Bios

Dave and Zoë are known worldwide as dedicated teachers and performers in over 25 countries spanning 6 continents, striving towards a unique athletic dance form they refer to as “acrobatic dance.” This style of Acrobatic Dance includes an integration of circus, sports acrobatics, partner lifts, handstand training, trampoline and Bikram yoga with many dance forms such as Latin dance, Afro-Cuban folklore, ballroom, trapeze, and contemporary dance. Past and present training is with many coaches inside and outside the US.

Formed in 2005 by Dave Paris and Zoë Klein, Paradizo Dance are four-time 1st Place title-holders of 2008 cabaret divisions in Latin Hustle, Swing, World Country Dance competitions, and most recently for US Swing Open Dance Championships 2009. They have performed for a variety of venues and audiences including: Cirque Boom Circus Theater, Tribeca Film Festival, Cuba Libre nightclub in Atlantic City, American Cancer Society, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, the Spiegeltent, and many private events, fundraisers, conventional theaters and dance congresses in Asia, Europe, Central America and Australia. However, Paradizo Dance left extraordinary impressions on millions of fans nation-wide as semi-finalists on “America’s Got Talent” TV competition summer 2009.

Dave and Zoë tour regularly, returning home to teach an ongoing Lifts & Tricks class held at Piel Canela Salsa Dance School and private lessons at their home studio in Brooklyn. In September 2008 Dave and Zoë became partners in marriage as well as in dance, determined to push the boundaries of acrobatic expression fueled by their passionate personal adventure.

Dave Paris teaches and performs a unique blend of aerial acrobatics, New York style Salsa dancing and Afro-Cuban folkloric dance with his dance partner Zoë Klein. He is the producer of two instructional video series entitled "Salsa Lift and Aerials" and " Salsa For Gringos." He studied for seven years under the two most internationally acclaimed salsa-dancing schools: Eddie Torres and Razzmtazz. Dave leads popular workshops for all levels of Salsa, lifts and tricks, Latin Hustle, and partner acrobatics.

Dave and Zoë joined forces in 2005. By day, Dave teaches 7th grade English and runs an Acrobatic-Salsa kids team at M.S. 88 in Brooklyn; by night, Dave travels to all the major Salsa congresses around the world including those in Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, China, Korea, Puerto Rico, and Canada. He dreams of implementing a middle school acrobatic dance curriculum that integrates a rigorous academic program.

Zoë Klein has been dancing, designing lights and performing acrobatics in NYC since graduating from Hampshire College in 2001 with a B.A. in Dance and Cultural Studies. Zoë has studied modern dance and improvisation all her life and has shown work at WAX, Dixon Place, Brooklyn Arts Exchange and Danspace Project, Inc. Zoë trained as an apprentice with the Obie Award-winning women’s circus company LAVA. She was a co-founding member of the circus/theater company KIRKOS with Kate Magram where she performed for Lollapalooza, Wachovia Bank, Rasa Music Label, Club Exit, Team Marketing, Verbal Eyze Entertainment, and Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.

Adopted from Colombia, Zoë maintains a strong interest in Latin culture, particularly Afro-Cuban dance. In the summer of 2000, she studied Afro-Cuban Folkloric dance and drumming intensively at Nacional Escuela Del Arte in Havana, Cuba. She continues this path now in performing Salsa with Dave Paris. Zoë also enjoys designing some of the company’s soundscores and costumes. Zoë was a Technical Director at Danspace Project Inc. for four year, as well as Technical Director and Lighting Designer for Brooklyn Arts Exchange for five years where she is now serving as Board Member. Zoë is the Lighting Designer for Eva Dean Dance and continues to freelance lighting for dance in NYC.