Bachata at the SSC

	Tony Lara & Claudia Sabor The worlds cheekiest and leading Bachata Divo – Mr TONY LARA – has taught over 100,000 dancers from all over the world. His techniques of how to make Bachata dancing easy, fun & sexy are the reason why so many people love to learn from him. Since 2003 he has been travelling the world teaching or promoting Bachata dancing. He has influenced dancers and teachers in more than 60 countries and over 500 cities. And his Bachata Dance Partner, the gorgeous, the sexy and sensual CLAUDIA SABOR is a master of the Latino rhythms of Bachata, Cuban & LA Salsa, Hip-hop, Reggaeton and Afro, Timba Cubana, adding to that her own 'sabor '.



	Nestor Manuelian & Katrina Quintal Sydney - Latin Dance Australia 2 x Australian TEAM Bachata Champions Saturday 29th Jan, 3.00pm in the Salsa Room Learn Bachata from Australia's most popular and sought after Bachata instructors! Nestor and Katrina have taken the world by storm with their very sexy, sensual and playful style of Bachata. Having won the Australian Bachata Teams Championships, and also Sydney's Best Bachata Social Dancer Competition, these guys are the ultimate instructors, performers and social dancers. Join their class at the Sydney Salsa Congress and you will see why! As well as teaching worldwide and all over Australia at many prestigious events and congresses, Nestor also has two Bachata DVD’s which sell out all over the world. His DVD’s are for beginners all the way through to the advanced Bachatero.

	Johan & Kari Malaysia / Adelaide - Latin Dance Nation Sunday 30th Jan, 10.00am in the Auditorium Johan & Kari are the current South Australian Bachata Champions. Hailing from Malaysia, Johan was exposed to dance at an early age. Since taking up salsa in 2002 he developed a passion for all things latin. Since then he has taught, performed and choreographed routines that have been debuted on the national and international stage. With a passion for Bachata, he became South Australian Bachata Champion with his partner Kari Bowling in 2009. Kari began dancing Latin Ballroom at a young age. However, it wasn’t until she was introduced to salsa in 2004 that her passion for dance was reignited. She then spent 5 months living and travelling in Latin America and immersed in the roots of salsa with classes in son and rumba, later living in the Dominican Republic and falling in love with bachata with endless nights of dancing beach-side with the locals.

	Juan Ruiz & Pascale Decournue Sydney - Bachateros Sunday 30th Jan, 2.45pm at the Stage Born in Ecuador, and now residing in Australia, Juan is one of the most sought after Bachata Instructor in the scene. He has taught hundreds of workshops throughout Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Juan’s is the pioneer of the Bachata Moderna movement and his syllabus and moves are being used around the world. With the growth and evolution of Bachata music, Juan has ensured that the dancing evolves as well. Bachata Moderna is a more stylized style of Bachata were dancers can add different footwork and transitions and yet remain true to Bachata form, maintaining the feeling & emotional elements that makes Bachata what it is. Juan is also one of the organizers of the Sydney Bachata Festival and director of the bachata website “Bachateros Online Magazine“, a magazine dedicated to promote bachata, its music and its culture.

	Mitch Bilic & Ellicia McDonald Sydney - Latin Dance Australia In their short span of time as dance partners, Mitch and Ellicia have well and truely made their mark in the Latin dance industry in Australia. Together they are the 2010 Australian Bachata Teams Champions, as well as receiving 2nd in the professional division of the 2010 Australian Bachata Championships with their mesmorising Bachatango routine. They are current members of the Modus Vivendi Salsa professional team, and are avid staff members for Latin Dance Australia. Having coached and choreographed both the current Australian Bachata Team Champions (Modus Vivendi Project), and the current Australian Bachata Amateur Champion couple, (Nicole and Pete), Mitch and Ellicia have made their mark for their incredibly addictive style of 'Bachatango'. Their MVP choreography also recently won the Darling Harbour Fiesta Dance Off Competition. As well as their Bachatango, Mitch and Ellicia are known for their spectacular show moves and tricks. With Ellicia's 25 years of ballet training and professional experience this makes their tricks and show moves exquisite to watch. Between the two of them they have either danced or taught various dance styles in over 30 countries in the world, making them jointly one of the most travelled professional dance couples in Australia. Their workshop is a must for anyone wanting to add that 'wow' factor to their dancing.