Your Fearless Leaders

 

Angelo De Torres
Artistic Director, Instructor & Performer

As a co-owner of Steps Dance Studio, Angelo is a full time instructor, choreographer and performer. He is currently managing all of the Steps performance teams, and is choreographing for couples as well as competitors.

Angelo is a professional competitor having won the Canada Salsa and Bachata Congress as well as the Chim Pum Callao Salsa Congress in the professional Bachata division. He also coaches and competes in Pro-Am showcase and heated divisions at local and international Congresses. 

Angelo has trained with multiple world-renowned artists such as Tito Ortos, Tamara Livolsi, Anya Katsevman, Billy Fajardo, Katie Marlow, Nelson Flores, Adriano Ieropoli, Samantha Scali, Grupo Alafia and Raul Santiago. He has completed the Salsa Certification course with Tito Ortos in both 2017 and 2018.

Angelo has taught and performed with the Steps Professional team in various Salsa Congresses and events including Mambo Nights in Bermuda, the New York Salsa Congress, Hustle & Salsa Festival in Puerto Rico, the Montreal Salsa Convention, the Canada Salsa & Bachata Congress, the International Hustle & Salsa Competition in Miami and the Ottawa Salsa Congress. 

His love for Latin dance is reflected in his teaching technique. He is truly passionate about sharing his knowledge and in return seeing growth and advancement in his students. 

Jennifer Aucoin
Founder, Executive Director, Instructor

Jennifer is a full-time salsa instructor, choreographer and event organizer. She is co-owner of Steps Dance Studio & co-founder of the Women’s Salsa Retreat.

As a trained adjudicator, Jennifer has judged competitions in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, Detroit, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. She has also represented Canada on the judging panel for the World Salsa Championships televised on ESPN. She is on the judging panel for the prestigious Global Salsa Championships at the World Salsa Summit. 

Jennifer was also the first instructor in Canada to be certified to teach Latin Hustle by the IHDA. 

Jennifer is the founder and organizer of the annual Canada Salsa & Bachata Congress, an international salsa festival that takes place in Toronto every October. This 4-day extravaganza, now in its seventeenth year, is the largest salsa event in Canada and features nightly performances by over 80 dance companies from all over the world and daily salsa workshops given by world-renowned instructors. The Canadian Salsa Championships, part of the Canada Salsa & Bachata Congress weekend, is the largest and most widely recognized Salsa & Bachata competition in Canada. 

Jennifer has also managed an organization which teaches Latin Dance to elementary and high school students. This program was born with the mission to build confidence, self-esteem and cultural awareness in children and teens through Latin Dance in the school curriculum. 

Jennifer has been involved in dance and the performing arts her entire life and has extensive training in gymnastics, ballet, flamenco, Argentine tango and, of course, salsa. To keep progressive, she continues to travel extensively to learn from the world’s best dancers and instructors, and has attended close to 100 salsa congresses in Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, New York, Colombia, Ecuador, Miami, Zurich, Amsterdam, Washington, Boston, Detroit, Orlando, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal. Jennifer has also taught at salsa workshops in Puerto Rico, Holland, Ecuador, Washington, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Detroit, Montreal and Ottawa. She, along with all of the instructors at Steps Dance Studio, received her Salsa Certification by Mr. Tito Ortos of Puerto Rico. 

Instructors

Ashleigh began her study of dance at Toronto's Claude Watson School for the Arts. As a teenager she became a dance instructor and performer and appeared in music videos for artists such as Wyclef Jean, Donnell Jones, and Sean Paul, as well as “Save the Last Dance” the television series, and the feature film “Honey”.

Ashleigh studied traditional Cuban dance and Spanish at the University of Havana, in Cuba in 2002 and later returned to Toronto where she was trained in Salsa by Jennifer Aucoin, Founder of Steps Dance Studio and the Canada Salsa Congress, and Giovanni Torres of Los Salsomanos Dance Company. Salsa dancing and performing took Ashleigh traveling across Canada and to New York City, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico.

From 2007 - 2017 Ashleigh was based in China where she served as trilingual Master of Ceremonies for Latin Dance Events across China. 

Ashleigh Au

Dailyn Martinez Hernandez was born in Havana Cuba.

At the age of 5, she started her Artistic activities, participating in school band dancing and as part of the rhythmic gymnastic. Later she incorporated into the Cultural Centre in her hometown Guines, taking dance lessons as well as guitar, piano and singing lessons. 

At 10, she joying Tamborin Teatre Group also in her hometown — dancing, singing and acting. At 13, after hard and long days of audition, she was accepted at her first professional School in Modern and Contemporary and AfroCuban Dance Juan Pablo Duarte from Havana Province.

In 1996, she graduated and was given the highest recognition of her school for being graduating student of her year.

In 1997, she competed at the National Festival of Art Student where she was awarded Best Female Performer and Best Solo Dance Performance with her own Choreography "Vida" and special mention for her acting skills on "La Casa de Bernarda Alba".

That same year she faced one of her biggest challenges of her artistic career — "Prueba Nacional de pase de nivel" or National Test to pass to the next Art Level — where all the chosen students from Provincial Art School of the Country had to compete for a spot in the National School or Art in Havana. She passed the test and started her foundation as a pre-professional dance student.

The school name is Escuela Nacional de Espectaculos Musicales y Variedades.

Once there, she participated in different projects with children and youth, as a dance mentor and instructor, as well as developing her skills in acting and playing musical instruments such as guitar and congas.

In 1998, she was chosen to participate in the most important concourse for a student of a National School, Concourse UNEAC (Union Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba), where she was awarded 2nd prize in Choreography Duet, Recognition for her work as Choreographer, Best Female Interpretation.

In 2000, Dailyn graduated from Escuela Nacionla de Espectaculos Musicales and Variedades with honors and as Second Best graduated student. That same year she was chosen to work as a professional dancer at the most important Musical Theatre and Variaity "Teatro America"in Havana, Cuba. Once there she also started teaching dance to kids, youth and adults as well as performing and choreographing for the Dance Company. She had the chance to work with prestigious personalities of Cuban Art and Music such us National Ballet of Cuba, Company Segundo, Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo, National Folkloric Dance Company of Cuba and so many more, and was also able to represent her culture internationally such Spain, United Kingdom and Germany. By 2002 she was a Certified Professional Choreographer and Dance Instructor and still performing as a Professional Dancer.

In 2003, Dailyn auditioned for the most completed and popular Dance Company at that time in Cuba — Havana Night — as a dancer where she had the opportunity to travel to Sydney, Australia in a big Cuban production of Musicians, Dancers and Circus Artists.

In 2003-2004, Dailyn started working in one of the largest hotel chains in Cuba — Melias, at Sol Palmeras Hotel — as a Co-Director of the Dance Company Sol Arenas, where she was also Dance Performer and Choreographer.

In 2006, Dailyn arrived in Toronto and started performing with Ire Omo, Cuban Dance Company and Mambo Dream Team Dance Company, as well as teaching kids and youth Cuban dance and Rhythms, at the Company studio.

Dailyn is currently Teaching at Steps Dance Studio, also teaching at the best Art and Cultural Place in Toronto Lula Lounge as a Dance Instructor and performing with local Musicians and Band such as Quartet Guaracha y Son, Cassaba, Cafe Cubano and others.

Dailyn Martinez

Daniel began his dance career in Colombia, surrounded by the salsa culture. In his career as a dancer, he participated in several competitions at the national level in Colombia, achieving the podium with a salsa cabaret group in 2017. Since his arrival in Canada, he has complemented his studies with Steps Dance Company and more connoisseurs of Latin rhythms. He also participated in the Canada Salsa & Bachata Congress and was certified by Tito Ortos. Eventually, under the instruction of Jennifer Aucoin, Daniel was trained to teach at Steps Dance Studio.


His studies have focused on salsa and bachata rhythms, as well as some urban and afro rhythms. As an instructor, what distinguishes Daniel in his classes is his energy and his contagiously positive and cheerful attitude when dancing, making the classes an enjoyable space not only for learning but also for having a great time.

Daniel Lopez

Edgar Sanchez

Elia Garcia is originally from Torreón, Mexico. She began her training in classical ballet dance at the age of 5 in the Royal Academy of Dancing where she completed her studies in 2011.

In 2013, she ventured into the rhythms of salsa during her stay in Australia. There, she competed in the Australian Latin Dance Championship in Sydney and in the World Salsa Solo competition at the Brisbane Latin Dance Festival, placing third in the Amateur Salsa Solo Amateur category in 2015.

She moved to Mexico City in 2016 and started training in bachata with Gerardo Morales and Madian Carrillo at Bachata Team MX. She became a world champion after competing in Euroson Latino in 2018 and 2019 in the bachata team division, and she also placed third in the salsa team division.

Elia Garcia

Ernesto Campbell has more than 16 years of experience in dance.  Since 2013, he has competed and won many world championships. He is the first Honduran representing his country to achieve a spot in the top 3. Some of his biggest feats were competing as a professional soloist in the Euroson Latino World Championship in 2019 and at the Canada Salsa & Bachata Congress in 2021 and 2022, and the Montreal Salsa Convention in 2022. 

In Honduras, Ernesto was the founder and owner of prominent Salsa and Bachata studio SALSA STYLE between 2012-2020, and was promoter of one of the largest social events in Central America, SALSUNAMI.

Ernesto has performed at many of the most important congresses in Latin America, Mexico, the United States and in Canada, including ones in Toronto, Miami, New York, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Houston, New Orleans, Puebla, Mexico, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Cancun, CDMX, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Peru. 

Ernesto has trained with many renowned teachers and with many world champions throughout his career including Tito Ortos and Tamara Livolsi, Nelson Flores, Ernesto and Denisse, Eddie Torres, Eddie Torres Jr, Fernando Sosa, Johnny Vazquez, Adrian y Anita, Carine and Rafael, Karen and Ricardo, Karel Flores, Adriano and Samantha, Billy Fajardo, Delia Madera, Osmar Perrones, Daniel and Desiree, Gigi Blanco, Johana Palhua, Marco Ferrigno, Rodrigo Cortázar, Ataca y la Alemana and El Mulato of Swing Latino.  

He is a certified choreographer, can help dancers physically prepare for their goals, and is experienced in choreographic technique and the assembly and production of a variety of shows.

Since arriving at Steps Studio, Ernesto has choreographed and trained soloists, couples and competition teams. At the 2021 Canada Salsa & Bachata Congress, the Steps Pro Team performed one of his choreographed works to "A Bailar Canada" and won. In 2022, the team performed his work to "Hubo Alguien.”  He has also trained the  Steps Men's Team and one of the studio’s student performance classes.

Ernesto is a Latin dancer with compassion and a lot of energy who wants to share his gift with the entire Salsa and Bachata community in Canada. You can currently dance with him at Steps Dance Studio through group classes or by booking private lessons.

Ernesto Campbell

Fernanda and Juan Pablo met in 2012 through a Salsa group called Sentimiento Manana. A couple years later, they coincidentally met again in line to enter a salsa club, where they decided to become dance partners to enjoy and work together in their shared passion. This passion was consolidated over time, learning and studying various complementary disciplines such as jazz, Ballroom, Salsa On 2, stretching, circus and couple acrobatics. They attended all of the annual Salsa and Bachata congresses in Chile, as well as participated in other events in nearby countries, including Vivir Mambo Festival, Peru and Uruguay Salsa Congress among others.

Their long path of experiences allowed them to obtain new skills, more knowledge, different approaches and improve their technique in Salsa and Bachata. At the end of 2014, they got married and created their own brand, Bailes.cl.

In 2017, Juan Pablo and Fernanda participated in the World Latin Dance Cup Chile qualifiers, and won first place in the Salsa On 2 division. In 2018, they won 1st Place with their Evolución Xtrema Group in the Bachata Pro-Am category and in 2019, 1st Place in the Professional Mens and Ladies Group in one of the most important championships in Chile, Copa Minga.

Seeing the possibility of expanding their horizons beyond Chile, they visited Philadelphia in 2020, where they gave several workshops, classes and performances thanks to the collaboration of the Estilo by Mike Andino academy.

Fernanda Martin

Heather is an experienced instructor and professional dancer with over 15 years of teaching experience. Her patient and encouraging style allows her to connect with dancers of all levels and ages.  She has worked on multiple productions as a choreographer, instructor, and performer in a variety of styles. She enjoys being a part of the Steps family and having the opportunity to both share her experience and knowledge and learn from the talented rosters of teachers.

Heather Kay

Jason is a senior instructor, coach, choreographer, performer and a chameleon in dance with 25+ years of experience in Ballroom/Latin, Salsa, Bachata, West Coast Swing, Hustle and Kizomba. 

He has trained with Canadian instructors including Jennifer Aucoin, Giovanni Torres, Teddy Olaso, Adriano Ieropoli, Samantha Scali and with international artists such as The Mambo King Eddie Torres, Tito Ortos, Tamara Livolsi, Anya Katsevman, Franklin Diaz and Super Mario.

Jason hopes his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge of dance will translate to his students and inspire them to a life-long journey of dance.

Jason Ng

Fernanda and Juan Pablo met in 2012 through a Salsa group called Sentimiento Manana. A couple years later, they coincidentally met again in line to enter a salsa club, where they decided to become dance partners to enjoy and work together in their shared passion. This passion was consolidated over time, learning and studying various complementary disciplines such as jazz, Ballroom, Salsa On 2, stretching, circus and couple acrobatics. They attended all of the annual Salsa and Bachata congresses in Chile, as well as participated in other events in nearby countries, including Vivir Mambo Festival, Peru and Uruguay Salsa Congress among others.

Their long path of experiences allowed them to obtain new skills, more knowledge, different approaches and improve their technique in Salsa and Bachata. At the end of 2014, they got married and created their own brand, Bailes.cl.

In 2017, Juan Pablo and Fernanda participated in the World Latin Dance Cup Chile qualifiers, and won first place in the Salsa On 2 division. In 2018, they won 1st Place with their Evolución Xtrema Group in the Bachata Pro-Am category and in 2019, 1st Place in the Professional Mens and Ladies Group in one of the most important championships in Chile, Copa Minga.

Seeing the possibility of expanding their horizons beyond Chile, they visited Philadelphia in 2020, where they gave several workshops, classes and performances thanks to the collaboration of the Estilo by Mike Andino academy.

Juan Pablo Painen

Jennifer has taught and trained at Steps for several years, dancing Salsa, Cha Cha, Bachata and Latin Hustle. In that time she has danced as a member the Steps professional and semi-pro teams, and performed at several Canada Salsa Congresses, the Montreal Salsa Congress, and many of Toronto's top Latin Dance events. A lifelong dance and performing arts enthusiast, Jennifer studied ballet for twelve years (RAD), as well as jazz and modern before discovering her love of salsa. In addition to teaching dance, she works as a professional actor, musician, and music teacher.

Jennifer Foster

Kathy has a background in gymnastics from an early age. She started dancing salsa in 2006, and has since competed and placed in several professional divisions. She has been certified by Tito Ortos and has attended and performed at various international congresses in Israel, New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, Montreal and Ottawa.

Kathy has been teaching children’s classes since 2016. She loves instructing children in a fun and developmental environment, and thrives when seeing them grow and progress.

She also coordinates Steps’ Performance Class costumes, and works at the front desk as a substitute.

Kathy De Torres

Kevin is a professional dancer and now part-time salsa and bachata instructor. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela and started to dance at the age of 17. He has a vast knowledge of multiple dance genres, including ballet, contemporary, salsa, bachata, jazz and reggaeton.

He has trained with the Grizzly Dance Company (led by master instructor Grizzly Hidriago), Proyeccion Latina Academy and Ballet Clasico Rita Dordelly. At the age of 22, Kevin started his degree in Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance at the Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes, where he learned the foundations of contemporary dance and ballet techniques.

The following year, he joined the most recognized salsa studio in Caracas, Imagen Latina Company, and was trained by master teacher Arelis Guevara. He stayed with the studio for three years, perfecting his techniques and learning from the best master in the country.

In 2017, Kevin was invited to teach salsa and bachata in Shanghai, China. After teaching for two years at Shanghai Latin Dance, Kevin fell in love with the city and settled in China as an expat. In 2019, Kevin opened his own dance studio in Shanghai, Essence Dance Studio, which became a beloved, well-known destination among expats, as well as the local dance community in learning the art of Latin dance.

In 2022, Kevin moved to Toronto, bringing his extensive experience and love for dance with him to share and enjoy with people all around. Kevin has a passionate dedication to the art of dance, and has a goal of sharing its beautiful movement and energy with his students.

Kevin Sandoval

Magaly Meza

Mayra first started dancing at 9 years old when her dad signed her up for jazz classes. Since then, she has branched out into flamenco, tap and afro. Around 2014, she started in salsa and bachata, and also spent time in the Dominican Republic to improve her dancing. Mayra brings with her experience as a co-teacher in Mexico, and also as a teacher in the Toronto area with a focus on bachata shines, styling and footwork. She loves to motivate students to listen to bachata in their spare time to improve their social dancing, and encourages male students to take styling classes to broaden their perspective of dancing!

Mayra Brito

Patrick Danquah

Rui Ferreira

Sabine is a Lebanese Latin dancer and instructor with 10 years of dancing experience. She joined the dance world in 2013 and since then has joined a team that won the World Latin Dance Cup Semi-Final and qualified to Miami in 2017, and became champions of several competitions in local and international festivals. She also participated in multiple music videos, events and weddings.

From Dance Sport to Latin as her preferred style, Sabine started teaching and creating all-level choreographies of Salsa, Bachata and Cha-Cha for kids and adults in 2018.

She is happy to join Steps Dance Family to share her passion in Latin dancing.

Sabine Karam

Selina has been dancing for her whole life – from Bollywood dance to rhythmic gymnastics, she was fortunate enough to have had opportunities to train and perform throughout her childhood. She was exposed to Latin music and culture through travels to Latin American countries and began taking bachata lessons in 2017. Selina has been assisting and teaching bachata since 2019 and is thrilled to be joining the Steps family to share her love for sensual bachata.

Selina Suleman

Thamara is a Latin dance instructor based in Toronto who has 12+ years of dance experience. She enjoys teaching salsa & bachata fundamentals as well as educating her students on the history of salsa. From teaching to social dancing, and as a former performer, Thamara leaves her heart on the dance floor. If you ever see her at a social be sure to ask her for a dance… or two.

Outside of the salsa world Thamara is a mother of two and a vegetarian foodie. She spends her free time with her family on their regular games nights and weekly Sunday brunch meetups. She enjoys murder mystery shows and watching movies.

Thamara Sutton

 
 
 

All of our teachers have been certified by Tito Ortos (Puerto Rico)

 
 
 
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Front Desk & Admin

Jenn H, Studio Manager

Medina Elia, Front Desk

Louisa Keo, Front Desk

Nora Hussein, Front Desk

Jacqueline Chua, Front Desk

Hila T., Studio Rental & Community Manager

Magaly Meza, Front Desk Assistant

Marielle Torrefranca, Marketing & Social Media

Heather Kay, Front Desk

headshot_kathy.jpg

Kathy De Torres, Front Desk

 
 

Interested in joining the team? Our school is always growing!

 

Are you an experienced, professional Salsa and Bachata instructor looking to teach at a fun-loving, action-packed studio? Send your resume to jennifer@stepsdancestudio.com

Are you an organized, meticulous, outgoing person with MindBody experience, interested in joining our awesome front desk team? Send your resume to jennifer@stepsdancestudio.com