Argentine Tango – Experience the Passion instructor Michelle Badion is a social dance advocate. Having studied and taught dance in Seattle for over 20 years, she has devoted her life to spreading the joys of dance. She has also led her students in twirling over their fears and anxieties. “I have been dancing all my life—except from 1981-1989 when I was starting a family,” she says. “Dancing makes me happy and I believe that it will enrich your life.”
Considering her love of dance, Badion’s desire to teach made perfect sense. “After partner dancing for a few years, I completed a 6 month training course in how to teach dance and started teaching full time for the Washington Dance Club.”
Badion would eventually come to be recognized as Seattle’s first-ever Salsa and the third Argentine Tango instructor. “It was pretty easy to establish myself because I was Seattle's only full time Salsa teacher, and my classes were very popular. I studied all over the world with the best dancers and brought that to Seattle. I know how to dance, but more importantly, I learned how to teach. I have done the same with Argentine Tango.”
Truth be told, Badion has explored and trained in all manner of dance. “I specialize in Salsa and West Coast Swing, but also love to teach Waltz, Country, East Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Night Club 2-Step, Fox Trot, Blues, Cumbia and Bachata. I also teach a lot of wedding couples and love the challenge of creating a nice dance with whatever music they pick." Keeping herself abreast of so many dance trends has helped make Badion a star in the local dance community. In addition, she is often seen performing at live events all over the region.
Considering all the dance styles she teaches and practices, Badion says Tango is her favorite. She loves Tango’s unique qualities that make it fun to learn and the way it encourages a connection between people, even total strangers. “Argentine tango has no set steps, rhythm or tempo, so it's the truest form of lead and follow,” she says. “It also has a great range of emotions.”
Badion says students interested in joining Argentine Tango – Experience the Passion need no prior dance experience; but she is very aware of how risky joining a dance class such as this can be for so many. “Learning as an adult takes a special kind of courage.” She says. “I still have nightmares about being in college and not prepared for an exam. I am so relieved to wake up and remember that I am not in school. I admire older adults that go back for degrees; I also admire my students for showing up for class. Just like having a degree can change your life, so can knowing how to dance well.”
After years of teaching dance, Badion confesses the most important method to creating a fun and safe learning space is in practicing positive reinforcement. “I try to 
never say anything negative and reinforce only the positive,” she says. “This makes people learn much faster and also make everyone relax.” In addition, it is said Badion seldom misses the opportunity to just stop and dance with her students.
There are many things Badion looks forward to in teaching Argentine Tango – Experience the Passion, but most of all she loves opening the door for students to have a new and positive experience. “I love introducing this wonderful dance to a new group of people. I enjoy students of all ages, backgrounds and experience.” She says her students can look forward to an abundant learning opportunity. “They leave knowing tons more about dancing and know that they can do it whenever they want. They will discover it's no big mystery and that with a little instruction they can dance, and have fun!”
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