Melissa MansfieldSep 23, 20211 minDancing with Olympian Yeisser RamirezI met Yeisser Ramirez as I meet most people – through dancing. We’re both part of a vibrant community of salsa dancers in New York City...
Melissa MansfieldSep 20, 20212 minDo We Dance to Show our Hidden Emotions?Do we dance so we can SHOW our emotions, because it’s the ONE PLACE where we don’t have to HIDE them? I asked myself this after reading...
Melissa MansfieldSep 17, 20211 minHow to Really Be a Sexy Dancer What does it really mean to be a sexy dancer? Is it how you look or how you express yourself?
Melissa MansfieldMar 17, 20203 minHow to Follow Your Passion in Times of UncertaintyWhat are you doing during this time of uncertainty to continue to nurture your dreams and passions?
Melissa MansfieldMar 3, 20201 minYou Can Be Afraid & Still Be BraveI don’t think brave means being fearless. I think brave means digging down into your inner strength and using it to do what’s right.
Melissa MansfieldMay 26, 20184 minA 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....
Melissa MansfieldMay 25, 20182 minGoing Backwards Is Part of the ProcessDo 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 MansfieldMay 4, 20182 minReggaeton Dancing in the Streets of HavanaI 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 MansfieldMar 27, 20182 minFeeling Intimidated? Ask Them to Dance AnywayA 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 MansfieldMar 16, 20183 minNo 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 MansfieldMar 16, 20183 minMy Favorite Flash Mob: A Bride's Dream Come TrueThe 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 MansfieldMar 16, 20183 minOn Stage: Learning to Let Go at the SF Salsa Rueda FestivalIt 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 MansfieldMar 1, 20181 minDreams 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 MansfieldFeb 16, 20183 minDance is for Everyone: And That Means Boys TooMy 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 MansfieldFeb 2, 20182 minGiraffes Can Dance and So Can YouOne weekend, while visiting a girlfriend who was my inspiration to learn salsa, I read her young daughter's book called “Giraffes Can’t...
Melissa MansfieldJun 17, 20174 minI'm Trying to Dance with the Pros: Lessons Learned from Just One RehearsalWe 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...