Kelsey Schaefer is a dancer originally from Chesterfield, Virginia. Her dance journey began at the age of 2 at Jessica Morgan School of Dance. She has studied multiple styles of dance including: ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, Irish, salsa, Afro-Cuban, and hip-hop, along with others. She graduated from high school in 2011 and was accepted into the dance program at George Mason University, where she studied modern dance. In 2015, she graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. While at GMU, she was able to study abroad in Cuba for 2 weeks in January of 2013 and December of 2014. In Cuba, she studied Afro-Cuban and Casino dance, a life-changing experience for her. After falling in love with Cuban dance, she decided to join the DC Casineros in the summer of 2015. She loves dancing with this company and cannot wait to see where this company takes her in the future!

Instructor and Principal Dancer, Bex Hernández, was born as a first-generation American in West New York, NJ to her father of Cuban decent and mother of Puerto Rican decent. Bex has been dancing casino since 2012 and teaching since 2015. Bex currently focuses on leading the collaboration of choreography with other DC Casineros Dance Company members. Bex took an interest in the art form of dance at the age of 6 where she began to dance jazz in Stafford, Virginia. Bex’s dance repertoire expanded as she took part in ballet and jazz for a couple of years throughout her adolescence.

In 2001, Bex was accepted into the performing arts program at Woodbridge High School, where she studied ballet and modern for a year. During this year, Bex was required to collaborate with other disciplines within the performing arts in efforts to provide artistic show cases. While attending Woodbridge High School, Bex was an active member on the school dance team, the Vikettes. This opportunity exposed Bex to intense trainings to perform in school/community functions and compete in jazz and kick competitions. Throughout the remainder of her high school years, Bex attended local private dance studios throughout the Northern Virginia area to study hip hop and had the opportunity to teach hip hip to a young age group. Bex is currently studying Afro-Cuban dance with Yudisliedy Valdes.

Bex’s mother and father would dance salsa at their house parties, while Bex watched with a great admiration. Bex’s mother introduced her to salsa, bachata, and merengue at a very young age, which in turn became part of her everyday life. Bex’s true passion is to connect with the community and provide a safe space where any interpretation of music is accepted.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Alex’s passion for Cuban dance began when he moved to the District. After discovering Rueda de Casino in 2012 Alex quickly threw himself into the genre and began performing with the DC Casineros in 2013. He has been an instructor with the group since 2014. In 2015, Alex became one of only four people in the country to be awarded a silver certification in the Método del Cuadro del Casino (MCC) from the Fundación Casino Para Todos.

In addition, Alex is the creator and host of AGUA Night – a popular Cuban dance party held every two weeks on Wednesday nights at Cafe Citron in Washington, DC. The event caters to the growing Cuban dance community and seeks to support and promote Cuban dance and cultural events around the area.

Rita Griffin was born and raised in Washington, D.C. While Rita’s first dance experiences were in ballet, modern, and tap at the Charles H. Houston Magnet Elementary School, she has always preferred the dances of the African diaspora. Her life in dance truly began in 1992 when her grandmother introduced her to DC hand dance, a Washington DC based derivation of swing, Lindy hop, and the jitterbug and the official dance of the District of Columbia. In 2001, she embarked on another long journey studying the various dance styles of Africa with groups and schools around the District.

Rita’s foray into Cuban dance began in 2014 when she started taking classes with DC Casineros at Dance Place. She quickly fell in love with casino, Afro-Cuban, and rumba, leading to her membership in the performance team in mid 2016.

Rita’s other passions include financial and grants funds management, nature, gardening, cooking, Go-Go music (another art form of DC origin), the economic education and empowerment of African-Americans, and the history of the African diaspora.