There is nothing little about Liz Raciti when it comes to achievements, commitment and success. We met for a coffee and it wasn’t long before I was taken back by her enthusiasm and her love for dancing and the Latin culture.

Liz was born in Sydney 25 years ago and has lived here all her life. She grew up in West Pennant Hills with her parents and her younger sister Kat. She went to school at Carlingford High and then Oakhill College. Her sister is married with a beautiful daughter called Taylor “I am an aunty Liz!“ she said with a smile on her face.

As many girls of her age did, Liz tried Ballet when she was very young “I still remember my very first performance, I was around five years old - we dressed up as little ducklings.... I was really scared; in the end I got up on stage.... but ran off crying!! I never danced again until I started salsa... maybe this is where my stage fright started” she told me.

Liz began to dance Salsa in 2002. At the time she was working at the Commonwealth Bank and with her best friend Sam and browsed through a Macquarie Community college book looking for some courses. They couldn’t decide between a Latin dance course and a course in Karate. So they decided that they would do one course of each, starting with the course in Latin Dance. “I wanted to do the Latin dance course - at the time Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias were popular and I loved their music” she said.

They enrolled at Bodybeat Dance Studio and her first teachers were Nathan Toussaint and Gillian Emmett. From the very first class she loved the dancing and the friendliness of everyone at the Studio. Immediately after Bodybeat Dance she decided to take up a course in Parramatta with LDA. It was here that she first met Jaime Jesus “I wasn’t quite sure what level I was meant to be in, I thought I was able to do the inter/advanced course - however when I had a “test dance” with Jaime he told me, “I am sorry but you will need to do the level below, as you need to know your fundamentals first”. I always ask Jaime about that moment but he seems to only remember dancing with me at La Campana till late every weekend .... but not in class - I always found this quite funny”

At LDA in Parramatta, Liz’s teachers were Jaime, Patricia Falciola and Richard Natividad. She only took the course for one term as she explains, “I was too busy with social dancing every night…The social scene was probably what has kept me loving dancing so much. The people are so amazing and from so many different backgrounds and cultures. It is quite incredible how we all come together to salsa”.

Liz was curious to know what salsa was like elsewhere in the world so she went overseas to learn in LA and to see the Puerto Rican Salsa Congress. The trip was very big for her as it was the first time she had ever been on an airplane, “ I travelled with Ben Tang, Becky Lee and Krin Bajough. In Los Angeles we went to all of the LA Salsa clubs, took private lessons with the top dancers such as Luis and Jonny Vasquez. The last stop was the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress. This for me was the turning point in my dancing. It was there where I first discovered “On2”. It was funny. I thought everyone was dancing off rhythm. I remember thinking, why aren’t they listening to the music? Then I decided to try dancing On2, a very friendly guy from Boston led me through a song and I was hooked”.

Upon her return to Sydney, Liz wanted to take her salsa to the next level with On2 so she joined Latin Motion’s Salsa 6 team who were about to start an On2 routine to travel overseas to the LA congress. “I was so excited” Liz told me, “I was also invited to be part of Latin Motions teaching team with Natalie Reis and Oliver Pineda. I would have to say that Natalie Reis was my favourite instructor and dancer in Sydney - such a beautiful and elegant style; she was definitely an inspiration for me. It was an amazing experience for me to be a part of Latin Motion, however I was desperate for my own dance partner to do competitions, to train and perform - which is something that there was a shortage of it everywhere in Sydney”.

Liz was then approached by Jaime to dance together but found it to be a very painful decision leaving her friends and team at Latin Motion. “I decided to partner Jaime because he was so driven and energetic, we had danced many times at the Sydney clubs. So I said ‘yes’, it was an opportunity too good to miss” says Liz.

For Liz, it was a very strange feeling moving to LDA, “ it was one of those decisions in life that I sometimes wonder - what if I had stayed?” But, now Liz is very happy with what she has achieved and the Jaime/Liz combination has been great for Sydney Salsa too. “LDA has been like a second home for me these past 4 years. Marcia Pinheiro and Jaime Jesus have been such an amazing support and encouragement and I am so proud to work for them. LDA has taught me so much, both as a dancer and as a person. Everyday I think I am so lucky to have the opportunity to do what I love for a living”. The LDA “family” has changed a bit since Liz arrived but admittedly for Liz, the sense of loyalty and passion for dance has remained strong in everyone there.

For Liz to be a part of the LDA Ball every year has been a very big part of her Salsa dance career. Her passion is for teaching dance and the Ball is an exciting time because she gets the opportunity to teach her students to perform on stage. Often, this choreography is the first time that their friends and families will see them dancing. For her it’s definitely her favourite time of the year.
At present Liz teaches and dances Salsa On1 and On2, Zouk Lambada, Samba - Axe and Batucada, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, and Merengue. She loves that and the fact that LDA has a strong focus on Brazilian dance styles.

I commented on how hard it is in the dance world to find a perfect dance partner and I asked Liz “What was it that brought you and Jaime together?” She quickly responded “I would definitely describe Jaime as my perfect dance partner. We have had fantastic times together over the past 4 years… Jaime needed someone shorter than him and there was no one else around ha ha ha. I am just kidding”, she remarks laughing openly. “We danced socially very well. I wanted to do competitions, to teach and perform and the fact that we were good friends helped a lot. Jaime and I have performed all over Australia. Internationally we have performed at congresses and toured London, Blackpool, Bournemouth - UK, Madrid and Malaga - Spain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates, Los Angeles - USA, Singapore, Beijing, Malaysia, Korea, New Zealand, Belgium. I love travelling with dance, as I have been able to meet so many different people and see so many different cultures. It is so amazing that I may not be able to speak the same language as someone, but being able to have an amazing dance together”.

Liz and Jaime were no longer just dance partners but became romantically involved, something that has been so common with dance partners, but not always easy to keep.

I asked Liz, “How hard is it to keep a professional dancing partnership and a romantic one at the same time? She thinks for a while and very calmly replies “Well, we did maintain it very well for 3 years, but unfortunately he ended our relationship in December 2007.... and its has been a hard road since!”

After ordering yet another cup of coffee I asked, “And from where did the name ‘Little Liz’ come in the first place? “Jaime decided that I needed a stage name and because it was what he called me already.... he decided that it would be Jaime Jesus and Little Liz!! - I actually didn’t want the name ‘Little Liz’ because I thought it was not sexy. I do like it now though - but it did take a while for me to like it” She said with a big smile in her face.

When asked about her most memorable performance? Liz replies “For sure it has to be at the Sydney Salsa Congress this year - my comeback to dancing show”.
“Jaime and I had just returned from the UK Salsa Congress and had to pack up and do the Singapore International Salsa Festival in 2007 and I begun to have problems with my right knee. I knew at the time that it was very bad, as I have had problems with it since I was very young and they told me then that if it hurts or becomes a problem in the future it would require knee surgery. Unfortunately my dancing was getting very demanding and in Singapore I was in so much pain that I knew that performance would be my last show before I had my knee surgery. This was a very emotional performance for me because I was unsure of how long I would not be able to dance. The show went well, I had amazing support from the crowd and all of the other international dancers. I was crying before I went on the stage and in tears afterwards. I returned to Sydney and booked my surgery for two weeks later. I had medium level knee surgery on my right knee and have been in recovery ever since. The doctor told me that I would not be able to dance for at least 4 months”. Liz was however determined to get back on stage in time for the Sydney Congress, “I was doing physiotherapy 3 times per week and even more exercises to build up the muscle to get enough strength to dance again. The Sydney Salsa Congress was the most memorable performance because it was a tribute to my strength and hard work and my passion for dance. I was so determined to be on stage in front of my home crowd. Jaime gave me amazing support - although he was so scared to perform with me - we did a perfect routine for the crowd and received a standing ovation”. Liz is however still recovering and there are many things that she can still not do. This includes kneeling on the floor or squatting down, “so you can imagine how hard this has been for me as a dancer! I experience pain nearly every time I go out dancing and I arrive home to ice my knee and do my strength exercises”, says Liz.

With that determination and passion for her dancing, it’s no surprise that Liz has won the Best Choreographer, Best New Talent, Most Improved, Best performer and Best teacher every year since being at LDA. Other credits include First place at the Australian Salsa Championships and3rd place at the Mayan World Salsa Championships.

More important to Liz, than any awards is that she loves being able to inspire people to join in the amazing experience of Latin Dance and culture. She said. “For me, as a non Latina it is a pleasure to have been so welcomed by everyone in the scene. I love giving the “gift of dance” to my students - seeing them smile and go from being a beginner dancer learning their first steps, to performing on stage or dancing at parties. It is for me an amazing feeling”
Liz has performed and danced all around the world but she confesses “I actually get so nervous before performing on stage that I am about to be sick. Many people tell me that on stage I look so confident and relaxed but just before going on the stage I start worrying and I begin coughing. Once I am on stage I am fine.... I think I operate there on autopilot.... when I come offstage I think, “that was fun”...but go through the same stage fright every single time”

When asked who does she most admire in the world dance scene and why? She responds, “Definitely the musicians for bringing to us this incredible music - for without them we would not have our beautiful dance of Salsa. I am so in love with live music and the energy and passion they have when performing, seeing that is an amazing feeling”.

Liz recently went to New York for a holiday and went to see Chino Nunez and friends at a nightclub called Latin Quarters,” I saw Maximo Rodriguez and Jorge Gonzalez from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra playing with Chinos band. I was right there in the front watching and dancing like crazy. Chino got on the microphone and introduced me as the ‘amazing dancer Liz from Sydney Australia’ and thanked me for my beautiful dancing and the energy showed by me during the night... but I was giving back to them what I was also receiving”. Maximo Rodriquez also came to her and thanked her - it was the best feeling on both sides - dancer and musician, “That was a great experience for me as a dancer”.
Liz’s favourite Latin musicians are Hector Lavoe, Luisito Quintero, Ray De La Paz, Gilberto Santo Rosa, Ray Barretto, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz.

Without a doubt Liz has had amazing experiences as a professional dancer and instructor. She admits that she no longer likes competitions and as for her Salsa she believes that dancing is such a unique interpretation by a couple, individual or team and every individual is so different.

But what are the dreams of Liz Raciti? “I would love to go to live overseas in New York” She immediately responds. “After experiencing the incredible energy, live music and dance, I believe my next journey will be there. The quantity and quality of dancers is incredible. I want to place myself in NY to see where my dancing will go to next. Being a dancer so inspired by live music I can’t wait to see what will happen next”.
Meanwhile, our “Little Liz “continues her rigorously daily routine of dancing and teaching and to relax she watches movies, goes to the beach or has BBQ’s with friends.

Liz Recite at a glance
What’s your passion in life?
Salsa dance and music and teaching!

Best advice you’ve ever been given?
To be yourself and to never look back

What’s one question you get asked a lot?
How do you spin so fast and not get dizzy!! :)

Best advice you can give?
Keep smiling, dancing and having fun - life is short!

Do you have a motto in life?
Dancing with the feet is one thing.... dancing with the heart is another!! :)

If someone were to describe you - what do you think they would say?
As someone who lights up the room with her smile and energy!!

Can you tell me something not many people know about you?
I get stage fright!! Very bad nerves just before EVERY show - dancing for 5 people or 1000!! Same thing...

When you think of Salsa dancing - what comes into your head?
Fast moves and spins, beautiful people moving their bodies dancing to amazing music!

If you think of international Salsa dancers - what 3 names instantly come to mind?
Amanda Estilo, Griselle Ponce and Super Mario

What advice would you give women dancers?
Learn moves in class but then make it your own - dance from the heart.

Advice for men?
Dance for your partner - no need to complicate it