Charlie Garcia is a salsa dancer, instructor and choreographer from the Bronx, New York. Known as Mr. Candela, he directs Somos Candela NYC and works with fellow instructor and co-director Scarlett Medrano.
Charlie began studying hip-hop, tap and jazz at Bronx Dance Theatre at the age of three. As a teenager, he trained in Latin dance with Marino La Rumba and Franklin Diaz, developing the foundation for his work in New York mambo.
His teaching combines salsa with Afro-Cuban movement, body isolation and pachanga. Alongside classes and choreography for Somos Candela, Charlie performs with Sekou McMiller & Friends in concert dance productions that explore Afro-Latin music and movement.
His performance work with Sekou McMiller has included presentations connected with Jacob’s Pillow, the Guggenheim and Fall for Dance North. These concert projects expand on the salsa and Afro-Latin movement that also appear in his studio work.
