Oliver Pineda is the Founder and Director of Latin Motion Dance Academy which is Australia’s most successful Latin Dance Academy. He is also the Founder and Director of Australia’s most prestigious yearly Salsa event and competition, The Australian Salsa Classic.
Oliver Pineda with celebrity dance partner Luda Kroitor from ‘Dancing With The Stars’ are Australia’s only 5 times World Salsa Champions having won the 2001 IDO World Salsa Championships in Miami, 2005 World Salsa Open in Puerto Rico, 2005 & 2006 ESPN World Salsa Championships held in Nevada, Las Vegas and recently the 2007 ESPN World Salsa Championships held in Disney World, Florida. Oliver & Luda were also special guest choreographers for the Channel 10 TV hit show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’.
Born in Australia and of Chilean descent, this young man has been dancing Salsa for 15 years and is Australia’s most undisputed talent. His unique style of dance and clear precise teaching methods make him one of the most admired and sought after Salsa dancers and instructors in the world.
Although passionate about Salsa and Mambo, Oliver’s dance experience also extends to Rueda, Merengue, Zouk Lambada, Kizomba, Samba, Cumbia, Cha Cha, Rumba, Afro Cuban Rumba, and all the Ballroom dances such as Jive, Paso Doble & the modern dances such as the Waltz, Slow Foxtrot & Quick Step. In addition to his dancing expertise, he is also a well known percussionist playing in some of Sydney’s top Salsa bands, mastering the timbales, congas and bongo amongst other percussive instruments. His early performance experience within the Brazilian culture has also enabled him to handle Brazilian style instruments such as the snare drum, zurdo, pandero and the hepinique.
His black belt achievements as a Martial Artist have also equipped him with an understanding of the basics of Capoeira. Oliver is also proud to have represented Australia at several Championships of Dancesport at a national and international level. With 7 years training in Dancesport, Oliver chooses instead to pursue the music and dance of his Latin American roots. It was Oliver and his partner who were captured on international television screens, leading the “Americas” segment out onto the field in the Olympic Opening Ceremony Sydney 2000.
