ERNESTO PALMA A native of Costa Rica, Ernesto started dancing at the tender age of five. He learned to dance Salsa, Merengue, Cha Cha, Bolero, Cumbia, Reggae, and Folklore - all in the traditional "Latin" way. Upon relocating to the United States, he quickly learned all the American Social Styles of Ballroom Dancing….Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, Bolero, Samba, Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, and more. Ernesto complements his partner dancing with Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Modern Dance in the Horton and Dunham techniques; and studies at The Alvin Ailey Dance Center and Broadway Dance Center. Before joining the Stepping Out family, Ernesto taught American Style Dance for three years at the T.C. Dance Club in Kansas City. Additionally, his love of dance and children led him to teach in the NY school system from 2004-2006.
Ernesto and his current dance partner, Luis Grijalva, have been competing on the same-sex dance competition circuit for about six months now and are already garnering 1st place titles and accolades across the country. Their most recent coup was 1st Place Gold Medal, California Same Sex State Latin Championships, in Nov. 2009 at California Dreaming 2009.
Teaching for more than nine years, Ernesto's strongest passion is to share his fervor for dance with others.
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