CELEBRATE Hispanic Heritage MONTH
Each year during Hispanic Heritage Month, September October, Steps showcases the best Hispanic and Latinx artists! Spice up your dancing with these world-renowned artists by taking advantage of these specially curated classes. Join in-person or virtually to learn from master teachers whose work as performers, educators, and choreographers have shaped the dance world into what we know and love.
Guest • Saturday, 9/12 • 3:00-4:30pm
LINDA CELESTE SIMS • Int Horton
- Formerly with Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre
- Rehearsal Director of Ballet Hispanico Company in 2021-2022
- Featured on the cover of Dance Magazine, New York Amsterdam News, Refinery29 and on So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, and many more
Guest • Mondays, 9/14 & 9/21 • 3:00-4:30pm
GABY DIAZ • Int/Adv Contemporary Exploration
- Broadway credits include “Shelby” in Illinoise, Buena Vista Social Club
- Off-Broadway/Stage: “Tooba” in Only Gold, Freddie Falls in Love, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, among others
- Film/TV: “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 12 Winner, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, Spirited, and mor
Spotlight • Saturday, 9/19 • 5:30-7:30pm
FRIDA MOLINA • Adv/Int Street Styles
- Known for versatility and magnetic stage presence
- Credits include Lovers & Friends Festival in Las Vegas, NYC Pride Island with Lil Kim, and an opening act for Janet Jackson’s Together Again tour
- Worked with artists like Coi Leray, J.I, Mr. Vegas, and Leli Hernandez, and has appeared in events like New York Fashion Week
Guest • Tuesday, 9/22 • 3:00-4:30pm
MARIA TORRES • Int/Adv Latin Jazz
- Co-Choreographer, Take The Lead
- Dance Magazine Honoree, Broadway Choreographer, MTEAF Founder
- Collaborated with Diane Paulus on “The Donkey Show” and Disney’s “Golden Mickeys”
Spotlight • Tuesday, 9/22 • 8:00-10:00pm
COURTNEY ORTIZ • Int/Adv Jazz
- NYC based professional dancer, educator, adjudicator and dance podcast host; RWS Global Audition Choreographer
- Professional credits: West Side Story International Tour, FX’s Fosse/Verdon, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (The Muny), In The Heights (PCLO), Finding Neverland National Tour, Radio City Christmas
- Dance Convention Faculty for 10+ years and recently taught in Brazil at the 16th annual Congresso de Jazz Dance.
Guest • Friday, 9/25 • 3:00-4:30pm
PHIL COLGAN • Adv/Int Theater Jazz
- Can currently be seen on Broadway in & JULIET as a swing and assistant dance captain
- His Broadway debut was in Hamilton, where he also served as a Universal Swing
- Choreographic credits include Grease at The Rev, Catch Me If You Can at NYU Skirball, music videos for “Ready to Be Loved (Dance Remix),” among others
Spotlight • Saturday, September 26 • 5:30-7:30pm
RICHARD PIERLON • Int/Adv Theater Jazz
- Trained at Harkness School of Ballet, Martha Graham School, Alvin Ailey School of Dance and New Dance Group Studio
- Worked with Agnes De Mille, Cathy Dobby, Gwen Verdon, Lee Theodore, Bob Fosse, Debbie Allen, Eleo Pomare, Sophie Maslow, Walter Knickes, Arlene Phillips and Luis Johnson, among others
- Has choreographed at the Latin Quarter in New York; at Bally’s Park Place in Atlantic City; at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas (Mardi Gras Room); at the Sporting Club and the Cabaret in Monte Carlo, and many more
Guest • Sunday, 9/27 • 5:30-7:00pm
JANICE ROSARIO • Int Contemporary
- Her work has been commissioned and presented by Ailey/Fordham University, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, The Ailey School’s Professional Division
- Currently teaches at The Ailey School and has taught at The Martha Graham School, among others
- Extensive foundation in legacy modern techniques
Guest • Thursdays, 10/1, 10/8 • 3:00-4:30pm
COURTNEY ORTIZ • Adv/Int Jazz
- NYC based professional dancer, educator, adjudicator and dance podcast host; RWS Global Audition Choreographer
- Professional credits: West Side Story International Tour, FX’s Fosse/Verdon, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (The Muny), In The Heights (PCLO), Finding Neverland National Tour, Radio City Christmas
- Dance Convention Faculty for 10+ years and recently taught in Brazil at the 16th annual Congresso de Jazz Dance.
Spotlight • Monday, 10/5 • 8:00-10:00pm
JESSICA CASTRO • Int/Adv Heels
- Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, US Associate Choreographer
- Theater & Film: Fuerzabruta, The Whiz Live (NBC), The Greatest Showman
- Superbowl shows: Janet Jackson & Beyonce
Guest • Saturday, 10/10 • 6:00-7:30pm
BRANDO ORTIZ • Int Contemporary
- Performed at The Metropolitan Opera House
- Performed works by Doug Varone, Omar Romá De Jes&uactue;s, Isaac Learner, Mark Morris, Maggie Joy, among others
- Part of the faculty at the Steps on Broadway Academy
Spotlight • Monday, 10/12 • 8:00-10:00pm
JACOB GUZMAN • Int/Adv Contemporary Theater
- Broadway: currently Buena Vista Social Club, Hamilton, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’
- TV/Film: West Side Story (Dir. Steven Spielberg), Better Late Than Never, & Peter Pan Live!
- Regional: Sacramento Music Circus (Ren McCormick; Footloose/Usnavi; In The Heights)
Spotlight • Tuesday, 10/13 • 8:00-10:00pm
LUIS SALGADO • Adv/Int Latin/Theater Fusion
- Director/Choreographer of the 2nd On your feet National Tour, Associate Director/Choreographer of Cirque Du Soleil Paramour
- Performed on Broadway in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and In The Heights
- Film credits include American Gangster, Dirty Dancing 2, Enchanted and Step Up 2: The Streets
Spotlight • Wednesday, 10/14 • 8:00-10:00pm
BOY BOI • Int/Adv Jazz Funk
- Principle member of the Dana Foglia Dance Company
- Has lent his talents to the stars: Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, Billie Eilish, Tate McRae
- As a dancer Boy Boi has worked with artists such as Rihanna, Kylie Minogue, Rosalia, Lil Nas X
Spotlight • Thursday, 10/15 • 8:00-10:00pm
MARIA TORRES • Int/Adv Latin Jazz
- Co-Choreographer, Take The Lead
- Dance Magazine Honoree, Broadway Choreographer, MTEAF Founder
- Collaborated with Diane Paulus on “The Donkey Show” and Disney’s “Golden Mickeys”
Past teachers have included
LUIS SALGADO
PHIL COLGAN
RICHARD VILLAVERDE
RICHARD PIERLON
MARIA TORRES
JERMAINE BROWNE
BOY BOI
JULIUS ANTHONY RUBIO
LEO MOCTEZUMA
JESSICA CASTRO
CAT COGLIANDRO
ASHLÉ DAWSON
LYRIK CRUZ
HECTOR LOPEZ
JHESUS APONTE
SHEILA BARKER
THE MANTECA BLUE