Irene Miguel
Irene Miguel is the Owner, Founder, and Director of Irene Miguel Academy.
After 30 years of travelling the world as a professional dancer, teacher at some of the largest global Congresses (including El Sol, Puerto Rico Salsa Congress, Miami Salsa Congress, Hong Kong Salsa Congress, Mambocity), and training with Nelson Flores, Stracy Diaz, Tito Ortos, Burju, Melissa Rosado, Franklin Diaz, Frankie Martinez, Adolfo Indacochea, Tania Cannarsa, Irene established herself as one of the founding members of the global salsa movement.
A pioneer specifically in the London Salsa Scene, in 2006 Irene opened the first ON2, strictly Mambo school in Europe, now called Irene Miguel Academy.
Irene has devoted her life to teaching Mambo and even developed a methodology that systematically teaches her students the art and swagger of Mambo. Her methodology, Danzalifestyle, is now taught around the world with certified teachers in France, Said, New York, and Greece.
Irene Miguel Academy uses specifically the Mambolifestyle System. Irene is the embodiment of Mambo through and through – from the way she moves to her style and attitude, Irene is the leading specialist of Mambo in London.
You’ve never met a teacher like Irene. Not only will you be learning Mambo from one of the founding members of the Mambo scene, but at IMA you’ll be stretching your dance skills in a way that can be applied to any dance you fancy. Irene’s students often choose to focus on Bachata or Kizomba, but use the IMA training to develop a deep understanding of body motion and musicality.
Irene believes wholeheartedly that everyone can benefit from Mambo and that through her training, dancers often find themselves bringing a new found confidence to their daily lives beyond the dancefloor.
The Irene Miguel Academy is Irene’s life work. It is her dream to bring Mambo to the masses and watch each and every one of her students flourish. There is no greater joy for Irene than to help a student reach their dance goals. She has devoted her life to bringing the joys of Mambo to the world. Now, at Irene Miguel Academy, you can be one of the lucky ones to take your dance to the next level with the guidance, support, and training of a world renowned instructor like Irene Miguel.
Danzalifestyle System
The Danzalifestyle System is a comprehensive and integrated Dance Training program, geared to helping students fulfill their individual potential as dancers.
The Danzalifestlye Systems were 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 Danzalifestlye 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. There are courses for all styles of dance including Mambolifestlye, Bachatalifestyle, Salsalifestyle, Pachangalifestlye.
In Mambolifestyle, Irene will break down body movement, musicality, and styling in a clear and attainable approach. She’ll tell you that she believes anyone can be a dancer – and with her Mambolifestyle training – it’s true! After even just a few months, you’ll find yourself moving with more fluidity, hearing parts of salsa music you never knew existed and walking onto the dancefloor (or stage!) with a new sense of confidence.
All you really need to know is that by joining an IMA course, you will be working through the Mambolifestylesystem which will provide you with the training you can’t find at any other school. Whether you follow the Artist Track, Social Track, or the Online Classes, you’ll be benefiting from Mambolifestyle.
As any Academy, you will be following a syllabus of techniques and exercises specifically designed to build your Mambo skill level. Students who follow the Mambolifestyle coursework training can reach an advanced level in less than one year.
The systems increase fitness and stamina, improve coordination and timing, help dancers to develop their own style and promote good posture, breathing and flexibility.
Through IMA’s Mambolifestyle, you’ll be pushing yourself out of your comfort zone both physically and mentally, and at the end you’ll find yourself a better, stronger, more confident dancer who has the tools to reach your dancing goals.
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 – the list goes on.
So, do you want to see where the Mambolifestyle System can take you? Click here to see the available courses.
Mambolifestyle Structure
A foundational belief of IMA’s Mambolifestyle System is this: to dance Mambo is to know and feel the music. The System can be broken down into two main areas of focus: Pillars and Elements. IMA courses are designed around the blending of these two principles and guide students systematically through the work of mastering each one through the music of Mambo.
The Pillars of Mambo
are the collection of skills and techniques needed to be an advanced Mambero or Mambera:
- Spirit – On2 Timing and Musicality
- Freedom – Contrabody Movement (Cuban Motion)
- Style – Styling Techniques
- Jam – Expression of Self in Shines
- Tornado – Spinning Technique
- Union – Partnerwork Technique
- Creative Union – Partnerwork with flare and musicality
By training on these 7 areas of technique, a student will improve their level and find that they can master most dance classes or choreo with greater ease. And, if you fancy it, you’ll probably have a queue of partners waiting to dance for you at your next social!
The Elements of Mambo
are the styles, attitudes, and quality of motion that a Mambo dancer must be able to access. The Elements are taught in accordance with the instruments of mambo to establish principles of musical interpretation.
- Elastic – Continuous Motion | Congas.
- Earth – Grounded Movement | Cowbell.
- Water – Fluid, Rounded Motion | Piano.
- Air – Explosive Motion | Brass.
- Fire – Quick, Energetic Motion | Bongos.
By understanding the music and body motion through the Elements of Mambo, students develop a deeper connection to Mambo and the ability to express their own style through their shines, partner work, and performance. It provides you a language with which to speak your own, personal Mambo style.