PASSION
2 ACTION
Passion 2 Action is a 2 day Latin dance intensive.
NYC & VIRTUALLY
July 8 - 9 2023
-
Danznik Dance studios
240 West 37th street 2nd Floor, NYC
12 hours top-rate workshop from the best teachers in NYC
Includes diverse workshop classes with a mission to deliver outstanding training in both fundamental dance techniques and today’s most cutting-edge latin styles: Mambo, Latin Fusion, Cha-Cha, Afro-Cuban, Pachanga, Body Movement, Bachata, Contemporary Latin Fusion, Spinning Technique, Stretching & Conditioning, Heels and Grooves
From Beginners to Advanced level dancers, this intensive is designed to address every dancer’s needs to help develop their unique style through technique, control, flavor and musicality. The intensive will help enrich knowledge and increase dance vocabulary.
Each class will be an uplifting, positive experience in an encouraging atmosphere that expands one’s artistic horizons through exploration and self-expression.
PASSION 2 ACTION strive to create a truly unique and unforgettable experience for all dancers.
WHAT IS PASSION 2 ACTION?
When it comes to achieving your goals, Manifesting and making things happen are 2 major components. The PASSION 2 ACTION is to help empower dancers with the skills, resources and education they need to take action for their dance goals for which they are passionate about. With each action you take, your vision will get sharper, your days will be more joyous, and your creations will better showcase the true dancer in you.
- 8 - 9 JULY
Danznik Dance studios
240 West 37th street 2nd Floor, NYC
GET YOUR TICKET
REGISTRATION
In-person
Full pass to both training days
Snacks
Ticket for Sunday Social
Price goes to $240 on 07/01/23
$220
REGISTRATION
Virtual
Full access virtually to both training days
HD quality videos
Recording playback for 5 days
$180
INSTRUCTORS
Shani Talmor
Karel Flores
Karel Flores was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico into a family of artists. From very young, Karel was exposed to both acting and dancing, from participating in every dance group in school to taking on main roles in Mexican soap operas.
Throughout the years, she took up acting, jazz, Hawaiian dancing and cheerleading, but these were only extracurricular activities and she never imagined actually making a career out of dance nor acting. It wasn't until high school that she discovered the dance that would change her life, salsa. Being an overachiever, Karel moved cities to be able to train with the best dance company in Mexico “salsa con clave” directed by the world-known Víctor and Gaby. However her hunger to learn didn’t stop there.
After about 6 months, she decided to spend a few months in NYC to try to learn as much as she could. However, those few months turned into 10 years, when during her stay in NYC she was invited to join her dream dance company, Yamuleé.
Training directly under Osmar’s direction she was able to consistently alternate with his permanent dance partner. Not long after an opportunity arose when Osmar’s former partner decided to take a break from dance. With not a moment of hesitation, Karel embraced the opportunity and shortly after, she became Osmar Perrones’ official dancer partner.
Years of training and hard work has allowed Karel to become a world wide known top dancer and instructor. With Yamulee dance co., as the director’s former partner and female lead dancer, and now, both as a solo artist, instructor and choreographer, Karel has traveled and conquered hearts and stages from North to South America, Europe and Asia.
Ashlé Dawson
Creative Director, Choreographer, Coach, and Educator is globally recognized as one of the most versatile creatives in the industry. Dawson is a multidisciplinary artist known for subverting normativity by uniting her own blended heritage and multi-cultural dance background with her identification within commercial and contemporary forms. Bilingual, and acutely aware of cross-cultural issues, she uses her art to help unite people globally. Authenticity, unity, mindful communication and exploring beyond old paradigms within arts education and creation are at the core of her work. Her artistic scope spans over more than 2 decades. Thanks to her extensive experience performing, choreographing, directing, and educating, Ashlé's garnered a prominent list of credits spanning live stage, film, television, and music video. She is a pioneer of the style, Latin Fusion, and is internationally known for her unique ability to create an uplifting, inspiring, and safe community atmosphere wherever she goes.
Credits include choreographer and activist for Global Citizen Festival & 360 Video Media, In The Heights Film (Jon M. Chu) and (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Wild N’ Out MTV (Prince Royce), Times Square New Year’s Eve (Univision) for artists Don Omar, JenCarlos Canela, Alejandra Guzman & El Dasa. Her work “Our Land” which depicts hot-button topics of immigration & the refugee crisis worldwide was selected to perform at the 38th Battery Dance Festival in NYC. She is proud to have been the first Top 4 on the inaugural season of SYTYCD which lead her to live in Los Angeles, where she worked as a dancer on projects including America’s Got Talent, Latin Grammys, Gloria Estefan (American Idol Gives Back). While working in the Miami industry, she became the winning professional on the Spanish Dancing With The Stars, Mira Quien Baila alongside partner Johnny Lozada (Despierta America), performed on the Latin Billboards, Los Premios Juventud, iHeart Fiesta, and more. She has worked with Steven Spielberg (The Post), Anne Hathaway (SNL), John Leguizamo (Fugly), John Oliver (Last Week Tonight), Martin Short, Mario Cantone, Rachel Dratch, and with artists Wisin y Yandel, Leslie Grace, Fonseca, Romeo Santos, Tito Rojas, Kiko Rivera, Belinda & Tito Puente Jr. to name a few. She was commissioned to create work for the NYC Human Trafficking Task Force event Human Trafficking: It’s Closer Than You Think Brooklyn Borough Hall as well as Dartmputh College in NH. She is an invited choreographer for the Giving Tree Series, NYC. Ashlé has been interviewed and featured in publications including DANCE magazine, Dance Spirit, Dance Teacher, and The Wall Street Journal. Recognized for her innovative movement, her work has been sought after by AUDI, New Balance, Macy's, Canon, Paul Mitchell, and more.
Ashlé is proud to be an educator whose methodology is based on spiritual modalities. She is a Certified Creative Leadership Coach trained in Somatic Therapy Modalities and Triple Certified in The Art of Mindful Communication. With an unwavering passion to educate and inspire, she coaches artists through an approach of positive psychology. Genuine education of dance history, philosophy, and vernacular are crucial elements in her teaching approach. Dawson’s enthusiasm, energy, and authentic ability to connect to dancers worldwide while bridging the gap between cultures in a desire to unify through the art of dance, has made her an in-demand guest educator and lecturer. Ashlé is the Founder and CEO of Breaking Conformity Productions, Inc. and the Director of Latin Fusion Dance Project. She is the Artistic Director and Producer of “Estado Ingravitto,” and is proud to be faculty at the renowned Broadway Dance Center, NYC and for Celebrity Dance Conventions.
Jorge Salas
Originally from Venezuela, Jorge is a Professional dancer skilled in a diverse range of genres: traditional (Venezuelan), flamenco, jazz,
casino salsa, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Venezuelan, among others.
More than 15 years of experience in teaching, performing and producing shows at a variety of cultural festivals internationally.
Jorge have taught different genres of dance during workshops in a variety of well-known Venezuelan
dance academies such as: Habana (Caracas), Salsa y Ache, Caribe y Punto, Ritmo y Clase, Sabor y Son,
Kimbara Academy, De Son Rumbero, Afrolatino Swing Academy, O.G Salsa Casino Academy, Rumba
Latina Academy, and Ritmo y Escencia Academy.
Have worked as a dancer and choreographer in different well-known Venezuelan dance academies
such as O.G Salsa Casino Academy (2005), Street Mambo Dancers Company (2006), Imagen Latina
Company (2006-2009), MUSA Arts Academy directed by Rigoberto Hernández, and Flamenco
Company of the Adaggio y Buleria directed by Carlos Mezza.
Invited to teach in ALMA LaChina Dance Company in Shenzhen in 2013, in collaboration with the
organizer of China Salsa Festival. During this period, was also invited to Shanghai SalsaMemucho, BJ
China Salsa Congress, and Singapore International Salsa Festival.
Company member of well-known New York dance companies such as Framboyan Dance Company
(2016-2017), Codari Dance Company (2018), Rumbaya Dance Company (2018).
Today, a regular teacher of salsa, bachata and Afro-fusion classes in New York City and the Greater
New York area as well as a performer and teacher in various events and congresses. Established
Esencia Dance Team in 2018, consisting of both professional and semi-professional companies, which
has rapidly gained recognition and been invited to teach and perform at events in and around New
York.
In 2020, Jorge was part of the immersive theatre production "Carmen" in NYC as one of the principals dancers, in the roll of "Don Jose".
And recently appeared in the Warner Bother Movie "In The Heights" by Lin Manuel Miranda
INTERNATIONAL DALPHE
Dalphe Morantus
Dalphe Morantus is an professional dancer and art creator born and raised in
Brooklyn, NY, who spent the last 11 years in L.A. where he lived and worked as an
artist, choreographer and member of several dance communities.
His families grassroots hails from Haiti where they migrated from to the States landing in
Brooklyn, the melting pot in which molded Dalphe’s artistic beginnings and appreciate of both cultures.
That appreciation grew into expression as he fell in love with
blending dance styles from several cultures that he was exposed to, growing up
vibing to dancehall, afro-fusion, hip-hop, salsa and house dance.
Fusions like these are heavy characteristics of his work that led to his trademark style and alias, International Dalphe, with over 14 years of experience working with notable names
in the industry, Ricky Martin, Don Omar, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, just
to name a few. Nowadays his work is focused on teaching people how to move their
body with using groove isolations as a stepping stool to embrace their true self.
Erika Lopez
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Erika Lopez always had a love for dance from a young age. She started out on her High Schools’ dance team and began taking hip hop classes at Broadway Dance Center. It wasn’t until October 2007 that she began taking salsa classes and joined a student dance team, where she realized how much she loved performing.
Since then she has had the privilege of dancing on both a semi-pro and Pro Team, and performing in different parts of the world including Peru, Texas, Puerto Rico and DR to name a few. Throughout the years she’s learned other various styles of dance, while also becoming an instructor for both children and adult classes. She’s had the privilege of directing dance teams and teaches various workshops including Latin Fusion, cha cha, salsa partner work, Heels, ladies’ styling, etc. She’s performed at venues including Madison Square garden and Citi Field, and has performed alongside various artists such as Loisaides, Winstar, and various world-known Salsa bands.
Erika has been fortunate enough to obtain opportunities to perform in music videos with Winstar, Anthony Ramos, TPLSZiggy, movies and on live television such as Fox 5, Pix11 and NY1. She is currently part of a NYC based ladies’ company named Querencia who just won the 2nd place Ladies Shine Division 2022. Erika continues to flourish and grow, hoping to inspire others with the same love she shares for dance and is blessed to be a part of an amazing journey. She is currently teaching Latin Fusion, Heels and Salsa classes in the NYC city, as well as private dance classes and packages.
Sekou McMiller
At the forefront of a new movement in the dance world. Sekou’s melange of Afro Latin Jazz dance rich with Afro - Caribbean (Salsa/Mambo, Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Yoruba) combined with urban dance, modern, jazz, and contemporary styles augmented by his explosive energy on and off stage, has earned Sekou broad recognition worldwide. Sekou has performed and choreographed for top Latin artists including Gilberto Santa Rosa, Willie Colon, Cheo Feliciano, Johnny Pacheco, Tito Rojas, Tito Nieves, PitBull, and the pop icon Madonna. A recipient of a fellowship with The Alvin Ailey Foundation’s New Directions Choreography Lab and the City University of New York (CUNY) Dance Initiative, Sekou’s choreographic works have been featured throughout North America and abroad in over 30 countries. Sekou has received certificates of training from both the prestigious Danza Contemporanea de Cuba in Havana, Cuba, and École des Sables in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal.
Sekou can be seen in the Warner Bros theatrical feature "In the Heights" (2021) directed by Jon M. Chu and in the newly released documentary "Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance". Currently, Sekou is a faculty member at Marymount Manhattan College, The Ailey School, Joffrey Ballet School, Ballet Hispánico, Steps on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center. In addition, he is a Curator and Project Director at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
Sekou’s choreographic work has been featured at Dance Chicago, Apollo Theater, New York Jazz Choreographers Festival, The Actors Fund Theater, APAP New York City Center, Peridance Salvatore Capezio Theater, Ailey CitiGroup Theater, Symphony Space, Edison Ballroom, Hammerstein Ballroom, United Palace Theater, Bryant Park, Little Island NYC, the United Nations General assembly, Olympic Park Stadium in Seoul, S. Korea, the Great Wall of China, Habour Dance Vancouver and Winter Gardens in Blackpool, U.K.
MATHEW RIVERA
Mathew Rivera
Matt Rivera is a LATIN & HIP HOP dancer/choreographer from NYC.
Training in many styles from Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary and mainly LATIN, his style has become a FUSION of all he has expertise in and very for the COMMERCIAL Dancer.
Credits include being a Principal Dancer in the Film Rendition of the Broadway Hit Musical “In The Heights” Kat Deluna, Victor Manuelle, George LaMond, On Your Feet & Legally Blonde both at the legendary “The Muny” theater in St. Louis and SO Much More.
He Loves what he does and anytime you train with him or DANCE alongside you can feel that energy and passion.
Melany Mercedes
Melany Crystal Mercedes, born and raised in the Bronx, New York started her dancing career at the age of 14, discovering Yamulee Dance Company. She soon joined and at the age of 17 was in both the Semi-professional and Professional team.
In late 2013, Melany Mercedes was offered the opportunity to dance as Osmar Perrones' main dancer and got to travel and perform all over the world along with the company. Melany has since ventured off to choreographing routines, working with different prestigious Salsa Dance companies.
In 2017, Melany and her long-time best friend and former teammate, Andrew Avila, decided that they had to partner up and bring all their creativity to life. Since then, they have together auditioned for the famous dance show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ where she placed top 10 women in Season 17 and became the first On2 Salsera to do so as well as having the opportunity to work in music videos featuring Maluma, Steve Aoki, Jbalvin, Myke Towers. Mercedes was also a principal dancer for the music movie ‘In The Heights’ which premiered in 2021.
Melany Mercedes plans to keep studying other genres of dance and working in commercials in hopes of creating space for On2 Salsa in the commercial industry.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Passion 2 Action Social
Sun Jul 09
Amazing music by:
DJ JOHN JOHN
Dance
Performances by:
Cadencia Ladies by Shani Talmor
Sara McGuire
Empire Mambo
Media:
Dream Tap
$30 Online
$35 At the door
Don't Miss Out!
Enter our Sunday raffle for a chance to win:
- Full Pass to the international New York Salsa congress (value $267)
- Three $50 vouchers for any shoes with Vivaz Shoes
Danznik Dance studios
240 West 37th street 2nd Floor, NYC
Sponsors
© Shani Talmor 2023