FUSABAFES 2027

Fabrizio Febi and Giulia Michelini, winners of the 2023 World Championship “The Summit” in Miami in the On2 Salsa Professional category, are among the leading couples in today’s salsa scene. Based in Italy, they are the creators of the international festival MAMBO LEAGUE, held in cities such as Genoa, Milan, Naples, Florence, and Mexico. Centered on the fusion of live music and dance, the festival gathers over 400 participants each time and features renowned artists such as Grupo Alafia, Full Project, and many others, spreading their passion for the deep connection between music and dance.

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Fabrizio Febi was born in Pescara on June 9, 1995.
At the age of 10 he approaches the first steps in the world of dance, especially in Caribbean dances, obtaining remarkable results in national and international competitions.
In 2011 he joined the Latin Passion Group directed by the masters Michele di Benedetto and Chiara Barone dancing in the best stages in the world such as: Rome, Milan, New York, Freiburg, Amsterdam, Berlin, Los Angeles, London , Montréal.
In 2014 he performed in the great 45-minute production of Adolfo Indacochea "Tribute to the Kings" tribute to the great Tito Puente and Eddie Torres.
He has been part of The Latin Soul Dancers of Adolfo Indacochea since 2014 to 2020 dancing all over the world.
He traveled the 4 continents: 15 eureopean states 3 states in Asia 10 american states 5 of latino america dancing for the best audience of the world.
In 2016 he opened his own studio called Mambo & Co in Pescara, Italy.
In 2018 he started dancing with Giulia Michelini to become a new couple on the mambo scene!!
Organizer of the event international festival called MAMBO LEAGUE in Europe and Mexico with Giulia became world champion 2023 in the category on2 salsa professional in Miami florida in the prestigous competition the Summit championhip.

Giulia Michelini was born in Varese on dicember 16,1992.
When she was 13 years old she began studying ballet, jazz and Caribbean dance.
In 2008 she joined the Flamboyan dancers directed by Marco Berretta and Shearley Alicea.
She has danced in this group for 10 years.
In 2016 she studied at Sosa Academy in Milan.
She is vice champion together with Giulia Galparoli of mundial pasos libres “La Negra”.
In 2017 she was part of the Latin Dream’s dance casting.
She has been part of The Latin Soul Dancers of Adolfo Indacochea since 2017 dancing with Fabrizio Febi.
She started dancing only with him to create their own style!!
With fabrizio became world champion 2023 in the category on2 salsa professional in Miami florida in the prestigous competition the Summit championhip.
They are working / dancing together to create our own way of dancing mambo keeping the tradition but with some different elements and influences!!
Even if it's a job for them they dance for Passion from so many years and our latin passion is the one that allows us to go on dancing every day!!

Fabrizio & Giulia are really expert of Salsa and mambo sector they danced on the same stage with the bests singers and musicians in the world like
Tito Puente Jr., Frankie Figueroa, José Alberto “El Canario”, Ray de la Paz, El Chino y La Diferencia, Mercadonegro Orquesta, Canchanchara Orquesta, Mambito’s Salsa Orquesta, Ricky Campanelli, Máxima 79, Ray Ruiz and more.

Andrea & Silvia are one of Italy’s most renowned bachata couples. After meeting in 2008, they officially partnered in 2010, combining Andrea’s powerful energy with Silvia’s elegance to create a unique style that quickly earned international recognition.

Since 2009, they have dedicated themselves to studying every style of bachata and became pioneers of Bachata Sensual in Italy. They founded Extravagance Dance School and developed the BACHATEACHER instructor training program, educating dance teachers throughout the country.

World champions at the World Latin Dance Cup in 2012 and 2013, they have won numerous international titles. Their appearance on Italia's Got Talent became a worldwide sensation, with their performance video surpassing 100 million views. They have also appeared in films and television programs while performing and teaching across all five continents.

Today, Andrea & Silvia continue to inspire dancers around the world as internationally acclaimed performers, judges, and instructors, celebrated for their innovative choreography and clear, effective teaching methods.

International and world championship judges including:
• WORLD LATIN DANCE CUP
• BACHATEA WORLD CONGRESS
• BACHAT'ART
• BACHATA STARS
• BACHATA DAY
• ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

COMPETITIONS AND TITLES :
• First place Bachata Couples WORLD LATIN DANCE CUP 2013 (Miam - U.S.A.)
• First place Bachata Couples WORLD LATIN DANCE CUP 2012 (Miam - U.S.A.)
• First place Bachata Team WORLD LATIN DANCE CUP 2012 (Miami - U.S.A.)
• Second place - WORLD BACHATA MASTERS 2012 (Spain)
• Finalists WORLD LATIN DANCE CUP 2011 World Championship (Las Vegas - U.S.A.)
• Second place INTERNACIONAL BACHATA OPEN DE ESPAÑA 2011 (Spain)
• First place World Latin Dance Cup LIMBURG SALSA FESTIVAL 2011 (The Netherlands)
• First place Stargate SALSA ADDICTED FESTIVAL 2011 (Romania)
• Second place Competition R-STYLE 2010 (Spain)
• First place 1st SAVONA SALSA CONTEST 2010 (Italy)
• Second place Mayan Dance Competition AL SON D'ELX 2010 (Spain)
• First place - European Coreography Contest, ROMA SALSA FESTIVAL 2009 (Italy)

FUSABAFES Artistic Advisor

After graduating from university, she moved to New York alone. There, she was selected as the first and only Asian professional member of the Yamulee Dance Company, the world's top salsa team, since its founding. After four years at Yamulee, she went to France and worked in Europe as a professional dancer invited by the Alegria Dance Company.
Her beautiful long limbs, expressiveness, and precision in spinning are the best among world-class professional salsa dancers.
She has been invited to congresses and competitions in more than 20 countries and has performed on many big stages. From 2018 she will challenge the world competition. She has won World Salsa Solo, Canadian International Competition, Liberty Dance Championship, etc. In 2020, she won 3rd place in the world's largest salsa competition, the first Asian to do so. She is now a mother of two child, but while performing overseas, she is the only one who combines a method for Asians to dance like Latin people and a salsa dance training method that has been prepared in Japan. The second lesson is being developed nationwide and around the world.

Since 2019, they have been active as a sensual bachata and salsa dance duo, primarily based in Okinawa, while also conducting various workshops and performances both in Japan and abroad, including in Asia. With a dynamic and musicality-rich style, they are dedicated to conveying the joy of dance to both dancers and spectators. Their workshops are known for being fun and easy to understand, as they skillfully teach the charm of bachata with humor and clarity.

Andrés, a Japanese-Peruvian, has been living in Japan since 2009 and has more than 10 years of experience as an instructor of salsa and bachata. He actively participates in international bachata congresses, such as in the U.S. and South Korea, and performs as part of the men's team AndroLatino, both domestically and internationally.

Yuno, born and raised in Okinawa, began dancing salsa in 2013 and was later captivated by sensual bachata. She currently teaches bachata and salsa alongside Andrés, conducts boot camps, and performs as part of the ladies’ team Yunicas.

A professional dancer, choreographer, and certified instructor with 25 years of experience dedicated to teaching and promoting Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Certified as a "Maestro de Casino," Roberto has served as an academy director and artistic director across Venezuela, Panama, Peru, and Colombia. Throughout his career, he has earned top placements at various international competitions, including the Panama Salsa Fest, Casino Rueda Fest, and Medellín On Fire.

His expertise spans Cuban-style Casino, Son, Cha-cha-chá, Rumba, Afro-Cuban genres, Line Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue, focusing on encouraging students of all levels to develop their technical precision and artistic expression.

ALEX GARCIA is a professional dancer from Cali, Colombia. He began his dance journey in 2008, studying Cuban Salsa and Bachata, and has since developed his skills in a wide range of Latin dance styles, including Afro-Cuban dance, Rumba, Caleño style, LA and NY Style Salsa, and Cabaret. Through training at various dance academies and performing with different dance companies, he has also developed strong choreography and stage presence skills.

Throughout his career, ALEX has been a member of dance companies including Salsa y Ashe, Imperio Juvenil, Pasión Dance and Step Dance. He has performed at major events such as the Salsódromo in Cali, as well as dance festivals and competitions. He won first place in Cuban Salsa at Timbaland in 2017, Casino en Escena in 2018, and Timbaragua in 2019. In 2022, he took third place in NY Style Salsa at the Pereira Festival Dance, followed by first place in the Salsa Amateur – Cabaret Style category at the Mundial de la Salsa in 2023. In 2025, he also won first place at the Pereira Dance Festival.

With years of experience across different Latin dance styles and extensive stage experience, ALEX continues to grow and evolve as a dancer. For him, dance is more than a way of living – it is a way of life. He is currently focused on sharing his dedication, passion and respect for the art of dance through his movement and performance.

After exploring street dance styles such as Hip-Hop, House, Pop, and Soul, she encountered salsa in 2010. Through Cuban salsa, she discovered Afro-Cuban dances like Rumba and Yoruba, gradually becoming captivated by their charm.
From 2015 to 2016, she traveled to Cuba alone to undergo intensive training in Afro-Cuban dance. Upon returning to Japan, she began spreading the allure of Cuban dance.
Currently, she holds classes three times a week in Umeda, Osaka, and once a month in Kyoto.

Representatives of HIDE & PEKO Dance Company.
Salsa dancers, instructors, and choreographers.
Four-time All Japan Champions.
First Asian couple to become finalists in the professional category at a world championship.

Their salsa journey began in 2010 when salsa was incorporated into a musical they performed in. Formed as a university dance duo in 2013, they have since pursued both short- and long-term training in various countries and participated in numerous competitions. They have won the All Japan Championship four times. In 2018, they achieved a groundbreaking feat as the first Asian couple to place 4th in the professional salsa category at the prestigious World Latin Dance Cup.

In 2023, they were selected as the Asian representatives among the world’s top dancers for FANIA Records' "We Love To See You Dance" project, honoring the record label that popularized salsa music in the 1970s. The same year, they were invited as sponsored guest performers by the city of Cali, Colombia, to participate in a world championship held in Cali.

Currently, they perform shows and conduct workshops both in Japan and internationally. Their activities extend beyond their own performances to include being backup dancers for singers and producing wedding performances. Additionally, they are dedicated to promoting salsa and contributing to education; in 2021, they served as special temporary instructors teaching salsa dance at a public junior high school in Tokyo.

RAVSHAN VALIEV : Mambo Dancer / Instructor / Choreographer / Rav & Yuko Mambo Academy Director / Adolfo Indacochea Mambo Excellence Certified Instructor

Originally from Uzbekistan.
Since his days at the Palaidium, he has pursued the modern mambo in both dance and music, and is energetically disseminating it. As a mambo dancer, he has appeared on numerous stages in Japan and abroad. He is also active as an invited instructor. His energetic dance style unique to men and powerful and gentlemanly pair dance leader lessons are popular.

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Yuko Akiba

Salsa Dancer / Choreographer / National Public Safety Commission Approved / Japan Dance Sports Federation Certified Instructor / Japan Salsa Association Certified Instructor

Rav & Yuko Mambo Academy Director / Adolfo Indacochea Mambo Excellence Certified Instructor

Born in Yokohama City.
She has performed on stages in North America, South America, Europe, Russia, Asia and Oceania. She is also works as an invited instructor and competition judge. She has also appeared as a salsa dancer in TV commercials, variety shows, national programs, Univision, and music videos.
She also visits numerous salsa music live stages, and her motto is to convey the relationship and enjoyment of music and dance.

Pablo Sosa: A dancer and instructor from Argentina. He has studied a wide range of genres, including classical ballet, jazz, and tap dance, and currently focuses on salsa and partner dancing.
He won the Argentine Salsa Open in 2011 and 2013. In both 2011 and 2013, he placed second at the World Salsa Championship held in Puerto Rico.
To date, he has participated in lessons and events in various countries across Latin America and Asia, including Argentina, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
He studied Salsa On2 intensively in Puerto Rico and New York and performed as a dancer in the company of world-renowned dancer Jason Molina. He also performed as a member of the regular dance company led by Silvio González at “2x4 Mambo” in Argentina.
In addition to salsa, she has participated in dance companies and stage productions across various genres, and she excels at delivering lessons and performances that draw on her broad dance experience and the expressiveness and body control she has honed on stage.

Kaku kumagai: Having studied a wide range of genres, including classical ballet, jazz, salsa, and partner dance, she is currently active both domestically and internationally as a choreographer, model, and dancer.
At the age of 22, she moved to New York on her own and gained experience performing in overseas shows as a member of the salsa company “Zafire Dance Company.” In 2017, she won the Ladies Solo division at the Japan Salsa Competition and competed in the “World Latin Dance Cup” (Orlando) that same year.
With salsa as her core, she specializes in lessons and performances that incorporate the expressiveness and body control she has cultivated through jazz, theater, and stage shows.

Kazu: Raised in Aomori, Kazu’s passion for Salsa led him to Cuba, where he trained for a year under a professional dancer from the National Folkloric Ballet of Cuba (Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba). After actively working as an instructor and dancer primarily in the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions, he is currently based in Aichi Prefecture, continually expanding his reach.

Yoko: Originally majoring in classical music at a music college, Yoko discovered a passion for Latin music during a trip to the United States. Since then, she has gained extensive experience both in Japan and abroad, including Cuba. Currently based in Aichi Prefecture, she actively promotes Latin culture through various events, lessons, and performances.

She began Latin dance at age 6 and is currently active as a Bachata instructor and performer.
As Valentino & UMI, they perform throughout Japan and across Asia.
She serves as the director of Grupo ESENCIA JAPAN, led by Marco & Sara.
In recent years, she has also dedicated herself to Japan-Korea exchange events, helping to lead the Asian bachata scene.
As UMI, she has won Asian competitions and competed in world championships, and consistently ranks among the top competitors in the Jack & Jill categories at Asian festivals. UMI’s logical and precise advice is highly acclaimed, offering something new to learn every time for dancers of all levels, from beginners to advanced!

Mike Honda discovered salsa and bachata in 1996 and has since trained extensively in countries such as the U.S. (LA and NY), Cuba, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Spain. Since 2000, he has been teaching salsa and bachata and has participated in numerous events and festivals, including the Japan Salsa Congress, with workshops and performances. In 2011, he moved to Shanghai, China, and in 2015 opened the Latin dance studio LATIN SOUL with his partner, Sakina. Together they organized the international events BACHATAMEMUCHO and later BACHATEAMO (2015–2019).
In April 2025, he relocated to Fukuoka, Japan. He is currently active at Tiempo, focusing primarily on bachata lessons.

Originally from Mar del Plata, Argentina.

He has performed at numerous shows, including dance performances at the opening of World Salsa Congresses.

Since his first visit to Japan in 2000, he has made a significant contribution to the development of salsa in Fukuoka, both as a dancer and instructor. He was one of the key figures in introducing and promoting Salsa Casino in Fukuoka, at a time when the style was still relatively unknown in the city.

He currently lives in Fukuoka. In addition to his extensive experience as a dancer and instructor, he is also active as an event producer and director, DJ, and choreographer.

She began studying salsa in 2013.

In the fall of 2015, she traveled to Cuba for approximately nine months of intensive dance training. She studied Afro-Cuban Dance at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), alongside Cuban students, and trained under prominent former dancers of the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba.

From 2017 to 2019, she was a member of Tiempo Latin Dance and ANACAONA, performing at a wide range of events and stage productions.

In the fall of 2019, she spent approximately five months in Spain, further developing her skills and learning a variety of dance styles.

After returning to Japan, she began teaching at Tiempo Latin Dance and has since been actively involved in numerous classes and events as an instructor and performer.