Workshop Schedule: October 18 and 19
Oregon State University, Memorial Union Ballroom

Saturday, October 18*

• 11:30 a.m.: Rueda de Casino, Henry Herrera (all levels)
  Whether just starting with Rueda de Casino or your a pro - Henry will give you tons of movements to play with.
• 12:30 p.m.: Son Cha Cha Cha, Duane Wrenn (all levels)
  Learn the awesome dance and style of Son and Cha Cha Cha. A must for every die-hard Casinero.
• 1:30 p.m.: Rueda de Casino, Julian Mejia (intermediate)
  Kick it up a knotch with Julian....and add a few more wilder motions to your Rueda de Casino.
• 2:30 p.m.: Cuban Rumba, Jose Carrion (all levels)
  All true Casino and Salsa dancers must have a base in Rumba, and no better instructor to offer that base than Jose Carrion. This class is a must!
  
• 3:30 p.m.: Qban Shines, Henry Herrera (all levels)
  Want to add more fun to your basic? Check out this class by Henry that incorporates unique, fun, and complex footwork into your basic step. Totally fun and totally Qban.

Sunday, October 19*

• 11 a.m.: Mega-Rueda 2-hour session with Mike, Simona, Duane, Maribel, Julian, Damon Weber (Rueda 4 Fun) and Henry! (all levels)
  Just like it sounds... it's two hours of fun in which our main instructors teach some of their favorite Rueda de Casino moves.
• 1 p.m.: Salsa con Rumba, Jose Carrion (all levels)
  Jose will show you how to incorporate the movements of Rumba (Yambu, Guaguanco and Columbia) into your Salsa dancing...a definite way to add more flavor.
• 2 p.m.: Timba Loco, Duane Wrenn (all levels)
  Afro-Cuban body movement+motions of reggaeton, son, rumba = more style and fun. This class will for sure add more spice to your dancing. This class comes recommended by Duane's mom.

* Workshops schedule is subject to change.

Instructors:

Henry Herrera, Director of Salsa Racing Dance Studios, Inc. was born and raised in Havana, Cuba where the steps Mambo, Cha-cha-chá, Son, Danzón, and Guaguancó were first introduced along with Casino style, a Cuban traditonal way of dancing to the beat , that is now known as "Salsa". In 1991, Henry arrived in Miami and immediately began competing in some of Miami's most popular night clubs as well as some television programs such as "Sábado Gigante and Jugando con Fernando" often placing first place. He has performed on stage with Israel Kantor, Carlos Oliva, El Canario, Frankie Negron, Frankie Ruiz, Oscar de Leon, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuel,NG2, Olga Tañon, Charlie Cruz,Alfredo De la Fe , Lefty Perez,Celia Cruz, Jean Carlos, Los Doctores del Ritmo, Hansel y Raul, Luis Enriquez,El General, Albita, DLG, Manolin El Medico De La Salsa, Paulo FG, La Reve, La Ritmo Oriental, Dan Den, Van Van,La Charanga Habanera, La Banda Meteoro, Irakere, Bobbie Brown, Jhonny O, Stevie B, and many more. He also provided his teaching skills to train Colin Farell, Gong Li, Jim Carrey, Will Smith, Bruce Willis and many other stars. Henry Herrera also worked in dance entertaiment for Cruise Lines like Royal Caribbean and Costa Victoria. He has created 43 instructional DVDs providing detail explanation of his steps, and performances demostrating his well known talent. He has also performed in many Salsa Congress and taught workshops in many places around the world like: Guatemala, Puerto Rico, France,Italia, Norway, Canada, Zurich,Gineva, Portugal, Stockholm ,Ireland,Peru, Miami ,Boston, New York, Arizona, Chicago, Los Angeles ,Texas ,Guadalupe, Bahamas,Curacao,Spain, Haiti, Dominican Replubic, Jamaica, Austria, San Fransisco,Colombia, Venezuela, Germany,Washington D.C , London, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina, Atlantic City, Holland,Orlando Florida, New Orleans, Tennessee, Brussels and many more...

Jose Carrion
Dancer, Professor, Percussionist, Choreographer

José Alfredo Carrión, born in Santiago de Cuba, began his career as a professional dancer when he was invited to join the Ballet Folklórico Cutumba in 1980 at the age of 17. After only 3 years of hard work, José was recognized as a “primer bailarín.” The following year, in 1984, after an evaluation by a national panel of Cuba’s most distinguished specialists in music and dance, José was honored with the title of professor and specialist in Cuban dance. In 1999, after almost 20 years of being a soloist for the dance troupe, José became Cutumba’s principal dancer.

Over the years, multi-talented José has also contributed to Cutumba as a choreographer, percussionist and researcher. José’s choreographies include Guiro para Elegguá, Baile Campesino, Son Tradicional and Fin de Fiesta, which are currently performed together as Fiesta Cubana. He has played percussion in a number of Cutumba productions and can be heard on several recordings including Ritmos Cubafricanos Volumes 1 and 2 which he co-produced.

As a professor, José has trained generations of dancers, many of whom still perform with Cutumba, others who continue their work as dancers abroad. Besides teaching professionals, José has a tremendous amount of experience working with children and young adults. He has taught extensively in Cuba’s school system in the primary schools, high schools and universities. José has also brought the joy of music and dance to children with special needs.

José has traveled extensively during his years with Cutumba. He has performed and given workshops in many different countries including England, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Guadeloupe & Martinique, Surinam, Canada and the US.

After 25 years of researching, collecting, conserving, revitalizing & presenting the folkloric manifestations of Afro-Franco-Haitian-Cuban origin found primarily in Cuba's Eastern (Oriente) provinces, José has retired from Cutumba. In April 2005, he moved to Seattle where he and his wife Naomi currently co-direct the Academy of Cuban Folklore and Dance. Soon after his arrival in the US, José founded ¡Todo Folklore Cubano!  This Seattle-based dance company performed at the opening ceremony of the World Rhythm Festival just a few weeks after it's formation. ¡Todo Folklore Cubano! has continued to be extremely well-received at a variety of events including the most recent Northwest Folklife Festival where many deemed the performance to be "best of festival".

Duane Wrenn
New Orleans, La native, Duane Wrenn was born to dance. Learning Salsa at 26 years young, duane excelled quickly and now dances as if he has always known Cuban blood flowed in his veins. President of the successful Energetic Soul Studios in Clawson , Mi, Duane has a B.S. degree in Exercise Science and is a highly accredited Fitness Consultant. After working as a Personal Trainer to the stars Duane has focused mainly on developing his unique dancing style. He now resides in Detroit , Michigan . Over the last six years Duane has put his knowledge and experience to use developing several unique classes from dance to aerobic and strength. With over 500 special appearances both locally and abroad his experience and track record speaks for itself.

Duane created a Salsa aerobic class with an accompanying video aptly named Energetic Salsa (TM). This basic video teaches its viewers 7 main variations of the basic salsa steps. duane is also the creator of Energetic Soul°sa T where he combines linear and circular styles of Salsa dancing. This is what duane refers to as " Mi receta y Mi Sazon" . 

Since the Energetic Salsa Video duane has produced three more instructional DVD's.

Soul*sa Adabt-ability part 1/2 and Con Alma 2. For more information click on any DVD title in products section.

Duane is considered one of the top instructors of Afro-Cuban Salsa (Casino) style dancing in the Midwest . His background ranges from Cuban Rumba, Son, Capoeira, and Break dancing. Duane specializes in Casino style dancing with an Energetic Soul*sa Twist.

Maribel Vasquez
Maribel Vasquez is a world class Salsa dancer. Born and raised in Southern California, she showed a talent for dance from an early age, expressed first through her Mexican cultural heritage as Cumbia. In 1997 Maribel moved from California to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she enrolled at Washtenaw Community College and completed her Associates Degree in 1999.

A pivotal moment in her dance life came when she met Energetic Soul Studios Master Instructor Duane Wrenn in 2001. Maribel engaged in a very serious and rigorous course study of Cuban style Salsa which eventually led to her becoming duane's personal dance partner performing nationally and internationally for such events as the International Hustle Salsa Congress, Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami and the Vancouver Rueda Congress. In addition she is a senior member of the Energetic Soul Supreme Dance Team, not only performing but also helping to teach the team.

As part of her extensive training directly under duane, Maribel has advanced to the level of Top Senior Instructor at Energetic Soul Studios teaching group and private lessons. She regularly assists duane as he teaches workshops locally and throughout the country. Maribel has also been called to teach her own Lady's Styling Footwork Workshops at the Chicago Salsa
Congress and to instruct at the Mega Mix Rueda de Casino Workshops. She also appears as a featured dancer on the Energetic Soul Studios Instructional DVDs.

Maribel's background includes Salsa, Casino, Rueda de Casino, Soul*sa, Cuban Rumba, Bachata and Merengue. Always looking to expand her skills she also dances Cha Cha, Hustle, Swing, Ballet and more.

Julian Mejia
Salsatlanta Dance Studio, Atlanta, Georgia
Only the coolest guy ever!... Complete bio coming soon.

Mike and Simona, Rumbanana Salsa Group
As co-directors of Rumbanana Salsa Group, their mission is to promote Cuban Salsa dancing in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Both have been dancing, performing, choreographing and teaching Salsa for more than 14 years. Their focus for the past decade has been Casino Style Salsa. By carefully studying Cuban dancers, as well as key dancers from Miami, Mike and Simona have brought true Casino Salsa to hundreds of people around the world.

Their teaching ranges from small classes to 100+ people workshops. Not only are their workshops and classes filled with meaningful information, but they also make it fun and exciting to learn.

Teaching venues have included their own classes in the Northwest, as well as workshops at national events, such as the Houston Salsa Congress, Palm Springs Salsa Congress, Chicago International Salsa Congress, Philadelphia Salsa Congress, Honolulu Salsathon, Summer Salsa Extravaganza in Palm Springs, NW Salsa Congress, Salsa Rueda Congress in Miami and many others.

Here are directions on how to get to our town by plane, car, train and/or boat.