performers & instructors

liz lira & John Narvaez

los angeles / San francisco

Liz Lira is one of the most recognised and accomplished dancers in the World. She has been World Salsa Champion at many different events including the World Latin Dance Cup, the Mayan World Salsa Championships, and was awarded Ultimate Champion at the World Latin Dance Cup. She has been a choreographer for Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance, and Judges World Championship events all over the world. Liz is known as the 'Rose of Salsa' was born in La Paz, Bolivia, and has spent her career travelling the world sharing her passion of dance.

John Narvaez is the director of Salsamania Dance Company one of the world's top Mambo and Salsa Companies. His teams have won and placed in the top 3 at many World Salsa Championships, and is one of the most respected teams in the world. John has placed in the top 3 in many World Championships with his partner Liz Rojas. Together they run one of the top training programmes for salsa in the world with many top dancers travelling to train with John.

Together John Narvaez and Liz Lira are an exciting new couple on the Salsa scene who are sure to thrill at the Calgary International Salsa Congress.

bnf dance company

dubai / colombia

The National Ballet El Firulete’ is an institution established by Eider Rua. ‘BNF’ as they are known internationally, have headquarters in Dubai and Columbia. Eider has been awarded the National Champion of Tango and Milonga, and is the director of the Tango Ballet Company of Columbia. With his partner Luisa, they have placed in the top 3 at the World Latin Dance Cup. Through their creativity, experience and combined talents they create outstanding shows of music and dance which encompass excellent artistic and choreographic qualities, elegance, creativity and skill, They are recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most accomplished companies of dance and are renowned for their high standard of technique, innovative style as well as the high calibre of dancers.

junior & emily

san francisco / los angeles

Junior and Emily are two of the world’s most beloved salsa dancers having placed second at the 2007 ESPN World Salsa Championships. These rising stars grew up dancing salsa in San Francisco and now travel the world, teaching and performing professionally at salsa congresses across the globe.

Billy & Katie

miami

Billy and Katie are both former World Hustle Champions and World Cabaret Champions; they have competed and performed at some of the largest and most prestigious events in the World. Billy and Katie are considered among the most highly accomplished and versatile dancers in the world. They have been honoured with many lifetime achievement awards in the dance world, and are the head judges of the World Salsa Championships.

edwin rivera

los angeles

Edwin Rivera is one of the youngest salsa superstars on the world’s Salsa scene, and has traveled to every single continent in the world for his performing, teaching and unique choreography skills. Edwin of Puerto Rican origin, was born & raised in the Bronx, New York. Now residing in Los Angeles, Edwin is one of the most popular dance-personalities in the world, especially in South America after participating in the local version of the popular television show Let’s dance, Rojo Fama Contrafama. He starred as Roberto Roena/Cheetah Solo Dancer in the movie El Cantante with Salsa superstar Marc Anthony as well as Jennifer Lopez. Edwin was honoured at the 2008 Los Angeles International Salsa Congress for his contributions to the Salsa Community around the world. He is also currently working on two feature films and just finished producing his first instrumental album named Soul Of A Dancer.