ABOUT

This is a Latin Dance event in Washington D.C. area presented by Aciela Kalmagambetova celebrating talented and empowering female figures in a dance community in DMV area. This event features women’s impact on the latin dance community in DMV area. We intend to highlight a profound impact of a group of women on the dance community in DMV area. D.C. Women’s International Month Celebration (DC WIMC) offers workshops, party, and performances in different dance styles: salsa, bachata, merengue, kizomba.

ALL TICKET SALES ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE. NO CASH ACCEPTED.

VENUE:

Salsa with Silvia Studio: 4731 Elm St, 2nd fl., Bethesda, MD 20814

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
1:30 - 2:30pm
Salsa on2 partnerwork (open lvl)
Ardiente Dance Company David Cuevas + Eileen Morales

2:40 - 3:40pm
Salsa shines and partnering on1 (beg lvl)
Helena Mambotera

3:50 - 4:50 Merengue Clásico (open lvl partner work)
Melanie Mueller

5:00 - 6:00pm
Foundations of Bachata (partnerwork beg lvl)
Cat

6:10 - 7:10pm
Kizomba for Latin Dancers-Basics, Partnerwork, & more! All levels
Michelle Reyes

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
9pm - 9:45pm Pre-party workshop
Traditional Bachata Footwork
Aciela

ARTISTS:

Helena Mambotera - Passion for dance emanates from every move and teaching moment with Helena. Her dedication to the art form goes beyond mere steps; she aims to ignite excitement and understanding in her students. With a focus on creating a comfortable learning environment, Helena encourages students to embrace new challenges and revel in the joy of dance.  With over a decade of experience spanning various genres including Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, and more, Helena has honed her skills under the guidance of esteemed mentors like Magna Gopal, Sekou McMiller, and Eli Torres, 9 times World Champion in Latin Dance. Her commitment to continuous learning and community engagement is evident in her teaching approach.  Known for her patience and ability to tailor lessons to individual learning styles, Helena ensures that every student feels supported and empowered on their dance journey. Her infectious enthusiasm and dedication to sharing her passion make Helena a beloved figure in the dance community.  For those eager to explore the world of Latin dance, Helena invites you to join her on a journey of growth and self-expression. Whether it's Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, or any Latin genre, Helena is ready to help you discover the joy of dance. Get in touch today and let the rhythm move you!

Ardiente Dance Company - Eileen Morales began her dance journey in 2015 at just 14 years old. Now after 9+ years of dedication to Salsa and Mambo On2, Eileen Morales shares her passion and knowledge around the DMV as a Professional Dancer of Ardiente Dance Company.

David Cuevas, a true maestro of Mambo, has been captivating audiences and inspiring dancers for years. As the director of the esteemed Ardiente Dance Company, he has been at the forefront of promoting the passion and precision of Mambo in the DMV dance community.
Ardiente Dance Company's Legacy:
Founded in 2016 by David and a group of six dedicated dancers, Ardiente Dance Company has become synonymous with excellence in Mambo. Since its debut in May 2016, Ardiente has been representing the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) region on both local and national stages, showcasing their unparalleled talent and love for the art.
Dedication to Mambo:
David Cuevas has dedicated himself to spreading his profound knowledge of On2 Mambo to the DMV dance community. His passion for dance is palpable, and he strives to instill that same love for dance in the generations to come.

Melanie Mueller - a German native, residing in Baltimore Maryland, is the co-director of Bachata Fix RD, which was the first dance school in Bayaguana, Dominican Republic founded in 2015. Melanie has years of experience teaching dance and continuously and actively expands her knowledge and education about dance and its root cultures. Melanie enjoys visiting the Dominican Republic to immerse herself in the culture and to learn and dance with the local talent. She teaches traditional Bachata and Merengue as well as performs on stage at major dance festivals throughout the United States, Internationally, and locally in the Maryland/DC area. Melanie truly enjoys sharing her passion for traditional Bachata and Merengue and the Dominican Culture. When teaching, Melanie focuses on preserving the authenticity of the dance and its origins. She has a warm and humorous approach to teaching with patience while transmitting her grace and skills to everyone in the room.  Some of the festivals Melanie taught and performed include the Calgary Bachata Y Cultura Dance Festival (Canada), Bachateame Tour (Dominican Republic), La Cita Quebec (Canada), DC Bachata Congress (DCBX), the Baltimore Salsa and Bachata Congress, the International San Francisco Bachata Festival, For the Love of Bachata Events, Hawaii Bachata Expo, and the Los Angeles Summer Bachata Festival.

Michelle Reyes - is one the primary kizomba dance teachers in the Washington, DC area. She has been teaching dance for over 20 years & has her own dance business based in Bethesda, MD. Michelle started her dance career as a ballroom instructor and now specializes in the Latin & African partner dances like salsa & kizomba.   Michelle has trained extensively in kizomba with master instructors in Portugal & the United States & has multiple teacher course certifications given by top world class instructors. As a choreographer, she has directed & coached many dance teams in DC & other cities in both Latin & African dance genres. While she teaches, performs, & hosts dance events locally, Michelle has also been invited to perform & teach at dance festivals across the US. Michelle has been a featured instructor at major congresses & events in Baltimore, Charlotte, DC, Denver, Detroit, LA, NY, St. Louis, Tucson, & many other cities.  She currently offers weekly kizomba classes & socials in MD & is available for workshops & shows. She has kizomba ladies team that will debut this spring. Please contact her directly for bookings.

Aciela - a Dance Instructor in Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland area. At an early age she developed a passion for dancing and music, attended a local music school and joined a local dance team. Aciela began dancing latin dances in 2011, and her first trip to Cuba and Dominican Republic had a big influence on her development as a dancer. It was on the island where she fell in love with the culture and music. This experience has determined Aciela’s willingness to bring the authentic island culture and dance style to her students. Aciela teaches Traditional style of Bachata which refers to a style “the way as they dance on island.”   Aciela has traveled the world since then training with international instructors. Aciela is recognized for her adherence to an authenticity of dance and living up to roots of dances, having won the 3rd place at San Francisco Congress Competition and the 1st place grand championship at Dancing with the Stars in Maryland.  Aciela began teaching latin dance in 2019. Alongside with DMV area, Aciela also travels in the U.S. teaching at different events, festivals, and congresses. She and her team has also performed at multiple dance congresses in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Dallas, Denver, Ohio, Miami, Baltimore and Washington D.C., in different genres of music and dance.  She aspires to create a welcoming and fun atmosphere for her classes, demystifying fundamentals and body movement. Using music and dance as a medium for self-expression and creativity, Aciela is dedicated to helping students find their own voice and style, building confidence, and sparking curiosity in the culture and Latin dances in general.

Cat - info coming soon

DJ:

Kaya - Being in love with music her whole life, Kaya joined the Latin entertainment scene at a young age in her native country, Colombia. She moved to the United states in 1998 and became a Latin dance instructor. Motivated by making crowds of people dance, she founded the Baltimore Salsa Congress in 2009.   Involved in a predominately Latin environment, Kaya taught herself how to blend and mix tracks and became a Latin Music DJ in 2017. Since then, she has hosted numerous venues like MD Live Casino and Horseshoe Casino. She has also been a guest DJ at recognized events like Bachateando Miami Festival, Bogota Bachata fest, Tijuana Salsa Congress, Miami Salsa Congress, Cuba Salsa Congress and others. DJ Kaya brings culture, passion and fun to the dance floor . "Let your heart beat for music"