KIKI EL SILENCIO, TOGO, USA
Kiki Elsilencio is a Togolese born and raised actor, model, educator and dancer. He grew up dancing Afrobeats, Zouk, Soukous, Couper Decaler as well as different traditional dances from Togo, Africa. His love for music and dance has always pushed him to grow and expand his cultural knowledge. He discovered Kizomba in 2013 and immediately fell in love with it. Since then, he has learned about the culture, music, and dance and has developed his own signature. To distant himself from others in order to be able to teach the culture and dance of Kizomba/Semba, he took many workshops, privates and teacher's training with top-notch national and international well-known instructors. He finally started teaching Kizomba/Semba and Afrobeats in 2016 and traveled around to share his knowledge in different cities and states such as Philly; NJ; NY; Boston; DC; Cleveland OH; Charlotte NC; Portland OR; Seattle, Los Angeles, Atlanta to mention few. Kiki lives in Philadelphia and is one of the four local instructors founders of the Semba/Kizomba group "Philly Flores" where he teaches with on a weekly basis. He is always eager in ready to transmit the culture of Kizomba/Semba and the ones in which he was born and raised (Afro-beats, soukous... ). If you haven't seen what great and positive energy means on the dance floor yet, come experience the Kikilicious vibes!!!
Actor/Model/Educator/DancerELIZA SALA was born in Angola and has been living in The Netherlands since the age of 14. She has always danced. Culturally as an Angolan kid, she says, ‘you don’t start dancing at some point in time, you just dance, it’s deeply rooted in my system’.
Eliza began assisting in Salsa and Bachata dance classes at the age of 18 and shortly began her first independent dance classes in Samba at the age of 19. By 2013, Eliza Sala opened the doors of her very own dance school in The Hague, Dança Sala. In her dance school, different styles are taught with young and energetic teachers. Styles including Samba, Axé, Afrohouse, Traditional African dance, Kizomba, Semba, Kizomba Ladies Ginga, Zumba, Salsa, Hip-hop and Capoeira.
The recent development in the dancing scene and Eliza being Angolan makes for an inevitable focus on Kizomba these days. Dancing Kizomba comes naturally to her. The social aspect and the beautiful music from her homeland make Eliza want to dance all day. Eliza and Dança Sala Team are organizing Sabadão in The Netherlands about 6 times each year since 2014. This daylight party consists of workshops, traditional Angolan food, and a vibrant party. It’s all about good vibes and serious love for beautiful music and dancing. Sabadão is appreciated for its welcoming atmosphere and happy faces.
‘I would love to see women enjoy dancing Kizomba just as much as I do’, Eliza says. Her mission is to help women become skilled dancers, confident and elegant. Eliza feels Women should emphasize their strengths and shine from within. The way you dance should be a reflection of the beautiful person you are inside.
Eliza will be joining us to celebrate the New Year and is looking forward to meeting everyone.