Our Ensemble
Jose “Ari” Rodriguez
Ari was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and grew up dancing the traditional Dominican dances of Merengue, Bachata, and PericoRipiao. Although Salsa dance and music is not native to Dominican Republic (its roots can be traced most accurately to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Colombia), Ari has always loved salsa and grew up in a family of dancers, with older brothers who were known around the area of Santo Domingo where the family lived for their personal dance style and innovative movements. Ari has always loved to dance, but he only began to study dance seriously at the age of 32, and over the past few years he has refined his dance technique to create a style that is uniquely his and reflects his playful, imaginative nature. Ari joined Buen Aché in 2011 and has proved a valuable addition for his impressive dance style and natural stage presence.
Julia Rodriguez
Julia founded Buen Aché in 2006, and has served as Artistic Director and principal choreographer for the company since that time. Julia is fluent in Spanish and has traveled extensively in Latin America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean. She has studied dance in Guinea, West Africa, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, and continues to develop her dance technique by studying with prominent West African and Afro-Latino dancers and choreographers. In addition to dancing with Buen Aché, Julia also dances with the Charleston-based West African dance company Wona Womalan, led by Guinean Artistic Director Fode Moussa Camara. Julia is an avid social dancer and is active in the Latin dance scene around the Southeast.
Regina Hollingshed
Originally from Charleston, SC , Regina was raised in Oahu, Hawaii. She was exposed to Hawaiian Hula, Soma Siva, and Tahitian Hula dances since childhood and later choreographed traditional Hawaiian dance for Wahiawa Intermediate School and Leilehua High School. Her passion for dance led her to go on to study Latin social dances, especially Salsa, Bachata and Merengue. Her interest in dance was cross cultural and she went on to study Grecian Folk Dance at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and well as studying and performing Indian Folk Dances. She is a member of the Charleston-based West African dance company Wona Womalan, led by Guinean Artistic Director Fode Moussa Camara and is a principal dancer for the company. Regina joined Buen Aché in 2013 and has enjoyed a lead role as co-choreographer since that time.
Rhonda Richardson
Rhonda began dancing at age five under Walter Rutledge, the famed dancer who performed with Michael Jackson in the popular music video, “Thriller.” Rutledge greatly influenced Rhonda, who encouraged her to seriously pursue dancing. One year later, she was invited to compete in the NAACP Nation Wide Talent search and placed second.
While attending high school in Charleston, SC, Rhonda became the lead choreographer for the dance group, The Hot Steppers, mastering the art of traditional African American
”Stepping”. Shortly thereafter she joined Wona Womalan West African Dance Ensemble and has served as lead dancer for the company for several years. She has extensive experience with a wide range of West African dance styles and is also a talented drummer, with experience performing on the DunDun drum.
Rhonda’s extensive background in West African dance led her to expand her repertoire and pursue more extensive knowledge of dances of the African diaspora, and she joined Buen Aché in 2018.