DANCING brought Kasey and Vini Leao together, now they are bringing their passion to Mildura. Caitlyn Morgan chats to the couple about their exciting new venture.
Pictures: Ben Gross
KASEY Leao had always dreamed of learning how to Salsa but it wasn’t until she moved to Adelaide in 2007 that it became a reality.
“I didn’t have a lot of friends there and had always wanted to give Latin style dancing a go, so I decided to go to a Salsa class,” she says.
Her love with dancing was instantly discovered from the moment she put on her dancing shoes.
“I went on to undertake classes in Bachata and Reggaeton and soon I was mixing with some Samba dancers,” she says.
“I went to see them dance and as soon as they came out in their costumes I thought I need to learn that.”
From 2007 to 2011 Kasey trained in a range of Latin styles and in 2011 she began training in Samba before making the decision to relocate to Melbourne the following year.
“It was in 2013 that I had the opportunity to travel to Rio as part of the carnival parade for a school called Imperio Datijuca,” she says.
“There was only 18 of us from Australia and our team managed to win our section.”
While still working full time, Kasey was training, teaching and performing with three different dance school when an opportunity to move to Sydney came up.
“The director of Rhythm Brazil mentioned if I was ever in Sydney that they would love if I danced with them,” she says.
“I had been in my job for 10 years and I knew I couldn’t be transferred to Sydney so it was a big decision to move there.
“For Melbourne Cup weekend I thought I would go there and see what they do and how they train.”
Little did Kasey know that not only was she going to be invited to dance for the company but she would meet her future husband, Vinicius (Vini) Leao.
For as long as Vini can remember he was always performing and entertaining crowds.
“Growing up in Brazil, there was always events and we partied for everything,” he says.
“I didn’t enrol to music schools, my life was on the streets learning and enjoying the vibrant drums and melodies of many Samba songs.
“In 2014 I made the decision I didn’t want to live in Brazil anymore, my (late) Uncle Manoel suggested I move to Australia, ‘he said it’s beautiful, you will like it.’
“So I left everything behind and moved to Sydney.”
Despite not being able to speak any English when he first arrived, Vini quickly found his feet.
“While working in construction I was invited to form a band – Samba Roots – an authentic Brazilian passionate about Samba,” he says.
“Shortly after I joined Rhythm Brazil as a drummer.
“We regular performed shows, often at Darling Harbour, in Perth, New Zealand and Bali.
“It was after one of our regular shows in Sydney that the director kept calling me to come to one of our other restaurants in the city.”
Kasey added, “Vini finally arrived and it was then that we met, with the director knowing that we were perfect for each other and we did just click.”
“Within three weeks I had packed and moved to Sydney.”
The pair were married in January 2017 and after the birth of daughter Vittoria in 2018 they decided to move back to Kasey’s hometown, Mildura.
“When I was away dancing, I always had my local friends commenting on photos saying if I ever moved back they would love to learn,” Kasey says.
“I knew there was some interest in it and when I did move back and I was talking to those in my mothers group they mentioned they would be keen to do it.
“With already a lot of interested we decided it was the time to do it.”
In February Kasey and Vini launched their new business, DuBrazil.
“Since we moved our thoughts were always back to the amazing moments we had performing and doing what we are mostly passionate about it,” Vini says.
“It was when we got invited to perform at Fossey’s Gin Laneway Festival that we really could see the possibility of sharing our passion where now we call home.
“We wanted to bring something new to town and express my culture here.
“We wanted to start with dancing, with an aim to eventually start Brazil percussion classes and form a team that will perform at weddings and community events.”
Since launching the business, the couple have been kept busy performing at local events while also teaching classes at Pole Fit Mildura.
To keep up to date with DuBrazil visit www.facebook.com/dubrazilau.
