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Dance: Chelsea Wanner, Christy Ambis, Michael Luis Ristorucci Percussion: Hiram Jimenez, Jonathan Kline
Chelsea Wanner	Chelsea Wanner Salsa, Styling and Latin Dance Chelsea Rose is from California and began studying Salsa dance at California Polytechnic University where she attended college. She became an active member of the Cal Poly Salsa Club in 2004 (cpsalsa.com). She served as Performance Coordinator for the club from 2005-2006, choreographing routines, training dancers in footwork, styling and performance presentation, and coordinating venues for performances and demonstrations. She taught weekly classes for the club for 3 years, teaching beginning to advanced Salsa steps and styling, and basic steps of Cha Cha, Merengue, and Bachata. In 2006, she studied under the tutelage of world class Salsa instructors John Navarez and Liz Rojas of SalsaMania Dance Company in San Francisco. Later in 2006 she traveled to Mexico and performed at the 2006 International Salsa Congress in D.F. (Mexico City) with partner Roderid Reyes. Since then she has dedicated her time to teaching, performing, and giving Latin dance demonstrations in California and New York. She offers many levels of dance training including Salsa partner work, ladies styling, spinning technique, footwork and shines, lead and follow technique, and performance presentation. She loves teaching, loves the music, and most of all loves dancing ~ translating Latin rhythms into movement of body and soul.
Christy Ambis	Christy Ambis Back to Top Salsa, Styling and Latin Dance Christy has been dancing since she knew what a beat was, but has had training since her pre-teen/teenage years in jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, swing, and Latin dances (as well as a little ballet). For the last five years her main focus has been hip hop and Latin dancing, being on various hip hop and Latin dance teams and teaching when able. She took classes under professional Cuban dancers Javier Jimenez Alfonso and Johandry Santos Sabater while living in Spain in the Fall of 2007 and has taught Latin dance classes in Spain and Virginia as well. Most recently she has been trained as an instructor in the dance fitness program based in international rhythms known as Zumba. She also enjoys smiling and long walks on the beach.
From Left: Uniit Carruyo, Michael Luis Ristorucci	Michael Luis Ristorucci Salsa and Latin Dance Michael teaches Salsa Casino style and other Latin nightclub partnered dances. His passion for Salsa and Latin music originates in his Puerto Rican cultural roots and appropriation of a world-Latin cultural aesthetic. Michael has studied Salsa formally with instructors in New York City, central New York, and New Jersey, and has learned informally in Puerto Rico, Cuba and Spain. Dance classes are invaluable to new and experienced dancers alike. Yet Michael instructs that a true Salsa and Latin dance acumen also derives from music appreciation, self-teaching, persistent practice – alone, with a partner, and socially – and through the spontaneity of movement and expression generated through enjoyment of music and ambience. Michael helps provide his students with all the tools they need to become great dancers. Michael began teaching Salsa in the Ithaca and Finger Lakes area in 2005. His instruction emphasizes rhythm, timing, music flow, body expression, lead-follow connection, confidence-building and having fun. Partnered classes combine open step arrangements (“shines”) with partnered turn patterns and guided social dance practice. His “Suelta” (loose) instruction develops choreographic arrangement in line dance format and aims to provide both a workout and great moves for the dance floor. An added benefit for Michael’s students is immediate integration into a Latin social dance community. In addition to dance instructor, Michael is also a DJ and promoter of Latin music and dance in the Finger Lakes area. He treats his students to the best in dance instruction and to a social context where music and dance is enjoyed.
Hiram Jimenez	Hiram Jimenez Back to Top Afro-Caribbean Percussion About Hiram Jimenez: Master Drummer in Afro-Cuban Rhythms and Dance Born in 1954 in Havana, Cuba, Hiram Jimenez from the earliest age was immersed in the music and dance of his native country; both in its popular forms and through the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria. During his years in Cuba he played with several music ensembles. These include Los Chicos Del Filin (1963-1966), Cajunto Casinos (1968-1979), and Grupo Chabalonga (1972-1980). Hiram performed throughout Havana in social clubs, cabarets, and annual Cuban Carnaval festivities. In 1980 he immigrated to the United States and from 1980-1981 lived in New York City. There he played with Los Seis Del Solar, a group led by Ruben Blades and Willie Colon, two of the biggest names in Latin music. Moving to Syracuse, New York in 1981, he played primarily in Syracuse with El Combo Latino (1981-1986).They played throughout central New York at clubs, festivals and community and college events. From 1987-1990 Hiram lived in Los Angeles, California. He was a member of the Salsa band Las Maravillas which played extensively at clubs and festivals in southern California as well as in Texas and Louisiana. The band also played annually at the New Orleans Mardi Gras during Hiram’s tenure. During his time in Los Angeles, Hiram taught workshops through the music department at UCLA in Afro-Cuban percussion and dance. Hiram moved to Rochester, NY in 1997. From then until the summer of 2007 he directed and played with the Afro-Cuban percussion ensemble Bonyoko Guimileri, which performed throughout central New York at colleges and festivals.
From Left: Ben Ortiz, Jonathan Kline	Jonathan Kline Back to Top Afro-Caribbean Percussion Profile Coming Soon