DJ's
Ballroom DJs Michelle & Bob Friedman
have been part of the ballroom dance word for the past 30 years. As avid dancers they started with Ballroom Dance Lessons, and for the past 17 years as professional DJs – specializing in Ballroom Music. In 2001 they even won Top Couple in a Good Morning America 25 hour dance marathon. They have a comprehensive music library of over 40,000 tracks, which includes all types of Ballroom, Smooth, Latin, Rhythm, Hustle, West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango and other specialty dances. They are northeast coast DJ favorites spanning NY, CT, NJ, PA, & DE areas, and are regulars at the world famous Stardust Dance Weekends. They are equally at home playing their music for Ballroom Socials, Showcases, Competitions, and professional performances for some of the world’s most famous ballroom couples. While preferences in music certainly vary from person to person, what they use as their criteria when choosing music to play is really very simple - does it make dancers feel like they just have to get up and move, or doesn’t it? They get great satisfaction when they watch dancers who were heading for their seats at the end of a song turn around and pull each other back out to the dance floor time and again as a new piece begins.
John El Gringo (Latin DJ)
Resident DJ @ Winner's Circle Night Club (aka ClubWC) in Westbury NY and also DJ for Big Hits Entertainment. John spins all types of Latin and American Music. Latin Music is one of my specialties, that's where the name "El Gringo Latino" comes in...meaning I’m a White Boy playing Latin Music. :) Some girls at the club started calling me "Gringo DJ" saying “hey what's up it's the Gringo Dj” every time they came to the club so it kind of stuck and I went with it. At the Winner's Circle I spin everything from Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, Reggaeton, Punta, Vallenato, Rock En Espanol, Latin House y mas...I have fun and enjoy it all....and no I don't speak Spanish but one thing I do know how to say....Yo Soy Dj EL Gringo Latino... I No Speaki Spanish...Pero Yo Sabe La Musica Latina! One of my favorite types of Latin Music is Salsa, typically the Classic's like from the Fania era, the Big Band Mambo, Guaguanco, Guaracha and I enjoy finding rare tracks that not many people know of. I also am very into keeping up with what new Salsa is being released and I have a very successful Internet Radio station called "Salsa Picante Radio!"
INSTRUCTORS
Wingo Hom
Wingo Hom - known as "The Dance Doctor" was born and raised in New York City. At age 11, he was introduced to partner dancing by his classmate’s parents. They were social dancers and demonstrated a variety of dances in their living room, which awakened his passion for all dances. His determination and motivation has rewarded him by studying under some of the finest instructors and coaches, which has lead him to compete in an array of dances such as, Hustle, American and International styles of Ballroom, Latin, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing and Salsa. He is known for his unique technique for diagnosing and improving your dance. The dance doctor makes house calls, you supply the floor space and he will bring the knowledge. Wingo has over 50+ years of dance experience and multiple accomplishments, which include: Recipient of the 2015 Artie Phillips Lifetime Achievement Award, Recipient of the 2014 Employee of the Year Award for Stardust Dance Productions, Winner of 10 Top Teacher Awards, Winner of the 2009 Dancing with the Stars Tour Version in Cha Cha and East Coast Swing competition in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, 2006 Amateur Male Hustle Dancer of the Year, First and only amateur hustle couple, with partner Angela McCabe, to defeat a professional Hustle couple in a competition, 649 first place titles, 34 Jack and Jill first place awards. Wingo is one of the very few instructors that is certified (lead and follow) in Hustle, 12 different American Smooth, Latin and Rhythm Styles at full Bronze and Silver Levels. He is also certified to Judge Dance competitions in all levels. Wingo is a familiar presence in the Hustle, West Coast Swing and Salsa community and is currently teaching in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida.
Lourdes Cruz
has been dancing from a very young age and began teaching & competing professionally in 1996. Her dance background extends from Ballroom & Latin Dancing, Folk, Belly Dance, West Coast Swing & Argentine Tango. Her 13 Ballroom Dance Major along with her interdisciplinary teaching experience and studies in music, martial arts, & speech pathology contribute to the versatility of her dancing and teaching style. Currently she is Program Director and Lead Instructor of the Dance Program at Innerlight Movement Studio in Hyde Park, NY.
Richard Givney-Dance Instructor
has a successful twenty four years’ experience in all aspects of the ballroom dancing industry through cultivating and achieving personal, professional and educational goals. He competed professionally in International Latin; has his teaching certifications in multiple syllabi, including both American and International dances, and franchised and independent curriculums. He continues to take lessons with top professionals for teaching and personal dance goals. Last year his ballroom dance program won the 2012 Best in Monmouth County, NJ Health & Life Magazine’s “Reader’s Choice Award”. Richard is available for private or semi-private lessons.
Nino DiGiulio-Dance Instructor
Owner and Executive Director of May I Have This Dance, one of the most popular social dance studios in the nation, Nino has created a unique curriculum and trained thousands of dance students and professionals. An expert in all ballroom and latin dances, he has won numerous top teacher awards and competitions in West Coast Swing and Hustle. He has been a featured instructor, coach, judge, and competitor at national events like Swing Dance America, World Hustle Championships, International Hustle & Salsa Championships, Swing City Chicago, Carolina Groove, NY Hustle Congress, and the Chicago Salsa Congress.
Amanda Doerr-Dance Instructor
A Master Instructor with the prestigious Chicago-based dance studio, May I Have This Dance, Amanda received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre/Dance at the University of Wisconsin. She is an award-winning choreographer and talented social dancer. Student's love Amanda's ability to put everyone at ease and make learning even complicated steps easy and fun.
Nicole Gifford-Dance Instructor
A Senior Instructor with the prestigious May I Have This Dance studio based out of Chicago, Nicole is known for making even the most difficult steps easy. Students adore her and flock to her social ballroom dance classes. She also has a degree in dance and has directed her own Modern dance company for over a decade.
Daniel Cruz
Daniel Cruz has been performing and teaching Ballroom, Latin and West Coast Swing in the Hudson Valley for almost 7 years. Having over 16 years of dance training, Daniel excels as a leader and follower in Ballroom, Latin, Tango and West Coast Swing. At 17 years old, he became a certified instructor through the Global Professional Dance Instructors Association at the Basic and Intermediate levels in West Coast Swing. Daniel shows an impressive amount of communication skills between people, teachers, and students of all ages. He enjoys bringing people together through the language and art of dance.
FITNESS INSTRUCTORS
Marion Panos-Fitness Instructor
Belly Dance Instructor - In 2009, Marion joined our fitness staff and teaches Belly Dance classes at the weekends. Marion is trained in several styles of dance, including jazz, modern, Afro-Brazilian, African, Middle Eastern and Ballroom. She is proficient in American style ballroom and Latin and has also studied International Standard. She competed around the country at the pro-am level in American style ballroom and Latin for many years. She was a professional Middle Eastern dancer and has been teaching Belly Dance for more than 15 years.
Molly Gelsomino-Fitness Instructor
Molly will be having morning Stretch classes Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 am to get you ready to dance. Originally from Upstate, New York. She has a diverse background in the arts, including a BA in Dance from the University at Buffalo, over 15 years of performance and choreography in concert dance and 6 years as a Dance Educator in the Brooklyn Public Schools. Molly is a former professional cheerleader for the AFL, and spent 6 years in NYC as a Co-Artistic Director for The Movement Collective Dance Company. As a newer resident of Sullivan County, Molly found Zumba® to be the most exciting way to fuse her passion for dance. music and fitness. Molly enjoys inspiring her clients and encouraging her classes to feel the music, join the party and have a fun fitness experience upon stepping into the studio.
DANCE HOST DIRECTOR
ENTERTAINERS
LUCAS & KATERINA BARTUNEK
Bio to Follow
HUNTER HOUDE & BRIELLE FRIEDMAN
Bio to Follow
LUIS RAMIREZ & ANALIA CARRENO
LUIS RAMIREZ An Argentine Tango producer/director/choreographer/master and professional dancer.
His powerful, elegant and authentic Argentine tango style has taken him to teach and perform all over the world. "Conjurotango”, his own tango company, "Tango Story" ( The tango world champions show) and “Tango Miracle” are some of the most acclaimed shows, where he has participated as director, choreographer and principal dancer. They have been held at the major theater, in Buenos Aires, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Munich, Moscow and Sao Paulo. Currently, he is producing and in the process of making off, his new masterpiece, “Back to Tango", that will be premiered in 2020.
ANALIA CARREÑO International master, professional dancer, choreographer, judge and director of Argentine Tango. Her unique, polished and stylish dance has taken her to go around the world, invited to the most renowned Tango Festivals in Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, Moscow, Tokyo and Munich. She is the founder, director, and producer of the international Tango company “ConjuroTango”, with whom they have toured around Argentina and the most important Opera Theatres in Asia. She performed in TV shows next to celebrities as Ricky Martin and Jon Secada, as well as world-famous musicals “Forever Liza”, “Tanguera” and “Tango emotion”, touring South America and Europe. As a choreographer, she has created “Tangostory”, for the tango world champions. She was captain dancer in the major tango houses in Buenos Aires; Señor Tango and Esquina Carlos Gardel.
