Nelson Sanka

A Brazilian native, Nelson has been dancing more or less since he could walk. Growing up in Sao Paolo, he drew inspiration from a variety of sources including Brazilian funk, soul, samba , hip hop, and like many teenagers, Michael Jackson. Whatever the genre, he knew that his future held dancing.

Nelson spent 10 years traveling around Brazil with African Rebeat, a company that drew crowds for their vibrant performances of samba, salsa, and Axé. In 2001, he began teaching as a way to share his passion for rhythm and music. Nelson left Brazil in 2009 and easily found his feet teaching Zumba® in the U.S. His classes are high energy, upbeat and filled with the “feel good” vibes that embody Brazilian culture. He hopes to offer participants a chance to experience the warmth and spirit of his native country.

He lives in Seattle with his wife, Mari, and their newborn son, Dominic.