Dancers / Stars

Dance Company name: Troy- Latin Motions

Maricza - Latin Rhythms Dance Company

Web site address: Troy - www.latinmotions.com

Maricza - www.latinrhythmsdance.com

Contact: Troy- troy@latinmotions.com

Maricza - maricza@latinrhythmsdance.com

Troy Anthony together with Jorjet Alcocer of Latin Motions in New Orleans are known for creating "Creole Style Salsa" (an even mix of L.A./N.Y. Style w/ a Cuban presence). They have performed & taught at many events around the Globe. Troy is equally adept in leading & following On1 & On2 and utilizes that ability of lead & follow in his teaching structure. In June 2003 the Discovery
Channel aired an episode of this duo in teaching action. Troy has
accompanied several major Latin acts on stage in addition to several movie & video features. Troy is a 2004 West Coast Congress honoree (dancer/promoter) with 9 (Reality Style) Instructional DVDs & is always a big hit at all his workshops.

Troy has also choreographed several videos with Squeak Productions (Los Angeles) including: Eric Benet (Warner Brothers Records), "Why You Follow Me"; Outsiders, "Who are you"; and Eric Benet (Warner Brothers Records),"When you think of me". He has appeared in the following videos:"Rap-A-Salsa" by Palabra, Director: Jesse Felsot (1999);"Se Te Acabo La Rumba" by Maraca (2002) and "Voodoo Hoodoo" by Los Hombres Calientes.

Troy has won the following dance competitions:
Salsa champion U.S.B.D.A 2000, Baton Rouge, La. (Salsa)
2nd place U.S.B.D.A. 2000, Baton Rouge, La. (Cha-Cha)
Semi finalist Newport Cigarette Company -Rhythm Sound,Miami, Florida
1st place Stevens Steak House Salsa Contest, May 2001, Los Angeles, CA.

Maricza Valentin has been performing and teaching dance since 1988, and obtained her Bachelor's of Arts degree in Dance Performance, Teaching, and Choreography from Columbia College-Chicago in 1997. While at Columbia, she studied and taught Latin dance, Tap, Jazz, Ballet and her favorite at the time, Modern. She also pursued additional Latin and Ballroom training in 2001 from former US and World Cabaret Champions, Tommye Giacchino and Gregory Day.

In 1999, she realized one of her life's dreams and co-founded Latin Rhythms Dance Company. She then took it a step further in August of 2000, with the expansion of Latin Rhythms Dance Studio.

Today, she teaches & performs Latin dance locally and nationally. She says; "As much as I love dancing and teaching, I would have to say above all, choreography nurtures my soul more than anything. My ability to CREATE the passion I feel inside, and then to be able to share it with the rest of the world... nothing else compares!"