Carlos Osorio - Founder, instructor, dancer, choreographer
Carlos founded Cumbia Spirit School of Dance in 2004. He studied with Dorian Uribe, the artistic director of Estampas Latinoamericanas dance company in the 1980's. After his arrival to New York, Carlos continued studying Afro-Caribbean, African, Middle Eastern, Ballroom and other Latin dances in NYC and in the Albany area.

Carlos creates Cumbia choreographies for Albany based group
'Ritmos Colombianos' and has performed solos, duets and with Elena Mosley's Kuumba Dance and Drum Company at several venues.

Mr. Osorio has been teaching in the Hudson Valley and Upstate New York in venues such as Siena College, Omega Institute, The National Museum of Dance, EBA Dance Theater, Lorraine Michaels, among other High Schools and Elementary Schools in Albany, Kingston and Woodstock. He continues teaching groups and individuals at the Cumbia Spirit School of Dance located in Woodstock, New York.

At the invitation of Eva Madigan, Carlos Osorio created a dance class called Dancing With Our Elders ™ a weekly class for people
over 55, at Trinity Institution in Albany, NY. The program is now sponsored by NYS Dept. for Aging. Ms. Madigan wanted to establish a "golden bridge to the seniors of the community." Since 2006 this class has provided social interaction, wellness movement and dance for our seniors. Mr. Osorio takes members of the group to different venues to perform for other seniors and nursing homes. (see Venues...)

DWOE is a blessing in my journey with dance.

Christine Bridges - Dancer, instructor, choreographer
Christine has been teaching people of all ages for over 20 years in New York City, Vermont and the Hudson Valley. She has studied multiple and varied dance styles; and loves to share her knowledge and skill with her students.

Christine is the instructor of 'Jazz Dance' that begins this Spring 2010 (3/9/10) at the Cumbia Spirit School of Dance in the Woodstock area. 'Jazz Dance' is an open level dance class that thas Afro-caribbean flavor. Each class starts with warm ups designed to stretch and strengthen. You'll learn the basics of jazz technique incorporated into a choreography or routine. We'll be dancing to great musical genres such as jazz, soul, funk as well as Samba and African rhythms. This class is definitely fun, good for mind and body!

Gennarose Pope - Dancer, singer.
Gennarose began studying ballet, jazz and tap when she was four years old.  She has performed in various community theatre productions of Broadway musicals since, but only discovered her love of Latin dance around nine years ago.  

Under the tutelage of dancer and Latin dance/culture promoter Teresa Castano from Springfield, MA and her many male followers. Ms. Castano encouraged Gennarose to teach Latin dance to groups of at-risk high school students and adults.  

Gennarose also studied jazz and hip hop at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City while pursuing a singing career; she performs jazz standards and originals around the Hudson Valley.  

Ms. Pope is thrilled and honored by the opportunity to work with Carlos and to represent Cumbia Spirit.

PJ Lorenz (with Carlos Osorio -photo by John Mason)

PJ - dancer, vocalist, Woodstock musician. The daughter of a Ballroom dancer, PJ is trained in ballet, tap, jazz & folk dances. PJ Lorenz performed a duet with Carlos Osorio at Winter Walk, 2006, and Kwanza, 2006 in Hudson, NY.She's a graduate of Mason Grass School of Arts, Rutgers Universidty. Ms. Lorenz started dancing at the age of 7 and loves Latin music and dance. Ms. Lorenz is now dedicating time to creating, producing and promoting her music in the Hudson Valley.

Jessica Matthiassen (above with head scarf -photo by Jennifer May.)

Jessica - dancer, photographer. A lover of African dance and folk dances as well as social dances. Jessica performed duet with Carlos Osorio for Black Arts Festival, 2005 in Hudson, NY. She is now a wife, a mother and a wonderful photographer. You may visit her amazing photography at www.Jessicanoelle.com

Helene Weissman (picture courtesy of Ms. Weissman)

Helene - Dancer, painter. She has been a dancer for over 25 years. While she lived in New York City she studied ballet and Dunham Technique at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance. She was also encouraged to train in African, Cuban and Brazilian dance as well.

At ABT (American Ballet Theather) she studied ballet with Daine Cartier. At Peridance Center she studied ballet and modern dance with several teachers, among them, Yehuda Maor, Igal Perry and carol Rioux. There are many memorable teachers to be credited for Helene's training, Marie Basse Wiles, Xiomara Rodriguez, Lorimil Machado, Lavinia Williams and Yousef Koumbasa.

For Helene, ballet and other forms of dance should be taken side by side to produce a well rounded dancer. She now lives in Woodstock and keeps up with ballet technique at Saugerties Ballet Center.

Ms. Weissman has performed in shows from the Bates Festival in Maine to Cuban shows in New York City; with Denise Bey, Richard Gonzalez, Thema Sterling and other African, Cuban and Brazilian shows. Helene now performs with various dance companies in the Hudson Valley, including Carlos Osorio's Cumbia Spirit.