Mario Alabi
Biography: Mario Luis has been teaching the "Popular Salsa-Merengue" class at Mission Cultural center for several years. Born in Santa Ana, El Salvador he now resides in San Francisco, CA. He received his Bachelor degree from University of Illinois at Carbondale. Mario Luis is a versatile artist who has composed, recorded and produced his music on 2 Albums "Un Poco de Todo" and his most recent "Fusion Total". As a talented singer/author he offers melodies of Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Ballads, Pop and other rhythms. His focus is to capture audiences of all ages. Mario Luis is currently the stage manager for Community Festivals sponsored by SAFEWAY. His performance repertoire consists of venues and numerous events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area ant the Peninsula. Mario Luis has also participated and coordinated many fundraiser events for humanitarian aid to Central America, Mexico, India and the United States. Mario Luis is the proud Father of National and International Salsa Dance Champions Junior and Emily. Visit Mario Luis at: www.MarioLuis.com
Ruben Aponte
Biography: COME AND LEARN THE HOTTEST DANCE CRAZE THIS SIDE OF THE BORDER!! A Lot of Salsa with a touch of Merengue. This fun-filled class is sure to get your feet moving. It is for all ages and it covers basic steps and a little more. No Partner needed! Come join the fun
FRANCISCO X CAMPLIS
Biography: I am a native San Franciscan of Mexican descent. Soy Chicano. I am married and have 2 children and grandchildren. I am a US Navy veteran and a retired federal employee. I received my BS and MA degrees from USF and Stanford University, respectively. Over the years, I attended art and media classes at various academic art institutes throughout the Bay Area. I was the art director for Casa Hispana de Bellas Artes (1966-69), and founding member of, Artes 6, (1969), Galeria de la Raza (1970), Cine Accion (1975), and Xitlalli danza Tradicional (1981). I served on the Mayor's advisory committee to the San Francisco Arts Commission. My art and photography has been shown in Mexico City, D.F., Europe, and in museums and galleries in Los Angeles and San Francisco. My interests are oil painting, drawing, lithography, photography, filmmaking (video), animation, and sculpture. I have taught bilingual figure construction drawing classes to youngsters and adults. Throughout the years, I have learned a lot from my students and I hope they have learned a few things from me.
DANNHAE
Biography: Dannhae has been studying and practicing Egyptian style Belly Dance for the past 14 years. She has studied with various Bay Area professional Belly Dance instructors in different settings. In order to expand her knowledge and appreciation of this art form, Dannhae has also attended numerous workshops and lectures given by many nationally and internationally known professional Belly Dancers. She has also collaborated professionally with the well-known Bay Area Middle Eastern musician and band leader Georges Lammam. She currently continues to develop her passion of Middle Eastern dance by studying the Arabic language.
PABLO DAVILA
Biography: I have been playing acoustic and electric guitar for eleven years, and teaching for the last six. I have studied music theory and composition, classical guitar, Metal, Bossa Nova and Flamenco with professional instructors / musicians. I’m also a member and songwriter for the metal band Aether, who currently play shows in San Francisco and around the Bay Area. My passion is teaching Rock, Metal & Classical styles. I love bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Testament, all the way to the classics like Bach and Debussy. I teach acoustic and electric guitar, and work well with all age groups and skill levels, always making sure the student advances on a weekly basis.
FERNANDO DESANJINES
Biography: Fernando de Sanjines, has been playing drums professionally since he was fifteen years old. His first Brazilian teacher was Paulo Farias in his native La Paz-Bolivia. In 1986 he joined the Bay Area "Escola Nova de Samba", where he studied and performed with Chalo Eduardo, Michael Spiro, Dennis Brougton, Carlos Aceituno and George Alabe. In 1991, he co-founded "Samba do Coracao", awarded best Brazilian group in SF Carnaval 1997 and 1998. They also performed extensively; some events include the SF Ethnic Dance Festival in 1986 and 2000 and the International Music Carnival 2005 in Shanghai China,among others. Fernando has been teaching at the MCCLA since 2002 and has trained many drummers over the years. Website: http://www.sambadocoracao.com/classes.html
NORA DINZELBACHER
Biography: Nora Dinzelbacher received her Master of Dance degree at the National School of Dance, Buenos Aires. Upon graduation in 1973 she joined the Argentina Folk Ballet and was invited to form a dance partnership with the company's Artistic Director, Raul Dinzelbacher from whom she learned Tango and later married. Nora teaches extensively at universities, colleges and tango associations throughout the United States and Europe and in 1999 was invited to Japan and Germany. She is the co-founder of the Bay Area Tango Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the traditions of Argentine culture.
MAISA DUKE
Biography: Maisa was born in the capital of Samba, Salvador, Bahia Brazil and as far as she can remember, dancing is what she enjoyed most. Maisa started entering and winning dance contests when she was ten years old. She has been teaching dance for over 10 years. In 2000, she founded the Energia do Samba Dance Company. She has performed at many celebrity functions, and was crowned the Queen of Carnaval SF in 2002. Her dream is to share Samba with the world.
DOMINGA GÓMEZ
Biography: Dominga gained a great part of her knowledge about Afro-Nicaraguan folklore from Mr. Policarpo Aleman, Director of the Viva Managua Folkloric Ballet. In 1979 Dominga moved to Panama City where she formed a small Nicaraguan dance group until 1984 when she came to the United States. With the task to form a folkloric group, she founded Flor de Sacuanjoche in June 1994. This group has performed in numerous venues such as schools festivals, quinceaneras and other larger functions. The dance group is supported by qualified teachers such as Juana Puerto and Judy Camey.
METZI HENRIQUEZ
Biography: Ms. Henriquez is a graduate of San Francisco’s School of the Arts Dance Department; After years of formal and classical training, Metzi found inspiration in dances of the African Diaspora, primarily Afro-Latin dances and began training in Afro-Brasilian dance and folklore with Mestre Carlos Aceituno and performing with Fogo Na Roupa performing company. Currently she is co-artistic director and choreographer of Fogo Na Roupa Grupo Carnavalesco and teaches weekly classes at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.
JAIME MARTINEZ
Biography: Jaime Martinez has been a professional dance artist and teacher for over 15 years. He is one of San Francisco's most sought after instructors. Jaime Martinez is a Certified Aerobic Instructor from CSU-Hayward, a member of International Dance Exercise Association and Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. He is the designer and owner of Latin American Workout headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Jaime conducts master classes and training workshops throughout the United States, Central America and Europe. He has also founded and directs Pan American Dance Company, which offers a full repertoire of dance entertainment, popular, modern, folkloric, ballroom and extravaganza performances.
RUSSEL PACHMAN
Biography: Russell Pachman received a BFA from California Institute of the Arts. He has been teaching at MCCLA since 2007. He is represented by Geras Tousignant Gallery in San Francisco.
MARIBEL REYES
Biography: Maribel has been training and performing Egyptian style Middle Eastern dance since 2001. She started her dance training with Alexandra King (Artistic Director of UCSB’s Middle Eastern Dancer troupe), and since then has trained with top instructors and choreographers of Middle Eastern Dance in the United States such as Tamra-henna, Sahra Saeeda, and Amina Goodyear. She also continues to study this dance form through intensive workshops with world-renowned Egyptian instructors such as Mahmoud Reda, Raqia Hassan, Atef Farag, and Aida Nour. Maribel has also traveled to Egypt to learn first hand about the culture and dance where she trained with top Egyptian dance instructors. She performs regularly at Middle Eastern Dance Festivals/restaurants and other family events.
LOUIE ROMERO
Biography: Latin percussion legend Louie Romero first came to salsa fan’s attention on recordings with Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz and on dozen’s of other classic Fania record releases. Now living in San Francisco, Romero leads Grupo Mazacote, one of the areas most respected Salsa and Latin Jazz ensembles. He and his group just released an album, Timbalero. www.louieromero.com
NORM ROSENBERGER
Biography: Norm Rosenberger is the instructor for the Friday Night Life Drawing class at MCCLA. Norm’s brief list of interests include the studies of drawing , composition, painting , sculpture, printmaking , Screen print , photography, filmmaking and artistic materials, all of which have provided him with the basics to understand the visual language of art. After working towards a BFA at the University of Oregon , and spending a summer with the Yale Music and Art program, Norm completed his MFA in painting and drawing at Stanford University.
DANICA “La Mora” SENA
Biography: Danica has performed, choreographed and taught throughout Europe, Japan and the U.S. for over a decade, receiving critical acclaim. She lived in Spain for 5 years, honing her talents with the great masters of Flamenco, Classical and Folkloric dance. She was selected to perform with a world class all-Spanish dance troupe from 1996-1998 in Japan. In addition to her exceptional teaching skills, Danica is artistic director of Grupo Andanza and has taught the at City Ballet School of San Francisco as well as ODC Dance Commons in addition to MCCLA.
MARSHA SHAW
Biography: Marsha Shaw received a B.A. and M.A. in Studio Art from California State University Northridge and an MFA in printmaking from California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She has lectured and taught courses in bookmaking and printmaking at California College of the Arts, San Francisco Center for the Book, Kala Art Institute in Berkeley and The Museum of Children Art in Oakland California. Marsha Shaw's work has been exhibited both regionally and nationally.
GABRIELA SHIROMA
Biography: Gabriela Shiroma is the current Artistic Director of “De Rompe y Raja” Cultural Association devoted to preserving afro-Peruvian traditions. She has 15 years of experience teaching Afro-Peruvian dance and researching the African Diaspora music and dance legacy around the world. Her classes and educational workshops include universities, schools, Colleges and Cultural Centers in Ghana, Togo, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and USA.
ELIZABETH SOBERANES
Biography: Elizabeth Soberanes holds a bachelors degree in Dance Ethnology from SFSU; and has been teaching Rhythm and Motion's fusion rhythms dance workout since 2001. She is a graduate of the Performing Arts Workshop Artist-in-Residence Program and a student of Dunham Technique, modern, Hip Hop, Jazz, Haitian, Brazilian and Cuban dance forms. She has worked with several local dance companies, performed on stage in Carnaval San Francisco and in 2001 was crowned Queen of SF Carnaval. She traveled to Brazil in 2000 and to Cuba in 2001 & 2008 to study dance and participate in their Carnaval celebrations. She regularly travels to New York and Miami to study dance, and most recently, began studying Patricia Moreno's IntenSati Mind/Body Workout.
Guest Instructor - Bianca Coleman has been dancing since the age of 7 when she began studying classical ballet at the SF Academy of Ballet. By the age of 9 she began studying and performing Brazilian dance and since then discovered that dance was her true passion. She participated in SF Carnaval for 11 years and performed and choreographed with various Brazilian dance companies in the Bay Area. For 10 years, Bianca has been studying Afro-Cuban dance and performing in SF with various instructors. She is a founding member of Emese: MOTAD, an Oakland based dance collective founded 1998. Bianca has 15 years of teaching experience and currently co-teaches Afro-Cuban dance on Sundays at the Malonga Center for the Arts.
