Rafael Barros
Dancer + Choreographer + Dance teacher
The Octa World Salsa Champion and organizer of the Brazil Latin Open, Rafael Barros was born in Fortaleza, Ceará - Brazil. He had his first contact with dance when he was still a child thanks to the family parties and since that he was already sure there that dancing was something he liked a lot. At the age of 14 he started to went to a dance school to improve himself and have more contact with this art. At 18 he was already teaching Brazilian dances, like: Forró, Samba, Bolero and other ones. His first contact with Salsa took place in 2004 through a study group who called: Rebelión Salseira.
In 2005 he made his first trip to São Paulo with the group he was part to went in one of the largest dance congresses in the country at the time: the Week of Latin Culture. Two years later he moved to São Paulo to participate in Cia. Phoenix and, at the age of 21, he was third place in Salsa Open Brazil.
In August 2008 he starts his successful partnership with Carine Morais and together they won 8 world titles. Besides becoming one of the great references in world dance, Rafael Barros, together with his partner Carine Morais, he have already traveled to more than 35 countries in order to give salsa classes and make shows. He also have many invitations to judge the main world dance championships all over the world and had several participations in television programs
Carine Morais
Dancer + Choreographer + Dance teacher
The eight-time Salsa World Champion and organizer of the Brazil Latin Open, Carine Morais was born in Fortaleza, Ceará - Brazil. Dancing has been part of her life since she was a child where she liked to play that she was a famous dancing personality. She even did ballet at the age of 5, but she couldn't continue. At 13 she started her Brazilian dancing studies and one year later she was already teaching.
Still very young, in 2003, she traveled as a staff member of a dance group to Spain where she participated in two seasons of a Brazilian music show. Her first contact with Salsa took place in Ceará (BR) through a study group and she had as her first partner Paulo Burracha. Her quality, resourcefulness and dedication began to attract attention and around 2006 Carine was invited to travel to Rio de Janeiro (BR) perform in a Brazilian dance: samba de gafieira or funkeado, but always continued studying and training salsa.
In 2007 she wins with her partner, Paulo Burracha, the Brazilian salsa championship (Brasil Salsa Open). In September 2008 he starts her successful partnership with Rafael Barros and together they win 8 world titles. Besides becoming one of the great references in world dance, Carine Morais and her partner Rafael Barros have already traveled to over 35 countries to teach and perform. She also have many invitations to judge the main world dance championships all over the world and had several participations in television programs.
