Interview w/ Mike Del Campo, one of Sacramento's favorite salsa instructors, known for his hilarious one liners and methodical approach to teaching salsa. A former Kung Fu teacher, Del Campo is one of the first major persons to teach salsa in the Sacramento area. He is a great person to learn from if you are starting out, easy to understand with step by step instruction, and well respected in the salsa community.

Biography:
Mike is the Artistic Director and Chief Instructor at the Del Campo Dance Studio. He has been dancing, teaching, choreographing and competing in Northern California since 1987. He started his own studio, Del Campo Dance Studio (along with Gina) at the beginning of 1996. Mike is well versed in these partner dances: Waltz, Fox Trot, Cha Cha, Rumba, Bolero, American and Argentine Tango, Salsa, Merengue, Casino Rueda, Cumbia, Samba, Lambada, Paso Doble, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, St. Louis Shag, Balboa, Texas 2-step and Country Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Night Club 2-step and Night Club Slow Dancing as well as some line dances that dancers can do solo without a partner. Mike also choreographs first dances for wedding couples. Mike emphasizes good technique in leading and following skills and stresses strong foundation in technique and footwork. Mike founded Sacramento ’s first and premier Salsa Dance Troupe, Salsa Capital, and is in charge of choreography for the dance teams’ routines. Outside of the Del Campo Dance Studio, Mike teaches the Salsa lesson every Sunday night at Harlow ’s Restaurant and Night Club in Midtown Sacramento and the Salsa classes on Monday nights at The Ballroom of Sacramento. Prior to teaching dancing Mike owned his own Kung Fu School, Sacramento Kung Fu, and focused mainly on teaching the style of Wing Chun; he enjoys teaching and working with people.
More in depth biography coming soon...

Q: You currently teach salsa in Sacramento, where are you from originally?

A: Originally from Bakersfield, my family moved to Sacramento in 1972.

Q: From your point of view, how has the interest in Salsa changed over the years?

A: I've noticed since the advent of internet that communication has helped to really peak the interest in this dynamic style of dancing. Now you have Salsa Congresses, Salsa dance teams and a much more interest in general world wide.

Q: You're famous for saying "My name is Mike and my favorite color is purple." Is your favorite color really purple?

A: Definitely! I've always really liked it and it just so happened my favorite sports teams have purple as one of their colors, the Minnesota Vikings and the Sacramento Kings.

Q: How long have you been teaching at the Ballroom, Del Campo Studios, and Harlow's; and do you have any plans or visions for salsa in the future?

A: At the Ballroom steady since Feb 2007, we taught Swing there many years ago. The Del Campo Dance Studio has been business since 1996. Harlow's as been going for about 7 or 8 years, I think. I would like to see in Sacramento one nightclub or nightclub/restaurant that is exclusively a Salsa Club, otherwise I think the Salsa scene is pretty healthy and steadily growing. The other thing is this website you are doing that will cover the entire Sacramento Salsa community.

Q: Have you ever thought about hitting up the comedy circuit since many consider you the "king of one-liners"?

A: Thanks for compliment, but I think I'll stay in Salsa. I'm glad that students appreciate the humor, it alleviates self-consciousness of people who might feel awkward while trying to learn to dance.