Instructors and team 

 

HSH is proud to have top Notch Instructors who will help you achieve you dancing goals and needs. If you are interested in privates with any of them please email us at Info@hotsalsahot.com 

Henry Velandia

Instructor/Director/ Founder of HSH  

For full Bio Click here

Henri is a Salsa instructor, choreographer, and performer, and founded the HotSalsaHot Dance School in Princeton, New Jersey in 2005. His unique Salsa style has been featured at many Salsa Dance Congresses in Miami, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Salt Lake City, and throughout New Jersey. Henri was also a cast member on the 2010 season of Univision TV Network’s dance show ¡Mira Quién Baila!

Henri is currently part of CMDC (Cecilia Marta Dance Company) which was Featured at the Summer Stage SUmmer 2011. 

 

 

 

 

Kelsey Burns

Instructor/ Dance Captain/ HSH team

Kelsey Burns has been dancing since she was 7 years old. While she has extensive experience in jazz, tap, and musical theatre, her dance training began in flamenco with Lisa Botalico, and later she found her way into salsa thanks to Henri. She has danced flamenco professionally for 6 years, appearing on NJN and performing in various restaurants and theaters in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York. She recently returned from an intensive flamenco program in Sevilla, Spain, where she trained with seasoned professionals in all areas of the art for ten months.

After three years of absorbing salsa and latin dance under Henri's guidance, Kelsey performed at salsa congresses with HotSalsaHot's Semi Pro Team, most recently acting as the Team's Dance Captain. In 2010, she competed with Abdiel Cedric Jacobsen in the College Division of the Philadelphia Latin Dance cup, and placed first. Kelsey draws on her experience in modern, jazz, and flamenco as inspirations for her salsa styling. Her varied training has also allowed her to learn different techniques from many teachers, exposing her to many styles of choreography and instruction.

 

Claudia Palestini

Instructor/ Assistant /HSH team 

Claudia Palestini began training with her brother Henri Velandia at the age of 9.  Her styling, technique and stage presence captured the respect of the salsa community at an early age.  Together, Henri and Claudia won 2nd place at the Philadelphia College Showdown in the professional division in 2010 and have performed at numerous Salsa congresses in Miami, New Jersey, Washington, DC and Philadelphia.  Her classes are focused on the fundamentals of salsa technique, rhythm and styling.  Claudia is proof that you can master Salsa at any age.

 

 

 

 

Juan Ramirez   

Instructor/Assistant/ HSH Team

Juan started training with Henri two years ago and discovered the intoxicating world of salsa.  Prior to that, his background was in hip-hop, which he has pursued since the age of 8.  His natural dance sense and quick learning ability put him in the intermediate salsa class within six months and two months later he joined the semipro group preparing to perform onstage.  Juan has a natural way of moving and is great at helping students of all levels master that movement.  Great talent is packed in his little body, so enjoy class with our favorite Mexican, Juan!

 

Kevin Toft

Assistant/ HSH Team

Kevin Toft, trained at and still dances for HotSalsaHot in Princeton, New Jersey directed by Henry Velandia. It was here that he first realized how dance can be a form of self expression and that sharing that with others creates a strong community of dancers. As a dance instructor since 2009 Kevin teaches so that his students may have access to that outlet of expression. His dance style has elements of Ballet and Ballroom technique with afro-cuban body movement

 

 

Lexi Warren

Assistant/HSH Team

Alexia (Lexie) Warren informally began exploring the dance scene at the age of five years old, studying traditional Haitian dance. From there she went on to have formal training in other styles of dance including: Chinese Fan, Theatre Jazz, Modern and had a strong focus on Ballet. She has had the privilege of studying and performing numerous choreographies with a wonderful variation of teachers, including Ann Robideaux(NY) and Risa Kaplowitz (NJ). She began her Latin training with Hot Salsa Hot in the fall of 2009. Under Henri Velandia, she started her Salsa training then expanded to Zouk and Bachata. No matter what the style, Alexia dances with an incredible amount of grace and focus.

 

 

Natalia Semendziayeva

Assistant/HSH Team

Fitness and Dance Enthusiast! Absolutely love teaching! With 13 years of teaching dance fitness and wellness programs, I strongly believe that being fit emotionally and physically is the basis for happiness. Dance is the way to connect with people, learn about yourself, experience the beauty of music and enrich your inner world.

AFAA - Certified Personal Trainer

LA Fitness Academy-Certified Group Exercise Instructor

Academy of Sports and Physical Culture, Belarus - Certified Fitness Trainer, Aerobics Instructor

-Zumba Fitness Instructor

-Zumba Toning

Roger StJean 

Assistant/HSH Team

Raised in a Caribbean island, Haiti, where dancing is a unique combination of Kompa, Zouk, Folklore,Troubadou, and some other strong west African roots, Rogerson St Jean has had an unconditional and unique passion for dancing. He got introduced to the Latin dance in 2002 such as Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, chachacha; he also felt in love with them and never looked back. Started with the Hotsalsahot group in January 2008, Rogerson has had the privilege to perform in many Salsa Congresses with the team and share his distinctive and artistic style with other

 

 

 

Corinne Deehan

 Assistant/HSH Team

Coming Soon!

 

 

 

 

Annie Delgiudice

Assistant/HSH Team

Coming Soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HSH Staff

 

Nancy Musco

Staff/ PR

 

 

 

Luz Ferreira 

Staff/Financial Assistant