Instructors conducting workshop
From Japan
Mariko Takahashi
Dance and teaching experience: 28 years
Hometown: Ibaraki
While attending Shobi University of Music, she began her journey into dance after encountering an exceptional dance instructor in the musical theater seminar. She is also a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer with over 15 years of teaching experience at major sports clubs such as Gold’s Gym and Central Sports in Tokyo. She has also been teaching kids dance (cheerleading) for over 15 years. She has participated in various competitions and won many awards, and her students have also won various awards.
From 2007 to 2012, she moved to LA, USA, where she performed in many music videos and commercials as a professional dancer, and also worked as a choreographer/dancer for the Flash Mob.Alongside her performances, she continued to teach local children and adults, nurturing a significant number of students in LA.
In addition, She is a Gold Instructor certified by the Maternity Fitness Association and has been involved in the training of instructors for over 15 years. With her continuous study and deep understanding of the female body, she is well-versed in promoting the beauty of women by combining dance and fitness. It is both her expertise and specialization to collaborate dance and fitness to enhance the beauty of women.
She was fascinated by salsa when she lived in LA for 5 years, and while dancing HipHop professionally. She also worked as an assistant under Francisco Vazquez, taking workshops with various great LA dancers, joining a salsa team, and devoting herself to training every day.
After returning to Japan in 2012, she started a dance company with the students who were eagerly waiting for her. In 2013, she opened her own studio in her hometown, Ibaraki/Moriya. The studio offers dance and fitness lessons for a wide range of ages, from 4-year-old kids to adults up to the age of 70. Her motto is to praise and encourage both children and adults, helping them to grow and improve their skills in a supportive environment.
Misaki Takahashi
Member of Tokyo Girls
B1 League Cheerleader
She has been actively involved in cheerleading for four years in the Aoyama Gakuin University Athletic Cheerleading Club. She has a dance experience of 18 years and has spent 5 years living in Los Angeles, making her bilingual.
Starting dance at a young age under the influence of her mother Mariko, she has competed in national competitions and has been selected as a finalist. She has also won the solo division in regional competitions and has performed on international stages and in recitals.
During her time in the United States, she discovered ballet and has since become proficient in various dance styles, showcasing her dedication to dance since childhood. Her original contemporary dance, which incorporates elements of ballet and acrobatics, captivates viewers and evokes emotions, often bringing tears to their eyes. Her flexible and powerful yet graceful and energetic dance style is her trademark and has gained her popularity.
Rinka Ookubo
Graduate of the Department of Dance at Shobi College of Music
Learned various dance styles such as JAZZ, HIPHOP, HOUSE, LOCK, JAZZ-HIPHOP, TAP, THEATER, CONTEMPORARY, BALLET, and more.
During my time at college, I appeared in a total of 52 performances and events over a period of approximately two years.
I first discovered the joy of dance when a friend introduced me to it in the fifth grade. When I was deciding on my career path after high school, I was struggling, but the words of my dance mentor inspired me not to give up on my dreams.
With that motivation, I decided to pursue a career in dance and enrolled at Shobi Music College. I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to my beloved dance, constantly pushing myself to new limits.
I specialize in hip hop and street dance, and my cute and lively style is loved by both children and adults.
Monika Dickerson
She started dancing salsa at the age of 3 and learned hip hop and jazz dance at the age of 6. At the age of 7, she began salsa dancing in earnest and mastered various styles such as On1, On2, Cuban, Bachata, and Kizomba, both as a lead and a follow.
In 2018, she achieved first place in the solo division of the All Japan Latin Dance Competition. She has been invited as a guest dancer to salsa congresses in Los Angeles, Paris, Taiwan, and Bangkok. In 2019, she performed a solo at the Formosa Salsa Festival, Paris International Salsa Congress, and The Original Latin Dance Congress in Bangkok.
She is frequently invited as a guest dancer internationally, performing solo routines. She has conducted numerous Salsa and Bachata workshops at various events. She is also actively working as an instructor.
Ryu Kameda
Ryu Kameda was born in the Dominican Republic and is of Dominican and Japanese descent. He started Latin dance at the age of 15 and came to Japan at the age of 25. The following year, he began his career as an instructor.
Currently based in Tokyo, Ryu is actively engaged as an instructor and performer of bachata, kizomba, and salsa. He teaches classes, performs, and organizes events, primarily in Tokyo.
Ryu holds the position of President of the Japan Bachata Association, Director of the Japan Kizomba Association, and Examiner of the Japan Salsa Association. He also produces PA’ LANTE Dance Company. He was also a finalist in the World Latin Dance Cup 2010.
Ryu has been invited as a featured artist to international congresses in countries such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, the United States, Singapore, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Beto Senzey
Beto Senzey was born in Chocó, Colombia.
Since 2000, he has been a member of the world-renowned dance company “Swing Latino.” He has won the national championship three times in Colombia and came to Japan in 2006 to promote Cali-style salsa.
The following year, in 2007, he won the Cabaret category at the World Salsa Congress in Beijing. He is widely known as a pioneer of Cali-style salsa in Japan. Since 2010, he has been leading his own team, “Sabor Caleño” and producing pair teams, women’s shine teams, kids’ teams, and more. He is also actively involved as a dancer, choreographer, stage director, and television performer. Additionally, he serves as a judge at domestic congresses.
