Learn to Dance with Michelle Badion

Michelle Badion has been teaching full time in Seattle for over thirty years. She was Seattle's first Salsa teacher and third Argentine Tango teacher, and was part of Seattle's second wave of West Coast Swing teachers. She also taught ballroom dancing at the Washington Dance Club. What sets her apart is her teaching philosophy: she dances with all her students during classes, taking both lead and follow roles to stay connected to their needs. Her lessons and classes are known for being fun and enthusiastic, with clear instruction and her contagious playfulness putting students at ease.

Michelle specializes in Argentine Tango, Salsa and West Coast Swing, and also teaches Waltz, Country, East Coast Swing, Bachata, Cha Cha, Cumbia and Blues. She has travelled to Argentina for Tango, Cuba for Salsa, and throughout the US and Europe. She has taught at and participated in many Argentine Tango Festivals, Salsa Congresses and West Coast Swing conventions, and continues to attend major dance events each year. She has performed with many of the best Argentine Tango dancers, including Carlos Gavito, Fabian Salas, Omar Vega, Eduardo Saucedo, and Metin Yazir, among many others.

Group classes meet Tuesdays at The Masonic Temple, 7910 Greenwood Avenue N, with a 7:00 beginning class and 8:00 intermediate class. Drop-ins and singles are always welcome. Classes are $20 per class or both classes for $30; students get half price. Michelle also offers private lessons at her studio at 1320 NE 63rd Street, priced at $90 per hour for 1–2 people, available every day including weekends. She has been teaching wedding couples for over thirty years and specializes in helping couples prepare their first dance with just a few private lessons.

Michelle hosts regular tango events around Seattle, including Tangoesque Alt. Milongas on 1st Fridays at OmCulture and Tangoesque Two on 3rd Sundays at OmCulture. She is well known throughout the local dance community and has continued to social dance every week for all twenty years, keeping her dancing skills sharp and her knowledge of local and worldwide trends current. She frequently performs publicly and continues to take private lessons from great masters of partner dance, passing those benefits directly to her students.

Group classes are casual and welcoming. Drop-ins are always welcome; no partner is needed, and you can start anytime. You'll dance with Michelle, who takes both lead and follow roles, keeping things connected and fun. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can wipe clean or bring fresh.

Michelle Badion is the lead instructor. Julia assists with Tuesday Argentine Tango classes. Michelle has over thirty years of full-time teaching experience and continues to study with master dancers worldwide.

Beginners are welcomed at the 7:00 Tuesday class, which is explicitly labelled "Beginning and Beyond"; no partner is required and you can start anytime.