Instructors 2027 confirmed - more to come!
Javier Jiménez
Javier Jimenez was born in Havana, Cuba. He started his dance career at the age of twelve at the art school in the city of Cienfuegos, Cuba. In 2003 he graduated as a professional dancer of contemporary dance and folklore at The National Art School (ENA) in Havana. Once finished his studies he joined the dance group Yoldance, this company made several tours in Germany with the musical Viva Cuba! After some years dancing in Cuba he packed his luggage and moved to Salamanca, Spain. Here he is working as an instructor of Latin dances. Javier is also choreographer and a dancer in the famous dance group Fusion Latina. This group has twice won the Spanish Bachata Master Team and runners-up in the World Bachata Masters Teams. Javier is well known to bring joy and energy into his classes, but at the same time making it easy for the student to understand the techniques and moves.
Jennifer Fojaco
Jennifer Fojaco was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba. Since the age of eleven she started her career as a professional dancer in the school of Arts Benny More, in Cienfuegos. In 2003 she graduated as a professional dancer in Musical Shows National Art School (ENA) in Havana. After some years working in different dance groups in Havana, she moved to Spain and joined the company of Adrian and Anita in Barcelona. Here she obtained the third place in the Championship of Spain by groups. After moving to Salamanca she teamed up with the company Fusion Latina. This group has twice won the title Bachata Team Master of Spain and runners-up in the world bachata group championship.
In addition to the performing, Jennifer is running the biggest dance school in Salamanca, together with her partner Javier. There she is theaching classes such as salsa, bachata, ballet, jazz and modern dance. When taking her classes you will notice the quality in here teaching and the way she manage to transmit this to here students.
Yohan Ramos
Coming soon….
Maya Dalmau
Coming soon…..
Virginia Galen
Coming soon…..
Edu
Coming soon…..
Dixie Grace
Dixie was born in Chile and raised in Norway. She began dancing at an early age, starting with ballet at six. Over the years, she has explored a variety of dance styles, including jazz, ballet, hip hop, commercial, and heels, to name a few.
At 17, she discovered salsa in Kristiansand and quickly fell in love with the dance. She soon began teaching at Kristiansand Salsaklubb, later continuing at SalsaSi Danseskole, and now teaches at Salsakompaniet in Oslo.
Dixie has taught a wide range of classes over the years, including Cuban Salsa, La Rueda, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, Salsa On1, Salsa On2, Ladystyling, Latin Fusion, and Shines/Footwork. She has also performed both as part of a couple and in various show teams in couples, lady styling teams, and has also appeared on television at the MGP song contest.
She is passionate about teaching and dedicated to helping her students grow and develop while having fun. Seeing her students evolve is what motivates her the most.
Iselin Jansen Ruiz
Iselin is a versatile dancer, choreographer, and educator passionate about rhythm. She began dancing at the age of four, training in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, salsa, and house before discovering her true calling at 16—tap dance. Since then, she has become one of Norway’s leading figures in the tap dance and jazz scene, and later on the Mambo scene.
In addition to her tap expertise, Iselin has developed a strong foundation in New York Mambo. She has trained extensively in the style and is now one of the few dancers in Norway specializing in both Mambo and Tap. She co-owns A-custica Dance Academy alongside her husband, Alexis Ruiz, a world-renowned mambo dancer, musician, and choreographer. Together, they have built a cultural hub in Oslo that preserves and develops Afro-Caribbean rhythms, Latin Jazz, and jazz dance traditions.
Iselin regularly teaches and performs at international festivals, blending her tap and mambo knowledge to explore the deep connection between rhythm, movement, and musicality. Her ability to fuse these styles makes her a unique presence in the dance world, offering a fresh perspective on both disciplines.
Alexis Ruiz
Alexis is a world-renowned mambo dancer, musician, and educator with over 30 years of experience. Originally from Guatemala, he grew up surrounded by Latin music and dance, teaching from the age of 12.
Now based in Norway, Alexis is the co-founder of A-custica Dance Academy, the country's only school specializing in Mambo and Tap, where he is the head of the Mambo department. He is also the founder of Allure Dance Company, Norway’s first mambo dance company, which has toured across Europe, showcasing his signature choreographic style that blends tradition, storytelling, and intricate rhythms.
Alexis is internationally known for his unique approach to musicality in dance, offering in-depth lectures and masterclasses that explore the roots of salsa and mambo, the connection between movement and sound, and the rhythmic structures that shape the dance. His methodology has influenced dancers worldwide, and his Mambo Masterclass concept continues to set new standards for musical interpretation.
Through A-custica and his Nordic Mambo Project, Alexis is shaping the future of mambo in the Nordic region, inspiring dancers to connect with the music on a deeper level. Don't miss the chance to learn from him at the Nordic Salsa Congress!.
Marie Myhre
Marie has danced since she was young, and started early with swing. She has since attended hip hop, breakdancing, ballet, sports dance, and was on the national team in rhythmic gymnastics. Marie lived in Spain in 2003, where she met Korke and discovered bachata. Since then, Marie has been a major promoter of the bachata environment in Oslo, especially in the last six years. She has had the pleasure of working with several international artists at various workshops and congresses, and is constantly working to develop herself.
Marie has 2 certifications from the bachata Influence Academy and also completed the Dancelab Academy with Gero and Migle. She is full of energy and always has a smile on her face. Her goal is to make the lessons fun and educational.
Livan Eduardo
Livan Eduardo is a highly skilled dancer, instructor, and choreographer with a rich background in the performing arts, originally from Camagüey, Cuba. His passion for dance started at nine, and by thirteen, he was
already winning top prizes in provincial dance competitions.
His commitment to dance led him to the Universidad de las Artes in Havana, where he earned a degree in Afro-Cuban dance from 2005 to 2007. From 2003 to 2013, Livan worked as an instructor, choreographer, and dance teacher for the professional company "NCD" in Havana.
In 2014, Livan moved to Norway, where he continued his career as a jazz dancer and pedagogue at the Norwegian College of Dance (Norges Dansehøyskole). In 2016, Livan founded his school, Salsa-Casino, where he developed a unique method to teach Cuban Salsa, enabling students to reach
a high technical level in four years.
Livan's extensive experience, passion, and commitment to Cuban culture
continue to inspire and connect people through dance, making him a key
figure in both Cuban and Norwegian dance communities.
Riki Herrera
Riki Herrera is a bachata artist, dancer, and teacher. Born in Colombia and growing up in Spain, he has been dancing bachata for 10 years. For the last couple of years, Riki has been living in Oslo, where he has played a significant role in the rapid growth of the bachata scene. He has worked at different dance schools and is today teaching at Rhythm.
Riki is a certified instructor for bachata sensual and bachata influence. He loves and dances all bachata styles. This is reflected in his classes, where he uses the various styles to match the music. He is known for his presence, care, and soft leading on the dancefloor and in classes.
Ingeborg Brøyn
Ingeborg started dancing salsa in 2014 and quickly became hooked on the festival scene. She taught salsa and bachata at various dance clubs in Bergen before co-founding the dance school We Dance Bergen in 2018. At We Dance Bergen, she taught salsa, bachata, mambo, and lady styling for about six years, with a more recent focus on bachata sensual.
In December 2024, she moved to Oslo, where she began teaching mambo and bachata lady styling at Salsakompaniet. She also performs with the Ladies & Gents of Oslo show team. Her most recent performance took place at the Berlin Salsa Congress in August 2025. Ingeborg is passionate about helping students improve their technique in social dancing, while ensuring they enjoy the journey and the joy of dance along the way..
Kamelia Javadi
Kamelia is a dance artist with a background in Hip-Hop, Dancehall, and Afrobeats. Over time, she has developed a strong passion for Cuban salsa. In February 2024, she performed in the concert theatre production Hope Road 56 Revisited, produced by Nordic Black Theatre, a tribute to the legendary Bob Marley at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet.
Kamelia has also been a member of Tabanka Dance Ensemble, where she performed African and Caribbean contemporary dance. With the company, she appeared in productions such as Limbo (2017) at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, I:OBJECT (2018), and Jazz Ain’t Nothing but Soul (2021) at Dansens Hus. In 2023,
Kamelia toured Norway and Europe with Impure Company/Hooman Sharifi in the production Sacrifice While Lost in Salted Earth.
Bjørn Are Therkelsen
Bjørn Are is a dedicated salsa instructor and choreographer from Oslo who teaches salsa (On1 and On2) weekly at Salsakompaniet. With a background in sports—particularly volleyball, which he played at Norway’s top level for four years—Bjørn Are was forced to retire due to a knee injury. This led him to a new passion: dance. His first encounter with Latin rhythms took place at NTNUI in Trondheim, where he quickly immersed himself in the various styles of salsa. Over the next four years, he devoted himself to learning, choreographing, and teaching. In 2021,
Bjørn Are moved to South Korea, primarily to dance but also to study. There, he became part of Inwoo Choi’s mambo group, performing in both solo and partner dance shows. After returning to Oslo, he began teaching at Salsakompaniet and now manages the show team Ladies and Gents of Oslo, designed to elevate the top level of salsa dancing in Oslo. The choreographies are rooted in social dancing and can be transferred to the social dance floor through lead-and-follow principles.