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About Us heading

 

LATIN FIRE / SALSA FUSION Christchurch - The Dance School

 

We specialise in Latin dance classes from beginners to advanced, covering all the Salsa and Merengue styles danced in such places as London, Cuba, Miami and LA. If you want to learn a few steps for fun or wish to become a professional dancer, we have the classes for you. We teach Cuban Salsa and Cross Body/LA/New York/Linear Style Salsa as well as basic Merengue which often compliments the Salsa dance. Our simple techniques on combinations, signalling, following and leading, ladies styling, advanced moves and tricks, shines and footwork will have you on the dance floor in no time. From time to time we will also bring other specialised teachers in to take lessons or workshops in other dances such as Bachata, Zouk, Cha Cha, Ballroom, Samba, Hip Hop, Bollywood and capoeira.

Dance Instructors

Donna Frost 

Dance Instructor

 

Dance qualifications:

  • Up to ‘Solo Seal’ in NZ Jazz
  • ‘Solo Seal’ in L.A Jazz Dancing
  • Up to ‘Intermediate’ Royal Academy Dance, Ballet
  • Over 12 years of Merengue, Salsa, Cha Cha dance training under numerous New Zealand & Overseas tutors
  • Trained aerobics instructor and competed in NZ National Aerobics competition

Latin competitions:

  • 1st placing at South Island Salsa Competition, Teams, September, 2008
  • Best Overall Performance Team at NZ/Pacific Salsa Selections for Sydney, Wellington 2008 (choreographer & performer)
  • Highest Score Team at NZ/Pacific Salsa Selections for Sydney, Wellington 2007 (choreographer & performer)
  • 3rd Team at Jambalaya, Rotorua 2006 (choreographer & performer)
  • 3rd placing at NZ Nationals ‘Open Freestyle Salsa’ competition 1999
  • Salsa South Island Silver Medalist 1999
  • Lambada South Island Gold Medalist 1997
  • Salsa South Island Gold Medalist 1997

Donna has trained with the following National & International instructors:

  • Johnny Vasquez (Mexico), Edwin Rivera (New York/Puerto Rico), Jaime Jesus & Little Liz (LDA Sydney), Olivery Pineda & Luda (Latin Motion, Sydney), Ryoko & Ryu (Japan), Orod & Dessi (London), Al Liquid Silver & Karla Espinoza (USA), Stayz Ruakawa (Star Dance Academy, NZ) Oren & Pascall (Salsa Vibes, Sydney), Gian Carlo & Masha (Latinissimo, Auckland), Karlos & Eli (Latin Steps, Brisbane), Tony Lara & Danielle (Italy), Junior & Emily (USA),  Nuno & Vanda (Portugal), Super Mario (London), Mary Grace & Neil (LDA Sydney), Susana Montero (UK), Csaba & Vali (Latin Motion, Sydney), Nestor (Modus Vivendi), David Paris & Zoe, USA!!!

 

Performed Latin dance for:

  • Sydney Salsa Congress 2007, 2008, 2009
  • Internationally acclaimed ‘Buena Vista Social Club’
  • ASB Starry Nights
  • Blenheim Salsa Extravaganza, Blenheim 2008, 2009
  • NZ/Pacific Salsa Congress, Wellington 2008, 2009
  • Jambalaya, Rotorua 2007
  • Christchurch Symphony Orchestra 2007
  • Mexican Cafe
  • Canterbury Flames / Tactix 2005, 2006, 2008
  • Manderley Garden Festival 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  • Harcourts 2007
  • Valentines Day Dance 2008
  • First National Real Estate Australasian Conference
  • CTV Good Living Show 2007, 2008, 2009
  • Latin Festival  2007, 2008, 2009
  • Numerous Corporate & social dance functions

Choreographer:

  • Choreographer & Manager of ‘Latin Fire Dance Troupe” with over 8 up to date Dance routines in Samba, Lambada, ChaCha & Salsa
  • Choreographer & Manager of ‘Latin Fire Teenage Troupe’
  • Choreographer of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ for ‘Showbiz Christchurch’
  • Choreographer for Canterbury Children’s Theatre, ‘Fairy Tale Magic’
  • Choreographer for Canterbury University, Musoc, ‘Law Review’

Other Dance/Singing Performances:

  • Performances for Showbiz Christchurch from the age of 16, including Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Me & My Girl, West Side Story plus many other!

Highlights:

  • Leading roles as Diana Morelis in ‘A Chorus Line’
  • Anita in ‘West Side Story’ with Showbiz
  • Nicky in ‘Sweet Charity’ (Canterbury Music Theatre)
  • Performing at Sydney Salsa Congress January, 2007!
  • Being placed 1st at the NZ/Pacific Salsa Congress Teams, 2007 & invited back to Sydney Salsa Congres.

Judge:

  • To be: Judge at the NZ Nationals 2009, Auckland
  • First NZ Youth Salsa Congress, Wellington 2007
  • South Island Salsa Competition 2008, Youth Section

Upcoming performance:

  • Sydney Salsa Congress, January 2009
  • Byron Latin Fiesta, Australia, November 2009

 

  Warren Frost

Dance Instructor

Latin Competitions:

  • 1st Placing at South Island Salsa Competition Teams, September 2008
  • Best Overall Performance Team at NZ/Pacific Salsa Selections for Sydney, Wellington 2008
  • Highest score Team at NZ/Pacific Salsa Selections for Sydney, Wellington 2007
  • 3rd Team at Jambalaya, Rotorua 2006
  • 3rd placing at NZ Nationals ‘Open Freestyle Salsa’ competition 1999
  • Salsa South Island Silver Medalist 1999

Warren has trained with the following National & International instructors:

  • Johnny Vasquez (Mexico), Edwin Rivera (New York/Puerto Rico), Jaime Jesus & Little Liz (LDA Sydney), Olivery Pineda & Luda (Latin Motion, Sydney), Ryoko & Ryu (Japan), Orod & Dessi (London), Al Liquid Silver & Karla Espinoza (USA), Stayz Ruakawa (Star Dance Academy, NZ) Oren & Pascall (Salsa Vibes, Sydney), Gian Carlo & Masha (Latinissimo, Auckland), Karlos & Eli (Latin Steps, Brisbane), Tony Lara & Danielle (Italy), Junior & Emily (USA),  Nuno & Vanda (Portugal), Super Mario (London), Mary Grace & Neil (LDA Sydney), Susana Montero (UK), Csaba & Vali (Latin Motion, Sydney), Nestor (Modus Vivendi), David Paris & Zoe, USA!!!

 

 

Performed Latin dance for:

  • Sydney Salsa Congress 2007, 2008, 2009
  • Internationally acclaimed ‘Buena Vista Social Club’
  • NZ/Pacific Salsa Congress, Wellington 2007, 2008, 2009
  • Jambalaya, Rotorua 2006
  • ASB Starry Nights
  • Manderley Garden Festival 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007
  • Harcourts
  • Valentines Day Dance
  • Mexican Cafe
  • Christchurch Symphony Orchestra 2007
  • Canterbury Flames / Tactix 2005, 2006, 2008
  • Numerous Corporate & social dance functions

Choreographer:

  • ‘Mens of Fire' Dance Troupe

Other Performances:

  • Performer for SONZ of Salsa (The NZ Mens Salsa Performance Team
  • Also MC at many Social and Corporate events.

Upcoming performance:

  • Byron Latin Fiesta, Australia November 2009
  • Sydney Salsa Congress, Sydney January 2008

 

 

Jeff Ramsay

Dance Instructor 

  • 1st Placing at South Island Salsa Competition Teams, 2008 & 2009
  • Best Overall Performance Team at NZ/Pacific Salsa Congress, 2008
  • Highest score Team at NZ/Pacific Salsa Congress 2007
  • Latin Fire Team member selected to Sydney with the highest score
  • Jambalaya, Rotorua 2006 - Team member selected to Sydney
  • Finalist at South Island Performers/Teachers Catergory 2007

Member of:

  • Latin Fire Dance Troupe
  • Men of Fire Dance Troupe

 Salsa instructor : Kendall Burt

 Beginners Salsa/Merengue & Bachata instructor : David Trought

 Zouk & Bachata instructor : Carrie Martin

 Zouk instructor : Ezra Hamilton

 Beginner Salsa/Merengue instructor : Lisa Berry