Stephanie “SalsaSteph” Gurnon

Latin Dance Movement Specialist

Founder of Go Dance Mambo

Instructor/Choreographer/Performer/Event Planner

Considered one of the most influential instructors promoting New York-style mambo and Afro-Cuban roots on the Toronto salsa scene, Stephanie has created a wave of technical and stylistic development in the Latin dance community. Her specialties include teaching body awareness, music appreciation and musicality, leading and following skills, turn patterns, spins and turns, as well as creative movement. Always keeping up to date, SalsaSteph travels to New York City to take Eddie Torres classes, dance at the socials, as well as attend world salsa and bachata congresses.

Since 1989, Stephanie has studied salsa dance in several countries, training extensively with prominent dance instructors in a variety of styles,also including ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and Latin. Having placed first in many high-profile Toronto salsa competitions in the professional category, she is now sought out as a judge. Stephanie has performed and taught salsa workshops around the world, including Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean, Western Europe and Japan. In addition, she has produced instructional videos and DVDs for worldwide distribution.

In 2003, she co-created the Mambo Tribe Salsa Dance Co. and the popular Sunday Salsa Social, modelled after the 17 year Jimmy Anton social in NYC, the annual Winter Salsa Carnival, and now has her own Annual Chocolate Salsa Pleasure Party, Vavoom Valentine's Ball and the Toronto Bachata Festival. 

In 2006 Go Dance Mambo was born and continues to thrive. We are now focused on building community and fundraising for Windfallbasics throughout the year.

SalsaSteph believes that movement and music are highly healing and it is the driving force behind everything she does. Salsa is her joie de vivre!

Bowie Romero

Bowie has been with Salsa Steph since 2006. Having finished the GDM program, including the on2 performance group and the 6-monthTraining Program, he is GDM's first original volunteer! Bowie is now in the GoDanceMambo Semi-Pro team and has been teaching since early 2008. He has performed an on2 mambo at the NYC Salsa Congress in 2008 and is now preparing for more congresses to come. Bowie actively goes to NYC to take Eddie Torres mambo classes. He is Mr. Turn Pattern, and now the Sunday Social's official DJ: deejaymrb@gmail.com.

Karen Clark

The beautiful Karen has joined our team as instructor, administrator and graphic designer. Karen has been trained at various dance schools and is now leading her own classes at GoDanceMambo. You'll love her passion, smiles, gentle nature and knowledge of technical skills.

Guest Instructors

Rafael Steyners

Ex-Tropicana dancer, Cuban-born Rafael has been dancing all his life. He is currently dancing with MamboDreamTeam in Toronto and internationally. Charming and dynamic, Rafa is known for his authentic Cuban Rumba styles, as well as salsa, cha cha, rueda, Cuban Cabaret, ballet, jazz and lyrical. He is technical however lets you experience the dance more through your body than your mind. Everyone loves Rafi's positive energy!

Damarys has been in Toronto for 2 years and is directly from Cuba. She has extensive training in jazz, hip hop and now teaches salsa, ladies' styling and burlesque.