President – Elena Samoilova

Elena acquired the addiction to dance early in life, but did not become passionate about social dancing until she experienced Salsa while on an academic exchange in Mexico. She has been involved with the SDC since 2008, starting out first as a volunteer and then eventually working up to various executive positions. Elena loves all styles of dance and hopes one day to be called a versatile dancer. She is in the fourth year of her double major program of Human Resources and Communication Studies.

 

 

Vice President – Genevieve Hoffart

Genevieve was introduced into Salsa dancing by a good friend while in New York City back in 2009 and has been on the dance floor ever since.  Currently in her 2nd year majoring in Psychology, she hopes to eventually get her Master’s specializing in Industurial Organizational Psychology.

 

 

 

 

 

Treasurer – Stephanie Rupp

Stephanie was always interested in dance, so when she stumbled on the SDC booth during clubs week a few years ago it was fate! She started out taking Ballroom classes, progressed to Salsa, and is hoping to round out the list with some West Coast Swing this year. Stephanie is in her 4th year of Electrical Engineering.

 

 

 

 

Secretary and Communications Officer – Beth Rowe

Beth is a fourth year History major who started Ballroom dance in her second year with, not two, but three left feet! She instantly fell in love with dance and got good at it too! Last year she tried her hand at Salsa and this year she’s excited to try West Coast Swing. Her favorite thing about the club is a toss up between meeting so many great people since joining and the amazing, themed social dances! If you have any questions about the club she’s the person to contact via the club e-mail.

 

Instructional Director – Bernard Mendoza

Bernard started ballroom dancing at the University of Alberta in 1998, with the goal of meeting lots of beautiful women. He graduated and moved to Calgary in 2000 where he began to compete in Latin Ballroom Dancing. After a snowboard injury, he decided to find a dance that was easy on the ankle and enrolled in a Salsa class at a local studio. He was instantly addicted and ending up performing/competing with Salsa Mecca & Salsa Rica Dance Company. Bernard has been teaching with SDC for 8 years and was one of its founding members. His ultimate goal is to promote the love of dance to the students of the University of Calgary.

 

Events Coordinator – Eli Matthews

Eli is a 3rd year Geomatics Engineering student and has been dancing since she was only two! She took three years of ballet and then began to figure skate semi-competitively for 13 years. She joined SDC last January and couldn’t be happier to be dancing again!

 

 

 

 

Events Coordinator – Anna Kocot

Anna joined the SDC in the fall of 2006, after walking past their promotions table during clubs week and deciding that dancing might be a useful skill to have. She started with Ballroom, which she enjoyed immensely, and then decided to expand her horizons with Salsa shortly after.  Anna is a science teacher and an officer in the Naval Reserve. She also teaches Introductory Salsa for the club.  Anna thinks that if she can learn to dance, anybody can!

 

 

 

Volunteer Coordinator – Christine Leonardo Hughes

Christine discovered the SDC whilst perusing the booths at clubs week in her first year and the rest, as they say, is history. She took several salsa-dancing classes throughout the year and attended many wonderful social dances put on by the SDC. By the end of first year, she was officially hooked. Now in her second year of engineering at the U of C, she shall be shaking things up and trying some West Coast Swing, along with the occasional salsa night out, of course.