Who is Ms. Mercedes Cruz?
Mercedes began dancing at the young age of 14 taking class at Carnegie Hall Ballet Arts, she also trained in Jazz with choreographer Jamie Rogers, one of the dancers in West Side Story and JoJo Smith of JoJo Smith Dance Factory. During this time, she found her way to the legendary Palladium Ballroom where she auditioned for Master of Ceremony Joe Piro and was accepted in the show as a weekly dance performer. She partnered with legends such as Cuban Pete, Marty Arret and Mambo Hy and also performed at country clubs and hotels in the Catskills.
Mercedes first tour was with the show Cab Calloway Orchestra, followed by the Duke Ellington Show in Florida. Immediately after, Mercedes performed alongside Sammy Davis Jr., at the San Juan Hilton Hotel in Puerto Rico where she remained for two years and performed in the Follies De Paris Show. During the next few years she continued performing all over the world, she toured Europe and Germany with dance partner Arty Sheppard and South America and Canada with the Machito Show, she also worked as a dancer in the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas for 5 years.
Mercedes is clearly one of the few living palladium legends, her background in arts, her love and passion for dance and the music has led her to produce her own television show "On 2" at Manhattan Neighbor Network (MNN). which was a major success for 2 ½ years. She hosted legendary artists such as Tito Puente, Dave Valentine, Larry Harlow, Jimmy Anton and Eddie Torres, to name a few.
Mercedes continues to dance as she learns new styles from major instructors such as Tomas Guerrero of Santo Rico Dance School, Joe Burgos of Piel Canela Dancers and Melanie Torres of On2.
ABOUT the STUDIO:
The Newly renovated space is available for auditions, rehearsals, dance classes, parties and meetings. Offering Beginner to Advanced Salsa classes and other styles from a variety of Instructors, this new neighborhood Gem is sure to bring a new wave of flavor and spunk to El Barrio .
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