Meet the Team!

AngeloScottRebekahDorian

Angelo Salgado

Angelo is an amazingly talented and passionate dancer - in performing, teaching and choreography. As creative director, he ensures that every element of Groove Brazil dance remains authentically Brazilian from the technique to the curriculum.

His joy is infectious to all that have had the pleasure of being in his classes, workshops, performance groups or as part of a captive audience.

Read more below!

Scott Mitchell

Scott is a very talented dancer and teacher who has a passion for dance which he loves to share with every student. Most would never guess this shy programmer-by-day could move SO well on the dance floor, but he always maintains a humble attitude.

He started dancing many years ago after being dragged along by a friend, but that reluctant curiosity soon turned into love - and now you couldn't keep him away if you tried.

What do you love about Groove Brazil?
I think the relaxed atmosphere makes it such a nice place to be, no pressure. Along with the great music we always have playing :)

Favourite tip for students?
Whether you're an absolute beginner or very advanced, one of the best ways to improve your dancing is to get out there on the social dance floor! That means try to get to parties and also use the time before and after class to put your moves into action.

Rebekah Butt

Rebekah grew up listening to the beautiful rhythms of Brazilian music played by her parents, and by her father on the guitar. She has degrees in both music and also interior design - yet after studying classical guitar at uni, she discovered Latin dance and realised that expressing music through dance kind of surpasses music as one of the most joyous things possible!

What do you love about Groove Brazil?
Where to start! For me it's always the people who make a place - and I always love coming here at the end of the day and seeing so many smiling faces who are willing to leave behind the stress of everyday and share the unique and amazing experience of dance with old and new friends.

Favourite tip for students?
SMILE and enjoy yourself! Too often people seem to forget the reason they wanted to start dancing - and that usually is because it looked like so much fun. Well that's because it is! Bring your relaxed attitude, don't be afraid to make mistakes... and just enjoy!

Dorian Ribeiro

Dorian was born in South America and moved to Australia as a child. When she's not dancing she is also a budding film maker. After studying film making at university she set up a successfull film production company, along with many events which they organise in the film community.

She has been dancing and performing for many years and always love to groove it to whatever music is playing, showing her natural rhythm and style on the dancefloor. She is always willing to dance with new students, so grab her for a dance!

THE HISTORY OF GROOVE BRAZIL

Groove Brazil's International Highlights .

  • 2009/2010 – Performed and taught workshops at New Zealand Salsa Congress in Wellington.
  • 2010 – Invited to teach and perform at the Malaysia Bachata Congress.
  • 2009 – Choreographed 50 dancers to perform at international soccer event “QLD Against Racism” with Brazilian team Palmeiras and QLD Roar at Brisbane Suncorp Stadium.
  • 2008 - Choreographed and trained the first Australian group to perform in Brazil at the International Congress BR DANCES4
  • 2007/08 - Performed as a Australia representative at the International Brazilian Dance Congress in Rio de Janeiro, the BR DANCES.
  • 2006/07/08/09/10/11 – Performed and taught at the International Sydney Salsa Congress.
  • 2006 – Invited to perform and teach Brazilian dance at a special Zouk/Salsa Congress in London.
  • 2006 - Invited by Christine Bain, Director of Bainwave Productions to Choreograph the upcoming musical “Spellbound” which is scheduled to tour internationally;
  • 2006 - Invitation from the International Dance Council to participate in the 20th World Congress on Dance Research “Promotion of Diversity”, Athens, Greece 25-29 October 2006 
  • 2006 – Performed and taught at the 2nd International Lambazouk Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Brazil and South America Highlights .
  • 2009 - Invited by the president of Brazilian Dance Association to be the official representative of its Association in Australia.
  • 2008 - Choreographed and trained the first Australian group to perform in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the International Congress BR DANCES4.
  • 2007/08 - Performed as an Australia representative at the International Brazilian Dance Congress in Rio de Janeiro, the BR DANCES.
  • June/2005 - Chosen in a National Audition to perform around Brazil with famous musicians, including Zeca Pagodinho, Dominguinhos, Edson & Hudson, Leonardo, Fagner and Roberta Miranda.
  • 2005 - Performed with the master of Samba, highly acclaimed singer Jorge Aragao, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • 2004/05 - Chosen in a national competition to support Frank Aguiar, a famous singer known as the 'King of Forro', appearing on his brand new DVD album, and performing in his large concert tours around Brazil.
  • 2004 - Danced in a popular soap opera called 'A Escrava Isaura' on Record Channel (one of the biggest national television channels) (Bolero, Gafieira, Waltz).
  • 2003-2005 - Danced in national television dance programs and commercials
  • 1999 - Awarded 1st place Sao Paulo State Samba Competition (with Sao Paulo having a population of 20 million)
  • 1998 - Performed with the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra in a concert held at Masp Museum (Bolero, Waltz, Tango).
  • 1998 - Performed with Reinaldo, a popular Samba singer, known also as the ‘Prince of Samba’ (Pagode, Gafieira).
Australian Highlights .
  • 2009 – Awarded Australian citizen with “Distinguished Talent Visa” as a dancer in the fields of Arts, one of the most difficult visas to be granted.
  • 2009/10- Performed and taught workshops at Brisbane Zouk Lambada Congress – Brazil Central, Brisbane.
  • 2008 - Performed and taught at the first Brazilian Dance Congress in Australia, Brazil Meets Brisbane.
  • 2007 – Participated teaching samba at the children’s TV program Toasted TV, Channel Ten, Movie World Studios, Gold Coast.
  • 2007 - Invited as special guest to teach and perform at the Darwin Latin Dance Festival, attracting more than 100 people to the workshops.
  • 2006/ 07/ 08/ 09/ 10/ 11 - Performed and taught multiple times at the Sydney Salsa Congress, together with the best dancers from Australia and overseas.
  • 2006 - Special Guest Latin Dance Instructor at the Emerald Multicultural Festival, an event attracting more than 3,000 people.
  • 2006 - Choreographed multicultural video “Song Australia” for SBS television, teaching a routine to over 280 people including Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman. The video was also produced as an SBS documentary, seen by millions of viewers around Australia.
  • 2005 - Performed and taught workshops at the Australian National Salsa Championships in Sydney.
  • 2003 - Performed at the Queensland Salsa Championships in
    Brisbane .

Background

Angelo Salgado was born in Brazil and has more than 17 years of experience as a dancer, choreographer and dance instructor in his home country and Australia teaching many different styles of Latin Dance.

Angelo came to Australia in 2002 and developed a method of teaching Brazilian dance in Australia in the most enjoyable, effective and easy way to both people who have never "danced" a step in their life, as well as experienced dancers.

His dance is a mix of formal training and different techniques from various dance schools in Brazil as well lots of experience in freestyle social dancing.

He created Groove Brazil - Authentic Latin Dance in September 2005, which has become one of the top Latin Dance Academies in Queensland and Australia.

 

For information about events, performances, workshops, parties,
private classes, corporate dance lessons or choreographies
please contact us to discuss your needs!
 0421 917 688 | dance@groovebrazil.com.au