MEET
YOUR INSTRUCTORS
YOUR INSTRUCTORS
DOMINIC HANNA
Dominic is a dance instructor currently based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has been dancing Blues for about 7 years, but has been dancing in his bathroom mirror for as long as he can remember! He is originally from The Bahama Islands, and the Caribbean style music he grew up listening/dancing to has an unmistakable influence on his style. He enjoys the depth and richness of the stories told through Blues music, and the strong characteristic sounds of the music itself. Dominic is best known for his fluid leg movements, whole-body multi-rhythm techniques, musicality, and creative subtlety in solo/partnered dancing. Dominic has taught at regional and national Blues events such as Take My Hand Blues in Washington, DC, Blues Geek in St. Louis, MO, and Austin Blues Party in Austin, TX. He draws inspiration from years of freestyle roller-skating to the sounds of hip hop, house and R&B, and is enthusiastic about bringing his perspective to every class setting! |
FLOUER EVELYN
Flouer Evelyn is a partner dance instructor and embodied life coach from New York City, currently based out of Turin, Italy. She has been teaching blues around the world since 2010 when she fell in love with the history, music, and movement of these culturally rich dances. Her movement background includes an MFA in contemporary dance, ten years of Latin Ballroom, and a lifetime of ballet and ice skating. And that’s all great, but what's actually important is that Flouer has a warm, encouraging way to help people learn to move their bodies and connect with others. She is known for her values of artistry and personal expression, complimented by her ability to break down any movement into incredibly specific detail. Using imagery, anatomy, rhythm, and embodiment concepts, she will build your dance from the ground up; all the while teaching you about the musicians you are listening to, why a movement evolved the way it did historically, and the cultural context from where it came. https://flouerdances.com “The reason to master technique is so the body does not prevent the soul from expressing itself” – la Meri |
ADAMO CIARALLO
Adamo is dedicated to nurturing, developing, and promoting the blues scene in Europe and beyond. He is the co-founder and organizer of Espanish Blues Festival, Spain’s first ever blues dance festival. Adamo has a professional qualification in teaching adults and he sees his role as teacher to facilitate the classroom in response to learner’s needs, enabling all students to achieve to their potential. His classes focus on highlighting the relationship between the dancers and the music and the importance of personal expression and creativity. He loves social dancing, teaching, competing, and listening to music, and spends his ‘spare’ time reading and learning about the history of the dance forms he loves so much. But what makes Adamo’s dancing life worthwhile is the commitment, enthusiasm, and energy of his students and everybody else around in what he describes as “this beautiful community of dancers”. Find out more about Adamo on his website www.adamoandvicci.com and check out his online dance school thebluesroom.com |
VICCI MOORE
There is nothing Vicci loves more in the world than dancing! She has a broad knowledge of dance and the body, training initially as a solo dancer and gaining a degree in Contemporary Dance and Choreography, and a diploma in Anatomy and Physiology. Her background in a variety of solo dances proved invaluable when she discovered Lindy Hop, Balboa and Blues dance and she is known for approaching her partner dancing with grace, fluidity and intense body awareness. Vicci is committed to studying the history of blues dance and music and, through her teaching, hopes to honour and celebrate the dance and the people who created it. She is fascinated by the wider context of dance and its influences from and on society; when she's not dancing you can find her writing her blog about a variety of blues-related topics or studying for her Masters degree in Education. As a trained teacher Vicci is passionate about providing high level pedagogy in her classes. In addition to organising ESBF she also organises Bluesology, a week long teacher training camp, and offers teacher training workshops all around the globe. Find out more about Vicci on her website www.adamoandvicci.com and check out her online dance school at thebluesroom.com |
GAS FERNANDEZ
Gas is a professional dancer and dance instructor, based in Madrid, Spain. He specialises in vintage dance styles including Lindy Hop, Charleston, Blues and Tango. As a former gymnast he is known in the swing dance community for his powerful acrobatics and aerials, while his background in Tango gives his Blues style drama and strength, grounded in a sensitive connection with his partner. Gastón’s passion for Blues has taken him around the world, and he has taught and performed in Argentina, Brazil, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, England, Portugal, Australia, EEUUU, among others. Gastón is devoted to promoting and fostering swing and blues dance and culture in Argentina and Latin America. He has directed two stage productions featuring live jazz and vintage dance in Buenos Aires and ran South America’s first and largest annual swing dance festival,LHAIF (Lindy Hop Argentina International Festival) each year in Buenos Aires, and the first Blues event Careless Weekend. He has also been a major proponent of Blues dance in Buenos Aires and is now increasingly in demand to teach Blues internationally. With intense partner connection, Gas fuses Blues with Tango technique, though always striving to stay grounded in the essence of the Blues. His mission in life is to pass on his passion for Lindy hop and Blues to others. |
ALBA MENGUAL
Alba met these dances in 2007. She started to teach them 'for fun' and became a full time professional in 2013. She brought her analytic foundation from her old career (pharmacy, medical information) and found in teaching a new way to apply her love for communication. Seven years ago she opened a school alongside Gastón Fernández, in her hometown, Madrid. Her passion made her want to cover everything: from the local organisation to organising international workshops, local and international teaching (teaching all over Europe, with some incursions into China, Australia and the USA, having the pleasure to teach at iconic festivals such as Lindy Shock or Snowball), and little by little developing experience in choreographing and shows. Her true passion is teaching and social dance, letting go and allowing the communication magic to spark, being in the present moment and in her body. If she can teach both things, connecting the student with their self expression and how to express it through the jazz/blues language, she knows she has succeeded. Alba also understands the responsibility of being a cultural surrogate of this culture, and is very aware that she has to keep learning herself and conveying in classes the love for the culture, so people don't isolate the dance from its roots and people. Everything framed by jazz culture, she has learned to love and study with devotion. One day they were walking through Harlem and Gas said to her “after this walk, your dance will never be the same”. Indeed, it was true. Find out more at www.gasandalba.com |
YANULKA OFARRILL HERNÁNDEZ
Dance Style: Folklore Cubano Since she was a child, her mother took her to the Paulita Concepción Vocational School of Art in Havana, Cuba. From there, she hasn't stopped dancing. Later on, she was accepted into the National School of Art, where she completed her high school education. After passing the entrance exams for the country's largest dance companies, which at that time were the National Folkloric Company of Cuba and the National Dance Company of Cuba, she chose the former, specializing in pure and authentic Cuban folklore for 8 years. Shortly before that, she worked with the Tropicana Cabaret, which was performing at the Hotel Habana Libre and was directed by Santiago Alfonso, one of Cuba's most important choreographers. She was there for a short time, it left a deep impression on her, and she was fascinated by it, but she had already been selected by the National Folkloric Company. |
TETIS BARCENAS
Dance Style: Afrobeat A strong woman hailing from Equatorial Guinea, Tetis Barcena embodies both love and fierceness. She learned her craft within a family and community setting and has been imparting her knowledge in Madrid for over a decade. In her classes, she doesn't just teach the dance moves but also delves into the culture and attitude that underlie them. Don't expect a typical dance class, as that's not what you'll experience. Tetis Barcena is skilled in various styles, including Afrobeat. She specializes in dance styles rooted in African traditions, such as Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana, which are among the most popular and have their origins in humble backgrounds, often emerging from the ghettos. Afrobeat dance refers to a style of dance that originated in West Africa, and is closely associated with the musical genre known as Afrobeat. This dance style is characterized by its energetic and rhythmic movements, often synchronized with the infectious and complex rhythms of Afrobeat music. Afrobeat dance incorporates a variety of dance elements, including traditional African dance steps, hip-hop, funk, and contemporary dance styles. Dancers typically move their bodies in fluid and expressive ways, using their hips, shoulders, and limbs to interpret the music and convey a sense of joy and celebration. Afrobeat dance is known for its vibrant and dynamic choreography, often featuring group formations and improvisational elements. Overall, Afrobeat dance is a captivating and culturally rich form of expression that reflects the vibrant musical and dance traditions of West Africa. |
YUDESKIA LLANES AGETE
Dance Style: Salsaton With a three-decade career, Yudeskia is a distinguished dancer and teacher hailing from Cuba. She began as a solo dancer with the prestigious Conjunto National Folkloric Ensemble, showcasing exceptional talent nationally. Holding a Bachelor's in Dramatic Art, she achieved the 1st Level as a Dancer and Folkloric Teacher. Graduating as a Bailarin-Professor from the National School of Arts (E.N.A) in Cuba, they bring a versatile and dynamic approach to dance. Notably, Yudeskia served as a dancer in the Spanish production of "REY LEÓN," showcasing adaptability on international stages. With a rich tapestry of experiences, they inspire and educate, embodying the enduring power of dance as artistic expression and cultural celebration. Yudeskia will be teaching a taster in Salsaton. Salsaton is a contemporary popular dance; a fusion of two well-established genres, Salsa and Reggaeton. It incorporates musical and dance elements from both genres, seamlessly blending them together. In this workshop, our focus will be on cultivating this fusion as a rhythmic foundation. We will skillfuly integrate steps and movements, allowing for a harmonious combination without compromising the distinctive essence of each individual genre. |
JEY JIZER
Dance Style: Ndombolo @jEy_jizer, known simply as Jey, is a 24-year-old professional dancer of Equatoguinean origin. He currently resides in Madrid, where he teaches the Ndombolo style, both in its pure form and a related style called Afrojiz. His passion for dance ignited in 2020 when he began his professional dancing career amid the pandemic. Ndombolo, originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially in Kinshasa, is a dance style known for its lively movements, quick hip swings, fast footwork, and fluid body isolations. Shorty Ndombolo is a specific and faster variation of the broader Ndombolo genre, featuring quick, intricate footwork and dynamic hip movements. Typically performed to upbeat Soukous or Lingala music, it is a social dance often executed in synchronized groups, gaining popularity worldwide in African and Afrobeat dance communities. For Jey, dancing is a way to express himself and a significant channel through which to share culture. "Sharing our dance is part of our traditions. It fills us with pride and joy." |