the Great British Salsa Experience '09 salsa dance congress event in Manchester, UK

::: The Great British Salsa Experience ::: 20 | 21 | 22 | November 2009 :::

GBSEx salsa congress, UKShelley Cook

UK

Biography >>

Shelley Cook is popular throughout the UK and abroad as a highly technical dancer, a championship performer and an infectiously enthusiastic teacher. At the same time, she aims to make salsa accessible to all and is known for her down-to-earth attitude.

 Shelley is highly experienced on the international stage, having taught and performed at major salsa festivals across Europe and beyond for numerous years. Together with her dance partner Lee Wright, they held several national and international competition titles including twice UK Professional Champions, European Bronze and Silver Medallists and World Semi-Finalists and they were voted the Top UK Dance Act. Shelley is now also teaching and performing with her husband, Gil, and together with Anke Obermayer from Austria, they form Pexava Dance Company .

 Shelley has worked with leading UK names including Susana Montero, SuperMario, Iris de Brito and her Latin Soul Sisters, the Manhattan Mambo dancers, the Leon Rose Project and Richard Marcel, with appearances on National TV including BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and the Kiss FM Urban Music Awards.

Shelley’s teaching focuses on leading and following techniques, foundations and drills for spinning, introduction to on2, and ladies’ styling. Her absolute aim is to pass on and share her passion for the dance and for the salsa community and her number one rule is to have fun on the dancefloor!

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Competition Titles (with Lee Wright)

  • 2004 – Finalist, Tropicana World Salsa Competition
  • 2005 – Champion, UK Murderous Instincts Salsa Competition
  • 2005 – Champion, UK South East Professional Salsa Championships
  • 2006 – Semi-Finalist, World IDO Salsa Championships
  • 2006 – Champion, UK South East Professional Salsa Championships
  • 2007 – Champion, UK Latinfest Professional UK Salsa Championships
  • 2007 – Finalists, European IDO Salsa Championship
  • 2008 – Bronze Medallist, European Salsa Championship
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Honours/Awards

2007 – Top UK Dance Act

International Congresses/Festivals/Workshops

  • UK International Salsa Congress
  • Britfest UK
  • Mambocity Five Star, UK
  • Dublin Salsa Congress, Ireland
  • Paris Mambo Festival, France
  • Marseille Salsa Festival, France
  • Rovinj Salsa Festival, Croatia
  • EDSAE, Lisbon, Portugal
  • Salsa Festival, Haarlem, Netherlands
  • SalsaBall, Vienna, Austria
  • Salsa Gala, Frieburg, Germany
  • Zurich Salsa Congress, Switzerland
  • Eagle Tours Salsa Barcelona
  • Eagle Tours Salsa Florence

Other Skills

Along with her dance career, Shelley has a PhD in Tropical Virology. Her background in Biological Science, including aspects of Physiology and Psychology, and as a science tutor to MSc level, all contribute to her understanding of the mechanics of dance and effective teaching methodology.

Artist's Website

www.pexava.com

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