JT & Ania
We have taught, performed, and competed in 5 continents. (Europe,Asia,Oceania,N.America and Africa)
We are a Latin Dance couple that threw out the last three years achieved:
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1st Place Japan cup, T okyo (2014)
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Qualified for Bachatea Masters 2015
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3 ́Place World Championships salsa Hong Kong Aseki (2014)
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3 ́Place World Championships Bachatarte, Spain (2014)
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5th Place in World Championships in Bachatarte, Barcelona (2013)
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9th Place in World Latin Dance cup, Miami (2013)
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8th Place in European Bachatastars (2012)
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2 ́Place Limburg Salsa Festival World Qualifier (2013)
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Multiple National Champions in Bachata (2011,2012.2013)
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Trained and qualified our Student bachata team to World
Championships in Bachatea (2014)
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Ania currently coaches Norwegian champions in Standard Ballroom for
juniors
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We are a up and coming ambitious dance couple with a goal to reach
the World top in Bachata within next 2 years and, as well, to continue building the latin dance environment in Norway
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Currently we are running two dance schools in Stavanger Norway (LatinDanceLab.inc and PolePointe, co-organize a festival in Thailand “Salsa Tropicana Vacation” and together with team from Melbourne create a performance group “from North to South”
WHO WE ARE:
ANIA
Former S-level Ballroom dancer, works full time as teacher, performer, choreographer owner of PolePointe dance school.
Born in Poland, Ania has en extensive background in fitness and ballroom dances. She has lived and been trained in USA, Poland, Netherlands and Norway, and has gained a lot of experience performing and competing at various international events.
Her unique style and music interpretation inspires all type of audience. She has vast education and experience as dance teacher. Everyday she inspires students to learn new tricks, dance moves and master their skills.
JT
(Jarl-Tore) A true North-man from Tromsø, Norway, JT channels his energies through sport and dance. A semi-pro footballer, JT discovered the world of Latin music and dance after the age of 19. He has since fallen totally for the beautiful dance of Sensual and Dominican Bachata, where he now has freedom to express himself and share his passion with others. His background in dance also extends to the realm of HipHop.
Together we run second dance school in Stavanger LatinDanceLab.inc where we teach bachata and salsa.
We have taught Bachata and Salsa in many big dance festivals across the World (like: Melbourne Latin Festival, Australia 2014, Costa Durada Bachata festival in Barcelona 2014, Dubai International Salsa festival 2014, Nordic Salsa Experience in Oslo 2times, 3d-protocol Festival, Bachatarte in Barelona, Hong Kong WC, 3rd Tropicana Salsa Vacation in Pattaya, Oslo Bachata Sensual Festival, London and so on...)
I hope you would like to have us to teach, perform and contribute in what we love the mostJ
Lene Bjelland
Lene started her dancing career at the age of 5, taking classes in classical ballet. She quickly showed a great talent for dancing and became one of the principal dancers at Phillippa J. Cubison's ballet school, performing both with other students and as a soloist at numerous productions year after year. Also every year she graduated with Honours (highest ranked score) at ballet exams hosted by the British School of Ballet.
After 12 years of classical ballet, at the age of 17 she discovered latin dances and started dancing salsa in the year of 2001. She quickly developed a love and passion for this dance, and was a very quick learner. Already after 6 months she participated and won a salsa competition hosted by Salsanor, and qualified to compete in the unofficial Norwegian Championship (there was no official championship at the time) where she came on 3rd place in 2002. She started off dancing Cuban style salsa, but later on discovered LA style and then her favourite NY style, also called mambo (salsa on2).
Lene started teaching in 2006, and in 2007 she moved to Oslo due to studies and also taught at OSI Dance together with Walter Aleman, one of the very first to teach salsa in Norway. When she moved back to Stavanger after studies she had a pause in teaching, but she has travelled to numerous events all over the world, taking classes with the best instructors in the salsa scene; Eddie Torres, Frankie Martinez, Adolfo Indacochea, David & Paulina, Yamulee, Eli Torres, Adrian & Anita, Magna Gopal to name a few. The recent years she has been an ambassador and promoter for some of the biggest and best congresses and festivals in the salsa scene, such as; Berlin Salsa Congress, India Fiesta Latina, Croatia Summer Salsa Festival, Scandinavian Salsa Congress, Hot Salsa Weekend, Love Dance Festival, Amsterdam Salsa Festival, Nordic Salsa Experience and more.
Lene is a down to earth girl and a very passionate teacher. Her classes are energetic and fun, but most of all she has a pedagogical way of teaching. She has a lot of knowledge of the different styles, background and history of salsa, and also teaches technique and fundamental skills you need to learn in order to improve your dancing.
Laura Anderson
Career Highlights
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Director, Founder – Ela Dancers www.eladancers.com
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World Salsa Champion 2012
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2013 Dancers for The Cat Empire
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International & National
renowned Performer & Instructor Television
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Featured Dancer, The Cat Empire Steal the Light Music Video 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl uQyS4lFpY
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Featured Dancer, The Cat Empire Brighter than Gold Music Video 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9 ZXJWVI8YPo
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Contestant, Channel 10s Everybody Dance Now 2012
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Featured Dancer, Channel 9s Footy Show Grand Final 2010
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Featured Dancer, Soccer World Cup Commercial 2010
Shows/events
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Featured Dancer, The Cat Empire Blues Fest 2013
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Featured Dancer, The Cat Empire, WOMAdelaide 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e HLK6Idebbw
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Featured Dancer, The Cat Empire, White Night Melbourne 2013
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Featured Dancer, The Cat Empire, St Kilda Festival 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N 3ag8-tG8ho
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Featured Dancer, Wilson Saoco Concert, The Gov, Adelaide 2011
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Featured Dancer, Tito Puente Junior Concert, Sidney Myer Music Bowl 2011
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Competitions
1st, Teams Division, ACEKI World Salsa Championships, Hong Kong 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x 9dhw0Q2cAU
4th, Bachata Couple Division, ACEKI World Salsa Championships, Hong Kong 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q 2qgGsK5MX4
5th, Salsa Couple Division, ACEKI World Salsa Championships, Hong Kong 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B rkUDEJmOxc
1st, Pro-am Division, Victorian Salsa Open 2012
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1st, Professional Partner Division, Australian Tropicana
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1st, Professional Division, Victorian Bachata Championships 2011
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3rd, Teams Division, Australian Salsa Classic 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v
9NSQKUJKfM
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1st, Teams Division, Victorian Salsa Classic 2011
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1st, Teams Division, Copacabana International Cabaret Competition 2011
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1st, Teams Division, Australian Salsa Open 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5
mKClF7YBBw
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2nd, Teams Division, Australian Salsa Solo Competition 2010
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3rd, Latin Category, Australian Salsa Solo Competition 2010
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3rd, Professional Latin, Premier Dancesport Championships 2008
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4th, Professional Standard, Premier Dancesport Championships 2008
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3rd, Professional Latin, East Coast
Classic Championship 2008
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4th, Professional Standard, East Coast
Classic Championship 2008
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3rd, Professional Standard, Dance
Masters Australia 2008
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Quarter Finals, The Imperial
Championships, Frimley Green
England 2008
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Quarter Finals, Crystal Palace Cup,
London, England 2008
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3rd Round, Rising Star Professional
Ballroom, Blackpool Dance Festival 2008
2nd Round, Rising Star Professional Latin, Blackpool Dance Festival 2008
Teaching
Associates, Diploma of Ballroom Dancing – Australian Dancing Society 2009
Director, Flavoured Rhythm 2011 - 2012
Artistic Director, The Latin Dance Company 2009 - 2011
Head Instructor, Melbourne Salsa 2009 – 2011
Senior Instructor & Performer, Forever Dance 2005 - 2008
Guest Instructor & Performer, Melbourne Latin Festival 2012
International Instructor & Performer, Hong Kong Salsa Festival 2012
Guest Instructor & Performer, Sydney Latin Festival 2012
Guest Instructor & Performer, Byron Bay Latin Fiesta 2011
Guest Instructor & Performer, Adelaide Salsa Festival 2011
Guest Instructor & Performer, Sydney International Bachata Festival 2011
Guest Instructor & Performer, Doudoule Dance Camp Gold Coast 2011
Judging
Melbourne’s Ultimate Social Dancer 2012
Melbourne’s Best Salsa Social Dancer 2012
Melbourne’s Best Zouk Social Dancer 2012
Johnston Street Festival Cultural Dance Competition 2012