TATOSALSA INC.
TAMPA, FLORIDA

As one of the pioneers of the On1 Salsa style and On2 Mambo New York style in Tampa Florida, his exciting dance journey has landed him in many major international, national, and local concerts and events. In 2005, Juan was cast in a dancing role in the movie “The Punisher”. Later in 2007, he released his first Bachata Instructional DVD “Sabor Dominicano”. He has also shared the stage dancing for Bachata artist Alexa Velez. In February 2007, Juan opened the doors to Latin Groove Dance Company, which provided weekly group classes, club classes, workshops, corporate events, and social events in the Tampa Bay area. In 2010, Juan took a small detour and moved to the city of Chicago IL, where he stayed heavily involved in the dance scene teaching regular group, private, club, and workshop classes. He also served as a judge for several local Salsa and Bachata competitions. In March 2014, Juan, along with his family, relocated back home to Tampa where he and his wife started their new dance company TATOSALSA. Cristina Paredes (Zavala) has had Salsa/Mambo in her heart for as long as she can remember. Growing up to mimicking dance videos and Chicago house dancing with her older sister, it was 13 years ago that she began to take her development as a dancer more seriously when she accepted an open invitation from Sekou McMiller. Cristina was one of the founding members of the Descarga Caribe Dance Company in Chicago IL. Through the complex and inventive choreographies that the group became known for, Cristina developed into one of the principle female dancers in the company and eventually became the traveling partner of the Director, Sekou McMiller (2003-2008). Her last dance partner was Chicago native, Adrian Tenorio. Adrian and Cristina met while dancing with Descarga Caribe Dance Company. They have won several dance competitions together and have represented Chicago in many major events. Born in the Windy City, Chicago, IL, to Puerto Rican Parents, culture, soul and passion were instilled at a very young age. Raised in beautiful Tampa, FL, Jeremy has always had a love for the creative and it kickstarted when he joined a hip hop dance company called Eternal Rhythm. Training for hours at a time and performing across the state, the seed for a lifetime of dance was planted. Fast forward to 2008, Jeremy relocated to Phoenix, AZ where he soon began teaching at the largest weekly Salsa social in the Valley, “The Sunday Social”. It was there in Arizona where he expanded his Salsa repertoire to include L.A. Style on 1 and New York style on 2. Joining the Salvaje dance company under the direction of Shawn Sallee, the team performed at the LA Salsa Congress, the AZ Salsa Festival and a host of events across the Southwest. Jeremy was also a featured Instructor at the Mexicali Salsa Congress where he shared the stage with the likes of Sergio and Gabi of Alma Latina. In a span of 6 years while residing in Phoenix, he taught thousands of students, some of who have gone on to form their own studios and compete at the Salsa World Championships. In 2007, Juan TaTo Paredes branched out and started Latin Groove Dance Company and May was asked to come on board as an Assistant Instructor. When Juan left to Chicago for 3+ years, May continued to assist Latin Groove in Tampa. Now that Juan TaTo is back, she has reunited with him and his wife Cristina Paredes to be a part of TaToSalsa in Tampa, FL. May has performed in several Salsa Congresses and socials across Florida and in Washington D.C. You can find her happy spirit and energy on the dance floor. In addition to Salsa and Mambo, May belongs to a Filipino Folkloric Dance Company here in the Bay area. She also performs at various cultural events throughout Florida. May also has a passion and love for tennis which began at an early age in her life. She was part of the tennis team in college and has competed in various adult tennis leagues in Tampa. Darlene was born and raised in New Jersey, but has always been a true Floridian at heart. Her profound love for dance started in 2007 at Simone’s Salsa Dance Studio. She later went to explore the teachings of Juan TaTo Paredes with Latin Groove Dance Company. When Juan relocated to Chicago, Darlene continued teaching at Latin Groove in Tampa, FL. She has studied different styles of dance, but her passion definitely lies with Salsa, Bachata, and Cha Cha. She has participated in several state dance events, and has assisted instructors at several dance festivals and congresses. Darlene always shows compassion and patience while teaching her classes and she strives to instill the proper etiquette of partner dancing. She is a strong voice for the follows and absolutely loves social dancing. You’ll never see a frown on this woman, she is all smiles! Darlene is excited and honored to be reunited with Juan TaTo back in Florida, and part of the TaToSalsa team. A true Florida native, Daniel has shared his home between Tampa & Miami for most of his life. Family life has always been diverse for him. His parents with their unique cultural differences helped to instill the love for life, through the Arts, Music, and appreciation of family. While this young Italian-German-Native American never grew up in a Spanish home, his love for the culture, and the diversity of it, can be seen in all he does. His heart can easily be considered pure Latino. During casual class conversations with a younger Cecilia, a former student of Latin Dance, he was encouraged to step out of the normal and visit some of Tampa’s festivals during the summer months. It was there, when met with the deep island ritmo, and charismatic flare of salsa, that his heart and soul were taken by storm. From those very first moments in 1998 he sought out classes, late night venues, and friendly parking lots to listen, dance, and learned from whom ever was willing to help and teach a poor double left-footed gringo! It was a fellow student, which suggested Daniel as the final 8th person, in a four couple talent show. While performing a Rueda displaying the Cuban salsa heritage at USF a bond was made. Thus in 1999, Daniel became one of the founding dance instructors for Salsa Caliente Tampa Florida. The love and acceptance in Tampa for Salsa grew rapidly for Salsa Caliente and the core instructors. The “new” interest provided an extensive exposure for the group. Dancing became a full time life with 6 days a week in various venues, class nights, corporate events, festivals, commercial films, prints, social gatherings, and local newspapers along with some of Tampa’s most popular quinces ever.