Thank YOu

Thank You. SALSAtlanta 10.3

I’d like to take the time to thank all the people who have put in so much time and work into making this passed weekend a success!

Firstly, I need to thank my wife, Kristin, for all the support during all this 10 months of planning. Big thank you to Lisa Oakley who has served as the Event Manager for the third time this year. Lisa has been crucial in the planning and execution of this event. Thank you to Irene Shtrulis and Vidal Cordova for their hard work writing promotional content and coordinating PR activities. This was no small task and often came with short deadlines. I want you both to know how much I appreciate your quick work. Also Vidal for helping me with legal counseling. Thank you to Carolyn Dew for her design and graphics work. Check out her website. Thank you to Luis Gonzalez & André Browne for coordinating the sound and lighting, so we can celebrate together each night to the fullest. I especially want to thank them for their advance preparations and on-site support and collaboration during Havana d’Primera’s show. Also Luis, big thanks for getting Clave y Son and all the musicians in town to donate their instruments and talent for the concert on Saturday and Sunday night. Thank you to Juan Pablo Solas for puting me in contact with Michelito Herrera and helping me to bring him to Atlanta. Thank you to Emarlos Whitfield, Andre Browne and Luis Aruro Muñoz for donating your sound equipment to help us keep the party pumping every night. Thank you to Anna Davis for giving her time to coordinate each night’s performers and performances. Thank you to Kathleen Muller for coordinating the daytime food and nighttime bar options. We would be hungry and thirsty without her efforts! Also for driving our instructors around town and taking Alexander Abreu shopping around the city, I know that was not an easy task :). Thank you to Kathleen Bonner and Diane Yelich for brainstorming and orchestrating promotional activities as well as driving around town to distribute flyers and posters. Thank you to Bhal Desai and Harold Mayfield for searching each week for flight discounts so we could promote the best flights for out-of-town guests! Thank you to Shaina Lane for coordinating and running the registration desk and for signing up for the most volunteer shifts! Thank you to Brian Hayes and Kathryn Bonecutter for giving time into special research projects to help with promotion and the event shuttle. Thank you to Manuel Martinez for acting as an event runner. Manuel is always willing to help and give his time whenever he can, and it is really appreciated! Thank you to Mark Fowler and his securrity team for keeping us safe every evening. A big thank you to the directors and choreographers of my performance team, Steve Reed and Renate Dugans. They do amazing work all year round, and I am so thankful for their commitment and loyalty. A huge thank you to all the new and old SALSAtlanta team members for your hard work making this year’s event happen, Steve Reed, Renate Dugans, Jae Evans, André Browne, Brian Hayes, Bhal Desai, Harold Mayfield, Manuel Martinez, Julio Garcia, Eddie Hill, Shaina Lane, Irene Shtrulis, Kathryn Bonecutter, Kathleen Muller, Ivelisse Kuran, Carla Stocker, Shannon Raysin, and Lisa Oakley. Finally, thank you to all of you who have volunteered your time before or during this weekend. We really couldn’t have done this event without you!!!

Big thank you to our DJs, DJ Dark Rum, Dj Mr. Timba, DJ P.A.Trix and DJ Alan, for the great work and getting the party going every night to all our instructors: Maestro Roberto Borrell, Simona Boucek, Renate Dugans, Mike Eskeldson, Jae Evans, Reinier Fernandez, Amanda Gill, Ricardo Hayes, Kati Hernandez, Michael Herrera, Patrice Joseph-Edouard, Ana Llorente, Ryan Mead, Evelyn Ramirez, Steve Reed, Chris Rogicki, Arturo Rojas and his entire team from Peru, Irene Shtrulis, Rene Thompson, Adrian Valdivia, Nick Van-Eyck, Maribel Vasquez, Leslie Vasquez, Sidney Weaverling, Serena Wong and duane Wrenn.

Thanks to Aldo and his Crazy Cuban Sandwich shop for providing the food for the team from Peru and lunch and dinner for Havana d'Primera.

Thank you to all the performers, Alexander Abreu y Havana d'Primera, Michelito Herrera and Lesmany Quintero, Calo Gitano, Rueda y Movimiento, Mike & Simona, Ma-ye and her 100 Sekeres, Ana Llorente and her team Daniela and Yasha, Peru Latin Dance, Adrian & Amanda, CMV company, Stilletto Dance Company, Bruno and Ann and every single one of you -the attendees- for being part of 10.3 and supporting our event. We hope to see you soon in Atlanta.

See you in 10.4

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Julian Mejia
Executive Producer - Director
SALSAtlanta 10.3
The 3-Day Cuban Party