You can call it "Salsa Speed Dating." Salsa Mia is helping people socialize through Salsa dancing. Their classes teach what instructor Alex Ruiz calls, "Miami-Cuban style salsa," where instead of dancing with one partner, you constantly switch partners.

"It's a good way to pick up ladies," said Josef Toussaint, who started taking classes a year ago.

And why be shy about it? The first thing you learn at Salsa Mia-- even before dance steps -- is how to break the ice when approaching a dance partner.

Another thing that makes Salsa Mia different, is how the "Miami-flavor" spills down to the street from a huge window high above Lincoln Road. Tourists passing by can't help but stop and look to see those sweet Salsa moves.

Christine Kerber from Sunny Isles stopped and looked so many times she eventually decided to go upstairs and give it a try. She says she specifically chose Salsa Mia because it allowed her to meet new people.

"You don't have to come with somebody to dance with," Kerber said. "You can come with a group of friends and end up dancing all night."

There are couples who come to Salsa Mia, but they have to be prepared to share their significant other.

"Everyone looked very respectful," said Gregory D' Incelli, who came with his girlfriend Kirstin. "I was very respectful, so I assumed there would be a common commitment to that."

Ruiz says even if you've never danced salsa before, there's no reason to feel intimidated. They break up the class into five levels, starting with beginners.
 

Discover all the sights, sounds, and flavors of Miami's South Beach 

Don't expect to just chill out in hot Miami. From golden beaches to trendy fitness spots, you'll find plenty of places to tone up too. Plan your trip with our top picks where to sleep , eat, and play.

Where to learn Salsa
Dance off the calories at Salsa Mia's classes every Wednesday, Friday & Sunday 8:30 pm. After a 2-hour class you'll get the chance to show off your moves when the fiesta really heats up at 11:00 pm with a Sizzling Salsa Nightclub!

Join Salsa Mia's Summer of Fun!
If you have been wondering what to do on hot summer evenings; we have the answer -- Learn to dance Salsa! View Video

Game #1 of the NBA Finals
Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks

Salsa Mia "Where Salsa really Sizzles"

Salsa Mia is "just the spot" to visit right in the middle of the action on Lincoln Rd. on Sexy South Beach. Salsa Mia is full of fun energy and lots of dancing!

CoupTessa Indulgence

Why I love it!
Go out for a night of Salsa dancing at one of the best Salsa schools in Miami that’s been recognized by national broadcasts like NBC Nightly News and The Early Show on CBS. You ladies will get to learn all those Salsa moves you see on Dancing with the Stars from instructors who are experienced dancers! Salsa Mia will supply you girls with the moves to get you dancing anytime, anywhere!

Indulgence Details
Girls, I can't tell you how long I've wanted to learn how to Salsa dance (so much that I bought a Dancing with the Stars workout DVD on my last trip to the mall), so imagine how happy I was when I came across Salsa Mia!! This hip studio located right in the middle of South Beach can turn any aspiring Salsa dancer into the next Karina Smirnoff with their classes (a much more effective technique than following a DVD in my living room while my dog stares at me from the couch)!

Today's indulgence lets all you ladies in on some Salsa action with Classes held Weds, Fri, and Sun eves at 8:30pm.

At Salsa Mia, they teach Miami Style Salsa - a mix of the fun and friendly Cuban style with sexy nightclub moves and social dancing. They'll teach you ladies how to dance with anyone, anywhere, so you'll be able to bust a move at the drop of a hat (I know I'll be secretly hoping for a dance-off to break out anytime I go to a club after taking these classes)!

Salsa Mia is also the only Salsa school that offers two hours of class time, plus one hour of practice for each class to perfect your dance moves.

For the first hour of each class, the instructors will focus on Miami Style Rueda, and in the second hour they'll teach you 1-on-1 and how to combine everything in your dancing! If you're a true beginner (like me, even though I pretend to know what I'm doing!), they'll start you off with all the basics, like marking in place and forward and back rocks, before teaching you how to put everything together and moving on to more advanced steps.

Salsa Mia is the place where all of the South Florida Salseros come to learn their moves and to meet people to dance with! Their instructors are all experienced dancers who make the process of learning Salsa easy and fun no matter what level you are. Not just a favorite spot for the locals, Salsa Mia has also been recognized by national broadcasts like NBC Nightly News and The Early Show on CBS. Come see what all the fuss is about and soon you girls will be dancing your way toward your own Mirror-ball Trophy! Check it out www.salsamia.com

People who would enjoy it: Ladies that love to dance; dudes that love sexy, sweaty ladies.
  
People who would not enjoy it: Anyone that's been telling their friends they're awesome dancers.

If you think you can dance salsa but haven't actually taken any formal classes, I dare you to make a trip to Salsa Mia on a weekend night and make that claim to a sweaty girl in heels and a ridiculous booty. I DARE YOU.

You're going to feel like a fucking idiot, because compared to the average salsa dancer at Salsa Mia you have absolutely no idea what you're doing. Have you ever watched a movie, such as an Indian movie, where out of nowhere a bunch of motherfuckers break out into an impromptu dance number where everyone knows the choreography seemingly on-the-spot and you're thinking to yourself, “yeah, that’s bullshit, how do they all know the moves?” Well, that’s Salsa Mia. Salsa Mia is like a Bollywood film with better music and a distinct lack of blatant copyright infringement.

Indians are serial copyright violators? Yes. Speaking of Indians, holy shit do they love to dance…Speaking of Indians, holy shit do they love to dance, and holy shit are they deliciously goofy at it. Watching a white guy do the running man for 28 minutes isn’t nearly as hilarious as watching any Indian movie ever. But you know what, more power to them. They love to dance and the fact that they’re so fucking awkward at it doesn’t deter them from doing what they love. I admire that. From a distance.

In addition to having sexy Latinas whip you in the face with their hair as they spin like a dreidel in December, they also offer salsa classes for those who lack the intricate knowledge of la rueda. La rueda is a big-ass dance circle where a guy goes from girl to girl and and leads her through the motions, a striking parallel to how Hispanic dudes are in life. I’m sure when you’re a badass and you and everyone in the circle know all the maneuvers it’s fun, but if you’re taking classes it can get a little annoying. I took classes there once and mostly everyone was good, but there was this one eastern European girl (I know she was eastern European because she was really hot, blond, and looked like a sex slave that tried to coerce James Bond into some shit for her boss) who I’m positive didn’t speak English and couldn’t figure out the most basic steps. She was a smile-nodder. One of those people that you ask a question and they either don’t hear you or understand you, so they smile and nod.

Black people have the uncanny ability to make certain words cool as shit to use…On club nights (as opposed to instruction nights) they’ve got some ridiculous salsa bands that perform, and by ridiculous I mean awesome. Don’t you just love that about English? Words like “bad”, “nasty”, “sick”, and “ridiculous” end up having positive meaning. Black people are to blame for that. YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT, I SAID IT. Black people have the uncanny ability to make certain words cool as shit to use, then when enough white people start using them they switch things up, but the original word they switched remains for decades. It can take a while for some white people to adopt those things, which is why “funky fresh” is probably still pervasive in Kentucky.

If you want to learn to salsa to impress anyone above the Broward county line, go to Salsa Mia.

Salsa Mia gave a sample Salsa Class for all the great people that came out to enjoy gourmet food on wheels at Street Food Fridays.

Ejercicios divertidos para 2011
Reportera: Carolina Fernandez
On Air Friday, January 21, 2011

September 28, 2010
By Megan Ann Harmon

If you’re anything like me, you’ve wanted to learn how to salsa dance since your first toe touched ground in Miami (there must be something in the air). Of course, time escapes us, and we keep pushing off our dreams of learning salsa and being the next star on So You Think You Can Dance. However, if we really embraced the Cuban culture that has made Miami what it is today, we’d say ‘Vamos echar un pie!’ So, let’s ‘¡Meter mano!’ Cuban-style. And what better place to do that then on South Beach, surrounded by Cuban design, cigars, food, coffee and attitude.

Salsa Mia: Come learn sizzling salsa moves!

If you’re going to be spending some time in Miami, you should consider putting on your dancing shoes and taking some salsa lessons. Miami has numerous street festivals, clubs and restaurants at which this style of dance is prominent.

Salsa is a dance that spans the gamut from social to passionate, and it quickly becomes a dance of addiction. Once you learn the basic steps and get used to the three-beat rhythms (most music follows a four-beat pattern), you’ll be hooked.

Two left feet? Lack rhythm? Wonder what to do with your hands? No problem! The professional salsa instructors at Salsa Mia are experienced dancers and talented teachers. On top of that, they are spirited and engaging, making learning salsa both fun and easy.

Salsa Mia has lessons for beginners through advanced level dancers. So, if you already have some salsa prowess, they’ll help you perfect your moves and find your personal style, whether it is special footwork, a particular hair toss, or a signature dip.The bar on site is always open, serving Mojitos, beer, wine and other spirits. Each night, lessons kick off at 8:30 and run for about two hours.

Fridays, at 11 pm, a DJ or local salsa band keeps the beats going as Salsa Mia becomes one of the hottest salsa clubs in South Beach. Your lesson also gets you admission to the club, so stay and practice your moves! Sunday’s lessons are followed by open dancing until 11:30 pm.

Just give them a call, or stop by any Wednesday, Friday or Sunday to get started. on their website.

Upon registration, you’ll receive a “Salsa Mia Passing Card." You learn at your own pace; instructors will sign you off for each level once you’ve met all requirements. In all, there are six progressive levels.
 
HelloMetro Tip: Comfortable shoes with a leather or suede sole are best – make sure they fit well and won’t slip off!

VH1 follows wives and girlfriends of some of the NBA’s most elite players to give the viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the glamorous life of a professional basketball player’s wife in VH1’s original series, Basketball Wives. Premier March 15, 2010.

May 2009

Thursday, March 6, 2008

A Different Kind of Dip

Learn how to do it with Salsa Mia.

BY RAINA MCLEOD
 

 

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Enter To Win
A 2-Night Pass to Salsa Mia
Compliments of Universal Music & Fania

Participants went online to FYE, submitted their entries at the FYE stores in South Florida. Winners were announced in September 2007.

Thursday, August 1, 2007

Premier of El Cantante
Regal Cinema - South Beach

Salsa Mia Dancers were invited by PictureHouse to perform at the premier of new movie "El Cantante". El Cantante celebrates the life of the legendary Puerto Rican salsa singer Hector Lavoe. Local Miami radio station MEGA 94.9 was there to broadcast the event. Que viva para siempre la salsa y la musica de Hector Lavoe! Tremendo "Cantante".

Salsa and the City

By Lisett Araujo

The Miami Herald's Nightlife Homepage

Miami’s got a reputation – and it’s a hot one.

Steamy nights, trendy clubs, little clothing and lots of spice. The city is a melting pot, and nothing captures the essence, the feel, the vibe of the place and its people like salsa. This style of music and dance, derived from the Cuban son and mambo, exudes sensuality and passion. No wonder it’s often the soundtrack for movies and shows that depict Miami and its sexy inhabitants.

A city so full of Latin influence is also full of clubs claiming to be the definitive salsa spot. But which are worth your money and time? We did the research and found the perfect clubs for every sabor of salsa lover.

 

If you have a desire to swivel your hips and turn or be turned, head to South Beach’s Salsa Mia. All dancers – regardless of skill level – are welcome. The two-hour classes teach hordes of eager dancers everything from the basic step to the more complicated Rueda – a group dance where couples form a circle and rapidly swap partners through fancy moves.

A 5-night lesson pass is only $22 per night for a two hour class and it gets you free admission into the nightclub, which opens once the classes are over, and half-price drinks. This is a great place to master the basics, gain some confidence and join the party on the dance floor. Come with a partner or alone. Salsa Mia provides a friendly atmosphere perfect for mingling.

Friday, July 6, 2007

Salsa con Sabor MANUEL EDUARDO SOTO El Nuevo Herald   Son hombres y mujeres altos, bajos, gordos, flacos, rubios, blancos, pero todos se reúnen los viernes y los domingos en el salón de fiestas del restaurante de Miami Beach con un solo fin: aprender a bailar salsa, perfeccionar sus pasos en la pista, o simplemente mirar a los alumnos de la academia de baile Salsa Mía que luego se quedan en la fiesta hasta altas horas de la madrugada. PARECIERA QUE SU LEMA ES QUE EL MOVIMIENTO SE DEMUESTRA BAILANDO, Y PARA ELLO SE HA CREADO UNA ACADEMIA QUE LOS VIERNES Y DOMINGOS ADIESTRA A SUS ASISTENTES EN EL RITMO LATINO POR EXCELENCIA Son hombres y mujeres altos, bajos, gordos, flacos, rubios, blancos, pero todos se reúnen los viernes y los domingos en el salón de fiestas del restaurante de Miami Beach con un solo fin: aprender a bailar salsa, perfeccionar sus pasos en la pista, o simplemente mirar a los alumnos de la academia de baile Salsa Mía que luego se quedan en la fiesta hasta altas horas de la madrugada. Mientras por las bocinas se escuchan discos de El Gran Combo, Celia Cruz y Willy Chirino, y cada una de las parejas que repletan la pista del local situado en el segundo piso del famoso restaurante de comida cubana practica lo aprendido, la directora y propietaria de tan singular escuela, Susan Fisher, se desplaza por todos los rincones para cerciorarse de que todo esté bien, y de paso para bailar con algún alumno que no tenga pareja en ese momento. ''Esta noche tenemos unas 80 personas en el salón'', dijo Fisher. Un pase por una noche cuesta $40; por dos noches, $50, y $100 por cinco noches. También se puede firmar contrato por 20 horas de clases privadas o en grupo o si uno resulta un alumno aventajado sólo paga por 10 horas, pero tal vez le baste con cinco horas. Hay diferentes tarifas según lo aventajado que sea el alumno o alumna. La noche del domingo llamaba la atención una rubia espectacular con un vestido de seda transparente que no dejaba prácticamente nada a la imaginación. Tamaña sorpresa fue saber que se llamaba Catherine Ivanova y que había llegado recientemente de Moscú para aprender a bailar mejor la salsa, a pesar de que por sus sensuales movimientos muchos podrían confundirla con una caribeña de cuerpo y alma. ''Me encuentro de vacaciones aquí en Miami'', dijo en una pausa que hizo para tomar aliento, pero sin perder la sonrisa en ningún momento. ``La salsa la conocí en Moscú a través de unos amigos latinoamericanos. Pero siempre que vengo a Miami, aprovecho para perfeccionarme''. Y nadie puede dudar de que a cualquiera le gustaría entablar amistad con esta rusa tan alegre y simpática, ya que a ninguno de los varones que la invitaron a bailar les dijo que no. Uno de los bailadores que tuvo oportunidad de bailar más de una pieza con ella fue Wes Barnes, un traductor del tailandés y el laosiano al inglés, de unos 70 años, que según contó hace cinco años que concurre a Salsa Mía ``por orden del médico''. ''Mi médico me recomendó que hiciera ejercicio para mantenerme bien físicamente y por eso vengo a bailar salsa aquí, a Salsa Mia, en lugar de montarme en una bicicleta estacionaria, como lo hacen los viejos'', dijo en alta voz para poder superar los decibeles que invadían la sala. ``A mi esposa no le gusta bailar, así que vengo solo. Ya pronto me voy a jubilar y pretendo irme a vivir a Bangkok, donde no dejaré de hacerlo porque allí también se baila salsa''. Los alumnos reciben lecciones de expertos hasta las 11:30 de la noche, los viernes o los domingos, después de lo cual el sitio se convierte en discoteca, donde todo el mundo puede disfrutar por igual de los bailes tropicales. Algunos de ellos se solazan sirviéndose los variados tragos del bar del salón y otros prefieren bajar al comedor del primer piso, donde pueden degustar exquisitos platos cubanos como la clásica ropa vieja y otras especialidades de la exquisita mesa cubana, pero con un toque gourmet que los diferencia de los que sirven en cafeterías y restaurantes familiares de la ciudad. Otro aspecto positivo de Salsa Mia es que a pocos pasos están los estacionamientos municipales que les permiten a sus parroquianos dejar sus automóviles sin el peligro de que queden a merced de imprevistos. Una mujer ya madura entró al local en medio de la clase, se sentó tranquilamente en un sofá, abrió su cartera, extrajo un par de zapatos cerrados con los que reemplazó los que traía, que no tenían talón. Se paró y raudamente se sumó a los bailadores de la pista, moviendo los pies al ritmo de Azuquita p'al café, de El Gran Combo. Fue una de las últimas en irse con su pareja, satisfecha de la jornada salsera.•

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

The SunPost Best Of 2007
Treasures Of Miami And The Beaches

Nightlife:

Best Salsa Nights

Salsa Mia

Ever wanted to learn to salsa? Or are you just looking for a great place to dance the night away to a Latin beat? Salsa Mia incorporates both. Six different levels, from beginners to advanced, are taught by six different instructors at the same time and place. No need to bring a partner as everyone rotates, so you get to step on the toes of, and eventually get in perfect rhythm with, all sorts of people. Classes are held Fridays and Sundays from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Stay after class Friday for the hottest salsa nightclub on the beach; open until 2:30 a.m. Phone: 305-987-3033. www.salsamia.com

Thursday, April 26, 2007

The Sports Club LA/Miami at the Four Seasons Hotel
Members enjoyed a wonderful night of Salsa with Salsa Mia.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Miami Beach Dance Festival
Miami Beach Botanical Gardens

Saturday, March 10, 2007
Salsa Mia at Alonzo Mourning's
Overtown Youth Center Fund-raiser
 

Friday, February 23, 2007
2-Year Anniversary of Salsa Mia
The story of Salsa Mia filmed and reported by Paola Gutierrez
Despierta America! Aired on August 3rd, 2007
 

Monday, February 5, 2007



Salsa Mia teaches new Hip Hop artist, JJ, to Salsa on Escandalo TV
His album titled Disco de Oro was released this August.

Saturday, February 3rd, 2007

Salsa Mia LIVE from South Beach on the CBS Early Show.
Saturday, Feb. 3rd. Super Bowl 2007 special coverage.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Salsa Mia was filmed for Ritmo Deportivo on Friday, January 19th, 2007. The program aired on Sunday, January 28, 2007.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Food Network's Filming of Giada de Laurentiis' new TV program called "Giada's Weekend Getaways"... (MIAMI)

Chef Giada de Laurentiis travels across the United States looking for vacation destinations for food lovers. Giada’s Weekend Getaways premiered Friday, January 12, 2007.

Posted on Sat, Sep. 09, 2006

Sunday, August 6, 2006
E! Entertainment Television Latin America
Wild On Latino

Salsa Mia was interviewed and filmed for an upcoming program of Wild On South Beach.
The program will air in over 28 Latin American countries. Stay tuned for dates!!!

July 14, 2006
 

On his summer tour of the most adventurous cities in the United States, Procter & Gamble's ZEST FOR ADVENTURE Man visited Salsa Mia in Miami.

To see the video clip of his visit to Salsa Mia click here and then on "salsa dancing"
http://www.zestforadventure.com/blog/index.htm

This is what he had to say...

Written by Zest for Adventure Man, John Guidroz
Fact: Salsa Dancing lessons exist to make you look silly. At least that's what happened to me last night. I went to South Beach for a taste of the infamous Miami nightlife. What better place to try some Latino grooves? Kickin clubs, hot ladies strutting down the promenades, clothes clinging to flesh like a man to his pride. As it turns out, a "good night" of Salsa education requires a man to take off his pride; a "better night", his clothes. I can't comment on the clothes.

The lesson kicked off with an introduction to the basic 1-2-3 steps. Then a couple transition moves, some side-steps, back steps-- simple enough after a few minutes. Then they tripled the speed and threw on some music. Add the group of people watching and I was petrified. Don't get me wrong, I can count to 3 and generally get by on the dance floor at a club or bar, but when I tried to follow the instructions in my head and still listen to the music I ended up moving like a Zombie from Night of the Living Dead. After an hour, solo time was finished and, apparently, we were ready to be paired up for couples dancing.

In a thick Hispanic accent, the instructor told the men in the beginner group that it was our jobs to lead the ladies. "Salsa dancing is communication with your bodies. You take the ladies. Ladies, you want to be taken, no?" I liked this guy, but he was a liar. When I got out on the dance floor to try out my basic steps my experienced partner tolerated my zombie steps for about two seconds before taking me. I didn't care, she made me look good. What the hell, dancing is all about a good time and living a little right? The bottom line is that tonight had all the core elements of a good adventure: fear, hesitation, learning, and, in the end, success. Next time I just need to stop counting in my head, loosen up a bit and brush up on my espanol. Maybe that will also lead to a "better night."

"ANYWAY, we arrive at Yuca for our dance lessons provided by Salsa Mia. We're in front of the line and I survey the situation: lots of couples of all ages, a relatively balanced mix of whites and Latinas. Alright, I'm on a level playing field. And these people are all here for lessons."

"There are five levels that Salsa Mia provides, with level one being the beginner level going up to the advanced class, level five. We would start at level one. Our instructor for the evening would guide Penelope and I (and eighteen or so other people) through the introductory steps of Salsa. First, we would learn the basic steps without music. Then, the music would start. We'd then run through these simple steps to music. I danced with great aplomb. Penelope had natural rhythm. My hips were a little rigid initially, but then the music came into me. White man got his groove on."

"After learning some of the basic steps, the instructor then had us pair up, with all of the couples forming a circle. Men's left shoulders pointed to the middle of the circle, women's right shoulders pointed inward. And then the music began again. And from here, we danced the dance of the Salsa. We would switch partners (the women stationary, the men moving counter-clockwise to the next partner) roughly every four beats. Para mia. Para baho. These are words that would be shouted over and over again, effectively getting the student body to move in unison, however un-trainable we were."

"I will readily concede that there are many a white man who can't dance. The second time we went, we brought a mutual friend and I wished we hadn't. Penelope would see in him all of his whiteness on the dance floor. But it wasn't just him, really. It was most of the white guys there. I was the great white hope and seeing my fellows white dancers step left when they should step right? watching them move like robots (and not in some good 80s break-dancing way) when their bodies should move fluidly? it only inspired me more to prove Penelope wrong. I was a team of one that night, my fellow whities leaving me to dry."

Penelope: "I was feeling mighty confident that I would pass Level 1 after a couple of classes, and given my Latin friends had already taught me a thing or two on Salsa dancing, this was going to be a piece of cake. We began learning the steps, some of which I already knew but I did realize I hadn't been doing it correctly I had been simply faking it at the clubs. ?I want to get really good? I thought to myself so I listened intently at the teacher's instructions of the fancy footwork. The classes are structured so that, even if you go by yourself, you'll get to dance with a partner due to the rotations around the circle of mostly newbie's. There are people of every age, some taking this way too seriously (have they figured out that Miami is mostly Latino and they need to get with the program?) , others who were there just for fun like Scott and I, and lastly older men and women who surely appear to be there to meet other singles in the community. And why not? What better place to meet someone than in a hot and sweaty room filled with pheromones stemming from the sexy rhythms, blood pumping lust, and teasing touching Latin music brings to your soul?"

"I digress. Surprisingly Scott isn't THAT white when it comes to his ability to actually learn the footsteps and have some coordination on the dance floor. For a white guy I was mildly impressed, but I still had to make fun of him for he didn't quite have the ?IT? effect he needs to become a sexy Latin dancer and swoon girls onto dance floors."

Scott: "What did she say? She's crazy. I'm a sexy Latin dancer! For two hours we danced. We moved to the music, we drank beer to keep cool and loosen us up, and we swayed. Then we took our dancing to another club, Score, where Penelope had friends that would get us in the door free. I regret to inform the white male populace, though, that I somewhat let our people down. While I managed to shred Penelope's notion that white men can't dance, I made zero headway in the ?white men can't hold their liquor? category. After drinks at Yuca and then more drinks at Score, this dapper Fred Astaire turned into a red-nosed W.C. Fields, sloshed, and incapable of walking straight, let alone dancing. When I laid down in the middle of Euclid Avenue en route to whatever our next destination was, I realized it was time to call it a night."

REFRESHER COURSE NEEDED
Penelope and Scott dancing at Yuca

Penelope: "We decided one time wasn't enough and since weeks had passed since our last lesson, we decided to try it one more time. We arrived for round two, and this time we had a hot little Latina teacher boasting a pair of incredibly high, sexy and shiny silver heels, in tight jeans, and this chick could move, unlike the boring guy teacher from last time. Surely she wanted to just ?get moving? but soon she realized how green we all were. But that didn't stop her from teaching us some turns and spins though, and she ran quickly through the basic steps, moving onto the turns like we all had been there several times."

"Dang, I even had a hard time with the side-to-side turn! I was beginning to grow frustrated thinking 'how can I not get this??' but after a few tries, I had it down. We brought a white male friend with us this time and he was sweating like a pig. His shirt soaked, he appeared lost, but I give him props for not giving up. Now HE is truly white. Poor guy (laughing)."

Scott: "While we still went in as level one dancers, the game was all complicated this time. There was spinning and turning and then MORE spinning and more turning. Still, I held my own and danced like a?. like a?. well, like a white man. But like a white man with rhythm and soul. And again, I was at the top of the class, dispelling Penelope's foolish notion."

DID HE SAY "DISPELLING MY NOTION?"

Penelope: "No, no my dear friend. Ok, I"ll give Scott his props for not embarrassing me completely during the lessons, but I will also add that it didn't help proving my point when everyone at the class was totally horrible the second go-round. Had this been a real Salsa club, my poor friend would be left in the dust like a typical white guy for just knowing the steps doesn't make you a good salsa dancer, it makes you decent but still vulnerable to budding jokes. Latinos are no joke. This is serious business and much like when a peacock raises his feathers to attract females for mating, Latin guys show their appeal by knowing how to swoon a girl on the dance floor, making her feel weightless and beautiful. This can't be accomplished by white men as they simply don't have what it takes physically to be able to move fluidly, nor do they possess the charm and sex appeal a Latin guy confidently boasts to make a girl fall into their arms and let them lead the way, lead our bodies, and influence the heart."

SUCCESS! (mostly)

Scott: "We ended our night of dancing at Yuca. And we ended with me proving Penelope wrong. She, of course, might say otherwise. But she would be lying. White men CAN dance. Just maybe not all of us."

Salsa Mia runs the show with a two-hour class for all levels, followed by an hour of practice. Make a night of it on Fridays when the Salsa Nightclub takes over at 11 p.m. and the pros come out to shake their hips and spin to live music and a DJ. The atmosphere is friendly and inviting whether you choose to grab a partner and show off your moves or watch others admiringly while sipping a mango mojito.

Salsa Mia appears in the July/August issue of LRM magazine in their cover story of the summer called "Summer Rocks! Twenty-four reasons to emerge from the air conditioning to experience all that Miami has to offer during the summer--great deals, hot events, cultural stimulation and, best of all, shorter lines."

"Summer Rocks" is proof that summer is not hell on earth in South Florida. It's also far from boring.

Salsa Mia is #2 out of 24 hottest things to do this summer in Miami!!!

You Can Dance

"You may hear the music, but you'll never really feel like a Miamian until you've learned to Salsa. Summer's a great time to learn with Salsa Mia. After the 2-hour Friday-night lesson, put your new moves to the test at Salsa Mia's dance party."

-- Sara Churchville