Magic City Casino Hosts 1st Annual Bailar Miami Finals

The all-new Magic City Casino, Miami’s first casino to offer Las Vegas style slot machines, will host its first Bailar Miami Finals on Friday, April 30 at 9pm. Bailar Miami was a weekly dance competition that began on January 8 and concluded on April 23. The 16 winners of the weekly competition will now participate in the Bailar Miami Finals, which will feature Grammy Award winner Jon Secada, Miami HEAT Dancers Director and Choreographer Janine Thompson and professional Salsa and Hip-Hop dance instructor Brent Alexander serving as judges.

“Bailar Miami has been a great, fun experience for all of us,” said Scott Savin, Chief Operating Officer of Magic City Casino. “We have seen some phenomenal talent, skill and creativity, and we are very excited to see the 16 finalists compete on Friday. Everyone will be in for quite a show!”

The contestants’ dance styles include Salsa, Hip-Hop, Merengue, Breakdance and Disco. The First Place winner will receive $2,500; Second Place winner will receive $1,000; Third Place winner will receive $500.

The winners will be selected by a panel of three judges:
* Grammy Award winner and Platinum-selling recording artist Jon Secada headlines the judges panel. His dance repertoire includes lead Broadway roles, such as “Danny Zuko” in the hit musical Grease, as well as the role of the Emcee in Cabaret and “Joseph” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
* Janine Thompson, Director and Choreographer of the Miami HEAT Dancers, has led her team into the national spotlight. The Miami HEAT Dancers were crowned Champions in the 2007 NBA Dance Bracket competition and hold the title “Most Popular Dance Team in the NBA,” an honor they have received for three consecutive years.
* Brent Alexander, Owner and Director of Salsa Caché Dance Company, is a professional dance instructor based in Miami. He specializes in all types of Salsa – Casino, LA and New York styles, as well as Hip-Hop.

The 16 Finalists are:
* Week 1: Victor Custodio – Hip-Hop/Popping
* Week 2: Yaima Perez & Yatmay Layva – Salsa
* Week 3: Alain Marquez & Diana Lopez – Hip-Hop
* Week 4: Christian Olmtak – Hip-Hop/Breakdance
* Week 5: Mario Toledo (a.k.a “Supah Mario”) – Breakdance
* Week 6: Julio Moore – Hip-Hop
* Week 7: Roberto Conde & Aida Suarez – Salsa
* Week 8: Sonia Guerra & Luis Vega – Merengue
* Week 9: Gabriel Berdecia & Niurka Vazquez – Salsa
* Week 10: Hugo Perez – Hip-Hop/Breakdance
* Week 11: Raul Rodriguez & Maria Elena Solar – Salsa
* Week 12: Miguel Sandoval & Lisey Sandoval – Salsa
* Week 13: Jose Angel Martinez – Disco
* Week 14: Jimmy Bernat & Cary Bernat – Salsa
* Week 15: Angela Gonzalez & Pedro Cejas – Salsa
* Week 16: Leivys & Jesus Socorro – Salsa