Judges
Kelly Lannan & Eric Caty
Eric and Kelly are the owners of Alberta Dancesport – Calgary's best place to dance, the directors of Salsa Rica Productions, and the organizers of the Calgary International Salsa Congress, and the Edmonton Ballroom and Salsa Gala.
Eric and Kelly are proud to be choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and to have been finalists at many World Professional Salsa Championships. Eric and Kelly perform and teach on the international salsa circut and judge many events including the Global Salsa Championships at the World Salsa Summit.
Kelly Lannan
Kelly Lannan is an owner of Alberta Dancesport, a director of Salsa Rica Productions, and an organizer of the Calgary International Salsa Congress, Edmonton Ballroom and Salsa Gala, Ultimate Latin Dance Championship and Montreal Salsa Fest.
Kelly has been a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and has been a finalist at many World Professional Salsa Championships. Kelly is a judge, teacher, and competition coordinator at many events including the Global Salsa Championships at The Summit.
Eric Caty
Eric is an owner of Alberta Dancesport, a director of Salsa Rica Productions, and an organizer of the Calgary International Salsa Congress, Edmonton Ballroom and Salsa Gala, Ultimate Latin Dance Championship and Montreal Salsa Fest.
Eric has been a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and has been a finalist at many World Professional Salsa Championships. Eric is a judge, teacher, and competition coordinator at many events including the Global Salsa Championships at The Summit.
Tito & Tamara
Tito and Tamara are internationally known salsa dancers from Puerto Rico who have performed in over 75 cities around the world. Both Tito and Tamara began dancing at a young age, and have over 20 years of salsa dancing experience. They are also skilled at other dance forms such as jazz, ballet, hip hop and more.
Tamara Livolsi
Tamara Livolsi is a celebrated dancer, teacher, choreographer, and judge from Puerto Rico. Tamara has been featured in the movies ‘Dirty Dancing Havana Nights’, ‘Yellow’, ‘El Cantante: Hector Lavoe’ and ‘American Gangster’. Tamara has worked with Artists like Luis Fonsi, Manny Manuel, Ednita Nazario, Grupo Mania and Wilkins among others. Tamara travels the world performing with her husband and partner Tito Ortos.
Tito Ortos
Tito Ortos is a celebrated dancer, teacher, choreographer, and judge from Puerto Rico. Tito has been featured in the movies ‘Dirty Dancing Havana Nights’, ‘Yellow’, ‘El Cantante: Hector Lavoe’ and ‘American Gangster’. Tito is the director of the San Juan City Salsa Dance Program. He has been a choreographer for artists such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle, El Gran Combo, Michael Stuart, Tito Nieves, Ruben Blades, Richie Rey y Bobby Cruz, Domingo Quinones, Ismael Miranda, Elvis Crespo, Cheo Feliciano, Modesto Cepeda, Andy Montanez, NG2, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Tommy Olivencia, Julio Voltio and Tego Calderon. Tito travels the world performing with his wife and partner Tamara Livolsi.
Jorge and Indira
Indira is a talented artist from Cuba, excelling as a salsa dancer, choreographer, contemporary artist, and actress. She has also danced with Zumanity Cirque du Soleil. Her diverse skills and vibrant performances make her a standout in the dance community.
Jorge is a renowned dancer, teacher, and choreographer of Cuban and international dances based in Las Vegas, NV, USA. His expertise spans various Cuban dance styles, making him a sought-after figure in the dance world.
Together, Jorge and Indira are graduates of the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Arte Cubana. Their shared passion for dance and dedication to teaching bring them immense pride. They embody the essence of #dance, #music, #salsa, #salsacubana, #rumbacubana, and #timbacubana.
Join us as we celebrate the artistry and expertise of Jorge and Indira at ULDC, where their passion for dance and commitment to education inspire dancers worldwide.
Sergio Jasso
Sergio Jasso is a renowned choreographer, instructor, and judge from Mexico City.
He has been a finalist in many World Championships events, and is known for directing some of the best teams in the world.
Bianca Chapman
Bianca Chapman is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed, professional dancer, instructor, and competition judge, specializing in salsa, bachata, latin social dancing, choreography, and competitions. She has performed and led dance workshops in South Korea, Nicaragua, Guatemala, United States, Honduras, Peru, China, Sweden, India, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, Japan, and French Guiana. She has been featured in professional showcases around the world. As a member of the world renowned Alma Latina Dance Company, she has placed 1st in Pro-Am Bachata Teams division and 1st in Pro-Am Salsa Teams division. Among other awards, she has also placed 2nd in the World Latin Dance Cup in the Professional Bachata Couples Division and 2nd in the Professional Salsa On2 Couples Division. She has also placed 2nd in the Los Angeles International Bachata competition featured on MTV. As an award-winning dancer and instructor, she specializes in Salsa Mambo (On2), Salsa On1, Urban Bachata, Sensual Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, and Modern Bachata.
Osmar Perrones
Osmar is the founder and director of the Yamulee Dance Studio & Dance Company. He is one of New York’s three leading Dominican Mambo Instructors and has been a member of such performance groups as The Descarga Latina Dance Company, The Fuerza Latina Dance Company, The Magic Touch Dance Company and is currently performing with The Santo Rico Dance Company. As a dancer he has traveled to such places like California, Boston, New Jersey, The Dominican Republic, Providence, Puerto Rico, not to mention in most NYC nightclubs. He has also appeared on such TV programs like the Diamante show; music videos with such artists like Jose Alberto "El Canario", El Salsero Steve Falcon, Eve of the Ruff Riders "Wha Ya Want" music video; and in the documentary "Salsa, Meregue and Reggae".
Celso y Desireé
Celso Orozco and Desireé Cruz, 3-time World Champions born in Mexico and now based in the US, are renowned choreographers for many world champions, with over 10 years of experience judging the most prestigious competitions worldwide. They have been featured as choreographers in Latin music productions for different networks, TV, and Bachata singers, including Daniel Santacruz, Dani J, Aventura Concerts, Dama, Esme, Vinny Rivera, and more. They travel over 30 weekends per year, sharing their passion and experience in the Latin world.
Luis & Andrea
Luis García and Andrea Cobos, from Spain (Cádiz and Ibiza respectively), are one of the most captivating bachata couples today, recognized worldwide for their sensual bachata style. They have training in different disciplines of Latin rhythms (salsa, bachata, chacha, etc.), as well as flamenco (Luis) and sports gymnastics (Andrea), which have helped them develop their own style of sensual bachata, highlighting its technique, sensuality, fluidity and its continuous innovations that help develop the world of dance. They are specialists with a university career in teaching techniques and methodology.
It is in 2015 when they started their professional career together, participating as artists in dance congresses in Europe and Africa, the recognition of their dance is triggered when videos on social networks began to be seen throughout the rest of the world. In mid-2015, they began their Asian tour, creating choreographies and teaching their own dance style to teachers from all parts of the continent.
In 2016, they visited the United States for the first time, starting in San Francisco, making their way to cities like New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Virginia, Orlando, Chicago, etc. It is at the end of this year when they collaborated with bachata artist Dani J on his theme "Amor Eterno" being the main dancers of his video. Since then the media impact on which it generated has continued to grow, having more than 260,000 followers on Facebook, 110,000 on Instagram, and more than 15 million views on their YouTube videos. At the end of 2017, after touring through South and Central America, they decided to be part of an online dance school (dancesurfing.com), with students from all corners of the planet who receive their training and teach their style in their respective countries.​ They currently have their own dance companies called Luis and Andrea Bachata Team in 12 different cities in Europe, Asia, and America. These companies represent their choreographies in dance congresses in their respective countries. They have been judges in a multitude of international bachata competitions and thrilled to be on the panel
for the Ultimate Latin Dance Championship.
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facebook.com/luisyandreaspainpage
instagram @luisyandreaoficial
https://www.dancesurfing.com
Jorge Martínez
Jorge Martinez is a celebrated World Salsa Champion from Mexico. Jorge is a director of Salsa Na’Ma Oaxaca and the Oaxaca Salsa and Bachata Festival. Jorge is a judge of many World Salsa Championship events including the Summit and Ultimate Latin Dance Championship.
Aubrey Ares
Aubrey Ares began dancing at the age of 3 in Chandler, Arizona. Her technical training covered several styles such as Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical & Acrobatics. At 18, Aubrey moved to Los Angeles as she was selected to be a Los Angeles Laker Girl for 3 seasons!
At the same time, she was contracted with “Movement Talent Agency” (MTA). Aubrey was sent to her very first audition and landed a role with VH1’s hit TV show “Hit The Floor”. She has also had the opportunity to do work with Disney, Fox, ESPN, spotlighted on “The Laker Girls” TV show and Toyota. Additionally, she has worked with Carrie Underwood, Britney Spears, Maya Rudolp and Bebe Rexha.
In 2014, Aubrey began learning Bachata from Los Angeles bachata pioneer, Jorge Contreras. Since then, she has traveled around the world teaching Bachata and Technical dance.
In 2016, She was selected to be a cheerleader for the”Los Angeles Rams” NFL Team and nominated as captain. At the same time, Aubrey built “Empowered Movement Dance Company” where she wanted to create a space to empower dancers to train in Latin and technical dance .
Today, Aubrey is the owner of EMDC Studio in Los Ángeles. She is a multi-world champion soloist, as well as her pro & pro- amateur teams. And, just recently, she and her directors led the first bachata team to compete on World of Dance in 2023 & 2024!