Ms. Arelis Beato aka "Magic Feet", FOUNDER of Tropical Image Inc. (GKOTS PROGRAM) and Dance Company.
Arelis Beato has been in the forefront of the mambo industry for more than a decade. She is known to her peers as "Magic Feet", a name acquired early in her dance career for her open footwork speed and unique ability to interpret the music. Her style is described as wicked and energetic, for the deep feeling and intensity she uses in her steps and movements. Arelis has been the owner and Artistic Director of the Tropical Image Dancers since 2000, she formed the not-for-profit organization Tropical Image Inc. in 2007, after years of instructing Kids and teens in the Brooklyn Community, hence starting, the "Get Kids off the Streets Project", and a/k/a G-KOTS.
Her unending accomplishments and numerous awards include radio, television appearances and interviews in La Epoca Part 2, Santo Domingo Invita, La escena TV, Nuevotec, iMambotv, Que Chevere TV Show, Salsa & More Magazine, Despierta America, Al despertar, Sabado Gigante, Local Newspapers and others. Arelis represented New York at the ESPN World Salsa championships, in 2007 and 2009. In May of 2008, she received the Highest Honor is the Mambo community, "Female Dancer of the Year" award from Albert Torres, the world renowned promoter of Latin dance and Music at the West Coast Salsa Congress in Los Angeles, CA. She also received a Merit Citation by the Advocate for the City of New York. Arelis was the exclusive performer for the Chinese Delegates visit to the USA for 2 years, and the featured dancer for Chino Nunez, Conjunto Imagen and Frankie Negron. She has also competed at the NY/NJ Salsa Open and judged several dance & Step Competitions in NY, NJ and Curacao. Arelis was Classified as a world Class instructor by Willie Torres one of the World Salsa 7 members in 2007, and named an ALL-STAR by the Late David Melendez at the 3rd NY Salsa Congress.
Arelis is also recognized as the most accomplished Latin/Mambo Dancer, performer, Choreographer and Kids Latin Dance Instructor in Brooklyn and one of the top Female dancers in New York. Arelis, has directed, choreographed and produced original Latin/Mambo showcases, and has shared her knowledge and expertise by teaching at various Dance studios in NY, NJ, & Jamaica. She has taught workshops in the USA and other countries for Latin/Mambo events, corporate, private and educational institutions. She has lectured at NYC schools and Arts programs, worked with several after school programs in NYC public schools and the NYC parks department