Find out what you did not know about The Dancers in Descarga Latina.

Descarga Latina Dance Co. was formed in 1997 from dancers most of whom were members of the Santo Rico Dance Company. Now directed by Nelson Flores, they have taken their talented shows to many countries worldwide especially the UK and Europe and of course to many cities in the USA. Many dancers and dance groups from the UK notably Manhattan Mambo, Super Mario and Maria Palmieri have taken their Mambo training from Nelson Flores and the Descarga Latina team.

This dance group have contributed immensely to the first ever Off-Broadway musical comedy show called "Latin Madness". The current dancers contribute to the group by incorporating a variety of dance genres ranging from Mambo, Cha-Cha, Merengue, The Hustle and Hip Hop. Below are the backgrounds of these members.

Nelson, the Director of Descarga Latina, obtained his initial training from instructors such as Angel Rodriguez of Razz M'Tazz, Evelyn Leon, Mario Diaz and Wilton Beltre the founder of the Santo Rico Dance Company. He has danced with many dance companies such as Fuerza Latina and of course Santo Rico and this gave him the background and experience to start his own dance company.

Nelson is also the Co-Creator and Producer of Latin Madness and actively works with Nadeen Gautier (RMM) on shows which allows him to display his talents elsewhere.

Maribel Maldonado is originally from the stables of Eddie and Maria Torres where she received the highest training and also danced with many top Salsa performers including Mario Diaz and Luis Zegarra's Fuerza Latina Dancers when she worked as a freelance dancer. She has a background in Cha-Cha and Hip Hop and was also part of the Santo Rico Dance Company.

Maribel has taught youngsters at the Starlite Dance Studio and is still very active as a performer on the Mambo scene in New York performing at venues such as the Apollo Theatre, Madison Square Garden and with Latin Madness. She has also toured worldwide in places such as London, Germany, Italy and Hawaii.

Stracey, a principle dancer with Descarga Latina, is an exponent of the New York Style of Mambo/Salsa and the Latin Hustle. As an accomplished Instructor Performer and Choreographer she has worked with the best in the business such as the late Tito Puente, Ruben Blades, Mark Anthony and John Leguizamo. Stracey also has an extensive film career working in films such as Kate and Leopold, Marcy X, Empire and Stuart Little II. She was also New York's first Puerto Rican stunt woman in the early 90's.

She has appeared in two of NY's off-broadway musical hits - Quien Mato a Hector Lavoe and Latin Madness where she also earned credits as Costume Designer, Stage Coordinator and Assistant Director falling back on her extensive experience. She has appeared in venues such as Madison Square Garden, Puerto Rican Travelling Theatre with Quien Mato a Hector Lavoe and the Hecksher Theatre with Latin Madness. She has travelled extensively overseas in places such as London, Italy, Turkey and Japan.

The other members of Descarga Latina consist of

• Albert Zagami or AL - Mambo, Cha-Cha, Hip-Hop. He was a student with Eddie Torres and has been with Descarga Latina since 1997. He has also worked with Luis Zegarra's Fuerza Latina.

• Maria Tirado - Mambo, Merengue, Hip-Hop and Modern Dance. Maria started in 1994 with the Razz M' Tazz Dance Company, then moved on to train with other well-known dancers such as Mario Diaz, Luis Zegarra & Wilton Beltre. She is now a principle member of the Descarga Latina Dance company and has served as Assistant Director of Latin Madness.

• Jesus Nieves - Mambo & Merengue. Jesus has worked with Eddie Torres as one of the "Jammers and in Angel Navarro's "Mambo Unico" team.

• Steve Seda - Mambo, Cha-Cha, Break Dancing. Steve is the athletic one being a Baseball Player as well as a mambo dancer, break dancer and percussionist. He has also worked with the Fuerza Latina Dance Company and the Mario Diaz dance Revue.

• Savina Vega - Mambo, Hip Hop, Jazz. A graduate from Fiorello H. LaGuardia of Music & Arts and Performing Arts, Savina has trained in Ballet and Modern Dance. Dancing Mambo since the age of 15, she has worked for Eddie Torres for 3 years eventually dancing in his professional team. She has also performed with the late Tito Puente, Jose Alberto "El Canario", Eddie Palmieri and Oscar DeLeon.

• Jami Josephson - Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballroom, Latin. Starting at the age of 5 with her own show, Jami has for 15 years danced Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballroom and Latin in New York City and Miami.

  She is a certified Dance Instructor and Choreographer and has years of competitive experience, also acting Off Broadway and in TV and Commercials. She has been with Descarga Latina for 2 years now and is also the Director of an All Female Latin Troupe the "Rhythm Divas.

• Sherwin Johnson - Mambo, Cha-Cha.

For more details on Descarga Latina, please see their web site: Descarga Latina .

Information about Salsa Dance Groups in the USA will be given as we develop this site. Please bear with us as we gather the relevant information.

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