Tomas Keita

Tomás Keita is a teacher and dancer of African rhythms, one of the pioneers of Kizomba in Europe and participant in several international festivals around the world.

He has over 15 years of experience as a dancer and teacher. Born in Guinea-Bissau, where from a young age was a member of Guinea National Theatre group and in the group of Patria Amada Theatre.

In Portugal he has been working in various dance schools: Proyecto Latino, Ateneu, Espaço Latino (currently EDSAE) Danças Circle, Beleza Disco, Disco Sarabanda, Havana Docks. Participated in numerous TV programs (VIDA É BELA-TVI, RTP1, Porto Canal TV).

Currently he is located in Spain, Barcelona. Tomas is Kizomba instructor of reference in Spain and works in several schools: NEW DANCE CENTER BY ADRIAN Y ANITA, BARRIO LATINO MASNOU, ESCUELA RAICES GRANOLLER, DISCO SALSACEL Badalona and Festivals all around the world, SensualDance Madrid, Salsea Madrid, AfricaDançar Lisboa, Like Festival Lisboa, Swimming Festival Paris, Afro Fever Lisboa, Afrobailar Praga, Balumuka Praga, Festival Circulo Munich , Festival Gala Hamburg, Afrolatino Sevilha, Afrolatino Pamplona, Tá Fixe Porto, Simpósio de Coimbra and many others. Participated in radio and TV programs (radio Cero, radio Cataluña, TV canal latino).

FILIPA CASTANHAS

Filipa Castanhas started to dance African dances (kizomba, semba, kuduro, funaná) and Latin rhythms (salsa, merengue, bachata, chachacha) in 2004. After 1 year of training, she was invited by the Sabor Latino Dance School (Porto) to perform with their Latin Dance Company.

Aiming to improve and develop her expertise in African rythm and moves, from 2004 to 2008, she had an intensive training with some of the most well-known kizomba teachers around the world. Among others, she took classes with Petchu&Vanessa, Kwenda, Zé Barbosa, Avelino Chantre and Waty Barbosa.

In 2008, she moved to Lisbon and started her Bachelor degree in Dance, that she concluded successfully in 2012. During the last five years she have been teaching Kizomba and African rythm in many dance schools and gyms in Portugal.

In 2011, she won the 3rd place at the 4th International Championship of Kizomba held in Portugal. Since then, she has been contacted to teach and perform with different partners in International Congresses and Workshops (“Crioula Beach Festival 2011”, Alicante-Spain; “Sensual Dance 2011”, Madrid, Spain; “Like festival”, Lisbon, Portugal; “Afrofever 2013”, Lisbon, Portugal; “Sabor Latino Congress 2013”, Porto, Portugal).

In 2012, she took part of the performance of Irina, a kizomba singer from Angola,as the main kizomba dancer (exhibitions on the Portuguese TV channel RTP 1 – Program “Portugal sem Fronteiras” and “Portugal no Coração”) and with the famous angolan singer Eddy Tusa on the “Team de sonho” show in Lisbon. In the same year, she started performing with the “Tchuna Babies”, the first female team in Portugal, aiming at spreading around the world the originality and sensuality of the kizomba moves.

In partnership with Tomás Keita since 2013, Filipa has been invited to teach and perform at all major dance events in cities all around the world (Germany, Ukraine, Netherland, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, etc).