LDA History

The beginning…

Marcia Pinheiro Percival, the founder, started teaching Latin dance in Sydney when she first arrived in Australia from Brazil in 1998. Her first class was held, at La Campana, originally, an average of 15-30 students attended the class each week. Excellent growth in student numbers resulted in the formation of Latin Dance Australia and soon after she began opening classes in other 4 venues around Sydney.

By 2001 LDA was growing quite rapidly and Marcia realised it was time to develop and promote LDA in bigger scale then she invited Jaime Jesus to become Artistic Director of LDA. This decision resulted in the raising of LDA’s profile in the Latin Dance scene in Australia. Jaime’s talent and passion for Salsa has allowed LDA to achieve International and National recognition.

Since then and currently, LDA hosts classes in 3 venues across Sydney and averages 800 students per week. LDA is now one of Australia’s biggest promoters of Latin and Brazilian culture and Australia's Official World Salsa Representatives

Marcia and Jaime from Brazil and Uruguay respectively share over 25 years of experience in dancing, teaching, performing, training professionals and organising international dance events. 

Marcia Pinheiro believes the result of LDA’s success is the passion of their staff, the desire to constantly improve, being humble by constantly learning, and most important of all – following God’s guidance!

Below is a sample of the recognition they have earned until today:

Achievements

1998, Founder & Producer of Swing Brazil – The biggest Brazilian party in Australia.
1999, Found Latin Dance Australia & Annual Brazilian Carnival in Sydney.
2000, Founder and Producer of the 1st Brazilian Festival in Darling
Harbour presented by BraCCA – The Brazilian Community Council of Australia.
2001, 1st Annual LDA Ball – World’s first and only school to hold such event.
2002, Australia’s 1st representatives of Salsa at Milan World Salsa Congress.
Invited to perform and teach in Munich Germany.
2003, Co-Producers of 1st Annual “Salsa By the Sea” in Maroubra Beach NSW.
2003, Australia’s representatives of Zurich World Salsa Congress.
2003, Australia’s representatives of L.A. World Salsa Congress.
2003, Invited to perform representing Australia for the Puerto Rico Congresso Mundial de La salsa. UK- World Salsa Congress, New York World Salsa Congress, Toronto World Salsa Congress,
2004, Invited to perform and teach in Madrid Spain, L.A World Salsa Congress.
2005 and 2006 LDA (Jaime Jesus) was contracted to perform and teach in over 25 cities around the world.

The Present and Future

In 2009, Marcia & Jaime took another big step: the merging of Australia’s 2 strongest Latin Dance teams: LDA and the world renowned and 5 times Australia Salsa Champions Modus Vivendi Dance Productions.
 
This unification in effect has turned LDA into the arguably strongest dance company in the world.
 
Bringing an abundance of world class talent in teaching, performing and competing, Modus Vivendi led by Nestor Manuelian and Lidia McMahon have two of the world’s strongest teams in both Salsa and Bachata in Australia, Asia and the world.
 
With accolades that not many companies can match, this union is match made in heaven.
 

Competitions

1st – 2009 Australian Salsa Classic – Australia’s Champion Salsa School
1st - 2009 Australian Salsa Classic – Sydney, Couple Division
1st – 2009 Australian Salsa Classic – Sydney, Amateur Couple Division
1st – 2009 Australian Bachata Championship, Amateur Couple Division
1st – 2009 Australian Bachata Championship, Team Division
2nd – 2009 Australian Bachata Championship, Couple Division
2nd – 2009 Australia Salsa Classic – Sydney, Cabaret Couple Division
2nd – 2009 Australia Salsa Classic – Sydney, Showcase Team Division
3rd – 2009 Australia Salsa Classic – Sydney, Team Division
1st - 2008 Australian Salsa Classic - Sydney, Teams Division
1st - 2007 ASIAN Salsa Open – Hong Kong, Couples Division
1st - 2007 Australian Salsa Classic - Sydney, Teams Division
6th - 2007 World Salsa Championships - Orlando - Teams Division
1st – 2006 Australian Salsa Open – Adelaide – Couples Division
1st – 2006 Australian Salsa Championships – Teams Division
1st - 2006 Australian National Championships - teams Division
10th – 2006 World Salsa Championships – Las Vegas – Teams Division
1st – 2005 National Salsa Titles – Brisbane, Couples Division
1st – 2005 Australian Salsa Championships –Sydney - Teams Division
4th – 2005 World Salsa Championships – Las Vegas- Teams Division
1st – 2004, 05 Sydney Salsa Competition

International Performances

2009 - Salsa Fiesta De Indonesia - Indonesia
2009 - Malaysian Salsa Festival - Malaysia
2009 - Hanoi Salsa Festival - Vietnam
2009 - San Francisco International Bachata Festival - USA
2009 - South Pacific Salsa Cruise - New Zealand, Vanuatu, New Caledonia
2009 - Singapore International Salsa festival - Singapore 
2009 - Australian Dance Festival
2009, 08 Sydney International Bachata Festival
2009, 08, 07, 06, 05 – Sydney Salsa Congress
2008 - Salsa Fiesta De Indonesia - Indonesia
2008 - Malaysian Salsa Festival - Malaysia
2007 – Hong Kong Salsa Festival – Hong Kong
2007 – New Zealand Salsa Congress – Wellington, New Zealand
2007 – Indonesia Tour – Jakarta
2007 – Malaysia Salsa Festival
2007 - World Salsa Championships in Orlando
2006 – Puerto Rican Salsa Congress
2006 – Salsa Slam – Auckland, New Zealand
2004, 05, 06, 07 – West Coast  Salsa Congress -  Los Angeles
2005, 06 - World Salsa Championships – Las Vegas
2005 - Italy Tour – Milan and Rome

With Directors like Jaime Jesus, Nestor Manuelian and Lidia McMahon
running LDA, the future of LDA is brighter than ever.