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.
Mercedes currently specializes and teaches Salsa, Bachata and Ladies Styling (for both Salsa and Bachata). Due to her competitiveness, you will see her in all Australian competitions such as the Australian Bachata Championships, Australian Dance Cup, World Salsa Solo and Australian Latin Dance Cup, competing in pro teams and couple routines, as well as with her students.
Achievements:
- 2019 World Salsa Solo – Open Bachata Cabaret Teams division – 1st Place
- 2019 World Salsa Solo – Open Salsa Cabaret division – 2nd Place
- 2018 World Salsa Solo – Professional Bachata Freestyle – 2nd Place
- 2018 and 2017 – World Salsa Solo Salsa Shines Team – 1st place 2years in a row
- 2017 Australian Bachata Championship – Professional division – 1st Place
- 2017 Wold Salsa Solo – Bachata Freestyle Professional division – 2nd Place
- 2017 Australian Bachata Championships – Open Mixed latin Teams (MercAngels) – 3rd Place
- 2016 Australian Dance Cup – Bachata Cabaret Professional couple division – 2nd Place
- 2015 ALDC -Australian Bachata Open Cabaret couples division – 2nd Place
- 2015 Australian Bachata Amateur Freestyle Champion X2 1st Place
- 2015 Australian Salsa Amateur Freestyle Champion 1st Place
- 2014 Australian Bachata Amateur Cabaret Champion 1st Place
Achievements:
- Performed at the 2017 Sydney Latin Festival
- Performed at 2018 Melbourne Latin Festival
- Performed at Latin Motion concerts in 2017, 2018 and 2019
- Commenced teaching salsa at Latin Motion 2018
- People’s Choice Best Teacher 2018
- Best Male Teacher 2019
With over 7 years of dancing experience, Darren was invited to teach with the amazing team at Latin Motion in 2019 where he continues to develop his knowledge and enthusiasm for the dance.
Relevant dancing experience:
- 2012: Placed 2nd in “Estudio Nacional de Baile (ENB)” internal competition (amateur couples cabaret)
- 2013: Represented her country internationally in the “Festival de salsa Cali – Colombia”, which, for those who know, is one of the toughest competitions.
- 2013 and 2016: Placed vice champion in the Salsa Congress – Ecuador (team cabaret style)
- Performed with the professional “ENB” team
- Performed with the professional “Asolbaile” team
The most important thing for Gaby is to keep your own essence while dancing, and to have fun!!. She is thrilled and committed to offer you a great learning experience, so wait no more!
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