Our Team

Oliver PinedaFounder & Director

Oliver Pineda is the Founder and Director of World reknown Latin Motion Dance Academy, founded by Oliver Pineda & Natalie Zeller (formally Reis) in the year 2000. As Australia’s only 10 x World Salsa Champion, Oliver has won five of his World Salsa Titles with celebrity dance partner of 20 years & 3 x winner of “Dancing with the Stars” Luda Kroitor. They continue to inspire by performing & winning championships till today.

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As well as his very own subscription website www.oliverpineda.dance; housing over 500 videos with new uploads every month plus his NEW International initiative; The Oliver Pineda TOP Teams, allowing dancers worldwide to learn, train & perform under his extensive choreographic guidance & experience. Oliver is also responsible for introducing Rueda in 1999, Kizomba & Semba in 2007 to Sydney. He was one of the instigators of linear style Salsa in the year 2000 & is now undoubtedly the pioneer of Mambo ‘On2’ in Australia.

Oliver was most recently featured in an article as one of the top 10 male Salsa dancers in the world & now directs Latin Motion alongside business partner Mitch Bilic.

Some of Oliver’s achievements include but are not limited to –

2001 IDO World Salsa Champion – Miami (with Luda Kroitor)
2005 World Salsa Open Champion – Puerto Rico (with Luda Kroitor)
2005 ESPN World Salsa Champion – Las Vegas (with Luda Kroitor)
2006 ESPN World Salsa Champion – Las Vegas (with Luda Kroitor)
2007 ESPN World Salsa Champion – Miami (with Luda Kroitor)
2012 World Salsa Champion – Hong Kong (with Vali Damaskou)
2014 World Salsa Champion – Hong Kong (Solo)
2015 World Salsa Summit Champion – Miami (Solo)
2017 World Latin Dance Cup Champion – Miami (Solo)
**NOW** 2019 Las Vegas Ultimate Latin Dance World Championship. 10 Times World Champion!

As well as being a special guest performer/choreographer on Channel 7’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ demonstrating Salsa, Oliver was also a choreographer for Channel 10’s hit TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” & featured numerous times on the Morning Show with Kerrie Anne.

Born in Australia and of Chilean descent, this young man started dancing Salsa at the age of 10. Having danced for over 20 years, Oliver is now Australia’s most undisputed Latin Dance talent. His unique style of dance and clear precise teaching methods make him one of the most admired and sought after Salsa dancers and instructors in the world. Oliver has taught workshops in every continent at thousands of events around the World and continues to travel spreading his passion & knowledge for dance.

Upon finishing high school, Oliver received a scholarship to train in London with partner Luda in preparation for the Biggest Dancesport Competition in the World. They competed against 600+ couples in the under 21 Youth division and placed top 98 at the famous Blackpool Championship.

Oliver was then granted a scholarship to attend the Australian Collage of Physical Education (ACPE) to complete a Bachelor in Dance.

Instead, Oliver with his 7 years of training in Dancesport chose to pursue the music and dance of his Latin American roots; Salsa. A decision that would forever change his life.

Although passionate about Salsa and Mambo, Oliver’s dance experience also extends to Rueda, Merengue, Zouk Lambada, Kizomba, Semba, Samba, Cumbia, Cha Cha, Rumba, Afro Cuban, & all the Latin / Modern Dacesport Ballroom styles such as Jive, Paso Doble, Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Tango, Venice Waltz & Quick Step.

Oliver, a well known percussionist owes his musical talents to his two cousins Jason & Gary & father Julio, all well known percussionists in the Industry. Having played at the recently closed Vivaz Nightclub since the age of 16 & La Campana Nightclub since the age of 18 in Sydney, Oliver now occasionally plays with some of Sydney’s top Salsa bands, mastering the timbales, congas and bongo among other percussive instruments. His early performance experience within the Brazilian culture has also enabled him to handle Brazilian style instruments such as the snare drum, zurdo, pandero and the hepinique. Oliver gets invited to play with some of the world’s best singers & bands in countries & events all over the World.

As well as his musical & dance talents, Oliver is also a black belt martial artistist in the combat art of Tae Kwon Do having taught kids from a young age & competed in many tournaments in Australia. This relationship between martial arts & dance was formed early on in his life, equipping him with an understanding of the basics of the Brazilian martial arts, Capoeira.

Oliver was given the Honour of being Australia’s first Male dancer ever to be featured on the cover of Australia’s VIVA Magazine in it’s December issue 2004 & in January 2008 issue with partner Luda. He was also given the Best Male Instructor Award at the biggest Salsa Congress in the World, in 2006 at the West Coast Salsa Congress in Los Angeles. Further more, it was Oliver (and Natalie Reis) who lead the “Americas” segment out onto the field in the Olympic Opening Ceremony in Sydney 2000.

Oliver now heads one of the highest calibre student performance groups in Australia, the ‘The Oliver Pineda TOP Teams’ an International Initiative allowing dancers from ALL over the World to followed & admired by dancers all over the world & is proud to be the creator of his own brand of Salsa, internationally known as ‘Aussie Style Salsa’.

Oliver continues to spread his incredibly profound knowledge & unique, sought after teaching style to dancers around the World & is now in the process of expanding Latin Motion, locally & internationally with franchises already in the works.

Luda KroiterPrincipal Dancer

Luda Kroitor is the current 5 x World Salsa Champion with dance partner Oliver Pineda. They are the winners of the 2001 IDO World Salsa Championships, 2005 Puerto Rican Salsa Open, 2005, 2006 ESPN World Salsa Championships held in Las Vegas and most recently the 2007 ESPN World Salsa Championships held in Disney World, Florida.

Adding to her achievements has also been representing Australia teaching and performing in various World Salsa Tours covering many countries throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia. Luda Kroitor is the current 5 x World Salsa Champion with dance partner Oliver Pineda.
Luda has also been confirmed as special guest choreographer for the Channel 10 TV hit show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’. Of Russian origin, Luda began her passion for Ballroom, Salsa and Brazilian dance at the young age of 11. She won her first national competition, the Youth Latin Championships in 2000. Since then she has competed at many National & International Ballroom competitions including one of the Worlds biggest & most prestigious Ballroom competitions ‘Blackpool’ placing 8th in the World against 600 other couples.
Luda toured the United States with the international show “Burn the Floor” and featured in NSW Tourism TVC campaign as a dancer with Csaba Szirmai. Luda also won the TV series Strictly Dancing with Csaba in 2004.
Luda performs with Australia’s Most Successful Latin Dance School, Latin Motion Dance Academy in various dance show productions at suburban clubs and appears at a variety of corporate events. Throughout “Dancing with the Stars” Series, Luda has partnered “Home and Away” actor, Jason Smith in series two, singer David Campbell in series three, Boxing Champion legend Kostya Tszyu in series four which saw them make the finals as runners up and comedian Anh Do in the last series which also saw them make the finals as runners up.
Luda with her infectious personality, love for life & dance skills are invaluable to Latin Motion and its students and has been, since joining Latin Motion in 2001.

Lauren AndlovecBachata & Ballroom Instructor

Lauren Andlovec is an Award Winning Ballroom and Latin Dancer representing Australia in many International and World Championships. Lauren has had many great successes, after winning every title there is to offer in Australia during her Juvenile, Junior and Youth Career.

Lauren relocated to Hong Kong to spread her knowledge and compete on an International scene. Since relocating, Lauren achieved many Fabulous Results including:

Runner Up – United Kingdom Professional Rising Star Championship
Finalist – Galaxy of Stars Ballroom Championship, UK
Finalist – World 10 Dance Championship
Semi Finalist – World Classical Show Dance
Quarter Finalist – All Open Professional Events (UK Open, British Open, International Championship and
World Championship)
Semi Finalist – All Open Professional Asian Tour Competitions, 2015

Since moving back to Sydney, Lauren focuses on street Latin styles specialising in Bachata.

Christine RymerSalsa Instructor

Christine’s dance experience is a diverse combination of Jazz, JFH, Hip Hop, Contemporary, salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, Zouk, Kizomba, Dancehall, Afro & Reggaeton. Over the past 10 years she has achieved numerous titles competing and performing at National and International events in the Latin Dance Scene.

Christine’s fun, energetic personality shines through in both her teaching and performing. Her power, speed and fireball energy on stage will be sure to entertain any audience. She has recently been part of the brand new dance show & competition on the Channel 7 Network, “Danceboss” Australia 2018, as a contestant in which her group placed 4th.
Some achievements include:

2014 1st Place Australian Semi-Pro Salsa Couple Champion
2014 1st Place Australian Salsa Open Professional Teams Champion
2015 1st Place Open Latin Teams (Cha Cha) Champion, World Salsa Solo, Brisbane
2016 2nd Place Professional Salsa Teams, Hong Kong World Salsa Championship
2016 Australian Salsa Professional Couples Champion, World Salsa Solo, Brisbane
2017 Winner of Australia’s Best Latin Couple “Best Choreography”
2017 2nd Place Open Salsa Shines Duo.

Christine teaches Salsa Levels 4, 5, 6 & 7 Come and have some fun and more than likely a good laugh. Only at Latin Motion on Tuesday and Wednesday nights 🙂

Claire Kellner-ReadSalsa & Samba Instructor

Sydney based dancer Claire started Ballet at the age of 3 in the United Kingdom. In 2006 she joined the Austrian Youth Ballet Company. She furthered her full-time classical training at the Australian Dance Performance Institute gaining an Advanced Diploma and High Distinction in her RAD Advanced 2 exam, which takes a minimum of 11 years to complete.

In 2010 Claire had the opportunity to start teaching, which opened up her teaching passion. In 2012 she was accepted into prestige European Ballet Academies, accepting the Balletschule Theater Basel offer in Switzerland. She has had the privilege of training under a few of the best Ballet Masters in the World.
In 2017 she changed her career path by accepting a Contract with Circus Rio as head Samba dancer. In 2018 she met the inspiring 9 x World Champion, Oliver Pineda who offered to take her under his wing and train her to achieve her Salsa Goals and make her mark in the Latin World.
She joined the Latin Motion Family as a Salsa and Samba Instructor and could not feel more honoured to be part of the Team.
Come and join her in On2, Lvl 2, Lvl 5 and Samba!!

Salsa Competition:
2018 Semi-Pro Salso Solo Champion, World Salsa Solo
2019 Semi-Pro Salsa Solo Champion, Australian Dance Cup

Armand De Saint-SalvyKizomba and Afrohouse Instructor

Established in 2009, Kizomba Australia was the first dance school in Australia dedicated solely to teaching Kizomba, Semba, Tarraxinha, Kuduru and Afro House. Dance director Armand de Saint-Salvy began kizomba in 2007. He attended the first Africadancar in Portugal and has studied extensively overseas learning from the masters in kizomba, semba urban, kuduro and afro hous. He’s travelled Australia sharing the kizomba love and is considered the teacher of teaches in Australia

Robyn HutchReggaetton Instructor

Robyn is a versatile choreographer, performer and dancer that prefers not to be pigeon holed into one style but her genre of choice and expertise is Reggaeton.

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For more than 7 years Robyn has bought her unique flair for creativity and individuality to the dance floor. Robyn is a versatile choreographer, performer and dancer that prefers not to be pigeon holed into one style but her genre of choice and expertise is Reggaeton. While Reggaeton is her passion, she is devoted to connecting a variety of street latinstyles like, Salsa and Cha Cha and Bachata but of recent times Dancehall and AfroHouse. At the heart of Robyn’s approach is a passion for teaching her students the foundations of Reggaeton as well as exploring different expressions within the genre. As a teacher and storyteller, she encourages her students to be strong advocates of the culture. She effortlessly creates an environment for everyone to express their own individuality and style. Her goal is to bring confidence, versatility and performance qualities to her students. Robyn subscribes wholly to the belief that her talents mean nothing if she doesn’t create a fun and inspiring environment for her students to develop and challenge themselves. Her proudest dance achievements include : Founding member of Las Reggaetoneras – Australian Pro Latin Duet Champions 2014, 2015 Australian Mixed Latin Small Team Champions 2016 Part of the Australian Ladies Salsa Shines Champion Team – Modus Vivendi Ladies in 2016 Performing and teaching all over Australia and internationally including – The Australian Dance Festival, Melbourne Latin Festival, etc and the Chim Pum Calao Salsa Congress in Niagara Falls in 2015.

Chris MagillSalsa Instructor

Chris has been dancing for 10 Years. He has had the privilege of competing at a National Level. He has trained and been guided by World Champions and has learnt from some of the best in the Industry. Chris entered the Commercial Show Market for 3 years, where he trained and performed with Professional dancers from a vast array of dance backgrounds and styles.

Along the years he has developed MCing and Show Management skills.He mainly speaks Salsa but can also converse in Bachata and Cha Cha.Chris has ‘dabbled’ in other genres of dance, some of which include; Hip Hop and Jazz. He has now re-entered the Social side of Street Latin Dance by joining the Latin Motion Team as an Instructor.

Brad TaylorYour Content Goes Here

Brad Taylor was invited to a Salsa class at Latin Motion years ago in 2006, and only attended a 4 week course (but loved it), however it was not until 4 years later – bored, unmotivated about life and overworked with his business, that (after still receiving The Monthly Latin Motion Newsletter) that he joined a salsa class again.

This time he was hooked and Dancing in a way saved Brad from the not happy place that he had been. He attended Bachata classes and he was hooked again…however it was ZOUK that hooked Brad even more than the other styles. Brad remained with Latin Motion ever since and attended every Zouk class he could, including classes in 3 seperate Sydney Schools. He attended every workshop and every party including Interstate classes and Zouk Congresses. He was part of 6 Choreographies. Brad attended 2 separate invite only high level classes as well as a Zouk teaching program and classes with international Zouk stars and fast tracked his learning and social dancing.
Oliver Pineda “9 x World Champion” then invited Brad to become a Zouk teacher at Latin Motion.
”I love teaching – Dancing brightened my world and I am happy to help dancing brighten yours”
Brad can be contacted on info@latinmotion.com.au for privates.

Garnet CarpenterSalsa Instructor

Garnet Carpenter discovered and fell in love with Salsa while travelling in South America in 2009. He joined Latin Motion in 2012 and joined the Latin Motion Academy in 2015. He has represented LM at the Sydney Latin Festival and the Melbourne Latin Festival. In 2018 Garnet started teaching Salsa and was voted best Teacher by the students in the ‘People’s Choice Award’ Garnet teaches Level 2, 3, 4