Afinké Dance COmpany
Eleanee Jimenez
is a New York/New Jersey artist with extensive experience as a professional dancer, instructor, and choreographer. Eleanee’s dance roots evolved in her early childhood being surrounded and immersed in traditional Latin art, culture, music, and dance. Her passion, riveting & sexy soulful dance style, and hard-working nature quickly elevated her to be recognized as one of the top elite artists in the area.
Since 2007, Eleanee has traveled, toured, and competed on an international and national level including performances at various congresses and festivals from Montreal, Puerto Rico, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Sacramento, to Los Angeles. Eleanee was awarded the high honors of 1st Place in the Chicago Mid-West Salsa Championships 2010 and 1st runners up at the NY Salsa Open Championships 2009. Not only has she danced on the biggest stage in the world, Madison Square Garden, alongside numerous salsa superstars, she was honored and privileged to perform for the President of the United States, Barack Obama.
Overall, Eleanee Jimenez is a joyful, energetic, and talented artist to work or be in company with. Her mission is to “share her passion with others by creating a positive environment for people to learn, celebrate and revel in the art of dance and Latin culture“.
Baudilio Rivera
is a professional performer, dance instructor and choreographer, and Entrepreneur. Well-versed in the versatile areas of Latin rhythms as well as Hip Hop and Latin Jazz. He is based from the world's entertainment capital, New York City! He has been defined by others as an inspirational instructor, speaker and transcendental performer.
His positive impact has acclimated this young artist in working with many youth organizations such as, "The Bronx Arts Ensemble", "The House of Dance", and the "GEAR UP program of ST. John's University" allowing him the ability to meticulously create a curriculum dedicated to instilling values, learning many of the diversities of the performing arts and most of all building leadership development among his students, overcoming all adversities through sheer discipline and dedication, and commitment.
Andy Yanez
Andy is a dance competitor, instructor, member of the Federation of Ecuador Ballroom Dancing, and our Bachata dance instructor hear at Afinke Dance Company. He has chosen dance as a career because of the sense of fulfillment he receives through it, his desire to grow into the best version of himself, and to pass that on to his students.
Andy is an accomplished dancer winning multiple first place awards in the Ecuador Salsa Congress, Campeonato Nacional (Ecuador), J'Martin Quicentro (Ecuador), and the Peru Latin Fest.
Elie Rosales
Elie Rosales is a passionate dancer and advocate for inclusivity within the Latin dance community. He has dedicated himself to challenging traditional norms and creating spaces where dancers of all backgrounds can thrive.
Elie began his dance journey in 2000, where he received a full scholarship for training at Peak Performance. Having trained under a lead dancer from Ballet Hispánico, he gained a strong foundation that played a pivotal role in forming who Elie is as an adult today.
As the Director of both the "Rude Gyalz" & "Haus of Sparkles" dance teams, he has crafted a unique space where diversity and empowerment are celebrated. The team, composed of adult dancers from various racial backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations, embodies the values of inclusivity and resilience. He has created a platform that not only showcases talent but also fosters personal growth and confidence among its members.
Elie’s commitment to dance goes beyond performance; it is about building a community that reflects the rich cultural tapestry of Latin dance while advocating for social change. Through his work, he aims to inspire others to embrace their identities, challenge oppressive practices, and find their voice through movement. Whether teaching, choreographing, or performing, Elie remains dedicated to using dance as a powerful tool for empowerment and transformation.