Intermediate Cumbia with Mireille

Take Your Cumbia to the Next Level
4-Week Series | Tuesdays at 7:30 PM
AUGUST 11 – SEPTEMBER 1
Ready to level up your “Step of the Soul”? Join us for a high-energy, Intermediate Cumbia series designed to take you beyond the basics and inject flavor, intricate patterns, and advanced musicality into your dance. If you are comfortable with the basic rhythm and ready to challenge your footwork and partner work, this class is for you!
Prerequisite: Completion of the Beginner Cumbia series (or equivalent foundational experience) is required.
4-Week Intermediate Cumbia Series Program
Week 1 – Intermediate Foundations & Complex Timing
• Quick review of basic steps (Tropical and Sonidera) and rhythm check
• Introduction to syncopated footwork and advanced timing shifts
• Enhancing partner connection: tension, compression, and frame control for faster transitions
• Intermediate partner work combination with dynamic direction changes
Week 2 – Advanced Turns, Traveling, & Precision
• Review of Week 1 combination and footwork
• Multiple turns and accelerated turn preparations for both leaders and followers
• Advanced traveling basics: mastering floor craft and moving effortlessly across the room
• Complex partner patterns incorporating intricate hand-drops and loops
Week 3 – Styling, Body Isolation, & Intricate Patterns
• Review of advanced turns and loops
• Adding intermediate styling: body isolations, hip action, and expressive arm styling
• Advanced cross-body lead variations and continuous turn combinations
• Developing smooth, seamless transitions between complex moves
Week 4 – Musicality, Flow, & Social Mastery
• Review of all intermediate footwork, styling, and patterns
• Combining the 4-week material into an advanced choreography sequence
• Deep dive into musicality: hitting the breaks, accents, and interpreting different Cumbia sub-genres
• Building confidence, flow, and expression for the social dance floor
• Social dancing practice + comprehensive mini recap
Important Details
Experience Level: Intermediate. Beginner class/foundational experience is required.
No partner necessary: Come solo or bring a friend—we will rotate throughout the class so everyone gets plenty of time to dance.
Footwear: Please wear non-marking shoe soles to help us keep our dance floor in great condition.
Arrival: Please arrive 10 minutes before class starts.
Date & Time: Tuesdays, 7:30 PM (4-week course, AUGUST 11 – SEPTEMBER 1)
Address: Salsa Dance Marin, 4140 Redwood Highway #8, San Rafael, CA
About the Instructor: Mireille Ruiz
Born and raised in Mexico City, Mireille grew up immersed in the music and dance of her culture, including Cumbia, Banda, Ranchera, and Quebradita. She learned her first following techniques dancing with her father at family fiestas.
With a rich background in Mexican folklore, Jazz, tap dancing, and gymnastics, Mireille is also a percussionist, drummer, and Montessori Teacher. She has been performing since the age of 4. As a premier Bay Area Bachata and Cumbia instructor, Mireille has been teaching dance, performing, and leading dance teams at major USA events, festivals, and congresses since 2008.