Summer Salsa Empowerment Camp! Ages 6-18

WHO: All children (BOYS AND GIRLS) ages 6-18 WHAT: Summer Salsa Empowerment Dance Camp is a week long program who are interested in Latin dance and performance! We will focus on timing, footwork, connection, confidence, and self expression through interactive play and workshops connected with AfroCuban rhythms! The overall focus of class is learning to come together as an empowered dance team over the course of the week under the positive guidance of four Professional dance instructors, Frankie Suave from Suave Dance Company, Rodrigo Jimenez & Wendy Jimenez Full from Rodrigo and Wendy, and Hurricane Rita, the director of Dance Moab and the Moab Salsa Bachata Festival: Bailando With A View. THURSDAY AND FRIDAY will focus on a beautiful choreography with International Instructors and performers, Rodrigo & Wendy for a performance at the Saturday Sensual Social & Inspirational Latin Dance Showcase for Grand Junction! Saturday evening! Don't miss this chance to get your child involved! Learn about the instructors and inspiring folks involved! Rodrigo and Wendy Jimenez, are renowned instructors and performers who have graced numerous stages locally and abroad. Trained extensively with World Master Instructors and ESPN World Salsa & Argentine Tango champions they also have been featured in several public broadcast television shows as well as the International Latin Dance Film “La Epoca” they have conducted workshops and performed “SALSA TANGO” and “BACHATANGO” fusions in addition to teaching and performing Argentine Tango, Salsa, Bachata, Flamenco and Kizomba, at numerous Salsa Congresses, Festivals, and Galas of major National & International cities, to include the Moab Salsa Bachata Festival: Bailando With A View for two years in a row. They have performed live with Salsa Star Willie Colon, Gilberto Santarosa, Eddie Santiago, Queen of Salsa “La India” and Salsa bands Guayacan and DLG. RW Latin Dance continues teaching and performing locally and abroad. Their mission is to bring our communities together dance, music and culture! Hurricane Rita is your local Afro and Latin Dance Instructor and inspiration. She is a combat wounded 8.5 year veteran ex ultrarunner who has learned to walk a second time in 2012 after being paralyzed from a rare disease, and has created a dance company, Dance Moab, to provide herself with the physical therapy necessary to regain her life. With over 11 years of teaching experience all over the USA and in 7 other countries, she is a role model for children and adults alike around the world. Hear more: http://neokizomba.com/podcast033/ Frankie Suave, a traveling young professional from the small town of Yuma Arizona, started his life in dance at the age of 6, training intensely in ballet, Contemporary and Pas De Deux (partnering) with Ballet Yuma/Yuma Ballet Academy, which is considered to be one of the best pre-professional ballet companies in the country. In the 15 plus years Frankie spent in ballet, he has managed to teach and choreograph Pas de Deux classes, professionally guest starred with lead roles in major productions like the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, and was continuously hired by Ballet Yuma and Arizona Classical Ballet. In October 2010, Frankie took his first salsa class with Son Latino, a Casino Rueda Salsa School in Mexicali, Mexico. As a dedicated student, he was given the opportunity to attend many free private and group lessons across the Southwest and Westcoast. He was fortunate enough to learn from world class professionals such as Diana Sanchez, Christian Oviedo and Alma Latina. With the passion Frankie carries for dance and the experience and training he was gaining, Frankie went on to create a unique suave style of teaching and dance and eventually opened Yuma, Arizona’s first official Latin dance company, Bien Suave Dance Company (Currently known as Suave Dance Company). BSDC was specifically designed for underprivileged kids and full time students. Through his talents, he later than was offered the amazing opportunity to work and train with one of the greatest Latin dance companies, Alma Latina. After a couple years, he managed to open and direct the Bachata edition of Alma Phoenix in Arizona, successfully train a co-director and was later moved by the owners of the company to the base company of Alma Latina in Tijuana Mexico. Frankie trained with Alma Latina Tijuana semi pro teams, directed 3 teams and 6 classes in Alma Latina San Diego, co-directed 2 in Ensenada Mexico and trained Sade Montoya as his Professional/Amateur Partner. Knowing that it was time to move on, Frankie re-opened his company and renamed it, Suave Dance Company. Due to the demand of many people that wanted to train and learn from him, he was able to have 5 full teams in a matter of weeks: Suave Elites, Amateur Bachata/Salsa, Suave Ladies, Suave Men and will be adding 3 more in the new year one which includes a competitive international ballroom team. Over the course of 20 plus years in music and dance, Frankie has been professionally trained in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Salsa, Mambo, Cumbia, Cha-cha, Merengue, Zouk, Kizomba, and various types of musical instruments.