2012 Capital Congress

Melissa Rosado

Melissa Rosado is one of the top international instructors and performers of NY Style Mambo “On 2.” She is an energetic and explosive dancer who is known all around the world for her unique, sexy styling and body movement on and off the dance floor, powerful stage presence, and passionate love for teaching. In addition, her humble attitude and welcoming personality is what makes her popular amongst the mambo community today. She has an ability to effortlessly follow any lead and is known to be one of the best examples and instructors of the Eddie Torres technique.

The Bronx born native Melissa has trained in a variety of dance styles consisting of Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-hop, African, Afro-Cuban, and Flamenco since the tender age of 5. It was not until the age of 9 that she discovered her passion for mambo when she began taking classes with Eddie and Maria Torres at the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx. After years of training under Eddie and Maria and being a part of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Senior Dance Company, she was later invited by Eddie and Maria to become one of the first members of the Eddie Torres Junior Company, which made its debut at Madison Square Garden in 1995. She continued to study and train in the Eddie Torres technique and later became part of the Eddie Torres Senior Dance Company and teaching staff, one of the top in the nation, while attaining her Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College in NYC. During this period, she had the amazing opportunity to work as Eddie Torres’ partner until 2006. Shortly after leaving the Eddie Torres team, she partnered with Eddie Torres principal dancer Adolfo Indacochea for almost two years, performing and teaching as one of mambo’s international leading couples. Today, she partners once again with “The Mambo King” Eddie Torres.

Fortunately, Melissa has shared stages with some of today’s musical legends such as the late great Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Tony Vega, Eddie Palmieri, Winton Marsalis, El Gran Combo, and many other artists. She also has performed at various venues such as Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, Apollo Theater, and Manhattan Center. Some of her television appearances include a promotional commercial for Univision (Channel 41) with merengue celebrity Millie Quezada as well as a video production of “Oye Como Va” with legendary salsa singer Celia Cruz. In addition to performing in numerous salsa congresses and festivals all over the United States, she has had the wonderful opportunity to share her talent internationally in places such as Italy, Switzerland, Spain, The Canary Islands, Portugal, France, Canada, Turkey, England, Korea, Japan, Austria, and Germany.

Melissa officially formed her first children/teens dance company titled “Fuerza Positiva” this past June 2008. All of the members in the group have taken mambo classes with Melissa since 2003 at Andrea’s Dance Studio in the Bronx and now have become the first members of “Fuerza Positiva.” Many of the members have trained in other types of dances such as ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and acrobatics. As a company, they will debut in some of the top congresses and events in the mambo scene such as the Washington DC Salsa Congress as well as the New York City Salsa Congress.

Melissa’s extraordinary talent and genuine love for mambo is evident through her captivating stage presence, sensual style and sincere manner with people. It is for this reason that she is considered to be one of the most prestigious and sophisticated dancer of her generation.