Michael Tan
Michael first discovered swing dancing in 2016 and was immediately captivated by the magic of
two strangers seamlessly connecting through movement. Over time, this curiosity grew into a
deep passion, with a particular focus on balboa—a style that has profoundly shaped his approach
to both dance and life. Inspired by the idea of melding two individuals into one, Michael is
driven to share his love for partner dancing and the fascinating interplay of lead-and-follow.
A firm believer in the transformative power of dance, Michael encourages his students to
uncover not only who they are as dancers but also what dance can reveal about their lives. For
him, the lines between dance and life are beautifully blurred—and that’s where the magic
happens.
Michael’s notable accomplishments in the dance world include winning the Open Balboa Strictly
at The Snowball, BalWeek NYC, and Bal Love. Additionally, he has appearances and
placements at prestigious events such as the Open Balboa Finals at California Balboa Classic,
Camp Hollywood, Hot Rhythm Holiday, and various Lindy Hop finals at ILHC (The
International Lindy Hop Championships), Camp Hollywood, and more.
As a fun fact, Michael holds a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo and often draws parallels
between the principles of martial arts and dance
