Guest Instructors (May 2025)


  • Faustine Lavie, a native of Toulon, France, discovered dance at 3-years-old. She started with ballet and trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School before moving to New York, NY in 2015. After graduating from The Ailey School’s Certificate Program in 2018, where she performed works by renowned choreographers including Darrell Grand Moultrie, Manuel Vignoulle, Amy Hall Garner, Fredrick Earl Mosley and Clifton Brown, Faustine discovered The Hustle, immediately fascinated by its energy, joy and music. Through her extensive experience in ballet and contemporary dance, and under the influence of both OG dancers and the New Generation, Faustine quickly became an integral member of NYC’s Hustle community.

    Under the mentorship of Kelvin Roche and Lori-Ann Greenhouse, she started competing in the Pro Just Hustle and Pro Showcase divisions at various events and congresses with previous partner Michael Petroski. Faustine and Michael notably placed 3rd at Swing Dance America and 2nd at Disco America in 2024. Faustine and her current partner, Gustavo Rueda, recently placed 2nd at NJ Hustle Congress 2025. She and Gustavo are looking forward to revamping classic Hustle routines by adding new, creative elements while staying true to Hustle’s traditional forms.

    Professionally, Faustine additionally dances for various project-based contemporary dance companies in NY. She founded her own dance collective, Faustine Lavie Dance Project (FLDP), in 2020. FLDP continues to present work across the Tri-State area. Faustine teaches Hustle, ballet, modern and contemporary dance, and is also a certified yoga instructor.


  • Gustavo Rueda has been dancing since the age of 15, but movement and music have been part of his life for as long as he can remember. Of Mexican descent, he grew up surrounded by social dance, but it wasn’t until he took his first class at a local studio specializing in Salsa Caleña that he truly fell in love with dance. The high-energy footwork, fast tempo, and performance aspects of Salsa Caleña captivated him, sparking a lifelong passion for dance in all its forms.

    Determined to refine his craft, Gustavo immersed himself in both American and International-style ballroom, eventually expanding his training at the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, where he studied jazz, ballet, and theater dance.

    By the age of 18, Gustavo was already sharing his knowledge as a dance instructor in the tri-state area. He became a certified international ballroom instructor through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and has taught at some of the top franchised and independently operated studios in NYC, NJ, and PA.

    As a competitor, Gustavo is recognized as one of the top-ranking Hustle dancers in the country. His recent accolades include:

    • 2nd Place – Pro Just Hustle at NJ Hustle Congress 2025

    • 1st Place – Pro Just Hustle at NY Hustle Congress 2024

    • 1st Place – Pro Just Hustle at Disco America 2024

    Gustavo’s deep expertise across multiple dance styles has made him a sought-after instructor. His precise yet engaging teaching style has helped students of all levels grow into confident, skilled dancers—whether on the social dance floor or in the competitive arena.


  • Gil has been dancing hustle since 2019. He was first introduced to the dance through Jeff Selby and the New Style Hustle community, which has been a major influence. Soon after, Gil became obsessed and began taking Veronica Castilla’s classes twice a week. Dancing three times a week wasn't enough, and when he heard about Lori-Ann Greenhouse, he made it a point to join her classes as well. He later expanded his training with Venus Chun and Domingo. By March 2020, Gil was studying hustle five days a week with all of these teachers.

    When the pandemic hit, dance classes paused, but Gil’s relationships with John Rinaldi, John "Boots" Merisier, Lauren Fontinos, Sara Green, Mei Cheung, and others led to weekly Wednesday sessions, where he continued learning personally from each of them. This eventually gave him the privilege of training privately with John "Boots."

    These gatherings led Gil to become involved in several projects from their inception: Hustle Club, Sunset Hustle, and Dance Is Life.

    Gilbert loves the inclusiveness of hustle and the music of house, disco, and R&B. His goal is to share this love and passion with others.


  • Simeng first experienced Hustle at Lincoln Center in the summer of 2022 and immediately fell in love with this uplifting and energetic partner dance. She began her Hustle journey training with David Husney and has since continued to grow her technique and styling by immersing herself in the vibrant Hustle social dance scene. The social dance floor has been her classroom for learning how to follow—gaining knowledge and feedback from experienced dancers, dancing and playing with others, and observing great dancers in action.

    In the summer of 2023, she began learning how to lead in Veronica Castilla’s class, and in 2024, she continued developing her leading technique at Gilbert Center’s Friday night Hustle class.

    Simeng blends her background in other dance styles—including heels, waacking, contemporary, jazz, Samba no pé, salsa, Samba de Gafieira, and Zouk—into her Hustle dancing, merging them into a unique and expressive Hustle personality. Each dance feels like a different conversation, and she enjoys communicating with her partner through musicality and shared energy. She hopes to inspire others to bring their own unique personality into Hustle and to spread joy and laughter to everyone she dances with.


  • Born in Cebu, Philippines, and raised in the U.S. from the age of two, Edmund Tan discovered dance early through the vibrant line dancing traditions of Filipino family gatherings. This foundation in rhythm and community blossomed into a passion for street dance during college, culminating in a full pivot to partner dancing in 2016, where he found a calling in the energetic, inclusive world of Hustle.

    Trained under the legendary "Queen Bee of Hustle," Diane K. Nardone, since 2017, Edmund embodies Diane’s philosophy of simplicity, systematic technique, and practical connection. This mentorship refined his approach, blending it with a decade of prior training in Popping (since 2009) to create a style rooted in musicality, partnership, and fun.

    As a competitor, Edmund has won 1st Place in the Amateur Just Hustle Advanced division with his partner Sara Green at:

    - LA Hustle Congress 2023

    - New Jersey Hustle Congress 2024

    - New York Hustle Congress 2024

    While Edmund occasionally teaches private Hustle lessons in New Jersey and New York City, his focus lies in nurturing the social heart of the dance, emphasizing connection, adaptability, and the universal language of movement. A dedicated supporter of the Hustle community, he champions inclusivity at gatherings like Hustle Club, fostering spaces where dancers of all levels and styles unite.

    Driven by Hustle’s boundless creativity and global resonance, Edmund strives to honor its classic traditions while revitalizing overlooked elements of its rich history. Looking ahead, he aims to deepen his artistry as a partner dancer and empower newcomers, whether through teaching, social dancing, or sharing the infectious joy of Hustle.


  • Pop Up Workshops to come!

Veronica Castilla, Owner & Instructor

Veronica Castilla, a native of Laredo, TX, discovered her passion for dance at age 4 and nurtured it through various styles, leading her to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Following her studies, she joined Paul Pellicoro's DanceSport and was swiftly promoted within their teachers' training program. Specializing in partner dances like Salsa, ChaCha, Hustle, and Bachata, she quickly gained recognition and began touring internationally with Salsa pioneer Nelson Flores.

As a competitor, Veronica joined the elite New York Movement, capturing six World Salsa Championships. She's also a celebrated Latin Hustle and West Coast Swing dancer, with numerous titles to her name and a role in Team Fajardo Dance Group. Known for her precision in Hustle, she's won multiple national titles with partners Rainer Trubiere and Billy Marti, and is dedicated to fostering the hustle community.

Currently, Veronica's focus is on teaching, using her extensive dance knowledge and competitive experience to inspire and cultivate talent in the Latin dance community.