Salsa in Queens

Diego Manjarrez was born in Mexico but lived a greater part of his life in California. His first dance performance was in 1999 for the IKE dancers. After he graduated High School he had his first contact with Salsa at a nightclub in San Bernardino, CA. and started taking classes with Alfredo “El Salsonero”. In 2001 he returned to Mexico and continued his training with Salsa y Tumbao where he learned to dance On1. He trained and performed locally for over two years.

At a Salsa Social in Mexico City he saw a different way of dancing Salsa. He was intrigued by the fluidity of the on2 dancers and set his mind on New York. In May of 2006, he moved to the Bronx, NY where he became a student of renowned instructor Osmar Perrones. He quickly advanced and after only three months became part of Bajari de Yamulee. After seven months of performing and teaching with Yamulee, Diego decided he wanted to express his creativity on his own.

He began taking classes with Franklyn Diaz and Eddie Torres, and working on choreography with his partner Monica Lavega. In 2008 Diego trained and performed with Enixe Dance Co., in Brooklyn, NY. He also taught classes for Ruby Espinoza in Queens and trained with Joshua Gomez and Felix “Pupy” Insua.

Diego’s interest and love for this dance led him to research and study the origins of the music as well as the social and cultural aspects that made Cuban Music evolved into what we now call Salsa.

Felix “Pupy” Insua was born in La Habana, Cuba in 1948 into a family of artists. His natural talents were quickly noticed and he was admitted to the prestigious Grupo Aficionados de Cuba where his technique and discipline was developed as he began training in all aspects of dance and performance. Upon completion, he joined Cojunto Folklorico National de Cuba with whom he trained and performed for three years. During this time, his mentor and acclaimed Cuban performer Juan De Dios Ramos inspired, focused, and polished his tremendous energy, transforming him into an explosive performer. In 1980, Insua was invited to join Raices Profunda, Juan De Dios Ramos’s performance ensemble with whom he was a principal dancer until 1984. During this time he began to gain national and international recognition. He also began training in theater and drama with Teatro de Arte Popular. His reputation was building, and in 1985, he became the Artistic Director of Mulemba, a folkloric ensemble within the Instituto National de Tourismo.

In 1989, Insua joined Yoruba Andabo, one of the largest and most accomplished professional ensembles in Cuba. He was a principal dancer and choreographer with Yoruba from 1989 to 1993. Yoruba afforded him the opportunity to travel outside of Cuba providing a world stage for Insua. During this time he was commissioned to create choreography for smaller companies and also began teaching. In 1993, Insua formed his own folkloric company, Oriki, which was comprised of Cuba’s finest and up-coming artists.

In 1995, Insua left Cuba for New York City. He began his work in the US creating commissioned choreography for various Cuban ensembles and smaller dance companies in the New York City area. He worked as a solo performer with various ensembles and orchestras including Raices Habanera, The Spirits of Havana, Juan Carlos Formel, Paquito de ‘Rivera, and many others.

His mastery of the Afro-Cuban technique coupled with this training in classical and contemporary ballet, modern, jazz, and theater has made him one of the most sought after instructors and choreographers in the United States and abroad. He has also conducted a multitude of special intensives and lecture demonstrations at various universities, colleges and cultural institutions throughout the United States and abroad. His wealth of cultural and historical information has led him to participate in many panel discussions related to the dance and the African Diaspora.

Insua recently began to focus his energy towards reinventing his company currently known as Oriki Omi Oddara. Insua has been featured in documentaries and films made in both Cuba and the US. Dame La Mano, an award-winning documentary about Cuban Culture and Rumba in NYC, follows his life from the street, to the classroom to the stage. He also appeared in Calle 54, an acclaimed documentary about Latin Jazz, and Pinero, a film about the life of the famous Lower-East Poet. Insua teaches and performs regularly in the New York City area. He continues to inspire and enlighten us as a phenomenal stage presence and gifted and knowledgeable professor of dance and culture.

Monica Monica Lavega was born and raised in Queens, NY. As a young girl, she was a gymnast and was required to take ballet and jazz. As a freshman in high school she was on the dance/kickline team. Monica always enjoyed dancing, especially salsa. It wasn't until the year 1999 at the CopaCabana that she noticed that there was a method to the madness! She had a friend teach her the basics, but that wasn't enough. That was when she decided to take a few formal salsa lessons.

In October of 2001 a new job brought Monica to Washington DC. Bored, and determined to make new
friends, in February 2002 she started a group class with Shaka Brown. By the end of March she was asked to join Clavekazi Dance Company. With the help of Rona LeBlanc and Irene Holtzman, Monica finally began the serious dance training she always wanted. Her last performance with Clavekazi was in September of 2003.

In 2005 Monica moved back to New York and in January of 2006 Monica was asked to join Bajari de Yamulee. She trained and performed with Yamulee for over a year. She has also performed and trained with Melao Dance company and Enixe Dance Company. Monica has taught in several Public schools in Queens, and has put on many successful recitals. Currently Monica dances with her partner Diego Manjarrez. Performances

Diego and Monica Winners Circle, Wesbury Long Island Club Cache, NY, New York Iguanas Night Club, NY, New York Mambo Mamas Social, NY, New York	Enixe Dance Company Houston Salsa Congress, Houston Texas Mambo Room, Virginia Beach Yamulee Dance Company
2006 Club Cache, New York, NY China Club New York, NY Latin Quarter New York, NY Connecticut Salsa Congress Philadelphia Salsa Festival Melao Dance Company	2005 Boston Salsa Congress, Rochester Salsa Weekend Tribute to Women in Salsa (DC) Clavekazi Dance Company
2003 New York Salsa Congress, and Mambo Mama 10th Anniversary (NY, CK Ladies) Puerto Rico Salsa Congress Zanzibar (DC), Yuca Nightclub (DC) Tribute to Women in Salsa (DC) Chicago Salsa Congress	2002 San Francisco Salsa Congress Puerto Rico Salsa Congress Lulu's nightclub (DC) Zanzibar (DC)

Jennifer Donello began dance training at the age of 4 in classical ballet, jazz and tap. Upon entering high school, she also began training in painting, sculpture, and textiles. She was awarded a scholarship to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art where she received her BFA. Jennifer moved to New York City in 1995 and began working towards her MFA degree in Performing and Visual Arts at the School of Visual Arts. She continued her dance training in modern, jazz, and dances from the African Diaspora. In July 2002, Jennifer performed for the first time with Pupy’s ensemble, known at that time as Oriki, in the Noche Cubana production. She has been training, performing, and teaching with Insua since 2002. Jennifer is also the Company Manager, Education Coordinator, and Costume Designer for Oriki Omi Oddara.

Sharlane Conner is originally from New Bedford, MA where she began dancing at Kristine Couto's Dance Studio, The Dance Academy in Fall River, and Susan's Dance Studio, where she taught jazz, tap, and currently teaches contemporary workshops. She graduated magna cum laude from Dean College where she received her AA in Dance and the Trustee's Prize for the School of Dance. She has studied at The Ailey School's Summer Intensive Program in 2008 and is currently enrolled in The Ailey School's Independant Study Program. Sharlane has studied jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, west african and modern techniques which include Horton, Limon, Graham and Dunham. She has performed with and choreographed for Susan's Dance Studio, Dean College's Dance Team Show, Fall Fest at The Ailey School and performed in The Ailey School's Summer Sizzler in 2008. She is currently a student at Queen's Dance Center where she is also finding a love for salsa and afro-cuban!!

Alissa Clark is currently dancing in the Independent Study Program at the Ailey School. Growing up, she trained at Boston Ballet and later attended college at Harvard University where she danced with the Harvard Ballet Company and the Harvard Dance Department. She has studied ballet, Horton, modern, jazz, and musical theater, and has performed works by Trey McIntyre, Susan Shields, Daniel Pelzig, Martha Graham, and others. She is happy to be joining the Salsa in Queens!.

Melissa Pabon was born and raised in Connecticut, USA. She was raised by parents of Colombian descent as the oldest child of two girls. While growing up, she was quickly introduced to her Latin culture, specifically through music and dance. She started dancing tap, jazz, and ballet at the age of five and quickly started performing in front of hundreds of people. Family and friends always remember the parties, picnics and family gatherings, in which Melissa somehow always knew how to put on a show. Winning dance competitions, trophies, and awards she never forgets listening and dancing with her father to some of the greatest music of all times. Dancing became Melissa’s escape from life’s struggles. She found comfort and a life long dream in which she later began to accomplish.

In 2001, Melissa joined Fred Astaire Ballroom Dance Studios in Norwalk, CT where she quickly was competing and performing in Latin and Smooth dances. She participated in various competitions and showcases, winning numerous awards and prizes. There she was given the opportunity to become a certified dance instructor, an opportunity she will never forget. In 2003, Melissa quickly realized New York City would be her next challenge. Later on that year, she decided to move and make NYC her home. After moving to NYC, Melissa did not want to stop dancing; from there she continued to learn from some of the most respected salsa/mambo dancers in NYC. Within all these years, Melissa has had the opportunity to train, dance, and share the stage with some of the most talented dancers as well as respected music artists all over the world.

Melissa continues to teach and perform at both national and international events. She has been known to perform at the formally world known Copacabana in NYC, also with Enixe Dance Company from Brooklyn, NY, 2006 ESPN World Salsa Champion Darlin Garcia (Art in Motion) from Philadelphia and Noel Rodriguez (Calle Luna & Jayson Molina, PR) from Philadelphia. Melissa also freelances with MTV Tres as a Dance Director/Choreographer. She has been part of MTV Tres “Tu Pride”, ESL (English as a Second Language), Wisin Y Yandel “Artist Speaking Tres”, and MTV’s Dances from the Hood. In 2008, Melissa along with Nickelodeon/MTV Networks was presented with a Gracie Allen Award at the 34th Annual Gracie Awards Gala in NYC for Outstanding Commercial-Campaign for “Tu Pride”. She has always had a passion for teaching kids as well as adults in all aspects of Salsa/Mambo. She is a well-known and admired instructor/dancer specializing in Ladies Styling & Body Movement. Her classes are full of energy and passion; it is a class not to miss. Her accomplishments have been a dream come true and now she takes pride in keeping them alive.