2010 Washington DC Salsa Congress - Rebecca Sweet - Vivadance

Rebecca Sweet - Vivadance - Cleveland, OH

Rebecca Sweet - VivaDance

Rebecca Sweet, owner of Viva dance! is a Cleveland native. After graduating from Smith College with a Bachelor of Arts in dance, Rebecca moved to New York City where she worked for 10 years performing, competing and teaching Latin and Ballroom dance, dancing in the Eddie Torres Latin dance company, and managing Paul Pellicoro's Dancesport, Manhattan's largest Ballroom and Latin dance studio. In 2005, Rebecca returned to her hometown to open the New York-style partner dance studio, Viva dance! in Strongsville.

In Cleveland, Rebecca has performed with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra; in Channel 8's Dancing with the Cleveland Stars segment for Robin Swoboda's "That's Life" in an interview with Danielle Serino of Channel 19 called "Belle of the Ball." Rebecca placed 3rd in Cleveland's Dancing with the Stars for Channel 5 in May of 2009 and also performed for the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland's Annual Promenade in November of 2009. Rebecca has judged numerous Salsa competitions as well as showcases for Absolute Ballroom in Pittsburgh and for Dance Plus in Columbus. She teaches "Ballroom Blitz" for the Cleveland Playhouse and has danced with Emmitt Smith in a commercial for Good Feet Arch Supports.

Rebecca is a subject of media both in front of the camera and in magazines. She was interviewed for Cleveland Magazine's February 2007 issue and Cleveland Business Connect's April 2007 issue. Rebecca has won numerous awards in business such as "On the Road to Success" award in 2005 by Business Advisors of Cleveland, was asked to speak on a panel about entrepreneurship for the 20/30 Club in 2008, and most recently was one of 12 women honored in Crain's Cleveland Business Magazine in their 2009 issue on "Women of Note."

In New York, Rebecca has worked with Robert DeNiro, Daman Wayans, Winton Marsalis, Chayanne and Vanessa Williams, Method Man, RZA and other well-known artists. Rebecca was a member of the Eddie Torres Latin Dance Company. She performed and taught in Salsa Congresses in Los Angeles, New York, Puerto Rico, Holland and England. As a competitive Latin dancer, she has competed, performed and taught internationally in England, Greece, Holland, Italy and Turkey and has won competitions and/or placed in finals in Rising Star and open events.

Tony Dovolani, Dancing with the Stars professional partner to Stacy Keebler, was Rebecca's first dance partner while in New York before she switched to the International Latin style of dance. Currently, she dances with Heriberto Perez of Cleveland. They have been featured on numerous television morning shows where they have taught celebrities to dance, have performed professionally for Channel 5, Channel 19 and Fox 8 and have been in all 3 Cleveland versions of Dancing with the Stars. Their show includes International Latin dances, American Style Rhythm dances, Argentine Tango and New York Style Mambo.