Sabor Dance Company

Jose Martinez / Director of Sabor Dance Company, was born in El Salvador and grew up in Central America until the age of 9 when he moved to Brisbane with his family. He started his new life in Australia yet didn’t forget his Latin culture side. He always loved and enjoyed dancing. Not only Salsa but he also loves cha cha cha, merengue, cumbia, bachata, RnB, hip hop and break dancing.

He became a part owner of the dance school called Night Moves in 2001. This is where he shared his passion for salsa, and became known as one of the best dance competitors in Queensland. He has achieved a number of competitions:
✶2002 Latin Street Dance Competition Merengue & Salsa 2nd place
✶2003 Latin Street Dance Competition Merengue & Salsa 1st place
✶2003 Open Competition of Little Stanley Street Salsa Standoff 1st place
✶2005 Australia Salsa Championships 4th place
✶2009 Australia Salsa Solo / Team Solo 4th place

While he was competing and representing Night Moves, he was also instructing at Casa Blanca which is the major Salsa bar operating in Brisbane for last 20 years.

He was also a host of the Salsa night at Brisbane Casino Treasury for 2 years. This is where he spread the fun and love of Salsa to more people not only there to dance but to enjoy the music. Jose also partly contributed to Little Stanley Street Salsa which is now a popular and well known salsa scene in Brisbane.

Being an international salsa instructor, a competitor and a performer, he has represented himself at some of the fantastic places in the world:
✶2004 Gold Coast
✶2005 Darwin
✶2006 Mission Beach
✶2007 Korea Salsa Festival
✶2010 Hong Kong Salsa Festival
✶2010 & 2011 Mackay Latin Madness
✶2010 & 2011 Atherton Tableland
✶2011 & 2012 Brisbane / Solo Competition
He was chosen to be one of the judges at Australian & International Salsa Solo competition 2011 & 2012 where he also held workshops.

Since he moved to Cairns, 2006, he has been running Salsa night on every Thursday at Vertigo Bar, Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. It has been a fantastic night with the live band, where he organizes performances by his Troupe members as well as the Annual Salsa Competition . His dedication to the community is regardless, he is always more than happy to be part of any fundraising events, such as:
✶Mission Beach cyclone relief for cyclone Larry
✶Peace Week at Tanks
✶World Vision since 2008
✶Fundraising at Relay for life since 2006
✶Fundraising event for Japan Tsunami 2010