Although SIM is first and foremost a salsa group, it has always creatively drawn upon different types of music and dance for inspiration. Since our goal is to have each member reach their highest potential as a dancer, we incorporate jazz and hip hop in addition to salsa drills at each rehearsal. This is done because the leaders of SIM strongly believe that this well-rounded training sets a strong foundation. Kirsten Miller (the director) also spends much of her time, refining and smoothing each dancers’ technique, through drills and additional private rehearsals.

What sets Salsa in the Mix apart from any other dance troupe is the group’s diversity. From Asia and Europe to the Americas, most parts of the world are represented by the members of SIM. Although the experience of the dancers vary, each dancer brings their own unique qualities to the group, which results in the enrichment of the group as a whole. We are proud that the uniqueness of each member’s heritage shows in our performances.

Our troupe director, Kirsten Miller, is responsible for the formation of Salsa in the Mix. Kirsten is a lifelong dancer and ice skater who has devoted the past 10 years of her career and training to the specialty of Salsa dance. In the years prior to the founding of SIM, Kirsten was a member of “Salsa Con Funkshon” directed by Laura Canellias. Kirsten, who has respected Canellias for years as a strong female role model, felt inspired to further empower women in the LA salsa scene.

Kirsten’s vision for this new group was to bring her own cultural background of American pop music and dance (as well as other world music and dance) together with Salsa, which had not yet been well explored in the salsa community. She also envisioned bringing together a group of like-minded, positive and creative individuals, and has been extremely pleased with the results. “I can truly say that it is the quality of the people in SIM which drives this group forward to overall success. Our 'little SIM community' is a positive and caring environment in which all of us are able to grow to our potential. Creating and maintaining SIM as a supportive and positive force has been extremely gratifying and I believe would be hard to find elsewhere. We all truly care for and respect each other and are dedicated to the success of one another’s dance skills and personal goals. We are like family.”

SIM Credits:

• World Salsa Congress-LA 2001, 2002, 2003
• Carnival-Choreographers Ball-Hollywood 2001, 2003
• KTLA Channel 5 Promotion, LA 2001
• Mike Bello’s Mambo Conference, LA 2002
• Japan Salsa Congress, Tokyo 2002
• San Francisco Salsa Congress, California 2002
• Sizzlin' Salsa Weekend, Laughlin, Nevada 2003
• "Shameless" Hip-Hop Show, Seattle, 2003
• First Annual Tijuana Salsa Congress, 2003

Salsa In the Mix has completed numerous performances at these venues as well as other world-renowned Los Angeles clubs: The Mayan, Sportsman’s Lodge, Steven’s Steak House, Atlas, and Solo Sabor (Baby Rock).