. .-
The Team
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Introducing the team of Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz

Hablamos Rueda!

We are diverse and inclusive!
Since inception in 2001, our team has represented 5 cultures from
 Puerto Rico, Mexico, Germany, Indonesia and the United States.

Above: the complete team as of December 2007 (from left to right):
Gilberto, Kirsten, Chris, Jessica and Danny

Above: the complete team as of December 2006 (from left to right):
Chris, Kirsten, Danny, Jessica and Gilberto



Above: the team as of March 2005:
From left to right: Chris, Kirsten and Gilberto.

The complete team as of December 2004:
From left top to right: Chris, Bonnie, Cesario, Gilberto, Kirsten and Jessica.

Above: our "3 Musketeers" together since mid 2001:
 From left to right: Chris, Cesario and Gilberto
(Photo from December 23, 2004)

Above: the team from end 2002 until mid March 2004 (from left to right):
Cesario, Anne, Gilberto and Chris



Above: the team from end 2002 until mid March 2004 accepting Calabash Award
(from left to right): Cesario, Gilberto, Anne, Chris

Above: "The Musketeers" in action during class in Vets Hall on Nov 2002:
  Gilberto, Cesario and Chris

Above: The people who supported our discussions forming "Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz"
from left to right:
Chris, Kristin, Anita, Cesario, Gilberto with Christina (picture taken end 2001)

 
The Core Team

Many wonderful people have been supporting our organization over the years (see 'About Us'). Following lists the core team:

Kirsten*

Chris*

Jessica*
Gilberto*

Danny*

 Cesario*

*Bios available below

 
our organization
See in 'About Us' page.
 

Kirsten


Kirsten is a New Yorker, born and raised in New York City. She studied foreign languages, graduating with a BA in Communication Arts, and then earned a Masters in Teaching English As A Second Language from MIIS in Monterey. She has made her home in Santa Cruz for 20 years, living with her husband and four children.

Her interests have always included dancing, beginning with modern ballet as a youth, moving to Israeli folk dance as an adult; both teaching and leading a local dance troupe. Through the years, Israeli folk dancing provided an outlet for fun, performance, choreography, and teaching.

Her interest in Salsa initially was for exercise, but she quickly became an aficionado as she enjoyed learning new steps and dancing with the friendly crowd at "Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz". Salsa dance Casino Rueda style has become a further expression of her life as an enthusiastic and outgoing individual. After a couple of years of active involvement, the desire to teach took hold and she now has the joy and challenge of teaching various level classes at "Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz".

 



Chris


Chris grew up and studied science & engineering in the Alps in Germany. He came to the US in 1990 with his job as an engineer at a high tech company upstate New York. His job brought him also to Austin, TX and San Jose, CA. Santa Cruz was his own personal choice.

Chris manages 'Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz' since begin of 2001 and teaches also with great enthusiasm Beginners classes. He emphasizes a non-intimidating, friendly and fun atmosphere which initially helped him to learn to dance Salsa through Salsa Rueda dance.

Most of his family are Latinos who live in Guatemala and Peru. Some cousins from there are now in Miami. When he grew up he was exposed to Latin music and culture. He began to learn Salsa dance in 1999 in San Jose and Salsa Rueda in 2000 with Sidney Weaverling in Santa Cruz until she left Santa Cruz begin of 2001 and Chris and Gilberto founded "Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz".

"I see, how "Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz" brings back life and happiness in many, as it did for me. It is wonderful and inspiring to see everyone who comes to our fun classes lightening up and laughing after the first dance."

"This is family for me!"



 

 

 

Jessica


Born in Hawaii, Jessica was raised in the suburbs of Washington DC.
She started ballet training at the age of eight. Jessica studied dance and ballet in Arlington, Virginia and performed professionally with the Harbor City Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and Nashville Ballet for 5 years.

Her next (current) career is as a women's health nurse practitioner.

Jessica is a certified group exercise instructor by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. She start teaching in 1992  including step aerobics and spinning, and still teaches today at 24 Hour Fitness.

She started drop-in salsa lessons at the Palomar and started to dance Rueda in 1999. Now she choreographs "Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz" performances, substitute teaches, and teaches with Chris for private parties.

Jessica enjoys the Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz community and traveling all over the world.  She has danced salsa and Rueda in London, Munich, and Shanghai.

 



Danny


Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, Danny studied Jazz theory and improvisation at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, CA. Since 1994, he works now as a mortgage consultant.

Dancing is a passion that began in Santa Cruz in 2001. Live music and Salsa events inspired Danny. Across the street from the post office, downtown Santa Cruz, "Salseros" danced every Sunday afternoon. He loved the music and was inspired by the fun all had. Since then he has attempted many classes, workshops, and private lessons, including instruction in "contratiempo" (dancing against time) from members of "Ban Ra Ra", an Afro-Cuban dance troupe.

Danny is grateful for the opportunity to teach as it allows him to be creative and, improvisatory in developing and calling Rueda dance moves:
 
"There is a lot of magic and joy in a community of dancers improvising together in sync with the rhythm and music playing".






 



Gilberto


Gilberto was born and grew up to the beat of Salsa music in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In 1982 he moved New York city. He pursued the performing arts like music, theater, and dance and worked as a technical director from INTAR theater.
Gilberto earned his BA in Political Science and Inter-American studies and has a third degree black belt in the Chinese Goju Karate.

In Austin, TX, he worked as an assistant athletic director for the exclusive Metropolitan fitness club where he also tought Salsa dancing and martial arts and produced fund raising events with live Salsa Bands as president of the Puerto Rican association in Austin.

Gilberto relocated to Santa Cruz in 1998 and was introduced to Salsa Casino Rueda style as one of Sidney Weaverling’s first students.
He is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer by the ACE (American Council on Exercise) and is working at the Spa Fitness Centers.

As one of founders and directors of Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz, he is teaching classes on Wednesday and Thursday. He is also teaching classes at the Spa Fitness center on Monday.
Gilberto is a professional with a Salsa beating heart who knows how to make community spirit work. You will love his classes.
 


Cesario Ruiz


Cesario was one of the directors of Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz until end of 2005.
He joined Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz back in summer 2001, where he learned to dance Salsa Rueda. Soon after he started to teach and focused later on   Intermediate and Advanced Salsa Rueda classes as well as performances.

Born in El Estado de Mexico, Cesario knew dance was in his blood at the age of 4 when he moved to Guanajuato. Already at very young age, he performed in many schools and was exposed to the richness of Mexican folk dance.

Since he was introduced to Salsa in 1996, his enthusiasm blossomed that in only one year of taking Salsa classes he was teaching Salsa to people. Now he teaches several classes per week and added Mambo, Calypso, Samba, Cha Cha Cha to his repertoire and is striving teaching all variations of dance.

Cesario is teaching also at Junior High schools, events and private parties.
He is ‘a Natural’ with ‘Dance’ written on his blood cells.

Starting January 2005, Cesario took a break from teaching at "Salsa Rueda Santa Cruz" in order to pursue school in the evening. He will still be joining us from time to time as guest teacher.
 


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