BAILAtlanta Registration

Julian Mejia

Julián Mejía, born in Manizales Colombia. Started to dance salsa at early age. His interest in Cuban music started at age 9 and since then, Cuban, classical and classic Rock have been his passion.

Julián moved to Miami in 1995 after receiving his MA in Marketing Communication & Advertising in Boston and soon after started learning Casino with Ramani Nicola (Salsa-Casino Dance Studios) and Henry Herrera (Verdaderos Reyes de la Salsa Dance Studios).

During his time in Miami, Julián traveled to Cuba as he was interested in learning more about the culture and the music of the island.

In Spring of 1999, Julián moved to Atlanta and under the name of SALSAtlanta, started the first Casino school and Casino performance group in Georgia. Julián has been teaching and promoting Cuban music and dance in Atlanta.

Julián has contributed to spreading the Casino style in Atlanta and beyond by conducting workshops in different cities around North and South America.

In 2007 was recognized during the 6th Annual International Salsa Congress in Miami by the school Salsa Lovers with the "Alex Award" for his contribution to the world of Latin Dance.

Julián works as a graphic designer during the day and is the director and producer of SALSAtlanta 10, the 3-Day Cuban Party, the largest event dedicated to Cuban music and dance in the East Coast.

Duane Wrenn

Duane Wrenn is a Fitness Consultant and Instructor of Dancing to Cuban Rhythms.

Duane founded the company Energetic Soul in 2000 and since then has developed three programs that focus on the art of dancing as a conversation. He has also co-developed two other unique programs, AFRO-tImBa with Kati Hernandez and SoulChiSa with Dr. Jeya Aerenson. Each of the 5 programs are designed to teach general and specialized audiences Salsa Dancing and how to utilize what they are learning as a vehicle to add spice to their daily life on and off of the dance floor.

Born in New Orleans, LA. Duane currently resides in the Detroit Michigan area where he hosts private Intensives and teaches group classes. His hobbies are writing, foot massage, and looking for top destinations to listen and dance to Cuban music.

Adrian Valdivia

Co-founder and co-director of DC Casineros, Adrian has been dancing and performing Son, Casino, and other popular Cuban dances for 10 years. He has also been teaching classes infused with Afro-Cuban dance for the past four years. He won first place in the couple’s competition in Miami Rueda congress of 2009. Adrian has traveled nationally and internationally to participate and to teach in the major Rueda de Casino and Afro-Cuban dance conferences. Along with DC Casineros, he has performed and taught locally, nationally, and internationally at prestigious and popular venues, conferences, and congresses including: the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian, DC Salsa Congress, San Francisco, New York, Miami and Atlanta Rueda Congresses, and the Nicaragua Salsa Congress.

MTV 3 Latino recently featured Adrian and his partner and Director Amanda Gill to talk about Casino as a Cuban Popular dance in the DC area.

Adrian and DC Casineros also brought the critically acclaimed All Stars Dance Company from Santiago de Cuba, and collaborated on a 1 and a half hour production in DC.

Born in Venezuela, Adrian grew up in a family of dancers and musicians, which heavily influenced his love for the arts. Adrian currently trains under the guidance of Afro-Cuban dance Masters Duane Wrenn, Kati Hernandez, Yudisleidy Valdes, Jorge Luna Roque, Yoel Marrero, Oscar Rousseaux and Aramis Pazos. He teaches Son, Casino and Rueda de Casino, rumba at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. His casino style emphasizes the power and intricacies of Son, Rumba, and at times Orisha dances.