RUEDA DE CASINO

Alex, from Bucharest in Romania; started dancing ballroom & other latin dances in 1993 and over the years has achieved numerous awards, both national and international in his career as a competition dancer and as a teacher. As a dancer he was part of the Romanian National Team in ballroom and latin, and a finalist and semi-finalist at the Romanian National Championships and Cups. As a dancer his biggest achievement is wining the European and World Champion title in Rueda de Casino in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 he became the Vice World Champion in Salsa in the competitions organised by the International Dance Organisation (IDO).

His teaching career both for social and competition dancing started in 2005. The couples who trained under Alex, became World and European Champions in Salsa, Bachata and Latino Show. For 3 years Alex lived in Turkey, and his students represented Turkey in the World Championships organised by the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) and became national champions.

Alex has a dance experience of over 30 years and a teaching experience of over 10 years. Even though he teaches Bachata, his favorite dance is still the Tango. Alex loves the expression of passion and other feelings that you can express through dance and his favorite quote about dance has to be: "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in high heels".

Ioanna is a qualified instructor in international Latin and ballroom styles through professional academies. Her background includes 9 years of ballet and contemporary dance training. She has competed nationally and internationally, and has taught Latin and ballroom classes in both Greece and Belgium. At Shoonya she co-teaches alongside Alex and leads her own Bachata Solo Style miniseries.