Arte Phillips, NY
Arte is an international dance performer, choreographer and teacher. His choreographic and performing work spans music videos, top recording stars, theatre productions and musicals. Arte was The United States Ballroom Champion, 5 time Star Search Finalist and winner of the "Gypsy of the Year" (Best of Broadway). He has danced on numerous award shows as well as the Miss America Pagent and Broadway Bares. Arte performed in several Broadway shows such as: Tommy Tune's "Grand Hotel", "Victor Victoria" with Julie Andrews, "Once Upon a Mattress" with Sarah Jessica Parker, the original workshop of "Fosse" and danced in the Broadway production of "Swing".

As a choreographer Arte has presented his work extensively throughout the Metropolitan area. For example: "Victor Victoria" at the Papermill Playhouse, "Big Rosemary" at the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center, "Harmony" at the La Jolla Playhouse, and a production of "Saturday Night Fever" at the National Theater in Santo Domingo, He was the Associate Choreographer for the Broadway production "Swing". Arte's start in his career as a dancer and performer is Hustle. He has judged and taught at numerous hustle events and choreographed shows for: International Hustle and Salsa Competition, Hustle USA, Disco America, Summer Hummer, World Disco Classic, the list goes on. He is the most sought out choreographer for Hustle dance teams. Traveling extensively throughout the United States he can be found coaching, conducting workshops and choreographing. Arte's website is: www.artephillipsdance.com

Billy Fajardo &
Katie Marlow, FL
Billy and Katie have inn the relatively short span of their partnership, amassed an impressive list of credits. The pair quickly moved up through the discriminating ranks of the ballroom dance world, and boast the current titles of IDO World Cabaret Exhibition Dance Champions and IDO World Disco Hustle Champions. They are the only couple in the history of the US to hold two separate world dance titles within the same year. A few of their other titles include 2000 US Open Cabaret Champions, 1999 United States Hustle Champions, 2002 NADC Cabaret Champions. In addition, the couple have been three time invitees to the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival Open Exhibition Championships, an honor reserved for only a select few throughout the world. They have been featured performers in many far off destinations, including Singapore and China, and have been featured at home in the US at such well known venues as Radio City Music Hall and Lincoln Center. They were the subjects of a special television segment for Good Life TV. In addition to their performance career, Billy and Katie continue to run Dancesation! Studio and Entertainment, producing top notch entertainment programs for thier various corporate clients. Recent Dancesation! performances include Deloitte and Touche, McKinsey and Company, Lorillard Companies, Merck Pharmeceuticals, and Home Depot.

You can read more about Billy and Katie at www.billyandkatie.com
 

Brian Gallagher, PA 		Brian Gallagher, the nation's long time hustle champion, is based in Philadephia, Pa, where he helps to promote and teach Hustle dancers and competitors. Brian has an ability to break down dance patterns to help you understand the four major components for a comfortable lead and follow: movement, framework, footwork, and timing. It doesn't matter whether you are a beginner learning your basics or the advanced dancer learning travel, shaping, and/or syncopations.

Having been trained in Ballroom and Latin prior to coming into Hustle, Brian incorporates a variety of dynamics: travelling, shaping, syncopated rhythms, creative combinations, and let's not forget - speed. Brian is well known for travelling moves, creativity, and burning up the floor at a 130 bpms without hesitation. Being a part of one of the most celebrated Hustle teams of the decade..." Brian Gallagher is our current "2004 US Professional Theater Arts Hustle Champions" and our undefeated "Professional Just Hustle Champion". He has won every major Hustle competition over the last decade. Brian offers workshops, privates, as well as videos to help your Hustle progress.
 

Donna DeSimone, NY
Donna has been dancing since the age of 4,studying Ballet, Tap and Jazz and teaching 30 years. In 1975 Donna was introduced to a dance called the Hustle. Two years later she started to teach it in a near by studio. In 1978 she opened her first Dance Studio. Four years later opened her second studio. Donna entered many New York nightclub competitions with much success. In 1983 she discovered the world of Ballroom dancing and competed for 8 years in American & International styles. In 1986 she won her first United States title, USBC American Rhythm Champion in Miami Florida.

Donna went on to choreograph for dance tours to China, Italy, Florida, Hershey Park, Carnegie Hall ( Cole Porter s 100th Birthday Celebration and  An invitation to Dance with the NY Pops Orchestra). Currently Donna teaches, Choreographs and performs in New York. For the past 12 years Donna has been the Entertainment Director for the  Stardust Dance Weekends in the Catskills. To find the latest of the dance weekends, please visit www.stardustdance.com
 

Erik Novoa, NY
Erik Novoa is nationally top-ranked competitor, who most recently made it through 3 rounds of auditions to appear on the televised revival of Dance Fever. He has also appeared on the "Today Show" where he took First Place in a televised hustle contest. In the past years, Erik has won 1st Place in the Professional Classic division at Mid Atlantic Dance Jam in Baltimore, Pacific Hustle & Salsa Dance Classic in San Francisco and Hustle USA in New Jersey. In the summer of 2004, Erik was the guest teacher for over 500 people at Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center featuring the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies.

Erik is currently developing the West Coast Swing and Hustle communities in southern Connecticut (from Greenwich to Hartford). He has created weekly classes in Fairfield, CT and has regular dances in South Norwalk, Fairfield and New Haven. He is simultaneously teaching privates in MA, CT, NY, NJ and PA and continues to host his Platinum WCS and Hustle parties in New York.

Erik can be reached at his web site at www.swingshoes.net

Hazel Meade-Ulrich &
Tybaldt Ulrich, NY
Tybalt & Hazel Ulricht teach and compete on the West Coast Swing and Hustle circuits and have a combined teaching experience of 20 years. With an emphasis on partnering essentials, they bring joy and confidence to your dancing, whether through patterns basic or advanced, complex or elegant, with groove and flow throughout. Together they will help you understand the fundamentals and attach a creative edge to your Swing and Hustle dancing.

Most recently Hazel and Tybaldt placed 4th at the 2004 liberty swing dance championship in the classic division, 2nd in the cabaret division. They placed 2nd at Michigan s 2004 classic division and 2nd cabaret division. Placing 2nd at the International Hustle Dance Van McCoy Championship in Miami and 1st in Cabaret (to name a few). Also placing high in many J&Js and Strictly Swings around the country. They also tour the country, performing in small towns and in major cities.

Hazel and Tybaldt work part time at Stepping Out Dance Studios in NY City running the west coast swing and hustle departments. Their remaining time is spent independently teaching private lessons, coaching and choreographing for other competitive and performing couples. Hazel and Tybaldt are also the directors of the NYC Shag Team and have been working hard to create a Carolina Shag scene in NY.

Jami Josephson, NY
Jami Josephson is a professional dancer, performer, choreographer and a certified dance instructor in Ballroom and Latin dancing with over 100 titles in competition dancing including US Mambo Champion in 1997. Jami has been dancing all her life and at the age of 5 had her own show on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Being in showbiz since she was a little girl, Jami has studied Jazz/Ballet/Hip-Hop/Tap/Ballroom/Latin/Country Dancing/Hustle and Acting and is well known for her exceptional dancing and teaching skills, which she obtained from many years of training and studying with the best teachers in the country. Some of Jami's credits include many TV Commercials, such as Coke-a-Cola, McDonalds, Hallmark, Capri Sun, to name a few as well as credits in Off-Broadway's "American Passion" and "The Early Girl". TV appearances are Channel 4, Good Day NY, Today Show, Good Morning America, Sabado Gigante, The Christina Show, "World Latin Festival" by Walt Disney and more. She has choreographed numerous Music Videos, Valentino, The Musical Off Broadway, and co-choreographer for the International Hustle and Salsa Competition Dinner show for 2000 and 2001. Jami now directs her own team, an All Female Latin Troupe- "The Rhythm Divas". Jami was also the Artistic coach of "Latin Madness" for LA, UK, and NYC, and Jami's recent work is "Havana After Dark" a latin show she choreographed this past year at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, and was head choreographer for the "Love Concert" held in Hong Kong for 8 top pop stars of China. Jami coaches and teaches all over the world at many salsa congresses and schools along with coaching top salsa teams and runs the Instructors Forum for salsa instructors for Salsaweb. With over 21 Instructional Dance Videos come check out more about Jami at www.learn2salsa.com

Lisa Nunziella, CA
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lisa Nunziella literally conquered the Hustle world. She competed and performed all over the world, winning virtually every title with various partners - Eddie Vega, Danny Llaurado, Ricky Quintana, Arte Phillips and Deano Georgio. She is a true pioneer of the hustle we dance today.

Lisa won the World Hustle title, two time winner of the United States title, semi-finalist on Dance Fever, Harvest Moon Ball winner at Madison Square Gardens and was undefeated winning 13 consecutive weeks (never done before) on Ed McMahon's nationally-televised "Star Search", winning the $100,000 Grand Prize with partner Eddie Vega.

Lisa is a wife and mother and still following her passion to inspire and motivate anyone she can to make positive changes in their lives though dance, fitness and good nutrition.

Lisa has doubled for Cameron Diaz in the Mask, Pricsilla Presley in Naked Gun2 1/2 and worked with Prince on his Diamonds and Pearl video to name a few.

Lisa is the recipient of the first Ny Hustle Congress Inspiration Award 2005 and is a Member of the Hustle Hall of Fame.

Check our Lisa's website for more info at: www.dancewithlisa.com
   

Mark James &
Karen Lupo, NY

Elite Member of the Hustle Dancer's Hall of Fame, 6 time American Star Ball Theatrical Champion, the only 4-Time Zachary's Show Dance Champion, As seen on PBS' - Championship Ballroom Dancing, Sought after Coach, Dance Teacher & Choreographer - Expertise in Hustle, WCS, Salsa, American & International - Whose motto is "Anyone can do almost anything given Time, Energy, Motivation plus Loving Patience with Themselves". Mark's web site is www.mjames.org


Johnny O, NJ 		Johnny O is a seasoned professional Disc Jockey who has been playing for audiences for over 30 years. He grew up in a musical background performing with his father's Latin Orchestra at the age of 9 singing and playing percussion. He continued his musical education at NJSC College majoring in music. John also trained in voice with Tony Franco in NYC. John sang, performed & toured in several rock opera's in the early 70's. In 1975 he became interested in disco music and apprenticed under the direction of Robert Aquino a well know DJ of that time. Through the years, John has played at such night clubs as Dimple, Joey's, Creations, Strawberry Patch, Krackers, Omega Club, Starship, and Metropolis, in New York and New Jersey. He was recently voted #1 favorite DJ in the "People's Choice awards." John has DJed for competitions including: "World Hustle" in New Jersey and the "Big Easy Dance Classic" in New Orleans. You can hear him play every month at Millennium Hustle at Club 412 in NYC, Starlight Ballroom in New Jersey and Nash Dance Center in New Jersey.

Wes Carrajat, NJ
Wes Carrajat, better known as  DJ Wes , has been spinning tunes for the past 4 years. Beginning with local West Coast Swing dances specializing in that dance and California Mix, Wes has expanded quickly to DJ ing at National Events. He has worked his craft at the World Hustle Dance Championships, New Year s Extravaganza, Summer Hummer, North Atlantic Dance Championships; Swing Niagara, MadJam, Toronto Open Swing Dance Championships, 5 Boro Dance Challenge, Strictly/Westie, Gotham Swing Club dances, and other local dances and venues including parties outside the  dance community. Wes has been dancing WCS for over 10 years and it is his love of the dance that makes his popularity grow.  It s simple , he says;  I play music people love to dance to. Wes can be reached at WesNJ@Comcast.net

 
   

 

More to come!