Michael Angelo's Dance Background

Michael Angelo has learned, trained, and studied Latin dance with his father Miguel Mendez, founder of the Dance Academy of Salsa, since his early teenage years. In 2003, Michael's talent led him to begin an early teaching career at the young age of 19. Since then, Michael's passion for Salsa/ Mambo music and dance has taken him on an ongoing journey to develop and expand his style. In 2004, Michael joined one of Chicago's top Mambo dance companies, Descarga Caribe, under the artistic direction of Sekou McMiller, learning the Guaguanco & other unique body movement techniques. In 2005, he spent his summer in New York studying with world renown Latin dancers/instructors/choreographers Eddie Torres, Frankie Martinez and Thomas Guerrero.

Teaching Philosophy

Michael Angelo has developed and continues to create new teaching techniques which help make the learning process easier and more efficient. His teaching approach is methodical in that you must learn and master A before you get to B. The very first thing a student in Michael Angelo's class will learn is how to find and maintain the rhythm of the music with the basic step. "Too often I see students taking intermediate and even advanced level classes who cannot keep their timing on the dance floor. Timing is FUNDAMENTAL," he says. "If you aint got no rhythm, you aint got no timing. If you aint got no timing, you got nothing."- Quote from the motion picture soundtrack "Salsa" by Jerry Masucci. Michael Angelo uses only the best Classic Salsa, Mambo and Cha Cha Cha and even incorporates playing a live Djembe in class to make sure his students feel connected to the music. Michael Angelo has also taught at various high schools, universities, social gatherings, including Chicago's annual SummerDance and also at Chicago's longest running salsa nightclub, the Green Dolphin for 2 straight years.

Goals and Expectations

Michael Angelo's three main teaching goals are:

1) To help create a safe and fun dancing experience for everyone when dancing socially.

2) Help build the Salsa community by turning ordinary people into passionate dancers.

3) Push the envelope of social dancing to a higher level.

"I uphold a higher standard for my students in that I expect that they not only understand and execute what they learn with precision and confidence, but also learn to discover their own style in doing so. My goal is to create great social dancers." - M.A.

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