Joy Davina
Joy is the director/founder of the Social Dance Studio. She has a degree in dance and over 10 years of professional teaching experience. She continues to study in LA and NY to bring the latest styles of Salsa and other social dances to MN. You will see Joy dancing at local venues, teaching a variety of energetic group classes, or performing for private parties and events.
For more information, call 612-418-4046 or email Joy
Special Message from Joy:
I started dancing at the age of six, studying ballet, tap, and jazz. I graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in theatre and dance and moved to the Twin Cities to be a part of the Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis.
After two years of performing and touring, I entered the wonderful world of ballroom dance. I was a top teacher at Arthur Murray for five years before venturing out on my own as an independent instructor.
I decided to create the Social Dance Studio six years ago to teach 'club' or 'social' partnership dancing via quality group classes at affordable rates.
I continue to seek education in all forms of dance and aspire to be a champion in my field. As I strive to learn, the more I realize how much I don't know and that the possibilities for improvement are endless.
I am passionate about sharing happiness through dance and feel incredibly fortunate that I am surrounded by creative and positive people everyday.
Todd Paulus
Todd was born in Portland, Oregon into a family that was very involved in theater and music. After traveling to Ohio, Arizona, & Japan, he finally landed in the Twin Cities to teach and join the great team of instructors at the Social Dance Studio. He now co-owns SDS with Joy Davina, and together they have many plans for the future of social dancing in the Twin Cities. Todd studied vocal music performance and dance at the University of Arizona and has taught Ballroom, Latin, Swing, and Country/Western dance for 8 years. His dream to share his love for the performing arts came true when he started to teach dance. In addition to teaching, he performs, competes, & DJs throughout the United States.
Byron Johnson
An East Coast transplant, born in Arizona and raised in West Philadelphia, Bryon moved to Minnesota in 2002. As a result of traveling the world, he grew to speak different languages and love many cultures. The culture of dance called Salsa has been his latest and longest lasting obsession. His LA-style Salsa infused with Hip Hop fills his dancing with expression and flair and makes him so enjoyable to watch. With still much to learn, he studies the latest performances and instructors to keep his moves fresh and challenging. He loves to pass this knowledge onto others who share his love for Salsa.
Niko "Suave" Salgado
Smooth and easy to dance with, as well as fun! I have been dancing for over 11 years with many social dances under my belt.
Along with my dance experience, I've choreographed early in my career and continue to do so today. I've been teaching with the Social Dance Studio since 2004 and have taught salsa in many cities around the US.
I currently co-lead the Argentine Tango Program at SDS and teach for the Salsa Club at the University of Minnesota. I'm a Salsero first and familiar with many styles of salsa. My specialties are stunts, tricks, arm tosses, fusions of multiple dances, silly stuff, dancing with ease, self-expression, props and of course, fun. My martial arts training in Aikido has tremendously helped in understanding efficiency of movement, balance and the mental aspect of influencing movement with your partner(s). I'm a very technical teacher, focusing on building leader and follower skills as well as increasing awareness of personal movement, partner movement and space. I also emphasize keeping things as simple as possible while exploring complex material.
Keri Simonson
Keri is a native of Minneapolis who grew to love salsa dancing while studying abroad in Venezuela in 1996, and has been dancing ever since. Latin Dancing is her specialty, but she also has a wide repertoire including; Lindy Hop, East and West Coast Swing, Tango, and Ballroom. Keri’s dance foundation was built by “studying the dance floor” (a.k.a “going out” to local dance venues for the last decade). She also has formal training from the University of Minnesota, The Social Dance Studio, and various other local dance schools.
Keri is a talented teacher who has been with the Social Dance Studio since 2004. She loves sharing her passion and knowledge of dance by breaking down the material in a way that is fun and easy to understand for all levels.
In addition to teaching, Keri is a performer at heart. She is a part of the Social Dance Studio’s Pro Salsa Team and the All Women’s Salsa Sirens. Keri also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Minnesota, a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and is a trained Massage Therapist.
Joseph Tsehai
Joseph has been dancing Salsa and other Latin dances since 2001. He has studied with Joy Davina, John Rosales and Rene Thompson and enjoys all the different styles of Salsa including LA, Cuban and Casino Rueda. He continuously studies the movement of Salsa and integrates different styles into his moves. He hopes to bring more Cuban style and Casino Rueda to the Twin Cities Salsa scene.
Jae Haile Phillips
Jae Haile' is a Latin/Hip Hop Dance Instructor. He began Salsa Dancing in 2004 while studying abroad in Sydney, Australia. His style is charismatic, energetic, fun & free. Not only does he teach Salsa and Hip Hop class at the Social Dance Studio. He has found a way to seamlessly blend the two styles of dancing with his Salsa/Hip Hop Fusion Class. You can find Jae all over the Twin Cities spreading Hot Dance Moves, Fun & Positive Energy for local events, night clubs, & restaurants. He is currently the choreographer for the Minneapolis Professional Salsa Team and has been a part of the team for 3-years.
Jae Haile is heavily involved in teaching dance to the "young people." He has directed, facilitated, and choreographed for many after-school and youth programs (Kindergarten to College Kids) around the Twin Cities. Jae is very successful at keeping the students engaged with dancing, creativity, and fun. Young Audiences, P.L.A.C., La Escualita are just a few youth programs that Jae is involved with. Jae is also instrumental in building the new Social Dance Studio Kids' Program.
You can also look for Jae's T-shirt Company, Small Talk & Co., providing t-shirts and other dance apperal for the Social Dance Studio Family to look HOT in.
Fun is the common thread of Jae Haile's Dancing & Life Philosophy. He believes that the purpose of life is to strive to have fun 100% of the Time (even during the bad times). If you need some fun or you have forgotten how to have fun...Call on Jae...He will make it happen...somehow! :)
Sabine Ibes
Sabine has been studying Argentine Tango for the past 5 years. She has traveled to Buenos Aires and other cities to better understand this versatile dance. She was a dancer in the Theater de la Jeune Lune's tango opera "Maria de Buenos Aires". Sabine has always had a passion for dancing. She started as a young girl with jazz, ballet, and ballroom dancing. Born in the Netherlands, she moved to the States in 1990, is a proud mom of 3 daughters, and works alongside her husband in their company.
Soleman Krebs
Fatima Cocci
Kat Carstensen
Shelby Vandenberg
