The story behind The Limónadas |
Lupita and Cristhian
Lupita has been dancing ballroom and social dance since her early teenage years. Learning from different studios throughout her life she began to compete and perform in her early teenage years. In her University years in Riverside, she helped create and promote the competitive ballroom dance club where she taught and coached dancers. She then created social dance nights in Riverside (The Coffee Depots swing night and Late night Lindy in Downtown Riverside). She has competed in many professional and semi-professional competitions throughout her life in America as well as South America and Europe, coming home with many winning medals.
Cristhian began as a social dancer in the swing and tango dance world.
Cristhian and Lupita met in their college years dancing, performing and teaching swing together. They became dance partners as well as life partners. Cristhian is an amazing social dancer and one of the finest leaders and coaches around.
Lupita and Cristhian had both had the opportunity to travel the world receiving and giving coaching lessons from many dance masters. In 2002,Lupita gave up the management of a studio to live in France for over 6 years where she taught and coached as well as continuing her dance technique classes.
Most recently she has performed throughout Southern California and has choreographed for many shows and many partnerships as their coach for various competitions. Lupita is now working in Riverside as an adjunct dance professor at Riverside City College and has side jobs as choreographer and coach in various dance studios throughout Southern California. Lupita and Cristhian perform with and are the coaches for their dance company; The Limónadas Dance Company.
Lupita has been dancing ballroom and social dance since her early teenage years. Learning from different studios throughout her life she began to compete and perform in her early teenage years. In her University years in Riverside, she helped create and promote the competitive ballroom dance club where she taught and coached dancers. She then created social dance nights in Riverside (The Coffee Depots swing night and Late night Lindy in Downtown Riverside). She has competed in many professional and semi-professional competitions throughout her life in America as well as South America and Europe, coming home with many winning medals.
Cristhian began as a social dancer in the swing and tango dance world.
Cristhian and Lupita met in their college years dancing, performing and teaching swing together. They became dance partners as well as life partners. Cristhian is an amazing social dancer and one of the finest leaders and coaches around.
Lupita and Cristhian had both had the opportunity to travel the world receiving and giving coaching lessons from many dance masters. In 2002,Lupita gave up the management of a studio to live in France for over 6 years where she taught and coached as well as continuing her dance technique classes.
Most recently she has performed throughout Southern California and has choreographed for many shows and many partnerships as their coach for various competitions. Lupita is now working in Riverside as an adjunct dance professor at Riverside City College and has side jobs as choreographer and coach in various dance studios throughout Southern California. Lupita and Cristhian perform with and are the coaches for their dance company; The Limónadas Dance Company.
Agustin Martinez
Agui started dancing at Riverside City College back in 2008 when he took a Swing Social Dance class with Lupita. Discovering that he had a knack for dance and enjoyed doing it, he continued dancing, often going out social dancing on the weekends. His favorite dances are Swing and Argentine Tango. He became a part of the Limonadas Dance Company when it first became official and performed with us for several years. He then took a few years hiatus, but rejoined us in late 2021. He wanted to be a part of the company for the relationships that it builds and to continue improving his technique in dance.
Outside of the dance company, Agui is a contractor by trade and enjoys reading and playing video games.
Agui started dancing at Riverside City College back in 2008 when he took a Swing Social Dance class with Lupita. Discovering that he had a knack for dance and enjoyed doing it, he continued dancing, often going out social dancing on the weekends. His favorite dances are Swing and Argentine Tango. He became a part of the Limonadas Dance Company when it first became official and performed with us for several years. He then took a few years hiatus, but rejoined us in late 2021. He wanted to be a part of the company for the relationships that it builds and to continue improving his technique in dance.
Outside of the dance company, Agui is a contractor by trade and enjoys reading and playing video games.
Ana Ramos
Ana started dancing in 2018 at Riverside City College. She fell in love with dance and enjoyed learning new styles. She took various classes, training in jazz, modern, ballet, hip hop, and folklorico. Later on, she had the chance to take social dance classes at RCC with Lupita, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Wanting the opportunity to learn, experience the styles, technique, and music, she decided to join the Limonadas in January of 2023. Her favorite things about being a part of the company are the respect that everybody has for each other and their shared passion for dance.
Outside of the dance company, Ana is working on completing her education, and continues to build on her strength as a performer.
Ana started dancing in 2018 at Riverside City College. She fell in love with dance and enjoyed learning new styles. She took various classes, training in jazz, modern, ballet, hip hop, and folklorico. Later on, she had the chance to take social dance classes at RCC with Lupita, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Wanting the opportunity to learn, experience the styles, technique, and music, she decided to join the Limonadas in January of 2023. Her favorite things about being a part of the company are the respect that everybody has for each other and their shared passion for dance.
Outside of the dance company, Ana is working on completing her education, and continues to build on her strength as a performer.
Antoinette Decuir
Antoinette began her dancing career at the young age of 5 when she began to learn Cheer, which led to learning hip hop and jazz. However, these styles of dance were not for her. She joined band starting in 5th grade, but when she started high school, she saw colorguard and liked that they danced. She decided to join the team for the remainder of her high school years. In college at RCC, Antoinette signed up for Lupita's Rhythm Series Ballroom class with a friend and immediately took a liking to it. She always thought it would be cool to be a part of a dance company, so she joined The Limonadas in the Spring of 2015. Antoinette finds dance to be fun, and enjoys the community within the dance company, referring to the members as a "second family".
Outside of the dance company, Antoinette works in the medical field and enjoys going to concerts, eating various foods, hiking, and going to the beach.
Leslie Escudero
Growing up, Leslie enjoyed hearing the story of how her grandparents met at a Tango Bar in Argentina. When she was 14, her grandfather taught her the basic steps of Argentine Tango, which started her on her path of dance. Of course, this also led to her having Tango as her favorite dance, but she also loves the contagious energy and excitement that accompanies Swing dancing. Leslie first joined the group when she was in college, at a time before it was called The Limonadas. She danced with the group for years before a hiatus. She recently rejoined the company and is excited for performing again. Her favorite parts of being in the company are dressing up for the various events and the close friendships that she forms in the company.
Outside of the dance company, Leslie is pursuing a career in Fine Art and Graphic Design, enjoys creating illustrations, paintings, and photographs. She also enjoys swimming, reading, hiking, and lying out in the sun.
Growing up, Leslie enjoyed hearing the story of how her grandparents met at a Tango Bar in Argentina. When she was 14, her grandfather taught her the basic steps of Argentine Tango, which started her on her path of dance. Of course, this also led to her having Tango as her favorite dance, but she also loves the contagious energy and excitement that accompanies Swing dancing. Leslie first joined the group when she was in college, at a time before it was called The Limonadas. She danced with the group for years before a hiatus. She recently rejoined the company and is excited for performing again. Her favorite parts of being in the company are dressing up for the various events and the close friendships that she forms in the company.
Outside of the dance company, Leslie is pursuing a career in Fine Art and Graphic Design, enjoys creating illustrations, paintings, and photographs. She also enjoys swimming, reading, hiking, and lying out in the sun.
Gabriella Reyes
Gabby started dancing at the age of 12, but her main focus at the time was Jazz. She had taken dance classes since, but in 2016, she took one of Lupita's ballroom classes at RCC, and enjoyed learning new dances. She joined the Limonadas in the Fall of 2016 and has been dancing and performing ever since. To her, being a part of the dance company seemed like it would be such an amazing experience and an opportunity to learn new styles of dance. Her favorite part of being in the company is that she has had the chance to build new friendships and is challenged to push herself. She loves that dance gives her the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone and teaches her how to be diligent.
Outside of the dance company, Gabby loves traveling and hopes to visit as many European countries as possible.
Gabby started dancing at the age of 12, but her main focus at the time was Jazz. She had taken dance classes since, but in 2016, she took one of Lupita's ballroom classes at RCC, and enjoyed learning new dances. She joined the Limonadas in the Fall of 2016 and has been dancing and performing ever since. To her, being a part of the dance company seemed like it would be such an amazing experience and an opportunity to learn new styles of dance. Her favorite part of being in the company is that she has had the chance to build new friendships and is challenged to push herself. She loves that dance gives her the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone and teaches her how to be diligent.
Outside of the dance company, Gabby loves traveling and hopes to visit as many European countries as possible.
Peter Jaramillo
Peter started dancing in 2011 when his friend found a studio in Downtown Riverside and suggested they take classes. Thinking it might be a fun thing to do, Peter agreed and took a wide variety of dance classes. However, his favorites were ballroom and he continued working on his technique to improve as a dancer, often times practicing the basics while at work. When The Limonadas Dance Company became official, he took the opportunity to join so that he could continue to improve and perform in shows. Peter mostly enjoys the rush and overall excitement of performing in front of an audience and the social aspect of being a part of the dance company.
Outside of the dance company, Peter is an 8th grade science teacher and enjoys running, hiking, and traveling.
Peter started dancing in 2011 when his friend found a studio in Downtown Riverside and suggested they take classes. Thinking it might be a fun thing to do, Peter agreed and took a wide variety of dance classes. However, his favorites were ballroom and he continued working on his technique to improve as a dancer, often times practicing the basics while at work. When The Limonadas Dance Company became official, he took the opportunity to join so that he could continue to improve and perform in shows. Peter mostly enjoys the rush and overall excitement of performing in front of an audience and the social aspect of being a part of the dance company.
Outside of the dance company, Peter is an 8th grade science teacher and enjoys running, hiking, and traveling.
Student Dancers
Kylie Diyorio
Kylie gained an interest in dancing through watching videos online. She knew her high school French teacher (Lupita) also taught dance at RCC, so, in 2023, Kylie took her first social dance class, and has been dancing since. During this time, she has come to enjoy Tango Argentino and Bachata the most. Over the years, she followed The Limonadas, going to their shows and taking lessons from them at events. In 2024 and 2025, she had the opportunity to perform with the dance company at the Headdress Ball in San Bernardino. She found this to be a beautiful and fun experience so she wanted to join the company.
Outside of the dance company, Kylie’s hobbies include baking, hiking, and reading. She also loves going to the beach and exploring other outdoorsy places.
Kylie gained an interest in dancing through watching videos online. She knew her high school French teacher (Lupita) also taught dance at RCC, so, in 2023, Kylie took her first social dance class, and has been dancing since. During this time, she has come to enjoy Tango Argentino and Bachata the most. Over the years, she followed The Limonadas, going to their shows and taking lessons from them at events. In 2024 and 2025, she had the opportunity to perform with the dance company at the Headdress Ball in San Bernardino. She found this to be a beautiful and fun experience so she wanted to join the company.
Outside of the dance company, Kylie’s hobbies include baking, hiking, and reading. She also loves going to the beach and exploring other outdoorsy places.
Axel Silva
Axel started dancing around the age of 14 just for fun at parties and family events, but got more serious about it in high school when he performed on stage. Since then, he has taken numerous dance classes and has found that he enjoys social dancing the most because he loves the connection, energy, and the fun that comes with it. He wanted to become a part of the Limonadas because he noticed the love and community behind it. The vibes, passion, and the talent always inspired him.
Outside of the dance company, Axel is a technician and involved in coaching kids programs. He also enjoys going to the gym, working on cars, and choreographing for quinceañeras.
Axel started dancing around the age of 14 just for fun at parties and family events, but got more serious about it in high school when he performed on stage. Since then, he has taken numerous dance classes and has found that he enjoys social dancing the most because he loves the connection, energy, and the fun that comes with it. He wanted to become a part of the Limonadas because he noticed the love and community behind it. The vibes, passion, and the talent always inspired him.
Outside of the dance company, Axel is a technician and involved in coaching kids programs. He also enjoys going to the gym, working on cars, and choreographing for quinceañeras.