A Dancer's Rant: Stop Telling Me to Relax!
The mantra of the dance world: “relax”. “RELAX.” Talk to anyone learning a partner dance and they will hear this over and over and over....
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Melissa Mansfield
May 25, 20182 min read
Going Backwards Is Part of the Process
Do you ever feel like you're going backwards in some aspect of your life? Or maybe just in life in general? During my first week back in...
Melissa Mansfield
May 4, 20182 min read
Reggaeton Dancing in the Streets of Havana
I went back to #Havana for a month-long visit in April and had a bunch of goals in mind. Take lots of photos and videos and post on...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 27, 20182 min read
Feeling Intimidated? Ask Them to Dance Anyway
A girlfriend and I were talking the other day about guys not asking her to dance salsa. A lot of times she’ll have to ask them to dance...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 21, 20181 min read
Episode 6: An Unexpected Transformation
Here it is, the sixth and FINAL episode of Follow My Lead: Havana! This is the episode that’s the scariest to share. I reveal the very...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 16, 20183 min read
No More Shame. Beauty is a Performance Art.
When I watched the video of my first Reggaeton Fusion performance workshop I felt so bad, I wound up crying. It was not the reaction I...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 16, 20183 min read
My Favorite Flash Mob: A Bride's Dream Come True
The concept was simple - a groom wanted to surprise his bride with a flash mob at their wedding, since she had mentioned how cool she...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 16, 20183 min read
On Stage: Learning to Let Go at the SF Salsa Rueda Festival
It took three months of rehearsals and was over in 3 1/2 minutes. Even though I was really nervous leading up to it, when the time came,...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 9, 20181 min read
Episode 5: Mixing it Up with Rueda
I couldn't leave #Cuba without an adventure in rueda! The first time I ever danced in a #rueda was in #Havana many years ago - and it...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 5, 20181 min read
Episode 4: The Seduction of Rumba
A dance journey in #Cuba is not complete without an exploration of RUMBA! This Afro-Cuban dance is rhythmic and complex, and actually has...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 1, 20183 min read
Where and When to Go Salsa Dancing in Havana
Click here: UPDATED POST - check out the most up-to-date info in my new post! ******************************************** I've just...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 1, 20183 min read
Essential Tips: Salsa Dancing in Havana
My favorite place in the world to go salsa dancing is in Havana - of course! Aside from prepping the typical things - money, keys, phone,...
Melissa Mansfield
Mar 1, 20181 min read
Dreams Don't Have Deadlines
"Dreams don't have deadlines." LL Cool J For years I dreamed of studying dance in Cuba. And not just on vacation. But really settling in...
Melissa Mansfield
Feb 26, 20181 min read
Episode 3: My Big Dance Performance Challenge
This was my BIGGEST challenge yet: Performing with a professional Cuban dance company at one of the most popular salsa spots in Havana. I...
Melissa Mansfield
Feb 19, 20181 min read
Episode 2: The Joy and Pain of Salsa in Havana
Salsa dancing in #Havana is a dream come true - and a big challenge if you want to keep up with the sexiest salsa dancers in the world -...
Melissa Mansfield
Feb 16, 20183 min read
Dance is for Everyone: And That Means Boys Too
My friend proudly posted a picture on Facebook. It was her young son's first day of dance class and he was at the barre in second...
Melissa Mansfield
Feb 12, 20181 min read
Episode 1: Welcome to Havana
Follow My Lead: Havana is HERE! Travel with me through the world of dance, starting with Havana, Cuba! The streets are alive with music...
Melissa Mansfield
Feb 2, 20182 min read
Giraffes Can Dance and So Can You
One weekend, while visiting a girlfriend who was my inspiration to learn salsa, I read her young daughter's book called “Giraffes Can’t...
Melissa Mansfield
Jun 17, 20174 min read
I'm Trying to Dance with the Pros: Lessons Learned from Just One Rehearsal
We spent an hour and a half on less than 25 seconds of the choreography. By the end, I was completely drenched in sweat and dying for...
Melissa Mansfield
Jun 12, 20176 min read
Travel Tips for Americans Who Want to Visit Cuba
Now that I’m living in Havana studying dance, I’m getting A LOT of questions from Americans who want to travel here. I’ve put together...
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