Michael Burton Cahn is featured in this edition of Dance Spotlight! He is the owner of Sueños de Salsa (founded in 2012) located in Seattle! He was nominated by Kelly Sparks. She said, “He has had a massive impact on my journey as a dancer, instructor, and DJ, since I moved to Seattle several years ago and walked into his studio looking for dance training and a teaching job. I might be just a wee bit biased, but I think he’s one of the best salsa instructors in town, and I owe a lot of my success to him.” Check out fun and interesting facts about Michael including his first experiences with the latin dance community and what lessons he learned training with top salsa instructors.
What (or who) originally inspired you to try Latin dancing? OR What are your first memories of latin dancing?
I saw a couple at a club in Asheville, North Carolina. What stood out to me was that the guy was doing slick spins and moves, and not just the girl. To my eyes they were the coolest thing I’d ever seen on a dance floor. I had zero dance experience other than drunk club style up to that point. I don’t know who they were, or even if they were all that good. But it was inspiring to watch. A couple months later I was in Cuzco (Peru) having dinner with my host family at a restaurant that had a live salsa band. A few locals were dancing and it seemed normal. Then two total gringos guys came in and started dancing with some local girls. They were, in my eyes, awesome. Before you know it they were sitting at a table hanging out with the locals. I thought, now that’s a good way to really get to know people and be accepted into their world. I was sold. I found a class in Cuzco that week.
Describe a moment in your dance life that made you feel proud?
When our little team with no performance experience pulled off their first routine at their first congress. They really put their time in and Camille and I were so proud of them.
What makes a social dance fun for you?
The music is everything at a social. If the music is on point, everyone feels like a superstar.
I read your bio on Suenosdesalsa.com and it said your father was involved in the Flamenco community. Was he a dancer or musician, perhaps both? What influence did being exposed to latin rhythms at an early age have on your dance career?
My father was a professional guitarist. He studied in Spain extensively. He also played and taught blues, folk, etc. As a kid we traveled a lot. And I was exposed to a lot of different cultures as my father gigged all around the country. When I learned to play guitar, I was always connecting with latin rhythms. I loved the chords, the melodies, the drama etc. I never really got that good, but I enjoy it.
You’ve trained with several notable salsa dancers including Alien Ramirez (my personal favorite), Yaykel Parez, Johnny Vazquez and Omar Munos. What lessons did you learn from these experiences that you’d want to pass down to your students?
Wow, that’s a huge question. There’s really too much to put here, but I’ll try. Learn the music. Practice your footwork. Spend the time to achieve proper body movement. If anyone tells you that there’s only one way to do it, be very cautious of them. There are almost always more than one way to archive your goal. Remember practice DOES NOT make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect. Work hard AND work smart.
What’s been the biggest challenge of operating Suenos de Salsa during a pandemic?
(Laughs). Everything. It’s been brutal. If not for the amazing community here in Seattle setting up a Gofundme, I would have gone the way of so many other dance studios. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone for their support!
What are your current favorite songs to dance to? Top two or three…
That’s impossible. (Laughs). There’s just too many, but her are a few all time favorites:
- “Mambo Campana” by El Timba and Manuel La Palma
- “Que Bueno Baila Usted” – Covered by multiple artists.
- “Nunca Muere el Guaguancò” by La Maxima 79
Michael is an outstanding teacher! I highly recommend him