured internationally and in the US in productions of West Side Story and Damn Yankees. Regionally he also appeared in Fiddler on the Roof and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Local television appearances include the Sci-Fi channel and Tango performances on the Gayle King Show and Good Morning America. Juan has danced with the Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance Theatre and the Annabella Gonzalez Dance Theatre. Currently he teaches at Close Contact Dance Studio and performs with his partner Maria Torres. |
| has been dancing West Coast Swing for close to 3 years. She holds many national titles including 1st place North Atlantic Swing Dance Champion, 1st place Strictly Swing-Boston Tea Party, and 2nd place 1997 Summer Hummer Jack & Jill. She placed top three in the 1997 Grand National Championships (Classic Division), 2nd place in the National Rising Star (Classics Division). Most recently she was a finalist in the 1998 North Atlantic Championships' All Star Jack & Jill division and second place winner in the Professional Strictly Swing Division at the 1998 "Swing Fling" She is a full-time teacher at Close Contact Dance Studio and host of the Monday WC Swing Parties. |  |
| is originally from Germany. He can look back at a multifaceted career of many years, having gained experience with ballroom dancing by studying all styles of partnership dancing and its history. He competed in the International-Style Latin and Standard internationally, teaching and coaching, choreographing and staging couples and group pieces, and managing several studios. He also is a costume designer, who has credits in the field of theatre, cabaret, television, ice skating, as well as ballroom dancing. Close Contact Dance Studio is more than happy to have Hans not only as a wealth of information on technique, patterns, and styles but also as a manager. |  |
has starred as the "girl in red" in the Tony nominated Broadway musical "Swing." She also performed at the Radio City "Spring Extravaganza", in Public Theatre in "The Skin of Our Teeth", and featured in the film "Dance with Me." As a choreographer, her work can be seen in the Off-Broadway hit "The Donkey Show," in Enrigue Iglesias' "Ballamos" video, in John Leguiszamo's international "Budweiser Commercial," in Segram's "Latin Rock Show," and in "Four Guys Named Jose" at The Blue Angel Theater in NYC, and will open in Florida the end of September 2001. Marisa has been nominated for the Off-Broadway Lucille Lortel Award for Best Choreographer for "Four Guys Named Jose."
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| | © copyright 2001 by Gerry Fuoco. All rights reserved. |
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