TEACHERS/MENTORS

You asked for it… and we heard you! Joyss is coming back to Brussels!

We met Daniel at the Espanish Blues Festival in Madrid, and were instantly empowered by his energy, generosity, and rhythmic fire. Now it’s your turn to shine with him on the dance floor! With over 25 years dedicated to dance, Daniel Castillo brings depth, musicality, and a lifetime of movement to every class. Trained in classical ballet in Spain and the U.S. — from Madrid’s Carmen Roche to New York’s Alvin Ailey and Broadway Dance Center — his foundation is as solid as it is expressive. Daniel’s passion for Latin dance took root early, leading him to study Mambo and Cha-Cha with legendary masters across Madrid, Puerto Rico, and New York. He trained directly with Eddie Torres, Tito Puente’s first dancer, immersing himself in the soul of the Mambo scene.

In New York, Daniel taught Mambo and Cha-Cha-Cha at the Times Square Dance Academy, run by world ballroom champions Tony Meredith and Melanie LePatin. He also created and led his own group of Mambo students at Roy Arias Studios in Manhattan. But Daniel is far from limited to any one style. His dance journey includes Afro-Caribbean dances, Hip Hop, Flamenco, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary, making him a true mosaic of rhythm and artistry.

Today, Daniel teaches Mambo in some of Madrid’s most renowned schools — including Amor de Dios and El Almazen de los Sentidos — where he continues to inspire dancers to feel, connect, and move with purpose.

His passion? Teaching with heart.
His goal? That you feel the music fully — and give your best on the floor.

Named the Stepping Ambassador of Belgium by BRUZZ, Briana Ashley Stuart is an American Brussels-based performer, choreographer and entrepreneur . As a choreographer, Briana’s interests lie in researching human potential through movement and sound, cultural exchange, live interaction, and intimate performances with audiences. These aspects of her work can be seen within her solo percussive dance work titled Becoming Together, her show for young audiences, Be The Rhythm, and her latest multidisciplinary work, Moving Meditations.

She is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, one of nine fraternities and sororities who specialize in the art form of stepping and she has also performed and taught nationally and internationally with StepAfrika!, the world’s first professional stepping company. Her direct links to the art form professionally and culturally provides students with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the authentic culture, technique and choreography of Stepping. Most recently she shared her work and research in percussive dance at TEDxBrussels. Learn more about Briana at briana-ashley-stuart.com

Cezarine Dezir began dancing at age four with classical ballet. In 2005 she traded in her pointe shoes for new rhythms.

Her dance journey expanded into burlesque, baroque dance, contredanse, pole dance, Zumba, and yoga.

She found Lindy Hop in 2015 and Blues dance in 2019, regularly attending international festivals.

In 2023, Cezarine returned to her love for burlesque. Her diverse background in dance, mime, and performance fuels her passion for sharing both classical and neo-burlesque.

For the past six years, Vaiva has been deeply in love with blues dancing — a passion that doesn’t stop on the dance floor. As the voice of VAIVA’s BLUES, she sings as well as dances, weaving herself into the heartbeat of the international blues community. In her classes, she’s often caught humming along, letting the music spill into every movement, and making joy her number one priority for her students.

While she’s tasted success in international competitions, Vaiva’s true focus is on the pure enjoyment of dance — letting movement flow naturally, freeing the mind, and living fully in the moment. For her, the blues is more than a style; it’s a feeling, a space where music, self, and partner merge into something honest, connected, and alive.

Victor Hristoskov has been immersed in the magical world of dance since his teenage years, beginning with Ballroom under the guidance of one of Europe’s top teachers. His curiosity soon carried him far beyond the ballroom — into the elegance of classical ballet, the edge of contemporary dance, the pulse of commercial hip-hop, and the flair of Broadway jazz.

Eight years ago, by pure chance, he stumbled into the worlds of Blues and Lindy Hop — and never looked back. Every beat, every connection, every moment of freedom in the music deepened his love for these dances. For Viktor, dance is more than steps and roles; it’s a living conversation, where ideas can be shared in unexpected, metaphorical, and deeply human ways.

A multi-style dancer with extensive stage experience, Viktor has performed in both dance and musical productions, most recently in The Book of Dreams. He’s also a driving force in the Lindy Hop Bulgaria team, where his teaching blends technique, creativity, and that spark that makes dance feel like magic.

Elena has been a driving force in the Brussels dance community for many years, teaching Blues, Solo Jazz, and Lindy Hop with a dedication that has shaped countless dancers’ journeys. As one of the cornerstones of the Brussels blues scene, her influence is felt far beyond the classroom — in the social dance spaces she helps cultivate and in the joy she inspires in those around her.

Her generosity in dancing shines through in every step, whether she’s guiding a student through a new movement or sharing a moment of pure connection on the social floor. Elena’s classes blend technical precision with a deep respect for the spirit of the dance, encouraging students to move with confidence, expressiveness, and heart.

When Elena dances, she doesn’t just follow the rhythm — she carries it, shapes it, and invites everyone around her to join in the story it tells.

Starting off with vibrant and energetic Bollywood dances, Asrar serendipitously discovered Lindy Hop in Heidelberg in 2014 and Blues in Munich in 2016. Over the years he has become an active member of the Swing and Blues Dance communities. He is currently the Blues and Lindy Hop teacher at Vintage Club, Munich. He also dances Solo Charleston, Balboa and Collegiate Shag and is part of the Vintage Club Showgroup but above all else, Blues is his main passion.

Eda’s dance journey began in her early years with Anatolian folk dances and the expressive artistry of belly dance, later expanding into the fiery passion of Flamenco. A trained Zumba and Pilates instructor, she brings a deep understanding of body movement and musicality to everything she teaches and performs.

Her love affair with the blues began when she was 15, eventually blossoming to include Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz since 2017. Beyond the dance floor, Eda is a drummer — a passion that infuses her movement with pulse, precision, and groove. For her, rhythm isn’t just something you hear; it’s something you live, breathe, and share — one beat, one step, one connection at a time.

We received some of the most heart-melting feedback on Collin’s rhythm classes last year — and guess what? He’s back, and he’s bringing even more empowered, embodied, and expressive content to share with you.

Collin has been dancing since 2015, when he fell in love with Blues and began weaving together his multiple passions: dance, music, rhythm, and performance. For him, Blues is where it all comes together.

As a drummer, dancer, and physical actor, Collin brings a unique perspective to movement. He’ll guide you through rhythm not just as sound, but as sensation — something you can embody, play with, and express in your own way.

Whether through drumming or dancing, rhythm has always pulsed through his life. He sees rhythm everywhere — in the changing seasons, in the way we walk, and of course, on the dance floor.

In his workshops, you’ll explore how rhythm builds connection, creates a foundation for others, invites communication, and sparks improvisation. Come ready to groove, explore, and find the rhythm that’s already within you.

Let’s get groovy — together.

Rooted in gospel and shaped by soul, Ladouce is a versatile artist who blends the warmth of Soul and Pop with her strong background in choir singing and musical theater. Inspired by icons like Sade, Whitney Houston, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Luther Vandross, she brings a smooth yet powerful presence to the Belgian music scene.

Her musical journey began at just 7 years old, singing in a local choir. A formative experience in New England introduced her to the world of musical theater, where she found a new dimension of expression. In 2016, she took on the lead role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz — a pivotal moment in her artistic path. Two years later, her soulful interpretation of Tears in Heaven earned her accolades on The Voice Belgium (2018).

Today, Ladouce offers tailor-made vocal coaching to her local community and performs as a backing vocalist with several bands — always bringing authenticity, emotion, and craft to every note she sings.

Songwriter, author, and community builder, The General Bazaar (GB) arrived in Brussels in 2007, co-founding the Brussels New Sound Waves jam — a fortnightly gathering in the old Kafka, alternating with sessions in different corners of the city.

In 2010, he created the General Jam at LAVA Café, with a mission to encourage songwriting within the community. Over a decade later, it still thrives every Sunday in the heart of Brussels, described by Don K Posto as “the most intimate jam in Belgium.” Today, it blends all musical formats in both electric and acoustic sessions, having also made its home at KFK HOPE and ANTIDOTE until the pandemic.

In 2019, after Edouard de Ganay’s documentary on Brussels jam sessions revealed barriers for female and non-binary artists, GB launched the Jam 4 Safer Spaces campaign — introducing an inclusive policy and safer space practices to his jams.

Since 2012, he has also served as one of the Jam Masters of the Bizon Blues jam, a Monday night institution at Bizon café.

With over 15 years of leading jam sessions in Brussels and abroad, The General Bazaar knows that safe, welcoming spaces for people of all ages are essential to nurturing creativity and community through music.