The Salsa Matei Dance School was founded in 2008 by Matei Livianu in order to bring a unique style of instruction to Boston dancers. While many studios teach mainly patterns, we focus on all four fundamentals of salsa in our classes: steps -- where you put your feet, rhythm -- keeping time with the music, style -- body isolation and improvisation, and partnering -- feeling your partner without having to see them. We teach you what to do with your body and arms, show you how to do it, and explain why you do it. By varying the focus throughout the class, we keep it fun and interesting while providing you with the tools to become a great dancer.

Matei started dancing ballroom in 2000 in Los Angeles with the Clarement Colleges Ballroom Dance Company. Competing in International Latin events around the country, he and his partner won the Collegiate Open Paso Doble Championship, and with the tour team, the Collegiate Formation Team Championship in 2003. Inspired by the salsa scene, he spent many evenings learning and dancing in the Los Angeles area clubs. Since 2004, he has been teaching salsa, cha-cha, bachata, and merengue, starting in Los Angeles, then Atlanta, and now Boston. In 2006, he co-founded the Salsa Club at Georgia Tech and, together with a stellar group of dedicated volunteers, built a thriving campus organization, complete with weekly classes, salsa socials with live music, and a performance group, for which he helped choreograph a 6-couple salsa routine. Over the years, he has taught many new dancers not only dance steps, but to move with rhythm and style that grabs attention on the dance floor. Matei's genuine interest in the improvement of his students' skills has contributed greatly the evolution of his own skills as a dancer, performer, and teacher.

Born and raised in the Amazon, Brazil, Hirlley started dancing at the age of twelve at the Academia Plena Forma (Community Dance School Center), where she studied jazz, modern and national folkloric dance. In the year 2003, Hirlley joined the Brazilian Cultural Center of New England, located in Boston, USA, where she works both as a performer and choreographer. Later, Hirlley also joined Afro Brazil group, where she has taught and performed Brazilian national folkloric dances. In 2008, she founded the Samba Braza Dance Group, a company that disseminates Brazilian folkloric and contemporary dances. After moving to Boston Hirlley has learned Salsa on 1 and on 2 and continues to perfect her dance skills by taking salsa classes in Minneapolis and New York City. Hirlley teaches salsa, L.A. style, and is one of the principal dancers for Samba Tremeterra from Boston. Hirlley's creative choreographic approach for teaching includes a mixture of modern latin, traditional samba, contemporary samba from Rio and Bahia, salsa, bachata and merengue. As co-Director, Hirlley helped to propel SMDC from a small dance school into a dance company serving hundreds of students per month.

Angeline started dancing ballet at the age of 5 at her local dancing school in Colombia. At the age of 14 she joined a performing flamenco group that danced at different local events and shows. In 2005 she traveled to Costa Rica for the first Latin American Flamenco fair, in which she obtained 3 different awards and performed with her group. That same year, Angeline joined a theatre company that put together different theatrical pieces such as the Hunchback of Notre Dame and the famous opera, Carmen. From the year 2005 to 2007 she also trained in different areas of dancing such as belly dancing, hip hop, tango, salsa, samba and aerial dancing. During 2007, Angeline decided to move to Boston, MA and train in Ballroom dancing. After obtaining awards from ballroom competitions and a teacher training diploma from Extreme Danceport Academy, she joined the Hacha y Machete salsa training group. Since then, Angeline has been performing and teaching salsa on 1 and 2 in different events and establishments all around New England. Angie joined Salsa Matei Dance Company in 2010 as an instructor and choreographer and was promoted to Artistic Director in 2011.

Gastrell aka 'G' was born in Orange City, New Jersey and is currently living in Massachusetts. As a young child he traveled extensively to Haiti, which exposed him to a different culture aside from the US. He was immersed in the folkloric dance as a young child; he later became involved with Zouk and Compas, the two most common dance forms in Haiti. A few years later, his curiosity turned to the Dominican Republic style of dance because of the music influence from the neighboring island. Bachata was his first love, followed by Salsa and Merengue. Back in the US, the urban dances such as hip hop and break dance, landed him his street name, 'G'. He often refers to music as his girlfriend and dancing as the blood through his veins. G takes part in the 'Learn Through Dance' Program, teaching children and teenagers the history, culture, music and movements of different Latin dance styles with Angeline. His latest passion is Capoeira, an Afro Brazilian Martial Arts form that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, coordination, and cultures in a beautiful graceful art. His nickname in Capoeira which reflects his style of playing is "Guerreiro" which means "The Warrior". G joined Salsa Matei Dance Company in 2010 and wears many hats as instructor, choreographer, and performer.