About Us

Teacher Profiles

	Renato De Fazio is the director of Salsa Esperienza. Having trained with some of the foremost Salsa teachers from around the world while Salsa was still in it’s infancy in the UK, and having qualified as a teacher in 1999, Renato has been successfully running classes and events ever since; always in his own inimitable style. Renato is passionate about teaching and sharing his knowledge and love of this wonderful dance. Renato also works as an actor with numerous appearances in film, television, commercials and pop promos. (www.renatodefazio.com) As a result he tries to bring a touch of drama and humour to every class! Renato is of Italian and English parentage, hence the name Esperienza as opposed to Esperiencia, and it was in Italy that he was first introduced to the delights of Salsa: “One night back in 1995 I saw a very cool guy dressed in a John Travolta-esque white suit, together with a beautiful girl, dancing what my cousin told me was ‘Salsa’. I had never seen it before. The turn patterns were intricate and fast, their movement seemed so stylish yet effortless, and they looked like they were having a lot of fun. I was totally captivated by this uplifting music and I thought, ‘Whatever this Salsa thing is, I’m going to learn how to do it!’… That was my original Salsa esperienza, and I’ve never forgotten it.”
RENATO
	Richard Marcel is the renowned executive choreographer on the last three series of Strictly Come Dancing and Let’s Dance for Comic Relief (www.richardmarcel.com) He is one of the most versatile choreographers working in the UK today. His expert knowledge of a diverse range of dance styles, coupled with his exceptional musical and production skills are a significant and valuable asset to each of the many and varied productions in which he has been involved. Richard has worked with numerous stars including Madonna, Kylie, George Michael, Diana Ross, Tom Jones and Alesha Dixon. Having also worked on shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, Bounce, Burn the Floor, and the Royal Variety Performance, Richard’s ability to create dance for stage and screen is simply unparalleled. Latin dance and music remains Richard’s first love. As one of the first wave of Salsa teachers in the UK and a keen ambassador of this dance form he has taught literally thousands of students of all ages, many of whom are among the top teachers and dancers in the UK today. Together with Renato, Richard established the highly successful Salsa events at the Lakeside in Frimley Green, held four times a year since 2002 and showcasing some of the finest talent to be found both at home and abroad.
RICHARD
	Joanna has also been teaching Salsa since 1999 after learning from many of the UK’s leading proponents of authentic Cuban Salsa. Joanna is of Burmese/English & Spanish extraction. “Although I had always liked dancing, not having had any formal dance instruction when I was younger I decided I wanted to make up for it when I reached my twenties. I’d seen Salsa on the TV and it looked like a lot of fun and good exercise too - everything I was looking for. To me, it truly is one of the best dance styles. To be able to partner dance in a structured way, yet still have the freedom for personal expression rather than simply bopping about on your own, was particularly appealing. The music is exhilarating, there are an endless number of moves and because of the lead- follow nature of the dance no two dances are ever the same which always keeps things fresh and interesting. Joanna is an enthusiastic and ever-popular teacher who truly puts her heart and soul into helping her students. Together with Renato, Joanna reached the UK Salsa Finals and also had three successful years running children's Salsa classes with an excellent ISTD exam pass rate.
JOANNA
	Coral has been dancing Salsa since 2003 having initially attended classes with Salsa Esperienza at Frimley Green. Continuing her training with the finest teachers in London and beyond, Coral has firmly established her teaching credentials, with many students lauding her fun approach and thorough teaching methods. ‘Salsa was just what I had been looking for and really opened up a whole new social scene to me. I love sharing what I’ve learned with others and I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing the students’ progress, week on week. I can not say enough positive things about Salsa. Not only is it fantastic exercise and great for coordination and balance but it's uplifting too. It's a pleasure for me now to be able to pass on to others the things I've learned.'
CORAL
	Noelito was first introduced to Salsa in Edinburgh in 1999 and never looked back. On returning to London in 2001, he honed his dancing under the likes of Robert Charlemagne, Tamambo, Super Mario, Susanna Montero and Leon Rose, all of whom remain his greatest UK influences. Upon moving to the south coast in 2003, and upon the recommendation of Susanna, he started teaching Salsa and Merengue locally. He has since taught for Salsa Esperienza, Salsa Magic, Tracies’s Latin Club, JustDance and Salsa UK. Noelito’s style is cross-body (On 1 and On 2) with a funky slant to it, which he teaches with an emphasis on clear leading and signaling on the man’s part.
NOELITO