• The dietitian of Luis Suárez and Antonella Rocuzzo: "Junk food is the easiest and fastest way to get dopamine"
  • Physical activity Ass above: this is the challenge of only 30 days of Iván Perujo, the coach of the famous

One, two, three, five, six, seven... The indications in English of the professional dancer Micho Valdés (Havana, Cuba, August 5, 1985) with a lively salsa in the background had never received so many 'likes'. More than a million -and counting- between the public profiles of David and Victoria Beckham. "Wow, Dad, I'm impressed," his son Romeo commented in the viral video.

View this post on Instagram

The Cuban more than approves of the taste of the former footballer and the former Spice from the other side of the pond. "David and Victoria are very good students, focused and disciplined, they practice a lot," he reveals about this hitherto unknown facet of the famous couple. In fact, he continues, when they see each other in a next class "it is always to advance because they have already learned the above."

The fever for Latin rhythms is such that his daughter Harper is already a better dancer than her parents. "He's taking classes too and he's excellent." But all this is not a matter of a day. The first time he gave them a session, he explains, was four years ago at Marc Anthony's house. "We were taken by Enrique Santos, the radio announcer. From that moment on, David was very excited and started following us on Instagram."

They kept in touch for a long time. "We always talked about when I came to Miami longer we were going to follow the classes, and we did." Today they go to their center, Micho Dance School (BCM) "officially" as Valdés likes to say, already in a "serious" way. His level is one of initiation, but the classes have been very productive: "And there in the video they uploaded you can see how fast they have advanced," he says with his Cuban accent.

THE DANCER'S STORY

Valdes, at Marc Anthony's home, where he taught Beckham for the first time four years ago.

Micho Valdés has been dancing since he was a child. He started when he was just eight years old. "My parents thought I was going to be an athlete, since my mom is a sports doctor and my dad was a baseball coach," he says. But one day his mother was captivated by seeing him dance in the living room of their house. "He was dancing like Michael Jackson and realized he had a talent for this. He took me to do a recruitment test at a dance school and I was selected." From there he began his career as a dancer.

"I graduated from the most important national school in Cuba, the ENA, and I was a member of prestigious dance companies, in some I was even a first dancer," he recalls. So he chose a sacrificial professional life, especially when he bet on becoming a choreographer and owner of his own business.

"My wife and I started the company eight years ago. I focus on artistic creation and she in all the administrative part, in addition to carrying social networks". He dedicates himself 24/7 to his work. "When I'm not physically teaching a class, I'm creating new choreography, studying steps or creating content." According to his wife, sometimes, when he is sleeping, she sees him jumping and knows that he is sure to be dreaming of dancing.

PASSION FOR DANCE

Harper, daughter of David and Victoria Beckham, has also signed up for Cuban salsa classes.

Currently its academy has more than 300 students, including children, adolescents and adults. "What I like most about teaching dance is the social and emotional impact it has. A spiritual connection is created where age, ethnicity, religion, nationality, language... It's a universal language that everyone can understand," he proudly defends.

Not surprisingly, he has students with special needs and who adapt perfectly within the group: "We are all the same". He also reveals his immense satisfaction at seeing how once someone learns, even a little, they feel powerful. "My classes have been therapy for children with obesity, people with depression or anyone who normally needs a motivation to see life differently."

View this post on Instagram

He claims that Tik Tok is part of this growing interest in dance. That there is a new boom thanks to social networks. Although in particular salsa, discipline in which he is a master, has been making its way worldwide for many years. "In Europe and Asia there are thousands of workshops that reach a giant level of professionalism."

BENEFITS OF DANCING

Once you start with the basics, your students become interested in more complicated figures. "Almost everyone can learn reggaeton or hip hop empirically, but salsa cannot, salsa has to be studied." On the other hand, this rhythm is directly associated with the Latin.

"When they say 'salsa' you immediately think of the Caribbean, the sun, the beach, the refreshing drinks, helpful and smiling people... In short, joy." There are those who are born with more ease or ease, who bring a background of activities that contribute to capture the steps faster, such as gymnastics or ballet, which always help with coordination. Because salsa is such a moving rhythm, "you have to use your whole body to dance, and not just with your feet. You move even with your head and eyes."

It also requires trust, even more so if it is as a couple. "Physically it is a complete exercise and mentally you are exercising your memory and your reflexes," says the instructor.

PRACTICE IS THE KEY

The instructor with the singer and the former footballer.

To be a good dancer you only need interest and discipline, he says. "My motto is: if you can walk, you can dance, or even if you can move you can also dance, as I have met people who dance even in wheelchairs." Learning depends on paying attention to what you are taught and practicing it, practicing it and practicing it at any time, "whether during the shower, lunch or a free time in the day."

There are many styles of salsa and each one has its magic, he says. "The one I teach is special: the Cuban salsa casino." It has many factors similar to the one danced in Puerto Rico, glides, but merges much more with other rhythms. "Let's just say it's more versatile." When you dance Cuban salsa, freestyle or in pairs, if you want the dance to be dynamic and professional you have to use a little mambo, chachachá, rumba, columbia and, currently, you can even put a pinch of reggaeton, he continues. "In this style, the man takes the helm of the dance, however, the one who shines the most is the woman."

The couple poses with the dancers of the center. Victoria Beckham has already been made with salsa shoes.

Hence, that trust is needed and generated with the dance partner of which the Beckhams boast so much, to know the step that follows without having to articulate a word. If watching the famous video has bitten you the bug to start dancing, Micho Valdés is resounding: "You are going to burn calories, you are going to have fun and also raise your self-esteem. In short, you're going to change your life."

  • Trending
  • HBPR

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Learn more