Every weekend, salsa and bachata classes bring people together in Ames. Michael Misra, the instructor, said dance changed his life.
“I really found my confidence because of salsa,” Misra said. “Prior to finding dance, I was very shy, and I had trouble talking to people.” While living in Europe, he discovered salsa and zouk. “I freaking love this,” he said. “It was a great way to meet people.”
Misra later competed in Miami, placing second in his division. Now, he teaches in Ames to share his love for dance.
“I want to give back to all those dancers who helped me over the years and really spread the love,” Misra said.
Erica Fuchs, one of his students and Iowa State Alumni, came to Latin dance with experience in other styles.
“I’ve loved dancing my whole life,” Fuchs said. “But last year, I had more time and was looking to get back into it.”
A friend introduced her to bachata.
“I thought it would be a lot of fun to learn more,” she said.
Fuchs said the classes expanded her social circle. “I’ve met 40 or 50 more people than I knew before,” she said. “And since I love dancing, I tend to like the people who like to dance, too.”
She also felt welcomed. “The way Latin dancing is set up, it’s very friendly and inviting to newcomers,” Fuchs said. “You can dance with people at any skill level.”
Misra makes sure beginners feel comfortable. “For every class, we’re going to walk through the basics,” he said. “The classes themselves are intended to be open to both beginners and those who have had a little bit of opportunity to dance. At the end of the day, we all just want to have fun and enjoy dancing.”
Misra’s three dance rules are simple: “Number one, have fun. Number two, don’t hurt yourself or anyone else. And number three, what I call the Bob Ross rule—there are no mistakes, just happy little accidents.”
Fuchs said dance helps with stress and connection. “It’s great exercise, and it reduces stress,” she said. “You have to be attuned to your partner, which encourages empathy and trust.” Misra added that dance improves memory. “It actually opens up the opportunity to do more, learn more, and keep your brain active,” he said.
Misra wants to grow the dance community. “Ideally, we’d love to bring in big names for weekend workshops,” he said. “And we’re working on hosting more social dances, which really bring people together.”
His Saturday classes are open to all levels, with a $5 rate for students. Misra also hosts a free beginner class on Sundays at Sam’s Place on Main Street, which is 21+, followed by social dancing from 7 to 10 p.m.
Fuchs encourages students to try dance. “Looking back, I wish I had started earlier,” she said. “I hope students take the opportunity to try something new while they have the chance. Dance has been such a joy, and I’d love for more people to experience that.”
For more information, reach out to Michael Misra at [email protected]
