About Me
Short Biography
International Dancer, Teacher and Judge, specialized in partner dances.
With more than 20 years of experience, he graduated from the University of Leeds, in England (Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz) and deepened his studies in a Dance Science Master at London City University.
Qualified teacher of Standard Ballroom and Latin Dances with the UKA and the ISTD of England, he has worked with several of the world's best dancers, teachers and sport’s coaches.
He won several gold medals, in Ballroom and Latin Dancesport competitions in Portugal and Spain. In Salsa he was a finalist at the Tropicana Tropics World London.
Pedro worked in Portugal, England, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, France, United States, Colombia and Ecuador.
Below are some of the institutions where he taught, danced and produced dance shows:
- Rock N 'Roll and Swing, along with several bands and orchestras live on the prestigious Hippodrome Casino in London.
- Argentine Tango in the famous Sadler's Wells Theater in London and several other English institutions, universities and schools as well as in Cali, Colombia.
- Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and Kizomba at Yorkshire Dance in Leeds, Inspiration to Dance, Paul Killick Dance Academy, Karen Hardy Studios, Kogan Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and several companies in Bogotá and Cali, Colombia.
- Zouk Latin for Latin Zouk London, Zouk Lambada UK, Zouk Festival of Vienna, Zouk Festival UK, Move It Festival.
- Standard and Latin Ballroom Dances for Danceworks, Dance Academy Paul Killick, Karen Hardy Studios, Kogan Academy of Dramatic Arts, Vienna Arts Council, Inspiration to Dance, Flow Dance London.
In 2017, he danced internationally and performed several shows with Jenifert Arango, World Champion of Argentine Tango.
Also in 2017, was certified as an international judge by the World Salsa Open of Puerto Rico and was judge of the World Salsa Championship in Cali, Colombia.
In 2018 he has been performing and teaching in Sevilla and Alicante in Spain and in Funchal in Madeira and Porto in Portugal.
In 2019 Pedro worked for Fred Astaire Studios in Texas, USA and in Alicante Spain.
Presently Pedro lives and works in Madrid, Spain.
Always willing to help, he loves to follow and observe the growth, both personal and technical of his students.
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Languages: Portuguese - Mother tongue // English - Fluent // French -
Fluent // Spanish - Fluent.Education
Academic Education:
- From: 05/09/2005 to 27/01/2006- Laban- London City University, London, UK - Master
MSc Dance Science.
- On: 13/08/2005- Middlesex University, UK- English Test, IELTS, University of
Cambridge ESOL Examination, scoring 8.0.
- From: 04/09/2000 to 26/07/2002- Northern School of Contemporary Dance,
University of Leeds, UK- Completed Higher Education Diploma in Contemporary
Dance.
- From: 02/09/1996 to 21/03/1997- University of Aveiro, Portugal- Frequented
Physics Engineering.
- From: 09/08/1992 to 29/08/1992- EF- English Language Course in Great Britain.
- From: 02/09/1991 to 26/07/1996- Secondary School of Fontes Pereira de Melo,
Porto, Portugal- Complementary Course of Electronic.
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Further Dance Education:
- 2006/2020- Private and group tuition with: Toni Dovolani (American Rhythm
World Champion), Alexandros Armaos, Alan Fenwick, Lole de Los Reyes (Flamenco), Riccardo Cocchi & Yulia Zagorouitchenko (Latin World Champions), José Torres, Juan Manuel Gomez, Karen Hardy, Christa Fenn, Ralf Lepehne, Mauro Rossi, Serena Lecca, Carol Macraild, Sergey Nifontov, AEBDC- España, Paula Basto, Pablo Veron, Martin Ojeda, Alejandra Mantiñan, Kim y David Benitez, Angel Martinez Davila (Salsa World Champion), Berg Dias, Ge Ge, Braz dos Santos, Marisa Gulino, Renato Veronesi, Joseph koniak, Solange Dias, amongst others.
- 2006- Private tuition with Paul Killick, Latin American Dance World Champion.
- 2005- Private tuition with George Coad and Pat Thompson, Ballroom World
Champions.
- 2001/2004- Private tuition with Paul Beeton, British Champion, Fellow of I.S.T.D.
and I.D.T.A., Examiner for U.K.A. and a member of R.A.D. in Ballet. Private and group tuition with Paul Bottomer and Elaine Bottomer, Argentinian Tango World
Champions.
- 1999/2000- Flamenco private classes, with João Hydalgo Medeiros, former
dancer of the Spanish Ballet.
Private Ballet tuition with Fernanda Canossa, Royal Academy of Dancing.
Ballet and Contemporary dance - I.S.T.D. - “Centro de Dança do Porto”.
Private and group tuition with Toni Pinto and Ronnie Lekoch, A.P.P.D.S.I. Fellows
and examiners, I.D.T.A.
Private and group tuition on Tango Argentino with Paula Basto e Armando Basto,
Pablo Ojeda y Beatriz Romero
Languages: Portuguese - Mother tongue // English - Fluent // French - Fluent //
Spanish - FluentExperience / Qualifications
Professional Qualifications:
- On: 01/05/2017- Judge Certificate by the World Salsa Open, in Cali, Colombia
- On: 06/12/2005- First On Scene Ltd, UK- First Aid Certificate.
- On: 12/2004- UKA, UK- Associate Teacher Exam in Standard Ballroom Dance,
scoring Highly Commended.
- On: 22/08/2004- ISTD, UK- Associate Teacher Exam in Latin American Dance,
scoring Highly Commended.
- On: 07/2003- UKA, UK- Associate Teacher Exam in Latin American Dance,
scoring Highly Commended.
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Professional Experience:
- 2019- Performing and teaching for various companies in Spain, since June.
- Teaching and Performing for Fred Astaire Studios in Texas, USA until April 2019.
- 2018- Teaching and Performing in Sevilla and Alicante, in Spain and in Funchal,
Madeira and Porto, in Portugal.
- 2017- Worked in Quito, Ecuador In September and October 2017 with Jenifert
Arango, Vice World Champion of Argentine Tango in Buenos Aires, teaching and
demonstrating Ballroom, Latin and Argentine Tango in various dance academies
and institutions. Some examples are: Café Libro, Cinnamon Escuela de baile and
Swing Ecuador Academia de Baile.
- Judge of: - The Cali Salsa Open 2017, in Centro Cultural and in Teatro
Jorge Isaac, from the 29th April to the 1st May 2017, in Cali
-Festival Mundial de Salsa de Cali 2017 on the 25th July, the
7th and the 8th september 2017.
- Coach of the Colombian National Champions of Latin Dancesport, María
José Montes y Kevin Gallego, from Cali, winners of the "IV Open Al Ritmo del
Cielo", that took place in Cali on the 8th and 9th July 2017 and the "II Open Del
Café" that took place on the Coliseo de Circasia in Quindío, on the 3rd September
2017.
- From February to September 2017, he coached many dancers including a few
Salsa and Tango World Champions in various sports and cultural institutions in
Cali, Colombia, also training teachers and dancers in Dancesport Ballroom and
Latin, Salsa, Argentine Tango and Body Awareness and Conditioning. Some
examples are: Studio Tango, Jacaranda, Imperio Juvenil, Combinación Rumbera,
Sondeluz and Salsa Viva y Tango Vivo.
- 2012/17- Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer and Personal Trainer for various
private and corporate clients in London-UK, since March 2012 such as: Karen
Hardy Dance Studios, Inspiration 2 Dance, Kogan Academy of Dramatic Arts, City
Academy, Hippodrome Casino, Saddlers Wells, etc.
- 2011/12- Portugal: Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer, Producer and Fitness
Instructor for Academia Pedro Sousa, EDS José Torres and PC Dancesport,
amongst others.
- 2006/10- Spain: Manager of ‘Servigroup Dance Academy’ from October 2006
until December 2008, teacher in various dance academies, schools and various
organizations in Alicante and Valencia.
- 2005/06- London: Paul Killick’s Dancesport, The Peak, Manor Studio, Clapham
Recreation Centre, etc.
Leeds: The Faversham and ‘La Tasca’; ‘The Academy’ - Harrogate, Leeds
University, Bradford and York University, etc.
- 2004- Leeds: Roundhay Hall, Halo nightclub , Leeds University, Metropolitan
University, Northern Light; La Tasca in Harrogate, Ripon Leisure Centre, St. Johns
Hall in Ilkley, Nelada in Newcastle, The Engine Shed in Wetherby, Various schools
in the North of England, etc.
- 2003- Yorkshire Dance Centre, Northern Light, Esporta Health Club, LA Fitness
Health Club, Various High schools in the North of England, etc.
- 2001/2- Dance courses and workshops in Esporta Health Club, Yorkshire Dance
Centre and Sebastian Coe H. Club in Leeds. Workshops and collaborations in the
UK and in Portugal. Latin American Workshops and courses for Yorkshire Dance.
Private Classes.
- 2000- Taught Latin Dance Classes at “Academia de Bailado Fernanda
Canossa” .Organized the 1st Open Championship of “Academia Pedro Sousa” in
June. Choreographer of “Roda de Casino” produced for the “Academia de Bailado
Fernanda Canossa” and presented at “Rivoli” theatre, Porto.
Competitions:
- 3rd place at the Portuguese Professional Latin Competition organized by the
APPDSI in October 2011.
- Finished more than 20 times in podium, 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, in Latin American
and Standard Ballroom WDSF competitions in Spain, between 2007 and 2010.
- Semi-finalist in the Open Professional Latin English Championships on the 1st
may 2005.
- Finalist in the Tropicana ‘Salsa World Dance Championships 2003’ in London.
Shows:
- 2012/20- Performing and teaching for various companies in Spain, since June
2019.
- Teacher and Performer for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Texas from January until
April 2019.
- Performed for Portuguese TV in program Madeira Viva- RTP Madeira in October
and November 2018.
- Solo, Partner and group performances in the UK for: Amazonas Spectacular- Arte
Latino Co., supported by the Arts Council of England, Karen Hardy Dance Studios, City Academy, Hippodrome Casino, Vienna Zouk Festival, Vienna City Council, The Kogan Academy of Dramatic Arts, Inspiration to Dance, Saddlers Wells Theatre, Tango Movement amongst many others across Europe, Colombia and Ecuador.
- 2006/12- Regular Performances in Portugal and Spain for various corporate and
public events.
- Director of Servigroup Dance Academy.
- Produced the show “Dance Passion”, for Servigroup in Alicante, etc.
- 2000/06- Regular Performances in Leeds, Manchester and York, demonstration
for Pat Thompson (World Champion) in Darlington, etc. Casa Latina’s New Years
Eve Show 2004/05 @ ‘The Faversham’ Club. Lecturer and Performer for the York
Salsa Congress on the 8th January 2005.
- 2004- Performer and choreographer in ‘Carmela and Valentino’ funded by the
Arts Council, etc.