Liz Parsons
Director

A multi award winning international instructor, performer and competitor, Liz has a real heart for Dance and everyone in it. And with 26 years as a radio/tv broadcaster Liz clearly has entertainment in her blood!
Liz is our Director, Head Instructor, Content Creator, Choreographer and often the Costume Designer. She has a soft spot for working with women to find their love of themselves and their bodies again.
With Liz, it's safe, correct technique and entertainment EVERY TIME.
Liz works closely with her mentor in the USA Serena Cuevas, travelling there most years to further her knowledge and skills.

Des Ryder
​Instructor

Des is an international instructor! Tuesday nights wouldn't be the same without the calm steadiness of him. His salsa journey began back in 2012 when Liz, his wife, started Sweet Azucar! Latin Dance.  With not a scrap of dance experience he ploughed away and got better and better - so much so, that he's now a much loved instructor on our Salsa nights.  Des is known for his safe techniques on the social floor (and cheeky sense of humour). Follows love dancing with him and Leads love learning from his 'straight to the point' teaching!!! ​​

Rebecca Zahr
Instructor

Our beautiful Swedish/Kiwi Rebecca is our most elegant dancer on team.  She's super experienced, having learnt internationally for several years before starting her dancing in NZ. A seasoned performer and successful competitor, Rebecca is known for her kilowatt smile, her clear and concise instructions and her incredible talents as a salsa dancer! 
Rebecca is Liz's 2.I.C when Liz is away and is always there to lend a hand.

Dasha Smotrova
​Instructor

 Known in the scene as 'Liz v.2', Dasha, originally from Russia, came to us as a brand new student and very quickly moved up the ranks to a performer and competitor! Now, with those magic hips and clear love of all things orderly, Dasha is a well loved, funny, very popular Bachata Instructor.  Dasha loves Dance in it's full capacity, all genres, so be sure to get her up for a dance when you see her at socials and festivals.

Sabrina Chen
Admin

Sabrinas clear love for Latin Dance is so obvious, you can't miss it - it's written all over her face (and her hips. A common theme with the Sweet Az women).
Sabrina is likely the first face you'll see when coming through the doors at Sweet Az.  She'll already be smiling, and making sure all the teachers have their name tags on!!!!
​Now a team performer, Sabrina also steps in as an assistant to help other teachers instruct.​

Mark Clayton
​Instructor

Affectionately known in-house as 'Marky-Pooh', Mark has the most tenacity of all of our instructors! Timing and rhythm was a real challenge for him in his earlier days, but here he is with PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE about how to keep learning your steps. Persevere. And by all means HAVE FUN!
​Mark leads one of our Salsa Programmes and comes with such empathy and understanding.
He loves a good chuckle and has the funniest hip wiggles if he ever shows you - a real treat!!!!
​

Serena Cuevas
Mentor/USA

Nerry Garcia
​Mentor/USA