MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS
OUR STORY, MISSION AND TEAM
NIKOLETTA
FROM ATHLETE TO ARTIST
From the springboards of Hungary's National Springboard Diving Team to the energetic dance floors of Cuban festivals around the world, her journey is one of relentless passion and dynamic grace.
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Nikoletta has a lifelong passion for movement and rhythm. She was a professional athlete in Hungary, competing as a member of the National Springboard Diving team. She also has a background in ballroom dancing.
When she started dancing Cuban Salsa, she felt immediately in love with the “sabor” and flavour of the dance.
She has taught for several of the top dance schools in Sydney including Latin Spirit, Tropical Soul and Buena Vista Dance. She was a part of the Sydney Cuban Salsa Congress and Byron Bay Latin Festival, where she has taught and performed for many years. She has performed as a professional dancer at many venues including La Bodeguita del Medio.
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Her career highlight was competing in the Rueda World Championships in Denmark with the Australian team in 2015, where they placed 4th in the world.
Combining the technical precision of an elite level athlete, with the passion for Cuban music and her Hungarian temperament makes her a sought after social dancer and instructor.
STEPHEN
AUTHENTICITY AND PASSION
Stephen is a passionate dancer, Australian born but having travelled to both Cuba and the Dominican Republic multiple times to connect with these amazing cultures and learn authentic salsa and bachata directly from the top masters in both countries.
Stephen has many years of experience teaching salsa and bachata for Buena Vista Dance in Sydney, as well as performing and competing at national and international level.
He has twice won 1st place in the Australian Bachata Championship as an amateur, and also 2nd place in the Open Latin Solo. In 2013, he was a member of the professional rueda team which won first place in the Australian Rueda de Casino Championship. In 2015, he competed in the Rueda World Championships in Denmark as part of the Australian team, placing 4th in the world.
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His goal is to share his knowledge and passion with dancers in Australia, spreading understanding about both of these beautiful and fascinating cultures - dance salsa like a Cuban, and bachata like a Dominican!
