About Us
Since beginning their partnership in January of 2008, Ricky and Sammy have consistently placed at the top of their competition divisions, quickly rising to the top levels in hustle, salsa, and swing. Some of their most recently accomplishments include winning several titles in advanced hustle, salsa, west coast swing, and three dance challenge divisions. They won the World Open Amateur Hustle Championship at the International Hustle and Salsa Competition, the Amateur Classic Hustle division at Disco America and at the World Open Hustle Dance Championship.
Outside of the competition circuit, they teach and perform regularly in New York and New Jersey. Ricky and Sammy have been hired for the past several years to teach salsa classes at New York University’s open house where they have had the opportunity to teach more than 500 new students. With a combined experience of over 20 years of dancing, they have had proven success coaching students and helping them to attain their dancing goals.
Ricardo Villa
Ricardo Villa has been a Latin, Hustle and Swing dancer, fitness instructor and personal trainer, for the last decade, both in Mexico and the United States. A former teacher and performer of Paul Pellicoro’s Dancesport Latin & Ballroom Studio in New York, Ricardo has performed at The Mid- Summer Festival at Lincoln Center, Roseland Ballroom’s 4th of July Celebration, Irving Plaza Swing Society Dance, and competed at the International Hustle and Salsa Competition in Miami, Disco America in Philadelphia, The 2009 World Hustle Dance Championships in New Jersey and the 2008 New York Hustle Congress placing among the top 6 finalists. In Fort Worth Texas, he won 1st place in the PWC Salsa Dance contest at the 2006 Convention of the Association of Latino Professional in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA).
As a Group Fitness and Dance Instructor, Ricardo has taught in prominent spas and fitness clubs in the United States and Mexico, including Arizona’s Canyon Ranch, Tucson Racquet Club, Pima Community College, Bally Total Fitness, New York’s Equinox, Reebok, Rockefeller Center, Crunch, Lucille Roberts, New York Sports Club, New York University and Gold’s Gym of Mexico. Additionally, Ricardo has worked with the medical and healthcare professions in helping children to fight obesity through dance and fitness classes.
In 2007 Ricardo, along with colleagues, created “Baila Conmigo” a not- for-profit organization dedicated to contributing to the Hispanic Community through dance and dance education. As Director and Choreographer of the organization, Ricardo taught more than 300 young professionals and students how to dance Salsa, Rueda Casino styled salsa, Swing and Hustle. He also choreographed and trained Baila Conmigo’s performance team for shows held on behalf of various non-profit organizations, schools, universities and corporations across the east coast.
Ricardo is an Aerobics and Fitness Association of America certified group fitness instructor and Interactive Fitness Trainer of America, personal trainer and pilates instructor. He currently teaches Mambo on 2, Swing and Hustle at New York University and Rhythms and Soul Dance Studios as well as group fitness classes in New York City including sculpt, kick boxing, dance, step, slide, abs, and cardio Latin dance at New York Sports Clubs, Lucille Roberts and Club Fitness.
Ricardo is also black belt in Japanese Karate and has won many competitions in fight combat and katas. Additionally, Ricardo acts as an event producer, and has organized dance and social events in New York City for organizations including ALPFA and Luna de Juarez and holds a Bachelors Degree in Mass Media Arts and years of experience in marketing, business, real estate and management.
Sammy Shecter
Sammy has been a dancer since age four and began her partner dance career at age eight. She competed and performed in international ballroom and Latin dances as a teenager and continued her dance career as a member of New York University’s ballroom dance team.
Since 2005, Sammy has focused her energy on the hustle, salsa, and west coast swing circuits, competing at many competitions including Disco America in Philadelphia, the Mid Atlantic Dance Jam in Virginia, and the World Hustle Dance Championships in New Jersey. She has consistently placed at the top of each level. In 2008, Sammy and her partner Ricky Ricardo Villa won the Amateur Classic Hustle division at the New York Hustle Congress, and also won the World Amateur Hustle Championship at the International Hustle and Salsa Competition in Miami.
Sammy currently teaches group and private classes in hustle, west coast swing, salsa, smooth ballroom, and ladies’ styling, as well as group fitness classes, Pilates and spin.