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Your Team is here
Why is having a great team important?
Karen Rodriguez founded Abanico Dance and Entertainment as a labour of love in 2005 and has enjoyed helping many students achieve the confidence to come out on the dance floor, enjoy Latin dancing or participate in a wonderful dance performance either at a festival or private event. Many looked to share in the joy of the music in social settings and a few to reach the goal of performing on stage to express their love of Latin music and dance to an audience. We have cherished memories of dancers who said "I have two left feet, I'll never get there!" and after some time showing them that it just isn't so. As a certified Zumba instructor, Salsa Tots teacher and Huracan Canada Performance coach, Karen has helped many beginners both children, teens and adults move through the different levels of dance by personalizing their dance instruction.
We take great care in forming great partnerships in the Latin dance community and every effort is made to continue to pass along this beautiful art form for many generations to come; we accomplish this by provinding every class with a strong team of instructors, coaches and trainers who not only dance professionaly but perform and/or compete and look out for their students individualized needs.
THE FACULTY
Karen Rodriguez Chaba
Director
Instructor / Choreographer
ABANICO DANCE & HURACAN CANADA
Karen was born in Lima Peru and has been actively involved in the dance world since the wee age of three. She began her dance career in classical ballet, jazz, AfroPeruvian folk dancing (negroide), musical theatre, and improv. Karen has performed with On Beat Dance Company, choreographed and ran as artistic director for United Salseros and in 2004 co-founded and choreographed for Latin Dance Theatre focused on Cuban Cabaret.
Karen is now a sought after Latin dance instructor, choreographer and producer. Her latest contracts were choreographing for five main Latin Dance studios in Toronto, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington.
Karen's favourite and most cherished salsa style, as well as her focus, is Huracán's New York Style Salsa On2.
It was love-at-first-sight when Karen saw Huracán Dance Company, known back then as Santorico, perform at the New York Salsa Congress in 2002. Since then, at every opportunity she had, she headed to their studio in New York. What she learned resulted in powerful and transformational changes in her dancing and with time, as she became more involved in teaching and choreographing, she began bringing this knowledge back home.
Finally, the opportunity came in to join forces and spearhead the intoxicating energy of this salsa style as Huracán Canada. Karen and Jeff (Director of the US sister company - Huracan Dance) hold the same motto for business, dance instruction and dancer development - "The greatest measure of your success is in the results achieved by your students' progress. Nothing else compares to the transformations that happens through good instruction, consistancy and dedication".
Presently, Karen is working hard at bringing this explosive style to life and helping many students achieve their own level of transformation and deep connection to the dance.
Favorite Inspiring Quote: Every day brings new promise, new beginnings, new opportunities for growth. Get up every day excited and grateful for what you are about to contribute with.
Instructor / Choreographer
ABANICO DANCE & HURACAN CANADA
Karen was born in Lima Peru and has been actively involved in the dance world since the wee age of three. She began her dance career in classical ballet, jazz, AfroPeruvian folk dancing (negroide), musical theatre, and improv. Karen has performed with On Beat Dance Company, choreographed and ran as artistic director for United Salseros and in 2004 co-founded and choreographed for Latin Dance Theatre focused on Cuban Cabaret.
Karen is now a sought after Latin dance instructor, choreographer and producer. Her latest contracts were choreographing for five main Latin Dance studios in Toronto, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington.
Karen's favourite and most cherished salsa style, as well as her focus, is Huracán's New York Style Salsa On2.
It was love-at-first-sight when Karen saw Huracán Dance Company, known back then as Santorico, perform at the New York Salsa Congress in 2002. Since then, at every opportunity she had, she headed to their studio in New York. What she learned resulted in powerful and transformational changes in her dancing and with time, as she became more involved in teaching and choreographing, she began bringing this knowledge back home.
Finally, the opportunity came in to join forces and spearhead the intoxicating energy of this salsa style as Huracán Canada. Karen and Jeff (Director of the US sister company - Huracan Dance) hold the same motto for business, dance instruction and dancer development - "The greatest measure of your success is in the results achieved by your students' progress. Nothing else compares to the transformations that happens through good instruction, consistancy and dedication".
Presently, Karen is working hard at bringing this explosive style to life and helping many students achieve their own level of transformation and deep connection to the dance.
Favorite Inspiring Quote: Every day brings new promise, new beginnings, new opportunities for growth. Get up every day excited and grateful for what you are about to contribute with.
Jeff Taveras
Director / Performer/ Competitor / Choreographer
Jeff is the director of Huracan Dance company New York Studios
and a two time Salsa Summit champion in both Salsa On2 and Cha-Cha divisions.
Jeff was born and raised in Corona, Queens. He went to Newtown High School, and Dominican College in Rockland County. Jeff played High School and College Baseball with fellow teacher and dancer Edwin Tolentino.
Jeff started his career at Santo Rico Dance Company. After being an intricate part of the team for 8 years Jeff became the Director of Santo Rico Queens and eventually Santo Rico Pro team.
In 2016 Jeff decided to take his dance in a different direction and opened Huracan Dance Company. Jeff also acquired Latin Moves Dance Studio in Connecticut and has expanded Huracan to Toronto, Ontario.
Jeff is one of the best instructors technically, musically and creatively in all of New York city. His talent lays deep in understanding any students challenges and has coached many students from beginner to competition level.
His syllabus and training methodology has created not only incredible social dancers but world class performers.
Huracan currently has 5 teams, operating in 3 locations. There are currently over 60 dancers on the roster and over 400 hundred students attending Huracan Classes.
Jeff also trains and creates choreography for many dancers throughout NYC.
Favorite Quote:
"If you want to be great, deliver the unexpected. If you want to be the best, deliver a miracle".
~Tim S. Grover, Relentless
Jeff is the director of Huracan Dance company New York Studios
and a two time Salsa Summit champion in both Salsa On2 and Cha-Cha divisions.
Jeff was born and raised in Corona, Queens. He went to Newtown High School, and Dominican College in Rockland County. Jeff played High School and College Baseball with fellow teacher and dancer Edwin Tolentino.
Jeff started his career at Santo Rico Dance Company. After being an intricate part of the team for 8 years Jeff became the Director of Santo Rico Queens and eventually Santo Rico Pro team.
In 2016 Jeff decided to take his dance in a different direction and opened Huracan Dance Company. Jeff also acquired Latin Moves Dance Studio in Connecticut and has expanded Huracan to Toronto, Ontario.
Jeff is one of the best instructors technically, musically and creatively in all of New York city. His talent lays deep in understanding any students challenges and has coached many students from beginner to competition level.
His syllabus and training methodology has created not only incredible social dancers but world class performers.
Huracan currently has 5 teams, operating in 3 locations. There are currently over 60 dancers on the roster and over 400 hundred students attending Huracan Classes.
Jeff also trains and creates choreography for many dancers throughout NYC.
Favorite Quote:
"If you want to be great, deliver the unexpected. If you want to be the best, deliver a miracle".
~Tim S. Grover, Relentless
Julie Aponte
Instructor / Performer / Choreographer
Julie is a two time World Summit salsa and Cha-Cha champion, as well as Euroson Salsa champion. She has been a main dancer for our sister dance studio Huracán Dance Company in New York city and has been a contributing member since its inception.
She started dancing at Santo Rico dance school when she was just 5 years old and at the age of 15, she began to travel abroad to perform and teach workshops. Julie has performed in France, Russia, Germany, Peru, the Caribbean and many cities throughout the United States.
Julie is currently the Ladies styling and spinning director of Huracan Canada and jointly choreographs for the performance and competition teams.
Her incredible technical skills in spinning and elegant arm styling make her a sought after instructor and coach.
Favorite Quote- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. Its learning to dance in the rain"
Julie is a two time World Summit salsa and Cha-Cha champion, as well as Euroson Salsa champion. She has been a main dancer for our sister dance studio Huracán Dance Company in New York city and has been a contributing member since its inception.
She started dancing at Santo Rico dance school when she was just 5 years old and at the age of 15, she began to travel abroad to perform and teach workshops. Julie has performed in France, Russia, Germany, Peru, the Caribbean and many cities throughout the United States.
Julie is currently the Ladies styling and spinning director of Huracan Canada and jointly choreographs for the performance and competition teams.
Her incredible technical skills in spinning and elegant arm styling make her a sought after instructor and coach.
Favorite Quote- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. Its learning to dance in the rain"
Abel Taveras
Abel Taveras is one of the founders of Huracan Dance Company and l has been dancing since 2004.
Abel began dancing at Jorday Rivera's dance studio in Queens, NY. He then proceeded to dance for Nelson Flores and the Descarga Latina Dance Company.
Abel then took time off from dancing and began DJing. Abel has played at many venues throughout the United States.
After a 5 year Hiatus, Abel returned to dance. His accomplishments include dancing at various Congresses including New York, Ct Salsa Fest, Boston, Berlin, Orlando, Marseille to learn a few. We also danced at the 32 and 33 Salsa festival at the Barclay Center.
Quote: "Don't let anyone out work you"
Abel began dancing at Jorday Rivera's dance studio in Queens, NY. He then proceeded to dance for Nelson Flores and the Descarga Latina Dance Company.
Abel then took time off from dancing and began DJing. Abel has played at many venues throughout the United States.
After a 5 year Hiatus, Abel returned to dance. His accomplishments include dancing at various Congresses including New York, Ct Salsa Fest, Boston, Berlin, Orlando, Marseille to learn a few. We also danced at the 32 and 33 Salsa festival at the Barclay Center.
Quote: "Don't let anyone out work you"
Andrew Gray
Mark Anthony Salabie
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THE TEAM
