Mambo with roots. Training with purpose.

Charlie Garcia, widely known as “Mr. Candela,” is a Bronx-born dancer, choreographer, instructor, and director whose work brings together New York–style mambo, Afro-Cuban movement, musicality, and contemporary performance.

Garcia began dancing at an early age, training in hip-hop, tap, and jazz at the Bronx Dance Theatre before discovering Latin dance as a teenager. His later studies with influential artists Marino “La Rumba” and Franklin Diaz expanded his vocabulary to include pachanga, cha-cha-cha, son, body movement, and Afro-Cuban traditions. Drawing from these influences, Garcia developed a dynamic style recognized for its intricate footwork, expressive body isolations, rhythmic precision, and infectious energy.

As an international artist, Garcia has taught and performed at salsa congresses and festivals throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Mexico. His partnerships and collaborations have connected him with leading performers from the international mambo community while establishing him as an educator known for both technical instruction and authentic personal expression.

Garcia was a member of the choreography team for the feature film Shine. The film’s dance work received nominations from both the Chita Rivera Awards and the World Choreography Awards in 2019, bringing wider recognition to the artists responsible for its vibrant depiction of New York salsa culture.

Today, Garcia leads Somos Candela NYC, a dance school and performance company devoted to developing dancers through mambo instruction, partnerwork, footwork, private coaching, online education, and performance-team training. Through Somos Candela, he combines artistic excellence with a commitment to community, helping dancers of different backgrounds discover confidence, culture, and connection through movement.

Garcia also performs with Sekou McMiller & Friends, contributing to concert works that explore the connections among mambo, Afro-Caribbean traditions, jazz, and contemporary dance. His recent work has been presented through institutions and programs including Jacob’s Pillow, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, and Fall for Dance North.

Whether teaching in the studio, creating for the stage, or dancing before an international audience, Charlie Garcia continues to honor mambo’s cultural foundations while advancing the form with a distinctly modern voice.

Born in New York City and partially raised in the Dominican Republic, Scarlett Medrano began her dance journey at just three years old with classical ballet. Her training later expanded to Flamenco, Hip-Hop, and Street Jazz before she discovered New York-style salsa at thirteen, beginning her salsa training with Nelson Flores and later continuing with Santo Rico Dance Company under Tomas Guerrero.

In 2017, Scarlett joined Yamulee Dance Company under Osmar Perrones, eventually becoming one of the company’s main dancers. Her time with Yamulee gave her the opportunity to perform and share her artistry internationally, including appearances in Egypt, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, and Guatemala. It was also during this period that Scarlett developed a deeper passion for teaching and began creating a movement language of her own.

That exploration became Body GROOVEMENT, blending the foundations of Salsa On2 with influences from Hip-Hop, Lite Feet, and New York street dance. The concept evolved into GROOVEMENT, Scarlett’s signature approach emphasizing musicality, body movement, dynamic footwork, individuality, confidence, and authentic expression.

Today, Scarlett serves as Director of GROOVEMENT FX and brings her distinctive artistic voice to workshops, performances, choreography, and dancer development in New York and beyond. Her work has also been featured by the New York International Salsa Congress in its This Scene of Ours series.

As Co-Director and Master Instructor of Somos Candela, Scarlett brings together her diverse training, international performance experience, and passion for developing expressive dancers. Her approach encourages students to build strong technical foundations while discovering the confidence and individuality that allow them to make the movement truly their own.