Since 2008, RakaTa has embraced Cuban dance and culture, specialising in Reggaeton, Cuban Salsa and Rueda de Casino in their hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Gene and Tania came together to teach, choreograph and perform Cuban Salsa, Rueda de Casino and Reggaeton in 2008, where they were already teaching and performing as Christina Monneron's two senior teachers at Cuban Dance Academy, as well as
leading her professional performance team. Since then, their experience and passion has lead them to forming their own dance community- RakaTa. Tania graduated in 1995 with a Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies after completing her Bachelor of Teaching. She has been teaching since 1996, with experience in both Primary and Secondary schools. Her roles have included classroom teacher and a specialist in both Visual and Performing Arts. With full time and ongoing employment with the Victorian Education Department since 1996, Tania has honed her teaching skills to be able to adapt to many varied learning styles, ensuring an inclusive class where all students are comfortable, learning and having fun. Gene and Tania have taught Reggaeton and Cuban Salsa workshops, and with RakaTa Crew, performed Reggaeton and Cuban Salsa at the Melbourne Latin Festival, Johnston Street Hispanic Festival, Portsea Summer Latin Festival, Adelaide Salsa Festival, New Zealand Cuban Festival, New Zealand Pacific Salsa Congress, Sydney Cuban Salsa Congress, Afrekete and the Australian Rueda Championship & Cuban Dance Festival. Together, Gene and Tania are proud to list the following achievements and awards:
2024 Second Place Professional Division Rueda at the Australian Rueda Championships
2015 Second Place Professional Division Rueda at the Australian Rueda Championships
2015 First Place Cuban Open Division (Reggaeton) at the Australian Rueda Championships
2009 Second Place at Cubamemucho Melbourne, Australian Rueda Championships
2009 Cuban Salsa Choreography for their teens who placed Third at the Australian Salsa Classics Youth Division. In addition, Gene won 1st Place at the
Victorian Salsa State Titles, 2008 Teams Division in a Rueda de Casino performance while still part of Cuban Dance Academy. RakaTa has also been actively involved in teaching dance in local Secondary Schools. Gene has taught at the Northern College of Arts and Technology as the Latin Dance teacher bringing Cuban Salsa and Reggaeton to Year 10, 11, and 12 students studying VET Dance. Tania has choreographed school musicals and taught Dance to Year 7, 8 and 9 students at St Albans Secondary College since 2010. RakaTa is, and always has been, respectful of authentic learning through Cuban Dance mentors and are proud to say they have had extensive training in Australia with Christina Monneron, Adrian Medina, Aloy Junco, Greydis Montero Liranza, and Israel Ortiz Castellanos, among many others. In 2018 they committed to a dance journey with Christina Monneron, in Cuba, and trained with Casona del Son in Havana and Sandunga in Santiago de Cuba. In 2024 they returned to Cuba with Yasim Coronado to further improve their dancing and took lessons with him and other elite Cuban artists Oddebi, Nadia Valdez Carbonell, Yoanis Peláez Tomayo, Diana Rodríguez and Los Datway while there. As RakaTa continues to grow, Gene and Tania strengthen their ties to Cuban tradition through training with their mentors, while using their creativity, innovation and passion to bring Cuban dance to a wider audience. RakaTa continues to provide performances, workshops and private lessons in Cuban Dance for the community of Melbourne
Get ready RakaTeros - there's lots coming your way!
