BSDC Staff

BIO:  My name is Matthew Dean and I am 36 years old, proudly born and raised in Baltimore with a beautiful wife of 4.5 years with a gorgeous 2-year old son. I have been dancing since 2006, and my passion has only grown over time. I have danced and performed many styles from mambo and bachata to classic ballroom, with great groups such as Georgia Boy Dance, Daniel and Desiree World Team Project, Zafire DC, and Sentimiento. I have always enjoyed dancing as a way of expressing myself and letting go. I’m always a student at heart, willing to learn as much as possible to improve my craft. I am humbled by this opportunity to return to the world of dancing with Baltimore Salsa Dance Company!

BIO:   My name is Celine and I come from France. I have been dancing since the age of 5, starting my dance journey with ballet at a small dance studio in my hometown. I joined the Conservatoire National de Region in Rennes and then In Boulogne-Billancourt where I trained in ballet and contemporary dance.  I discovered salsa in 2008 and immediately felt in love. I started by learning cuban salsa and then on1. Since I’m living in the US, I essentially trained on2. At my arrival in NYC, I trained with Griselle Ponce and at the Yamulee studio, and I performed for a year with Guarikiten de Yamulee. In 2019 I moved to Maryland and quickly joined Latin Vintage Dance Company with who I am still performing. It is an honor for me to be part of the instructor training program of Baltimore Salsa Dance Company, and I hope to share with all my love of dancing. 

BIO:  Moises was born in Fairfax, Virginia and always had an interesting view on music growing up. As growing up under a Salvadorian house hold, music was always being played in the house by listening to Bachata, Cumbia, Merengue and much more. As growing up, Moises has volunteered in a few quinces and saw a glimps of what dancing in a group was like. It wasn’t till when Moises was a sophomore in high school where he decided to join the school’s Latin dance team(OLAS). From there, Moises hasn’t stopped dancing since then and through his dance journey, Moises has had 5 years of experience of coaching his high school’s dance team as an alumni. Moises has also and currently been working and training his craft under the Mambo/Salsa dance team Ardiente which was where he found his love for mambo. Moises has grown up listening to Bachata music from artist’s such like as Aventura, Monchy y Alexandra, Junior y Jorge and much more. Moises is a very dedicated instructor where his main objective for his students is to be able to understand the dance of Mambo and Bachata. Timing, rhythm and synchronization is Moises main focus in his classes and tries to find a method for everyone to learn those skills as he is aware that everyone learns in many different ways. Moises encourages all types of levels of dancers from experienced to non-experience dancers to join his class. Moises hopes to see you soon in class!

A note about your Profesor de Baile…  “Kellz” is a native Baltimorean, formally educated in Dance and the Performing Arts. Kellz, is classically trained in Ballet, Jazz, African Contemporary, Modern, and Tap at some of Baltimore’s legendary institutions such as Baltimore School for Arts, Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore Arena Players Youth Program (under Sevlyn White) , Towson and Goucher Universities Dance auxiliary programs and graduated from Walbrook SHS as a Dance Major. Kellz also attended Alvin Ailey’s Youth Program summer dance intensives under Tracy Inman and Melanie Person, she also attended UMES where she was a Biology Student with Dance as a minor.

Kellz has trained under world renown dance sages such as: Norma Pera (BSA Repertoire), Sylvester Campbell (BSA Jazz, Modern African Contemporary) , Judith Jamison (Ailey Repertoire summer intensive), Sheena Black ( Dunham Technique, Dances of the Diaspora), Alexis Hernandez (Afro Contemporary, Karelia DeSpaigne  (Cuba - Tierra Kaliente – Esquela D’Arte), the Muniquitos De Mantanzas (Cuba – Rumba Yambu, Guanguanco, and Columbian) and a host of other amazing dance instructors and ensembles.

Kellz has over 45 years of Dance and Performing Arts experience, beginning with her Aunt Denise as her first dance teachers, along with Ms. Hugie at James Mosher elementary.  Kellz has performed around the nation and even overseas as a well-recognized and respected… Dope azz House Music Dancer being seen on stage with the likes of International Djs such as Louie Vega, Dennis Ferrer, Karizma, Tony Humphries and a host of other DJs.

Kellz has spent the last 5 years training, learning and becoming immersed in the Cuban Dance Culture after walking into a Rueda De Casino Party where she knew nothing about Casino nor Rueda, but she innately felt the rhythms.  

Kellz joined the community dance group – Rueda De Casino Baltimore where she learned all about Rueda from Cedric Teamer. She then broadened her dance studies to attend DC Casinero classes, studied Afro Cuban movements and concepts from Sheena Black, Kati Hernandez, Duane Wrenn, and Yeni Molinet.
In 2018 Kellz had her DNA footprint mapped by 23& me.  Kellz just KNEW her natural Afro Cuban rhythm meant she had Afro Cuban or Latino roots.  WELP!!!!!   Part of that is true...   Kellz lineage is: 66.9% Sub Saharan African:
54.9% West African – comprised of Nigerian/Yoruba, (Igbo Bantu tribes) 21.6%, Ghanaian/Sierra Leonean 19.9%, Congolese and Angola 9.6% and Senegambia and Guinean 5.6% being the major contributors.

Since Cuba is Afro by way of the Slave Trade, the Dances of the Diaspora are integral to Cubans and their way of life…This made total since of why Afro Cuban, Casino, Salsa and Latin movements have always come natural to Kellz.

Kellz has been a dance teacher off and on for the past 25 years, teaching dance to Baltimore city students, and in recreation centers throughout Baltimore City, as well as at the college level as an auxillary dance teacher and she is also a certified Zumba instructor.

Kellz traveled to Cuba last year to train in Cuban Dance Disciplines such as Afro Cuban Folkloric Dances, Rumba, Casino, and Afro Contemporary.