SALSA ON2 with MICHAEL & CORY of SF SALSA ACADEMY
SALSA ON2 with MICHAEL & CORY of SF SALSA ACADEMY
Sunday, July 20
12:30-1:30pm
Yerba Buena Gardens (East Plaza)
Class Description:
Salsa is a dynamic and fun social partner dance that originated in Cuba and has roots in Afro-Cuban and African American musical and dance traditions. It is danced today in most major cities around the world in several styles, most prominently "On1", "On2", Casino, and Caleña. Salsa is an improvisational dance, meaning a leader and follower move together while holding hands and interpreting the music. The leader initiates various steps and turn patterns, while the follower responds. But don't be fooled! Following is no passive task, and is equally (if not more) fun! In our class we explore the basics of connecting with a partner, understanding the music, and discovering our first steps together. We also cover etiquette such as offering/accepting/rejecting a dance, and consent on the dance floor.
Join us immediately afterwards to practice what you learned in our pop-up social, where we play the music and you dance the dance!
Instructor Bios:
Michael Kagan caught the "salsa bug" while living in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2016. While in South East Asia, Michael attended international salsa festivals in Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. Since moving back to the US in 2018, Michael has trained and performed with Mambo Romero and Yamulee SF dance companies. In addition he has studied under internationally known teachers including Ernesto Lopez, Diego Rivera and Yaritza Arboleda. Michael began teaching as an assistant while in Vietnam and as primary instructor in San Francisco in 2021. A year later, Michael choreographed and directed his first team choreography under the name Baraban Dance Project, performing at two local festivals. Currently, Michael directs San Francisco Salsa Academy with his partner and co-director, Trang. His favorite part of salsa dancing is the socials and he's an active member in the SF social dancing community.
Cory, a 2020 Fullbright recipient, has an MFA in dance and choreography from Mills College and a BA in dance and psychology from UMass Boston. She has been a visiting artist at UMaine Orono, UMass Boston, and MIT. Her philosophy centers on honoring the roots of diverse dance styles, shaped by work with companies in Cuba, Brazil, Australia, Trinidad, New Zealand, and the U.S. Cory encourages dancers to challenge traditional technique and find their own voice. Her style blends hip hop roots with deep training in Latin social dances, using dance to break cultural barriers and promote unity. Her work with “Los Fundadores” of Cuban salsa included documenting their stories and leading cultural exchanges to Cuba. Early in her career, she performed for Britney Spears, Steven Tyler, and Liv Tyler, and appeared on MTV. She’s been featured in Viva Magazine and trained with Wade Robson, Rennie Harris, Holly Farmer, and others.
More information:
Website: https://www.sfsalsaacademy.com/
email: sfsalsaacademy@gmail.com
instagram: @sfsalsaacademy
