MILA KEMPPE
Mila Kemppe started dancing Latin Ballroom when she was 5 years old in Moscow. She competed in numerous competitions nationally and internationally. She became the two (2) time Central Federal district champion in Russia and also won the international Tropicana Cub in Poland. Few years ago she moved to Finland. While in Finland she started again looking opportunities to pursue her love of dance and found Helsinki Salsa Academy. In 2018 she passed the intensive 6 month HSA instructor training program with great grades. From that time she has developed into a world-class teacher and performer. Recently she has been invited to perform and teach already internationally in cities like Amsterdam, Oaxaca, and Stockholm. In Mexico she took part in Oaxaca international salsa competition.
Mila is well-liked by her students and known for her caring and encouraging attitude toward her students expecting just as much from them as she is from herself. Currently in HSA she is teaching Novice, Beginner, Improver, and Advanced level salsa and bachata training teams and coaching ladies show teams.
Follow Mila on Instagram here.
Jesús La Rosa Pérez
Jesús is a choreographer, dancer, musicians from Santiago de Cuba. He has been a artistic leaders of the prestigious Ballet Folklórico del Orienten in Cuba. He got an honary mention from UNEAC for his work as a choreographer where his choreography “Cimarrón” was in Cuba the most viewed artistic piece in 2017.
He has studied Cuban dances intensely academically and in the different provinces in Cuba. His wide repertuare of expertise include yoruba, arará, abacuá, bantú, franco-haitian dances, folkloric dances like zapateo, zumbantoneo, el papalote, doña Joaquina,as well as more well known cuban dances like son, danzón, danzonete, mambo, pilón, chachacha, mozambique, casino, ja rumba.
MATEO ZAPATA OSPINA
(Medellin, Colombia)
Mateo Ospina Zapata has over 17 years of experience working as an international salsa and bachata artist, dancer, judge, instructor and a choreographer. He has a vast knowledge of salsa and bachata dancing and has travelled the world for year for spreading his passion for the art. He has had the opportunity to represent Colombia in different countries worldwide, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles, Mexico, Italy, Sweden, and Finland. He has received over 14 world titles as a part of a professional group and over 15 titles together with his partner Valery.
Some of Mateo’s best professional accomplishments and competition results:
🏆 First place: Colombia Salsa Festival (2013 - 2017)
🏆 First place: World Latin Dance Cup in Miami (2013 - 2017)
🏆 First place: Ecuador Salsa Congress (2015 - 2016)
🏆 First place: Festival Punta ‘l Pie (2019)
🏆 First place Competencia Medellin On Fire (2019 - 2020)
🏆 First place: Euroson Latino (2017 - 2020)
🏆 First Place: Mi Tierra Latin Festival competition, Italy (2022)
VALERY MORENO
(Medellin, Colombia)
Valery Moreno has over 12 years of salsa and bachata experience working as a dancer, instructor, and a choreographer. She has vast knowledge in acrobatics, salsa, bachata, and other latin rhythms. She has obtained over 14 world titles participating i different professional groups in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Miami, Orlando, and Mexico. As a couple with Mateo she has received over 15 world titles in different categories such as tango, salsa, bachata, cha-cha and Cabaret.
Some of Valery’s professional dance accomplishments:
🏆 First place: Colombia Salsa Festival (2013 - 2017)
🏆 First place: World Latin Dance Cup in Miami (2013 - 2017)
🏆 First place: Ecuador Salsa Congress (2015 - 2016)
🏆 First place: Festival Punta ‘l Pie (2019)
🏆 First place Competencia Medellin On Fire (2019 - 2020)
🏆 First place: Euroson Latino (2017 - 2020)
🏆 First Place: Mi Tierra Latin Festival competition, Italy (2022)
Jorge Martinez
(Oaxaca, Mexico)
Professional background of Jorge Martinez
🏆Multi on2 world salsa champion
🏆International salsa champion
🏆Salsanama solo championships in America by Fernando Sosa: *2017 *201
Champions of
🏆Euroson latino world salsa championship 2019 salsa on 2
🏆Euroson Latino world salsa championship 2018 salsa on2
Championship of
🏆World latin dance cup 2016 first place salsa On2
🏆World Latin dance cup 2016 bachata piso 2nd place
🏆World salsa championship (ESPN) 2nd place salsa On2 2016
🏆Salsa summit 2nd place 2017 salsa On2
🏆Salsa summit 3rd place 2018 salsa On2
🏆Salsa summit 3rd place 2019 salsa On2
🏆First place in Las Vegas (Ultimate championships) 2018
🏆First place in Las Vegas (ultimate championships) 2019
Champions of Euroson Latino:
🏆2015, 2016 salsa profesional
🏆2015 bachata profesional
Salsa Summit Champions
-🏆2017, 2018 ,2019 , Just Salsa división first place
Mária Catalán
(Oaxaca, Mexico)
Professional background of Maria Catalan
🏆Multi on2 world salsa champion
🏆International salsa champion
🏆Salsanama solo championships in America by Fernando Sosa: *2017 *201
Champions of
🏆Euroson latino world salsa championship 2019 salsa on 2
🏆Euroson Latino world salsa championship 2018 salsa on2
Championship of
🏆World latin dance cup 2016 first place salsa On2
🏆World Latin dance cup 2016 bachata piso 2nd place
🏆World salsa championship (ESPN) 2nd place salsa On2 2016
🏆Salsa summit 2nd place 2017 salsa On2
🏆Salsa summit 3rd place 2018 salsa On2
🏆Salsa summit 3rd place 2019 salsa On2
🏆First place in Las Vegas (Ultimate championships) 2018
🏆First place in Las Vegas (ultimate championships) 2019
Champions of Euroson Latino:
🏆2015, 2016 salsa profesional
🏆2015 bachata profesional
Salsa Summit Champions
-🏆2017, 2018 ,2019 , Just Salsa división first place
Valtteri Hakala
(Helsinki, Finland)
Valtteri Hakala has started his Salsa journey as a students in HSA in 2014. Since that time Valtteri has been inspired by HSA and HSA instructors and become one of the most committed and hard-working student who was developing himself in the different levels of training teams, workshops and taking classes with different international instructors inside and outside HSA. After practicing already few years in the most Advanced training team in HSA and assisting HSA instructors in the numerous training teams and workshops, Valtteri decided to take part in the intensive 6 month HSA instructor training program together with his partner Aurora Luotonen. After successfully passing exam of HSA instructor training program, Valtteri has become an HSA instructor of Novice-Beginner level in HSA.
AURORA LUOTONEN
(Helsinki, Finland)
Aurora Luotonen has started her Salsa journey in HSA as a student and showed herself as one of the most committed, hard-working and inspiring students who were always wiling to learn, develop and take challenges. Aurora very soon started to assist instructors during Salsa classes of different training teams and was helping students to improve. Aurora as well started to practise in the most Advanced training team as well as different HSA show teams and after decided to take more challenge and take part in HSA instructor training program together with her partner Valtteri Hakala. After successfully passing exam of HSA instructor training program, Aurora has become an HSA instructor of Novice-Beginner level in HSA.
DIEGO ARMENDARIZ
(Ecuador)
Diego Armendariz is from Ecuador. In Ecuador Diego was an instructor in taekwondo instructor, aerobic, combactfitness, and dance fitness. He has an extensive history in working in gyms, schools, universities. In Finland Diego started instructing in 2004 and has worked as a personal trainer. In HSA Diego is teaching Latin Mix exercises classes.
Some of Diego’s achievements include:
*Taekwondo black belt 4.dan international level (TWO World Taekwondo Headquarters Kukiwon)
*Martial arts instructor Level 1 & Level 2, Pajulahti 2009
*FAF Fitness Academy of Finland GI Gym Instructor 2012
*FAF ITP International Personal Trainer, December 2013
*Trainer4you 2013 Licensed Kettle Bell instructor, Level 1 -2
*World Master Center Salsa / Bachata training in Spain 2018
Courses Diego has completed:
*Zumba Fitness, Basic 1, Basic 2, Zumba Toning, Agua Zumba, Zumba Gold, Zumba Gold/Toning, Zumba Step, Zumba in the circuit, Zumba Core, Zumba Gluteus, Zumba Sentao
*Crossifit Training / Bodyweight training Level 1 & 2
*DanceFit instructor training 1
*Dance Ball Fitness
*Waterexercise training
*Bodycombat
*Les Mills License