Michael Luis Ristorucci
Michael teaches Salsa Casino style and other Latin nightclub partnered dances. His passion for Salsa and Latin music originates in his Puerto Rican cultural roots and appropriation of a world-Latin cultural aesthetic. Michael has studied Salsa formally with instructors in New York City, central New York, and New Jersey, and has learned informally in Puerto Rico, Cuba and Spain.
Dance classes are invaluable to new and experienced dancers alike. Yet Michael instructs that a true Salsa and Latin dance acumen also derives from music appreciation, self-teaching, persistent practice – alone, with a partner, and socially – and through the spontaneity of movement and expression generated through enjoyment of music and ambience. Michael helps provide his students with all the tools they need to become great dancers.
Michael began teaching Salsa in the Ithaca and Finger Lakes area in 2005. His instruction emphasizes rhythm, timing, music flow, body expression, lead-follow connection, confidence-building and having fun. Partnered classes combine open step arrangements (“shines”) with partnered turn patterns and guided social dance practice. His “Suelta” (loose) instruction develops choreographic arrangement in line dance format and aims to provide both a workout and great moves for the dance floor.
An added benefit for Michael’s students is immediate integration into a Latin social dance community. In addition to dance instructor, Michael is also a DJ and promoter of Latin music and dance in the Finger Lakes area. He treats his students to the best in dance instruction and to a social context where music and dance is enjoyed.Subscribe To Our Email Newsletter to Hear About Special Events and Parties!
Adolfo Castillo Duvergel
Adolfo began his professional career in 2008 as a dancer in the company of musical shows of the Provincial Music Center of Guantánamo, participating in different events, artistic galas of the province and the Bayaitiquirí Cabaret in fulfillment of his social service. In 2011 he began as a dancer in the Babul Folkloric Ballet company in the province of Guantánamo. In it he worked as a dancer, choreographer and teacher of dance technique, Afro-Cuban folk dances and popular dances. During the period he was part of this company he participated in different galas, events and national and international tours. She was also part of the artistic technical council of the company and the Provincial Music Center as a dance specialist, participating as a jury in artistic evaluations of groups in the professional catalog of the province, as well as in dance competitions, festivals and provincial carnivals.
From 2019 he begins to work as a dancer in the Soldance Company in the province of Matanzas and as a teacher of Folkloric Dances and Dances at the Professional School of Dance of that province. In 2021 she created the DanSaril project, which she directs with the aim of bringing together several dancers to put into practice all their experience and exchange and experiment with the young members through dance creation, looking for new ways to express their art on stage, always taking care of the value of cultural traditions and respect for Cuban cultural identity. He currently serves as general director, dancer and choreographer of the DanSaril project, as choreographer, regisseur and dancer of the Soldance company and as head of the Chair and professor of Dances and Folkloric Dances at the Professional School of Art of Matanzas.
In 2022, he was selected by the International Dance Council (CID) to be an active member of this prestigious institution that belongs to the UN representing the traditional Cuban and Caribbean popular culture.
He has taught workshops and master classes both in Cuba and abroad, always teaching dissimilar students the value and diversity of Cuban traditional, popular and folk culture.
Since February 2024 he has been residing in Ithaca they collaborate as part of the Salsa Ithaca team, teaching Master Classes and workshops of both Latin, Afro-Cuban and percussion Dances with the aim of contributing to the development and preservation of our Latin, Afro-Cuban and Caribbean cultures.
Geraldo Iglesias
Gerald Iglesias began his dance training in The Classical Ballet and Contemporary Company in Mayaguéz, Puerto Rico. In 1992, he became part of America’s largest ballet troupe created in Puerto Rico, “Ballet Juvenil Puertorriqueño”, along with choreographers such as Zaida Varas, Ramón Molina, Tony D’Astro, and Paulette Beauchamp. This ballet troupe traveled to different countries such as Mexico, Italy, Spain and to different parts of the United States to showcase the evolution of Puerto Rican culture. Soon after, Geraldo had the opportunity to be part of The Company, Dance and Theatre Hostos in Puerto Rico. Its artistic director and choreographer, Miguel Malavé, hired him to be part of his staff as jazz instructor.
Education in dance became Geraldo’s passion. He decided to continue his professional career as a dancer, instructor and choreographer at the University of Puerto Rico. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Arts and Dance in 1999, he had the opportunity to train with professional choreographers such as Frank Hatchett, A.C. Ciulla (choreographer for Madonna), Mia Michael (choreographer for Janet and Michael Jackson) and Wade Robson (choreographer for Britney Spears and NSYNC) in Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Geraldo also trained in Salsa with the Mambo King Mr. Eddie Torres. His talent and experience opened doors to him in the world of television. He worked as a choreographer and dancer on the Univision Network in Miami, FL, in two international Spanish TV shows “Sábado Gigante” and “Rítmo y Pasión”.
After his return to PR, he continued to work as a choreographer and dancer for channel 30 on the TV show “De noche con Edith del Mar”, and worked with many famous singers such as Ednita Nazario, Olga Tañon, Yolandita Monge, and Chayanne. In addition, he served as a jazz, hip hop and reggaeton instructor for several schools, including the Western Ballet Theater with director and choreographer Maria “Nana” Badrena.
As a dancer, instructor and choreographer in a variety of genres and styles, he is also certified as a radio DJ, actor, and audio engineer by Luis Torres Mercado TV, Radio & Theatre School of the Arts Inc., as well as actor, writer, producer and theater director of “Teatro Rodante Mayaguezano, Inc”. Geraldo was also part of the Wild West Mambo Dance Company, directed by Yolanda Soto, participating in many Salsa & Bachata Congresses around the world. In 2004, Geraldo appeared as a dancer in the Hollywood Movie Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights filmed in Puerto Rico.
After many years in performance arts, he decided to open STEPS PERFORMING ARTS DANCE SCHOOL in 2008 in Aguada, Puerto Rico. His dance school had over 200 students, many of whom were employed on TV shows, TV commercials, and as extras for Hollywood movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, Fast and Furious, etc. In the summer 2010 he was invited to be the Choreographer for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez.
In December 2010, upon moving to the Southern Tier of NY state, he re-opened STEPS Performing Arts Dance School in Vestal, NY. In 2011, he created the hip hop dance group the Barrio Toys, which went on to win various awards at many different dance competitions such as the United States Tournament of Dance, American Dance Awards, and Starpower. At the same time, he continued Salsa training with the Mambo King Eddie Torres, Jesus Aponte, and Jason Molina. Currently, Geraldo Iglesias works as the director, producer, dance instructor, and choreographer of his Dance School in Endicott NY. His organization NY LATIN DANCE CLUB hosts different Latin events in Southern Tier and Central NY, with a commitment to enrich everyone’s life through the art of music and dance.
💃 Sanda Tomás Roig 🇪🇸
Born in 1984 in Valencia, Spain, Sandra Tomás Roig began dancing at the age of 6, ballet, flamenco, commercial dance, Latin dance, and acrobatic rock. At 18, she joined the Professional Conservatory of Ballet in Valencia where she had the soloist roles of “Esmeralda”, “Giselle,” and “Paquita”.
In 2008, she moved to Japan with the company “Shima Spain Mura” to dance the principal roles of a classic jazz show. When she returned to Spain, she worked as a dancer at the Opera “The Palace of Arts and Sciences, Queen Sofia’s Palace” in Valencia.
In 2009, she moved to France where she danced for the most important theaters of Paris including The National Opera Bastille, Opera Châtelet, The Cannes Festival Palais, Zénit (Rouen), Cigale theater of Paris, and many more.
She also worked for Disneyland Paris and performed at the International Salsa Congress of Paris. She worked at Pau Brasil Cabaret and danced French Cancan at the Eiffel Tower.
She participated in several TV commercials and danced on national TV for “Sidaction Gala of humor” (France Chanel 4).
She has danced in many professional music videos including Dady Yanky/Big Ali. You can see her in moving fitness DVD’s promoted by Special K.
She has performed in several musical movies including “La véritable histoire de Blanche Neige” (France Chanel 2)
From 2015 until 2017 Sandra worked as a dance specialist onboard Celebrity Cruises where she also was an instructor and choreographer.
Lisbet Lisnay López Luna
Professional dancer graduated from the Alfredo Velázquez Carcases Professional School of Dance in the province of Guantánamo (2018).
Professor of modern dance technique at the Professional School of Art of Matanzas.
Lisbet began her professional dance career in 2018 in the Babul Folkloric Ballet Company as part of its Social Service. Here, she participated in different events, shows, cultural and artistic galas, and national tours, gaining vast experience and raising her technical-artistic level.
In 2020, she began working as a teacher of modern dance technique at the Alfonzo Pérez
Isaac Professional School of Art in the province of Matanzas. She stood out for her excellent results in the training and preparation of elementary school students. That same year she performed as a professional dancer in the Somos Latinos company. From 2021 to 2024 she has worked with the DanSaril Project as a dancer, teacher and Choreographer, and as a dancer in the Soldance Company in the tourist center of Varadero.
Since February 2024 she has lived in Ithaca, New York, working with Salsa Ithaca in its cultural events, classes, workshops and performance.