About Irene
Irene Miguel, winner of the salsa UK Lifestyle Achievement Award 2006, is a leading choreographer, performer and teacher with a background in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Yoga and Pilates. With 20 years of experience in dance and fitness she has developed her own training systems: "Danzalifestyle systems, the world's first holistic approach to Salsa and Mambo" the systems include emphasis on musicality, improvisation, posture, breathing, flexibility and safety. She was the first international teacher to teach performance courses specially designed for congresses, giving the students the opportunity to perform alongside their favourite salsa stars!
Irene has been travelling around the world teaching and performing for 20 years and has partnered dancers such as Seon Stylist, Angel Ortis, Edgard Del Rosario, Leon Rose, Laith Sami, Frank Santos and Tamambo amongst others. During Irene’s time teaching abroad, she has visited many cities within the UK, US, Holland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, China, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Argentina and Brazil to name a few! She is continuing to spread the Latin Dance movement across the world and plans to visit many more places.
Irene’s main teacher and inspiration is Eddie Torres with whom she has been studying since 1999. She has also learned from Nelson Flores, Stracy Diaz, Frankie Martinez, Melissa Rosado amongst others. She continues to study both dance and music with these teachers and many others.
The Danzalifestyle Systems
The Danzalifestyle Systems are a comprehensive and integrated Dance Training programs, geared to helping students fulfil their individual potential as dancers. Specifically created and developed for dancers by some of the best and most knowledgeable Instructors in the world: Irene Miguel and Edgard Del Rosario, a former Eddie Torres' dancer. The DL Systems are Dance Training Programs for the body, mind and soul. The systems fuse Pilates, Yoga and Dance in a revolutionary highly structured, inspiring and fun way. Mambolifestyle (ML) taught ON 2 New York style and Salsalifestyle (SL) taught ON 1 have been taught and further developed by Irene Miguel since 2001.
The systems increase fitness and stamina, improve coordination and timing, help dancers to develop their own style and promote good posture, breathing and flexibility. The results have been phenomenal, with students reaching an advanced level in less than one year. However, Danzalifestyle is about more than just developing each individual's dancing - it inevitably provokes students to examine their lifestyle away from the dance floor in terms of their diet, stress levels and general outlook. These systems have helped all sorts of people to develop a more positive outlook on life, enhancing their self-image and perceptions of the world around them. What is more, it's an inclusive system that is safe for any age or fitness levels, thanks to the exceptionally high standard of training of their founders and due to the extensive time and research put into creating these very special training programs.
Over the past 13 years, the systems have benefited students in the UK (London, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Manchester, Bournemouth, Southport, Blackpool, Oxford, etc), USA (New York, Miami), Argentina (Rosario, Cordoba, Mendoza, Buenos Aires), France (Paris), Bulgaria (Sofia), Turkey (Istanbul, Antalia), Spain (Galicia, Madrid), Hong Kong and many more places.
Within the ML/SL system, all lessons, courses and levels are designed as developmental stepping-stones. This means plenty of opportunity for practice, repetition and consistent instruction, allowing students to progress rapidly at their own pace and in keeping with their own individual needs, requirements and styles.
The dance training system is composed of 7 Pillars or training programs and 5 Elements. Danzalifestyle Systems are simple and dynamic, ensuring that anyone can learn the content in their own way whilst still following a structured course.
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Qualifications
- BA Dance and Performing Arts
- BSc (Hons) Sports Science, Fitness and Health
- UKA SALSA LICENTIATE
- BSY Yoga Teacher
- YMCA RSA Exercise to Music
- Stott Pilates Teacher
- BSY Shiatsu
- Ashtanga Yoga Teacher
- AFAA Aerobics Instructor
- BAWLA Fitness Leader
- Red Cross Life Saving Certificate
- NVQ 1 and 2 Video Production
- NVQ 1 and 2 Music Production
- CELTA English Teacher
- Lifetime Achievement Award UK Salsa Congress 2006
- EUROPEAN Salsa Champion 1998 / EUROPEAN Salsa Champion 2000
Irene is very active in the Salsa community and has participated in various Championships and Congresses as a Judge. Below is a list of some of the events that Irene has participated in as a Judge.
- Alliance Dance International Competition 2015
- IDO British Salsa Championships 1998 to 2010
- Hong Kong salsa championships 2009
- British Salsa Championship since 1998
- Bacardi Paris Salsa Competition 2001
- Club Salsa UK 2001
- Salsa Open Argentina 2005
- European Salsa Open 2006 at the UK Salsa Congress
Testimonials
I just wanted to tell you that I think you've done a fantastic job of breaking down the Cuban motion. I especially like the names you have given for the Arm positions, they are so appropriate. I am already learning a lot from you.
I was watching your videos on youtube, telling me that I wanted to dance with you again, to dance like you. You inspire me so much values, so much feelings. I admire you for staying so simple and sweet, for taking the time to send us such wonderful words. Thank you Irene, for all your hard work and inspiration to me, a beginner in dance.
Thank you also for being an inspiration to me. You allowed me to see that we can have dreams, follow them and live them. All the best and lots of love and joy.