Richard Gontang
Dancer/iPod Engineer/El Chino Salsero

Richard Gontag, Dr. G to you, has been a member of SAOCO for two years. Having danced with every rueda and salsa group in the DC area, he finally realized that SAOCO was the best choice for him and we appreciate it.

Dr. G is a child psychologist - both for the DC government and as a private practioner. He is also the SAOCO iPod engineer. He catalogs the music on the iPod and has it ready for traveling. He even has a handy-dandy portable speaker system that aids us in dancing anywhere (and being successfully kicked out of Union Station).

Richard has recently celebrated his 6 year anniversary of dancing salsa. Some of his early years was learning that ballroom salsa or salsa on2 which we have tried to beat out of him. Thankfully, he brings a zen-like quality to the group and doesn't let the beatings get him down. As he is not easily flustered, he leads smoothly and looks relaxed every time he dances. You might see Dr. G at Cecilia's or Chevy Chase Ballroom teaching and showing off the exact way for ladies to do the 'BAM!' to the center of the circle. Be sure to say hi and watch him dance as it is really a wonderful thing to see.

Besides dancing, Richard loves to travel and see the world. And if he wasn't dancing as his hobby, he'd be cooking. It relaxes him and, after eating one of his deserts, I can say that it wouldn't be a bad trade off for us if he decided to cook for us instead of dance.