Sujan Ghimire
Salsa (all levels) and Bachata
Sujan has been teaching salsa since 2003. He has taught people from all different backgrounds and nationalities. He started teaching in his home country of Nepal, then spent eight months teaching salsa in the UK. He and his wife, Sarah, established Salsa Mississippi in 2006. Some of Sujan’s students did not even understand a word of English, and some have never before stepped on the dance floor. But salsa has no boundaries! These days, Sujan works with individuals from all over the world on a weekly basis right here in Jackson Mississippi. And each of them learns and loves salsa, and keeps coming back for more! Watch Sujan’s favorite salsa video.
Sarah Ghimire
Salsa (Beginner and Intermediate)
Sarah began dancing in 2004. She never expected to teach, but after marrying a salsa instructor, it was a natural development. After helping establish Salsa Mississippi, Sarah began teaching in 2008. You can find her teaching beginner classes and private lessons, and keeping the party going every Saturday night. Sarah loves this salsa documentary!
Shawntel McQuarter
Salsa (Beginner and Intermediate)
Shawntel began taking classes at Salsa Mississippi in 2008. She very quickly fell in love with dancing! After two years of group and private classes, she joined our teaching team in 2010. She’s danced in several local and regional performances with Salsa Mississippi, and you’ll find her out on the dance floor at all our parties and events. Shawntel loves to bachata to this song
Betsy Vargheese
Indian Classical
Betsy has been teaching dance for more than 15 years . She is a graceful performer and teacher of various forms of South Indian Dance. She started learning Bharatnatyam when she was 9 years old and slowly got trained in Kuchippudi, Mohiniyattom and folk dances. She has performed extensively in India, Oman and the USA. She has choreographed more than 20 dances both for adults and kids. Most recently she has taught Indian dance at Belhaven University, Hinds Community College and Beth Israel School in Jackson, MS .
Karlos Lyons
Hip Hop
Karlos is a recent graduate at Belhaven University. During his tenure there as a student, he established the Urban Dance Club, which is a student-led hip hop crew that choreographs, teaches and performs hip hop pieces at Belhaven University. A former member of the R.A.T. Pack (Reject All Tobacco) with the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, he toured the state of MS, singing and dancing at schools telling young kids about the harmful effects of smoking. He beat out several talented young dancers in auditions to be a part of the R.A.T. pack and was able to receive college scholarship doing so. He has choreographed more than 10 hip hop pieces, performed in several plays, musicals, and sports halftimes, and continues to take hip hop workshops, and general dance classes for fun. He has experience in jazz, modern, ballet, and tap dance, but his primary focus remains hip hop dance. His expertise in hip hop includes pop-in-lock, isolations, krumping, and fluidity of motion, with some jazz and modern techniques thrown in.
Jamie Thomas
Belly Dance
Jaime’s first exposure to Belly dance was just as another workout, but when she came across it again in 2008, she was ready to accept all the gifts it had to offer. Her posture, attitude, appearance…her very presence changed. Belly dance is an excellent form of exercise but the discovery and celebration of your femininity and the confidence that comes along with it are the greatest gifts. Join Jaime and treat yourself to gentle hips sways, luxurious chest circles, and evocative gestures to reveal the goddess inside you. Checkout Jamie’s favorite Belly dance music.