Instructors

Michael Kagan

Co-director

Michael caught the "salsa bug" while living in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2016. While training in South East Asia, Michael attended international salsa festivals in Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. Since moving back to the US in 2018, Michael has trained and performed with Mambo Romero, Yamulee SF, and Iroko SF dance companies. In addition he has studied under internationally known teachers including Ernesto Lopez, Diego Rivera, and Yaritza Arboleda. Michael began teaching as an assistant while in Vietnam and as primary instructor in San Francisco in 2021. A year later, Michael choreographed and directed his first team choreography under the name Baraban Dance Project, performing at two local festivals. Currently, Michael directs San Francisco Salsa Academy with his partner and co-director, Trang. His favorite part of salsa dancing is the socials and he's an active member in the SF social dancing community.

Trang H.

Co-director

Trang is among the first generation of salsa dancers in Vietnam and boasts over 15 years of experience in teaching latin dance. A ballroom dancer at first, she was introduced to bachata and salsa by her teacher Sy who pioneered salsa across Vietnam. From the start, she instinctively spread the joy of salsa to a wider community. She traveled to Hanoi to practice and soon opened her first studio, Jan, in her home town of Hai Phong to share her passion and grow the scene. In 2016, Trang moved to Hanoi to become the studio manager and resident salsa instructor at Beso Latino, where she continued teaching at all levels while adding youth classes and performance choreography to her repertoire. During this time Trang expanded her horizons by participating in international congresses in Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, India, and San Francisco. Trang moved to SF permanently in 2023, where she has continued to learn, teach, and inspire dancers of all levels. Some of her salsa idols are Griselle Ponce and Eddie Torres Jr. Outside of dance, Trang runs a cake business and loves practicing yoga and mindfulness.

Kayla

Instructor

Kayla comes from rural Northern California and began living abroad in Central America at a young age. She was quickly drawn to the Afro Latin dance scene there and trained with New Sensation in Guatemala. With 10 years of practice under her belt, competing and performing, she returned to California to continue that journey and become an instructor. She can't wait to spread joy through dance with you!