Student Spotlight:

Mayrin Mejia

Salsa Student

When Mayrin first came across Movers and Shakers, she was immediately drawn to the uplifting, approachable energy of the community. Unlike other dance studios that felt intimidating, this one felt like a place where she could truly learn, have fun, and not worry about judgment. With a bit of hesitation and a lot of curiosity, she signed up—and never looked back.

As she progressed through salsa, Mayrin found a rhythm that went far beyond steps and spins. The structure of the classes and the ability to revisit recap videos gave her the consistency she needed to build confidence and truly internalize the movements. It became less about perfection and more about being present, letting the music take over, and enjoying the connection with her partner.

For someone who once second-guessed joining out of fear of embarrassment, salsa became a surprising form of self-expression. It allowed her to get out of her head, trust her instincts, and experience personal growth through movement. Whether she’s dancing or just navigating life, Mayrin now embraces new challenges with a more open and empowered mindset—all sparked by that first step onto the dance floor.

1. What inspired you to take your first salsa class at Movers and Shakers?

The atmosphere at Movers & Shakers seemed very positive and motivating. When researching other studios, they seemed very intimidating. I scrolled through Instagram before joining & just thought it would be a really fun & welcoming place to learn how to dance.

2. What strategies have helped you the most in remembering salsa steps and improving your skills?

When practicing, I always rewatch the recap video and go in order by week. It makes it so that the previous weeks are really ingrained in my head and makes it so that the following week’s material doesn’t feel so daunting. By mastering the previous week, the new material doesn’t feel like too much on my plate at once.

3. What’s one way salsa has surprised you compared to other activities or hobbies you’ve tried?

Sometimes at the gym or while running, it’s hard for me to get lost in the activity and distract myself. Many times I wait for it to be over. However, in salsa, it’s so easy to distract yourself and only think about the moves you’re trying to master.

4. Imagine you have the power to instantly improve one aspect of your salsa dancing. What would you choose to enhance and why?

To be more relaxed while dancing, I’d improve my ability to stay present and not overthink my movements. Overall, to feel more confident, let the music guide me naturally, and connect better with my partner without hesitation. This would make dancing more fluid and fun.

5. In what ways has learning salsa at Movers and Shakers contributed to your personal growth?

Learning salsa at Movers and Shakers has helped me break out of my comfort zone. Many times I've talked myself out of doing an activity because I was worried about embarrassing myself. It's helped me to connect with others and embrace challenges with a more positive mindset.