Our Instructors

Angela Hayward

Director of the Sabor Dance School

Miss Angela Hayward started dancing

ballet at the young age of 5 at the

Russian School of Ballet where she continued dancing ballet and

modern dance with the school and with the Civic Ballet until leaving for

university in 1992.  When she returned from studying and working

abroad, her desire to dance again lead her to salsa where she took

her first salsa class in 2002.  Nurtured by Travis Gilbert, her dancing

quickly took off and through taking classes with international

instructors, including Moris Alvarenga, Roberto Arenas, Juan Calderon

and Mark Anthony Sheppard, to name a few, she was able to co-found

the Sabor Dance School in 2003 and develop into the role of Artistic

Director in 2004.  In continuing her quest to provide quality and

expanding Latin dance programs, she continues to work with these

and other internationally recognized dancers to provide salsa, cha cha,

merengue, bachata and Tango instruction at the Sabor Dance School.

Angela has performed internationally in New Jersey, Toronto and

Montreal and has instructed at the international salsa convention in

Montreal. She has also assisted in producing and has performed in

many local Latin dance showcases.  Angela consistently is able to

travel to several international events each year with her Senior Dance

Company and the Sabor student group to perform and teach where

they are always well received.

Angela specializes in salsa, casino de rueda, bachata, merengue, cha

cha, ladies styling, spinning technique and tango.

Book a Private Lesson with Angela

Teresa Whitter

Assistant Director of Sabor Dance School

Miss Teresa Whitter appeared on the local Latin dance seen just over 3

years ago and her talent and passion for the dance resulted in her

setting a Sabor Dance School record for the fastest person to ever

progress from beginner student to instructor/performer to date. Teresa

managed to overcome a considerable learning curve in less than one

year to become one of Bermuda’s most talented Latin dancers. Teresa

is a welcomed addition to the Sabor staff of instructors and marks the

beginning of the next generation who will carry the Sabor culture into

the future. Teresa is broadly respected in Bermuda and abroad for her

dancing abilities and is a key member of the senior dance company. Her

classes are inspiring, technically strong and full of laughter. 

Teresa specializes in salsa, casino de rueda, bachata, merengue, cha

cha, ladies styling and tango.

Book a Private Lesson with Teresa

Travis Gilbert – Instructor

Mr. Travis Gilbert has been dancing and teaching Latin dance for over

10 years and was first introduced to salsa while studying in the UK.  He

was immediately drawn to the music and found that it resonated within

him and from this the dance came naturally.  He came back home to

Bermuda in 1999 and played a key role in the development of the salsa

community on the Island.  He quickly became involved by starting to

play music for classes which were taught at Club 40 on Front Street in

the City of Hamilton and soon after began teaching.  Travis initially

traveled to Cuba, New Orleans and Los Angeles to develop his dancing

technique before co-founding the Sabor Dance School in 2003 an

institution that has seen hundreds of students pass through its doors.

Since the formation of the Sabor Dance School, Travis has traveled

extensively and performed and studied dance in many places which

include Athens, New Jersey, Toronto and Montréal.

Travis has performed internationally in New Jersey, Toronto and

Montreal and taught dance at the international salsa convention in

Montreal.  He has also produced and performed in many local Latin

dance showcases where he is know for his vivacious energy on stage.

As manager of the BermudaSalsa.com Group, he has raised the profile

of Latin dance entertainment by having an extraordinary vision for this

art form and through his passionate leadership he has been able to

transform this vision into reality.

Travis specializes in salsa, casino de rueda, bachata, merengue, cha

cha and tango.

Book a Private Lesson with Travis

Stephen Bean – Instructor

Mr. Steve Bean is a highly experienced instructor and performer and

has been dancing salsa for over 6 years. Steve has been one of the

pioneers of the Latin dance movement in Bermuda and has performed

locally and internationally. This very gifted dancer and instructor has

blended both the New York and Cuban dance styles with a strong doze

of Bermy style. As an instructor Steve has developed some of the best

dancers on the Island and has already created a legacy to which the

salsa community should be forever grateful. Steve’s classes often

included elegant footwork and exiting partner work with clear insights

that will allow you to progress quickly.

Steve specialized in salsa, casino de rueda, merengue, bachata,

footwork (shines) and cha cha.

Book a Private Lesson With Steve

Marshall Weller – Instructor

Mr. Marshall Weller has been dancing salsa for over 4 years and

propelled himself to the position of instructor within a very short time.

He is an extremely talented and creative dancer, instructor and

performer and it is broadly acknowledged that his partner work is

second to none. He is a man with a million moves and provides

exceptional insights to leading and following effectively. Marshall has

pushed the boundaries of performance, instruction and social dancing

while continuing to represent “home grown” Latin dance. Marshall has

studied extensivly outside of Bermuda and has performed and taught

internationally.       

Marshall specializes in salsa, casino de rueda, merengue, bachata, and

cha cha.

Book a Private Lesson with Marshall

Jermiko Dillas - Instructor

Mr. Jermiko Dillas is the youngest member of staff, but he has

committed himself to being one of the best. Jermiko started dancing

approximately three years ago, in 2004 by taking private lessons with

Sabor’s director, Angela Hayward and quickly developed his technical

abilities. Jermiko was later invited to train as an assistant instructor

one year later.  Jermiko was then promoted to junior instructor the

following year, in 2006, as has become an integral part of Sabor’s

instructor team. Jermiko is also a member of the student company and

has performed locally and internationally.

Jermiko specializes in salsa, casino de rueda, bachata, and merengue.

Book a Private Lesson with Jermiko

Sophie Dier - Instructor

Miss Sophie Dier started dancing at the age of 3 at Jackson School of

Dance, Bermuda where she studied ballet, jazz, modern and pointe.

Sophie has worked as a teacher’s assistant, chorographer and has

performed extensively in Bermuda and overseas. 

She was a member of the National Dance Theater, Bermuda and

studied contemporary, modern and Ballroom dance while attending the

prestigious Boston University, USA. Upon returning to Bermuda, after

graduating from Boston University in 2005, she began salsa dancing in

January of 2006 at the Sabor Dance School and was immediately

identified as a rising star.

Sophie has very quickly achieved the position of junior instructor within

the Sabor Dance School teaching staff and her technical abilities and

passion for dance have resulted in her becoming a welcomed and

valued addition to the Sabor family. Sophie is a very talented and

thoughtful instructor and serves as a tremendous resource for anyone

wanted to learn or improve their dancing.    

Sophie specializes in salsa, cha cha, casino de rueda, merengue,

bachata and dance technique. 

Book a Private Lesson with Sophie

Mariana Parma – Visiting Instructor

Miss Mariana Parma travels to Bermuda frequently to teach at the

Sabor Dance School and it is an honor to have a dancer of her caliber

assisting with the development of our Argentine tango program.

Mariana graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in

dance and communication. She has traveled worldwide performing and

choreographing for film and theater productions. She is a member of

the Screen Actors Guild and has been featured in motion pictures,

national commercials and independent films.

She is a producer and performer in the musical, "Swango, the Musical",

written by Tony and Grammy award winner, Rupert Holmes. Mariana

was also the assistant choreographer for the world premiere

production, "Camila, the Musical" (Walnut Street Theater), and coached

Chita Rivera on how to dance tango for "Venecia", directed by Author

Laurents (George Street Playhouse). Mariana has also performed in the

workshop of "The Bronx Casket Company", directed and

choreographed by three time Tony award winner Hinton Battle.

Mariana Parma is an acclaimed performer that combines her extensive

dance background in her performances on stage and in film. She has

also performed in many dance festivals in Avignon, France, the Pan

American Festival and many other Latin American events.

Mariana is a specialized Latin dance instructor at Dance Manhattan

Ballroom School, Steps on Broadway and The New School at Columbia.

Mark-Anthony Sheppard – Visiting Instructor

Mark-Anthony has performed and conducted salsa workshops in the

Toronto, Ontario, Quebec, Puerto Rico, Europe, Bermuda and

throughout the United States. In 2003 he opened the doors to one of

Toronto's first salsa dance schools. The Mambo Tribe Salsa Dance

Company quickly became one of the most creative and influential dance

programs. 

Mark has a deep passion for music and dance which can be seen on

the dance floor and in his performances on stage. Sabor has

commissioned several routines from Mark-Anthony and we continue to

work with him because he incorporates soulful and musically

interpretive elements into every routine that consistently challenges

our dancers.

Mark-Anthony specializes in salsa technique, controlled body

movements, footwork, and partner work making him one of the most

unique talents in the Latin dance world.

Juan Calderon and Christina Pedra – Visiting Instructors

Christina Pedra has been dancing since the age of seven, when she began her studies in classical dance (ballet, jazz, and lyrical).  At age 13 she joined the St. Augustine's Dance Team, a local all-girl dance team which was ranked in national and international dance federations and associations.  Over 300 girls audition yearly and only 2 or 3 new members are selected.   After making the team, she quickly worked her way up the ranks to becoming a team captain as well as one of the lead performers.  Christina’s team won several national championships. 

In 1999, right after she graduated from college and after being away from dance for several years, Christina was searching for a dance outlet.  She began taking salsa lessons and developed quickly. After just a few months of group lessons and private lessons, she was encouraged to audition for Cultural Explosion's Professional Dance Team.  She not only made the team but she quickly excelled as a team member both as a performer and instructor.

She has become Cultural Explosion's Artistic Director, and has choreographed many of Cultural Explosion's unique and world-famous choreographies numbers. She is a world renowned dancer, recognized for her smooth/sexy styling, musicality, teaching techniques and both her following and leading abilities.  Most of all she is the true definition of an all around dancer.

Juan Antonio Calderon was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and later moved to New Jersey.  Juan began his dance career by founding, directing, and teaching Seton Hall's first Latino Dance Group. While a student at Seton Hall Juan majored in Business Management.  It was there, while engulfed in his studies, that he realized his passion for music and dance.   

Juan has been formally trained in Latin ballroom dancing and has studied thought the world.

Within the past 10 years Juan has performed for theatre, television, parades, pageants, weddings, corporate, private, public, educational and even charity events.  He even performed before the Mambo King himself the late Tito Puente. Juan was recently honored with lifetime achievement awards from the New York/New Jersey salsa festival and the West Coast Salsa Congress.  These are the two largest salsa dance events in the US.

Moris Alveranga and Sonia Kyriakou – Visiting Instructors

For the last twelve years the dance duo of Sonia and Moris has been a well recognized and respected dance couple who have graced stages and dance floors all over North America and Europe.

Based in Montreal, Canada they direct the San Tropez Dance School, the largest Latin Dance School in Eastern Canada. The governing body of Social and Latin dance in Quebec ‘La Corporation des Professeurs Diplômés en Danse Sociale du Quebéc’ has adopted the curriculum developed by the San Tropez Dance Company.

Over the last four years, Sonia and Moris have been finalists in four of the top salsa competitions in the world; the “Club Mayan” competition held in Los Angeles, the “Berlin Competition” in Toronto, the “World Salsa Championships” in Las Vegas and the “World Salsa Open” in Puerto Rico. Carrying the message of unity through dancing, they are also the founders of an innovative project called Salsa Team Canada which aspires to unite Salseros throughout Canada.

Producers of the Montreal Salsa Convention a 5 day Latin dance event, Sonia and Morris galvanize dancers from around the world who included artists from Puerto Rico, Italy, Sweden, Portugal, Bermuda, USA and Canada. The event also has hosted Latin music legends like New Swing Sextet, Wayne Gorbea y su Salsa Picante, and the world renowned salsa DJ Henry Knowles.  Over 5000 attendees enjoy this spectacular weekend every year.

Sonia and Morris specialize in salsa, casino de rueda, Afro Cuban dance forms, bachata, merengue, cha cha, styling, and footwork.