Our Team

Viva Latino! was formed in 2005 with a vision to bring the wonderful dances, language and culture of Latin America to New Zealanders.

Salsa Instructor  

Saione (Director, Salsa Instructor)

With his years of dance experience (including hip-hop and modern jive), is the Director and principal instructor of the Latin dance academy. Saione has been trained by some of the best Salsa dancers and instructors in the world and has taught hundreds of people with no dance experience how to step on to the dance floor with confidence.
Hip Hop Instructor  

Lauren Dunningham (Hip Hop instructor)

Lauren has been teaching Hip Hop professionally for 7 years. She competed in the world Hip Hop Championships 2008 and trained with triple8funk company. Lauren has also been trained in Jazz, Latin and Contemporary dance. She has been a bgirl (break dancer) for 3 years and is currently focusing on this area of Hip Hop. She has an advanced Certificate in Dance and has also traveled to Brisbane several times to dance with the dance group 'Blaze'.

" I Love to explore all styles of movement and performing arts, and hope to continue traveling and expanding my capacity, trying new areas of the performing arts industry."

   

Kimberley (Burlesque Instructor)

Kimberley is one of NZ’s top Hip Hop Dance Instructors and has been teaching for over 7 years. Founder of Vibe One Dance Company she has appeared in numerous music videos including Deihamo’s “We Gon’ Ride” and has choreographed and directed a number of hiphop dance shows. Kimberley has danced with Keshia Paulse (NZ Idol Top 10) at US RnB Group 112's Auckland concert and competed in various dance comps.  More recently she has also judged a number of national dance competitions including “Tear It Up”, “Bring it On”, “Bounce” and Mai FM’s “Find Ya Freestyle.
Kids Dance Instructor  

Pauline (Star Dance Instructor)

Pauline started dancing in 2002 with the first Star Dance programme in Wanganui, 6 years later she has become an accomplished dancer with a passion for dance, teaching and performance. Pauline assisted leading the New Zealand Youth Salsa team to the USA, Australia, Japan, and China, performing to standing ovations at Salsa Congresses around the world. Pauline has taught all around New Zealand and loves sharing her passion for dance with children and youth. In 2006 Pauline and her dance partner Stayz placed 1st at the NZ Salsa Champs in the professional section. Now Pauline dances professionally with the Cuban Groove Company, Soul Fuego Pro-team, and is a valuable member of the team at Viva Latino helping to develop the Star Dance programme in Auckland.

 

Margaret (Hip Hop Heels and Burlesque Instructor)

Margaret has been in the Hip Hop dance community since 2000, involved with dance crews Triple8Funk and KaLADYscope.  Her experiences include productions, live stage shows and world competitions.  Margaret was in the 2007 Vodafone Cheerleading squad for the Vodafone Warriors.  As a member of Triple8funk Allstars, she placed 5th at the World Hip Hop Champs in L.A in 2007.   Margaret was in the 2009 Monsters of Hip Hop Cast, performing the show 'Hip Hop Nation' after a 2 week intensive rehearsal.  She was also guest choreographer for the adults division for the Hip Hop showcase Dream' 09.

 

Audrey (Burlesque Instructor)

Audrey started modeling and dancing Pop and Jazz from the age of 4 years old in Australia. As much as she wanted to Audrey never had the chance to train formally, but that didn't stop her from persuing her passion to perform. 10 years later Audrey moved here in NZ and was introduced to Hip Hop, Salsa and Pole Fitness which she loves to bits. Since then she has participated in competitions, appeared in video clips and has achieved great things including - being selected to represent NZ in the World Salsa Championships and forming an all female dance troupe, Las Donnitas.
 
Audrey likes to fun and she will definately bring it when she teaches yet she wants everyone to know that she is also there to assist women build confidence and bring sexiness into their lives. She believes every woman has a feminine side it's either showing already or hidden.

   

Timothy (Ballet For Adults Instructor)

Timothy Gordon has had over 30years experience as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Timothy’s Ballet career has taken him around the world. He has worked with The Singapore Dance Theatre, The Australian Ballet Company, The Nederland Dance Theatre, and The Royal New Zealand Ballet amongst many others including being a guest teacher for The Royal Danish Ballet and The Tokyo Ballet.

 

Carolina (Zumba Instructor)

Originally from Chile, South America, Carolina Arias not only grew up with the sounds of Latin rhythms, but she has also been in the Fitness Industry for over 8 years as an instructor and personal trainer, so Zumba has been a perfect combination of these two passions.

“I love teaching Zumba classes. The reason is simple: Every class feels like a party! Come join me and you'll see what I mean. You don't even have to know how to dance. Just move your body and follow my lead. It's easy! I'm a fully licensed Zumba instructor and I have a vast experience teaching Latin rhythms so come and dance with me!”

Belly Dance Instructor

Julia (Belly Dance Instructor)

Julia, originally from Chile, has grown up around music and dancing and continues to enjoy the art of dance, “dance is a beautiful way to express deep and hidden feelings”. Julia started studying classic techniques and modern dance at the age of 11. She has been a dancer with a leading latin american dance company in Chile. Julia has also spent five years teaching children and feels that it was her best work . In 2003 Julia began to study belly dancing and has been performing in New Zealand since 2006.

 

Louisa Alix (West Coast Swing Instructor)

Louisa Alix was introduced to and fell in love with West Coast Swing in 1999 and was eventually dancing 5-7 days a week and regularly travelling 2-5 hours for a night dancing amongst Southern California’s finest West Coast Swing dancers.

Louisa started competing in 2001 at "Jack and Jill" events at various American national events placing first, second, third or finalist in her division. At the last event she attended, Swingthing held in Irvine, California, USA, in October 2009, she took home 2nd place in Jack and Jill and 5th place in the advanced Strictly competitions.
 
Trained by many including notable West Coast Swing instructors: Skippy Blair - GSDTA, Tatiana Mollman, Jordan Frisbee, Deborah Szekely and Robert Cordoba

Certified in instruction of West Coast Swing by the Professional Dance Instructors Association and a recommended member instructor of the Golden State Dance Teacher's Association.

   

Kim Malone (Broadway / Street Tap Instructor)

Kim has learnt the art of Tap Dancing since the age of 9 performing in various Dance recitals and competitive work throughout her childhood. She had great opportunites in travelling and performed in Cabaret shows in various countries with a professional dance troupe. Kim spent 7 years in Sweden where she taught Tap/Jazz in a Performing Arts School. She loves the excitement and energy of Broadway shows and screen musicals.
Kim currently teaches a varitey of styles to Theatre Tap to Funk Street Tap.

Pilates Instructor

Jennifer Allen (Pilates Instructor)

Jennifer has just recently arrived in New Zealand from New York City where she worked as a professional dancer and Pilates instructor. She spent many years traveling the world as a performer and through the wear and tear of professional dance discovered the benefits of Pilates. Jennifer received her teaching certification through Power Pilates in New York City, a classical technique that incorporates the use of neutral spine into their core work. She believes that the core is the true center of the body, and if the abdominal muscles and spine are strong, the rest of the body effortlessly follows suit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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