Mixed Motion Artists
Siboney Dance Company
Founded in late 2009, Siboney dance company was started as a way to help aspiring dancers learn the foundations of partner dancing along with choreography and performance experience. The team has developed to 10 members and includes various local performances as well as participation at the Latin Street Salsa Congresso as well as the inaugural St. Louis Salsa Congress.
The group is constantly working on rounding out their overall abilities to increase their skill level as individuals and as a group. They are all respected members of the Chicago Salsa scene and are admired by many for the smooth and precise style that has become a signature of the entire group.
Siboney was founded by Del Dominguez and Laura Flores, who are longtime members and performers in the Chicago Salsa community. They both combine for over a decade of instruction and performance and have dedicated themsleves to make the team an exciting group who will spread their good name in Chicago and throughout the nation!
Siboney is proud to call MMA their home base and are the official Latin dance team of the studio. They are available for performances and demonstrations. For more information, please use our contact form.
Laura Flores & Del Dominguez
MMA founders Laura Flores and Del Dominguez have devoted themselves to leave a lasting mark on the Latin dance scene in Chicago by bettering themselves and passing on that knowledge to their wonderful students. They are both seasoned performers having started dancing with visionary director of the Chicago trendsetters, Descarga Caribe Dance Company. Under the direction of Broadway veteran Sekou McMiller, Laura and Del had the opportunity to work firsthand with a cutting edge choreographer who paved the way for the development of their dancing and performing skills.
After their stint with Sekou came to an end, they both decided to continue working on their passion by diving head first into the world of Ballroom dancing. As Del puts it: "Ballroom dancing is the Ballet of partner dancing." Wishing to truly work on mastering their craft, they both achieved their certifications to teach Ballroom and Rhythm styles through DVIDA, a respected standard in the world of Ballroom Dance. They both continue to work and refine their skill as instructors as well as their personal goals in the competitive dancing world.
They recently were hired to choreograph a critically acclaimed new work for the world famous Giordano Jazz Dance Company. The critically acclaimed 'Sabroso' was honored as the final piece in Giordano's spring 2011 feature as well as being recorded for next years “Dance For Life: The Documentary.” They were both honored and excited to be a part of the grand spectacle and look forward to working with Giordano Jazz in the future. For a sneak peak at the work in progress, click here.
One of the main objectives of Laura and Del and MMA as a whole is to make these dances and techniques more accessible to a wide range of people who might not have had the opportunity to be exposed otherwise. It is the sincere interest of MMA's founders to find people who share the passion of mastering their craft and passing their knowledge onto others.
Laura and Del will continue to work on themselves and others as they continue on their own personal journey of betterment through dance and invite you all to join them as they work to expose more and more people to timeless techniques of movement in a fun and approachable fashion. Be sure to check out their classes in Mambo and Latin technique throughout the week.
Mondays:
Mambo Level II - 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mambo Level III - 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Wednesdays:
Mambo Level I - 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mambo Level IV - 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thursdays:
Cha Cha Level I/II - 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays:
Mambo Jam - 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Gifted Souls
Gifted Souls Dance Crew evolved from a Latin dance club at Lane Tech high school. Members of the club, called Aspira, wanted to continue the camaraderie of a dance group after they graduated. They relied on the dance experience as an escape from struggles in the outside world.
Samantha Montes, president of Aspira and a salsa champion from Puerto Rica, approached Rocky in 2008 about coaching a dance group beyond high school. Samantha was the youngest member of Aspira, and her mom, Lisa, had been active in Salsa Congress.
R
ocky answered the call. He became a very tough coach, creating powerful routines and scheduling practice sessions. He tells the performers, “I don’t know what I am doing as director, but I will do my best to be a big influence in your lives. “
And they listen. He hears many personal stories of “tough upbringings and bad stuf,” and he wants good things to happen for these dedicated young people. These are young kids—ranging in age from 11 to 21. Under Rocky’s guidance, they work hard in demanding rehearsals.
Rocky chose the name Gifted Souls for what it meant to him—“The meaning of Gifted and Souls weren’t just words, they describe any talented human who does their talent from within. I took the name and ran with it.”
The dance crew first performed as Gifted Souls in 2009. About 20 young dancers took to the stage with some powerful choreography. The rest is history. In 2010, after they raised the roof at Salsa Congress, the group performed for a TV show in New York City and traveled to Detroit, Dallas, Cincinnati, and Miami for hip-hop and salsa competitions and performances.
I have a feeling we are going to hear a lot more about Gifted Souls. These young people are so committed to each other and to their dedicated director, Rocky, that their dance company has developed into a family.
One member (Superman) described it this way. “We enjoy dancing and making Rocky whip out his whistle. We like to make fun of each other…we may fight, but we take care of each other. We don’t pretend to be something we’re not. We share things together. We learn from each other. We help and evolve together as dancers.” In Rocky’s own words, they are “dancers who truly are Gifted Souls.”
MMA is pleased to have Gifted Souls join our family! Be sure to check out their new class every Sunday from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Billie Kershasky
Billie is an AFAA Certified Group Exercise Instructor. As a lover of the Spanish language and Latin American music, it is no wonder that Billie was drawn to Zumba Fitness. Zumba is an exercise class that is disguised as a party, so there is no need to be self-conscious. All you need to do is move however you are comfortable and soon you'll find your own style. If you need some joyfulness in your day, find a Zumba class.
Billie loves talking to strangers -- which is usually a giveaway to Chicagoans that she's from up North. Billie grew up in a small town in Central Wisconsin, coincidentally the same small town where her husband's father grew up.
When not doing Zumba, Billie maintains the wardrobes of Chicago's top professionals as a Wardrobe Consultant for Astor & Black Custom Clothiers.
Billie will be teaching Zumba at MMA very soon. Please check back for exact time/date!
Madonna Nash
Madonna Nash is an occupational therapist. She has been a pilates instructor, teaching in the Evanston community for the past 9 years. In May of 2010, she became certified to teach Zumba and completed Basics 2 and Zumba toning training this year at the 2011 Zumba Convention. She is passionate about fitness and dance and believes that the human spirit is nurtured through movement of the human body.
Come join Madonna every week at MMA for your Zumba fix!
