Athena AktipisAthena Aktipis
Athena Aktipis is professionally trained in ballet and ballroom dancing, however initially her vast knowledge of Salsa dancing began on a more social level as a "Street Dancer" self taught as opposed to formally trained. She believes strongly in dance as a channel for self-expression and an important form of interpersonal connection. Athena emphasizes this in her teaching and focuses on both individual movement and the energy created in partner dance. Athena has performed at the Crystal Ballroom and at Salsa events, parties and restaurants in the Portland area. Athena won several first place rankings for her Latin dance performances at the Oregon Fall Festival and was a finalist in both the Viscount ballroom's salsa competition and Sege's salsa contest.
Athena has taught group classes at Ankeny Street Studio, Clay's Dance Studio, Viscount Studios, Satin & Latin Dance Studio and Reed College. In addition to teaching partner Salsa dancing, Athena also teaches Casino Rueda (salsa dancing in a circle), Cuban style salsa, ladies styling, and leading classes for ladies. She is available for private instruction at Ankeny Street Studio, the Viscount Studio Westside and the Viscount Studio Eastside..
Although she now has a significant amount of professional training as a Salsa dancer and instructor, Athena learned most of what she knows from the Salsa community as a whole. A regular in the Salsa scene here in Portland, Athena has also danced in many other cities in the United States, Latin America and Europe. Athena has twice attended the World Salsa Congress in Los Angeles, the most widely attended Salsa event in the world. This past winter Athena spent a month exploring the roots of salsa by traveling to Cuba to study with some of the best Salsa dancers in Cuba.
To schedule a lesson with Athena call (503) 295-6199 or email PortlandSalsa@aol.com
Salsa Classes- Athena teaches several levels of Salsa every Tuesday at the Westside Viscount Studios. To register for any of these classes, click here.
Weekly Practice- Join Athena at Ankeny Street Studio every Sundays for Portland's first weekly Salsa and Casino Rueda practice. It doesn't matter whether you're an advanced dancer or if you've just begun dancing Salsa, this practice is for everybody! All ages and smoke-free.
6959 SW Multnomah Blvd., Portland, OR 97223 (Behind the "Old Market Pub")
Athena teaches group classes, workshops and private lessons at the Viscount Ballroom, Westside.
722 E. Burnside
Athena teaches private lessons and workshops at the Viscount Ballroom's Eastside location.
S.E. 9th and Ankeny
Athena teaches private lessons and group classes at Ankeny. Every Sunday night, Athena hosts a Salsa and Casino Rueda practice at this location.
Join Athena and other Portland Salsa dancers in Cuba next January! Call Athena at (503) 957-6199 for more details.
Check out this list of Salsa conventions throughout the world.