Salsa Latina Dance Centre Dance Classes & Events, Christchurch New Zealand
Salsa Latina Dance Teacher Profile:
Miléna
Status: Amateur
Milena was born in the French West Indies' island of Martinique in the Caribbean where Zouk orginated. She started dancing Ballet from the young age of 3 and she learnt for 12 years under Nicole Orcel who studied at Paris Opera Ballet. Since then she has many many years dance experience across a huge variety of dance styles including Ballet, Contemporary, Capoeira, French Zouk, Zouk Love, Kompas, Kizomba, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and Dance-hall.
Dance is part of day-to-day life in the Caribbean and she was brought up listening and moving to the rhythm of various music genres.
She most enjoys the social dance floor where you'll know her for her feminine and graceful style. Her personal favourite is Kizomba, a dance sharing a lot of similarities with French Zouk & Kompa which are predecessors to Kizomba which she grew up with in the French Caribbean. She loves having the opportunity to help students improve and develop a new passion for dance. Milena has also learnt & danced Salsa, Bachata & Kizomba in her home in Martinique Caribbean, but also in Australia & France where she has lived.
​
Having already attained the status of a national amateur solo champion, she went on to achieve the international champion title in the Salsa Pro-Am Cabaret Couples category in 2023 with Reuben.
Milena is an Amateur Champion in various categories in Salsa & Bachata as listed below.
​
• Qualified Salsa & Latin Dance Teacher
Dance Styles:
• Kizomba
• Salsa On1 & On2
• Cha Cha
• Dance Hall
• French Zouk - Aka Caribbean Zouk
• Kompa
• Capoeira
• Ballet
• Contemporary
• Merengue
• Bachata
​
Teaching Experience:
• Kizomba Events in Auckland & Christchurch
• Salsa Night Fever Parties 2020-2022
• Salsa Latina Classes 2020 - Present
• Las Tigresas & Aspire Performance Ladies Teams 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• New Zealand Salsa Congress 2020 & 2022
• Hanmer Salsa Winter Festival 2020 & 2022
• Bay Salsa Festival 2022, 2023 (Tauranga)
Dance Training:
Training & Teachers listed below are a mixture of long time training through classes, plus courses, workshops, private lessons, teacher training, syllabus training.. not including personal experience or online help & training etc.
Ballet & Contemporary Dance Training
12 years training in Martinique (French Caribbean)
- Nicole Orcel (France)
​
Salsa & Bachata Dance Training:
- Maria & Jorge (Mexico)
- Panagiotis & Myrto (Greece)
- Alemendra & Richie (Chile & Argentina)
- Yasim Coronado (Cuba)
- Eli Torres (Brisbane)
- Mouaze (France)
- Leon Rose (France)
- Jose & Nerea ( Netherlands/Italy)
- Giancarlo (NZ/Aust)
- Greydis (NZ/Cuba)
- Sebastian (NZ/Chile)
- Izadora (NZ/Brazil)
- Artia Zandian (Aust)
- Fernando (Aust)
- Jamie Jesus & Mary (Aust)
- Gabriel & Leticia (Argentina)
- Federico & Paola (italy Peru)
Kizomba & French Zouk Dance Training:
- Nelson Campos (Portugal/GB)
- Chris PY (France)
- Laetitia (France)
- Reda France)
- Jeremy Lao & Savanah (New Caledonia)
- Sara (Brisbane)
- Ramnish (Germany)
- Bari & Whimmy (Wtg)
​
Capoeira (Brazilian Martial Art/Dance)
6 years’ experience training at several schools in different countries including:
- Training in Brazil (Salvador da Bahia, training for 3 months)
- Abada Capoeira Sydney under Intructor Cipo
- Abada Paris under Instructor Piolho
- Capoeira Brazil Sydney under Mestre Peixe
- Au Capoeira Auckland under Mestre Junior.
Competition Experience:
​
Brisbane World Salsa Solo Competition 2023
• 1st - Reuben W & Milena H - Salsa Pro-Am Cabaret Couples
• 2nd - Reuben W & Milena H - Salsa Pro-Am Freestyle
• 2nd - Reuben W & Milena H - Bachata Pro-Am Freestyle
• 3rd - Milena H - Female Salsa Am Solo
​
South Island Latin Competition 2023
• 1st - SLA Bachata Team - Bachata Couples Teams
• 2nd - Team Aspire 'Milena H - 'Salsa Shines Teams
• 2nd - Milena H - Female Salsa Solo
• 1st - Reuben W & Milena H - Salsa Open Freestyle
​
NZ Latin Dance Championships 2022
• 1st - SLA Salsa Team - Salsa Teams
• 2nd - SLA Bachata Team (Best NZ Bachata Team) - Latin Teams
• 1st - Las Tigresas - Salsa Shines Teams
• 2nd - Grace Glass & Milena Hubert - Am Salsa Duet
• 2nd Miléna - Salsa Solo Female
• 1st Reuben & Miléna - Salsa Pro-Am Freestyle
​
South Island Latin Competition 2022
• 1st - Salsa Latina Mambo Team - Salsa Teams
• 1st – Salsa Latina Bachata Team - Latin Showcase Teams
• 1st – Milena & Grace - Pro-Am Salsa Duets
• 1st - Reuben Watkins & Milena Hubert - Open Salsa Freestyle
• 2nd - Las Tigresas Salsa Shine Team - Salsa Shines
• 2nd - Milena Hubert - Female Salsa Solos
​
South Island Latin Competition 2021
• 1st - Salsa Latina Mambo Team - Salsa Teams
• 1st – Salsa Latina Bachata Team - Latin Showcase Teams
• 1st – Milena & Grace - Pro-Am Salsa Duets
• 2nd - Las Tigresas Salsa Shine Team - Salsa Shines
South Island Latin Competition 2020
• 1st - SLA Salsa Team - Salsa Couples Teams
• 2nd - Las Tigresas Team - Salsa Shines Teams
​
World Salsa Solo Competition 2019 Brisbane
- 1st Place - with Izadora's Bachata team - Bachata Open teams categorry
​
South Island Competition 2019
• 2nd - Izadoras Ladies Bachata Team - Ladies Latin Shines
​
Performance Experience:
• Ballet & Contemporary performances in Martinique & France, with well over 12 years experience.
• Capoeira Demonstrations / Performances in Sydney, Paris, & Martinique, 6 years experience
• Bay Salsa Festival Tauranga 2018 - Cuban Salsa
• NZ Salsa Congress 2019 - Bachata Team from Auckland
• NZ Salsa Congress 2022 - Salsa Latina Salsa Team
• Kizomba Ladies Team Performance 2019
• Izadoras Bachata Performance Team 2019
• Salsa Latina Salsa Teams in 2020 at various events
• Ladies Shines Team in 2020 at various events
• Ladies Kizomba Team 2021 ..see video below >
