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Posted in June, 1999 issue of THE
PAGES an MTV Employee
Magazine & later on Salsaweb NY 
When Addie Diaz, Administrative Assistant, Contract Accounting, Nickelodeon, pushes her way through the revolving doors of 1515 Broadway at the end of the day, there are lots of places she could be going. This mambo, cha-cha, merengue and hip-hop aficionado could be headed to Eighth Avenue Studios in Manhattan, where she teaches mambo dancing to anywhere from 18-25 students every Thursday evening. Or maybe she’s on her way to teach a private lesson, which she does two nights a week for smaller groups. She may even be en route to a rehearsal for one of the professional troupes with whom she travels and performs. (She’s been dancing professionally for six years.) And if she’s not in any of those places, you might find her hanging out with her two children, Jazmin, 13 and Devin, 3. Name:
Addie Diaz Pre-performance Rituals: "I pray right before I perform." Most Memorable Performances: A series of four concerts throughout Columbia. "We performed in stadiums [that were] covered with people. It was the most exciting experience. The crowd was roaring and it was just amazing." A Moment She’d Rather Forget: "I’ve been very lucky because there are some horror stories out there," Diaz explains gratefully. But she goes on to recall the time the heel of her shoe got caught in her dress. "I actually had to stop the number, because it was so jammed in there that I had to sit down and literally peel my costume off my heel. That was kind of weird, but the audience was very understanding and very encouraging." Greatest Fear: "Hurting myself, falling and breaking something. I’m so careful. I’ve had friends who have hurt themselves just walking down the street. My biggest fear is getting hurt and not being able to dance again." Her Mentor: Diaz’s first mambo instructor, Evelyn Leon, discovered her in the early 90’s at a club in the Bronx called Side Street. "[She] approached me and asked me if she could train me," Diaz says. "She put me out there. She had me performing before I knew it." Leon, who has since passed away, is remembered fondly by Diaz. "She was pretty incredible and I was lucky to have been trained by her." They’ve Got Rhythm: Dancers and choreographers who have inspired Diaz include Debbie Allen, Bob Fosse and Eddie Torres, whom she refers to as "The King of Mambo." Whose Tunes You’ll Find on Her Walkman: Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, Monica, Celine Dion, Nancy Wilson Diaz on Teaching: "The hardest thing about teaching [is] making the person understand what you’re trying to communicate. You have to have patience." And if a student just doesn’t get it? "I really try to make sure that no one leaves my class frustrated." Where She Would Like to See Personal Improvement: Jazz and ballet. "Maybe learn to stand on my toes!" Stay on the Lookout: Diaz will have an instructional video series coming out late this summer entitled "On ‘2’ With ‘Addie-Tude.’" Check out her Web page at www.addie-tude.com for updates and tour information. Click here to contact Addie for more information or to sign up for lessons.
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Addie-tude Ladies Styling
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