About Us








Mike Day - Mississippi's most experienced and foremost Ballroom dance instructor,
dance coach, event organizer and dance innovator.




Mike & Deanna 1979

Mike Day began dancing in 1978 as an amateur. After winning many Disco dance contests in dance clubs across the South, and performing dance exhibitions at fashion shows, in TV commercials and at the 1981 Miss USA pageant, he started his formal training to make dance a career.


Mike & Sandra performing at
1981 Miss USA private party






The 1980's




"Dance World" sign designed by Mike Day


The Disco era officially ended in 1980. Dance studios who had seen
a great increase in students taking Disco lessons then began
recruiting the best dancers from all over the country to become teachers.
Mike was one of those dancers recruited by Dance World Dance Studios.
By 1984, he became the Dance Director of the Fred Astaire/Danceland Dance Studio in Mobile, AL.





Mike & his first pro partner Beth Ware
Principal dancer from the Jackson Ballet



David Hamilton


Bobby Medeiros &
Sheryn Hawkins


Gary & Lori Pierce


Eddie Simon &
Michelle Officer


June & Roy Mavor

Much of Mike's training came from many renowned coaches throughout his career including United States champions
David Hamilton & Teresa Shiry, Sheryn Hawkins, Gary & Lori Pierce, Cher Rutherford, Glennis Dee, Eddie Simon, John Swick and
Blackpool "British Professional Exhibition Champion" & "Battle Of The Giants" World Champion, June Mavor.


Mike & British champion Gay Hartman
manager of Gulfport Dance World studio


Mike & Sandy at 1983 Houston Invitational
Winners of the pro West Coast Swing Challenge

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Mike’s professional dance resume includes:

* Certified "Fred Astaire Dance Studios" Gold level instructor, dance coach and choreographer
specializing in American style Smooth, Rhythm, Cabaret and Theatre Arts.
* Winner of multiple Top Teacher and Top Pro-Am dance awards at numerous
local, regional and national Ballroom dance competitions including the
Fred Astaire “Cross Country National Dance Championships”,
the Triple Crown "Southern States Dance Championships"
and the “Florida State DanceSport Championships.”





Fred Astaire 1985 "National Dance Championships" in Las Vegas




Mike & Stephanie performing at a studio party


Mike & Brandi's Pro/Am Theater Arts Tango exhibition at the 1987
"Florida State DanceSport Championships" in Bal Harbour, Florida

* Dance Director and advanced instructor for Fred Astaire/DanceLand and co-owner of Hollywood Dance Studios in Mobile, AL where Mike was responsible for training students and instructors for Ballroom competitions and level progression, organizing showcases & team matches, professional & amateur exhibition choreography, music coordination and advertising.

Mobile Fred Astaire Dance Studio Staff







"Hollywood Dance Studio" logo designed by Mike Day



Mike & Terry at The 1986 "Azalea City Classic"


Hollywood Dance Studio staff all winners in their
divisions at the 1986 "Magnolia State Ballroom Classic"


Mike & Pam performing (then judging)
at a Dirty Dancing contest




Mobile Press-Register ad


On the “Dance Fever” TV show, winning with a Waltz!


* Regional Dance Director and advanced instructor for
Florida Dance Centers in Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida.


The 1990's



"In Step Dance Club" neon sign designed by Mike Day

* Dance Director/Manager and advanced instructor for In Step Dance Club in Jackson. (1990-2002)
He organized the studio's annual Magnolia State Ballroom Classic dance competition (for 10 years)
and developed a new Bronze (social level) syllabus for the studio.



Mike & Holly performing at "In Step Dance Club" dance party


* Mike Day served as an independent dance coach, guest instructor and examiner for studios
and other dance organizations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

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1997 Mobile Gulf Coast Ballroom Challenge

* Ballroom Dance Competition Organizer
As a competition owner and organizer for 20 years,
Mike Day produced annual regional Ballroom dance competitions
in Biloxi, MS. Gulfport, MS. Mobile, AL. Branson, MO. Pensacola, FL. and Myrtle Beach, SC.



1995 Biloxi Ballroom Challenge about to start


A Branson Ballroom Bash ballroom setup


Mike also served as an advisor, adjudicator, music coordinator
and co-organizer for other Ballroom and DanceSport competitions.



The first 20 years were primarily about
competition and performing




2002 to 2019


 In 2002, it was time for something... different!







The weekly Thursday night class and dance party




In 2002, Mike Day transitioned from the traditional dance studio format, and with his wife Lisa, began teaching at Dance Connection
Ballroom Dance Center in Pearl, MS. Their mission was to make Ballroom dancing practical & affordable to everyone while offering
a high quality level of instruction and providing the best venue for students to practice their dancing.





Typical Thursday night group class lesson





First New Year's Eve dance party in 2003

Mike and Lisa Day began to offer private lessons in monthly blocks (instead of expensive long term contracts), and held a weekly class that focused on a different dance each month. Their class was followed by a dance party for students to practice their dancing that was included in the cost of the class lesson. While the private lessons were their main focus, it was the weekly $10 class/dance party that was truly the game changer. Suddenly, everyone could afford learning proper Ballroom dancing! A professional quality sound system and dance club lighting was added to give the students a genuine "night out" experience in an intimate dance club atmosphere. Pro/Am and Pro exhibitions were still performed to inspire new students showing them what was possible to learn.

Their weekly classes attracted the largest class attendance in the state, and consequently introduced social dancing to more people than any other studio in the entire south! From 2002-2019, their Thursday evening group classes & dances accumulated a combined attendance of nearly 40,000 people. (Not counting the several thousand students at numerous "outside of the studio" classes, and at the "Salsa Sunday's" in Madison.) Mike Day also developed one of the most outstanding dance music libraries in the country with thousands of traditional Ballroom, Swing, Latin and Country & Western selections in addition to even more danceable popular tunes from the 1940's through the 2000's. Every one of over 20,000 songs were individually edited for the proper dance tempo and the best length for social dancing. Mike & Lisa expanded on the Fred Astaire programming by also teaching from the Dance Vision International Dance Association (DVIDA) syllabus.

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Mike & Lisa Day were the first social dance instructors in Mississippi to...

* Offer a weekly group class combined with a practice party for only $10.
* Teach "Salsa Sundays" when Salsa was very popular for only $5.
* Offer monthly "First Tuesdays" dances at various night clubs.
* Hold formal New Year's Eve dance parties starting in 2003.
* Create monthly theme dances with a beautifully decorated ballroom
and provide complimentary hors d'oeuvres for only $10 per person.
* Teach Wedding dance lessons as a specialized service.
* Offer classes, lessons and dance parties outside of the studio,
and provide a full deejay service at each function.
* Make "house call" lessons where Mike and Lisa would come to your home.
* Teach a Ballroom dance course at a college. (Hinds Community College)





Dance Connection group at Saturday Night Ballroom in Baton Rouge 2005



Dance Connection decorated for a New Year's Eve Party


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Lisa Day - the Dance Doctor!

Receiving her formal dance training in both the Fred Astaire and DVIDA dance programs from her husband Mike Day, Lisa is the most successful female Ballroom dance instructor in Mississippi with over twenty years experience. She is also a respected Jackson area veterinarian who focuses on animal dentistry.

Keeping a balance between her demanding schedule at her clinic while giving dance lessons has always been a challenge, but one she has skillfully maintained. Lisa is also the studio's business manager, and coordinates all outside bookings, special events and the DJ service. She also worked with Mike in developing the structure of the studio's classes and dance parties.

Moving beyond the traditional Ballroom dances, Lisa received additional training to bring Savoy Style Lindy Hop, Argentine Tango and a more stylized version of West Coast Swing to the studio's programming.

Lisa also developed the wedding lesson
 format they currently use.


Dr. Lisa Day and friends



Demonstrating West Coast Swing at a Thursday class




Rehearsal for MS Opera event
Mike & Lisa were the first instructors in the Mississippi to teach couples for a "Dancing With The Stars" inspired fundraiser when they trained the participating couples (who were all amateurs) for a "United Way" fundraiser in 2007.



In 2010, they gave their support to a Mississippi Opera's DWTS event with Lisa dancing (and winning) with her celebrity partner and also performing with Mike. Later, they acted as judges at the Opera's fundraisers in 2013 & 2015.

...


Lisa and Dr. C.J. Chen perform and win with a Tango!



Mike & Lisa's Foxtrot exhibition



2013 officials David Keary, Jeff Goode, Cherri Barnett & Mike Day


2015 Judges Mike, Lisa and WLBT's Howard Ballou




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Promoting and supporting dancing



Social dancing at an outside function



Over the years, Mike has appeared in numerous TV commercials and interviews to promote various dance organizations and the many benefits of Ballroom dancing. For several months in 2004, Mike and Lisa appeared on WLBT's Midday Mississippi teaching news anchor Dawn Russell, a new dance every week.



Demonstrating and teaching the most popular Ballroom
dances on "Midday Mississippi."



On "Mississippi Morning" promoting the new
"Magnolia Ballroom Dance Association." Many of Mike and Lisa's students have joined the amateur dance association throughout the years.


One of Mike's appearances on the
"Hour of the 50's" promoting learning to dance.


Discussing the health benefits of Ballroom
dancing on Mississippi Morning.



Started in 1992 by Stuart Irby and Dudley Hughes,
The Metropolitan Supper Club was formed to promote dancing to live music in a 1940's supper club setting. The club has featured some of the city's best dance bands including the Jules Barlow Band, The Classics, The Top Hats, The Capital City Stage Band, Mississippi Swing, The Sessions & The Jackson AllStars. Mike created the club's logo seen above.



Along with Mike & Lisa, several of their private students
became members of the Metropolitan Supper Club
to help support the club.
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High schools, colleges and more...





Students preparing for cotillion


Two of over 100 students in a
Saint Joseph High School Swing Class




Hinds Community College "Phi Theta Kappa" Salsa class lesson




Dance lecture at Hinds Community College followed by a class lesson



Ballroom dancing is more popular than ever. For that trend to continue, it must remain appealing to the younger crowd. With that in mind, Mike & Lisa have taught classes at Jackson Academy, Jackson Prep, Madison Ridgeland Academy, St. Joseph High School, Forest High School, Clinton High School, Richland High School, Terry High School, JSU and Mississippi College. For two semesters, they offered a Ballroom dance course at Hinds Community College and presented a comprehensive lecture on the history of social dance in America at the college's "Mississippi and the Arts Week".


Typical Millsaps College Enrichment class

Mike provided a Ballroom and Swing continuing education course at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA. and, with Lisa, were the instructors for the Millsaps Enrichment Series "Introduction to Ballroom Dancing" and "Swing Dancing" programs for 15 years. The Days have also taught classes and held dances at numerous churches, retirement homes and other groups & organizations!




Richland High School Show Choir



Hinds Community College Ballroom class lesson


Ballet Mississippi's Father/Daughter Dance lesson



Madison Ridgeland Academy Charleston class lesson



Tri-County High School "Grease" class lesson


Forest High School Texas Two Step class lesson



St. Joseph High School "Night Fever" lesson
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Community Service




Dance class at the Stewpot Community Center



Annual Stewpot Food Donations


Art class for "SON Valley" Community residents


Christmas Stewpot Food Drive

Stewpot Community Services, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Toys for Tots, SON Valley Community Center and the Gateway Rescue Mission are some of the charities and worthy causes Mike & Lisa have supported on an annual basis for years. They have collected hundreds of toys and thousands of cans/boxes of food for the tots and Stewpot since 2004. For the Juvenile Diabetes foundation, Mike designed the team tee shirts for "Sisters For a Cure" for several years in addition to walking at the event. His first design for the 2010 walk won first place in the JDRF contest for best tee shirt!


2010 JDRF "Rock For A Cure"


Annual Toys for Tots



Mike provided the music & taught several line dance lessons for a Multiple Sclerosis event.



JDRF "The Greatest Walk on Earth"


Toys For Tots (for Hurricane Katrina children)


Another Holiday Stewpot Food Drive



Annual "Red Nose Day" campaign to end child poverty

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"Salsa Sundays"


In 2003, Mike and Lisa became the first dance instructors in Mississippi to offer Salsa group class lessons.
Called "Salsa Sundays", the classes were held at Repeat Performance Dance Studio in Madison and were only $5.00 per person. Originally, only a beginners class was offered, but as the attendance grew and many of the students were returning every week, an intermediate class was added. During this time, they also created the "Salsa Linea", an exciting Salsa line dance which helped students develop their individual movement and the techniques of the dance.


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"First Tuesdays"




"The Forum" (formally "Rodeo's") (2003)



"Headliners" (2004)

Mike & Lisa created very popular monthly dances called "First Tuesdays" at several local nightclubs.
The idea was to give students an opportunity to use their dancing outside of a studio and was only $5.00!
The evenings included a short beginners class lesson (to attract & acquaint newcomers) followed by a 3-hour dance party
where Mike acted as the deejay. Held the first Tuesday of every month, the concept was so successful that club management
at every venue wanted to make it a weekly event. Once a month made it special so that's how it remained.
The clubs with dedicated dance floors eventually closed and so ended this unique and fun opportunity.



"Banana Joe's" (2004)


"The Hunt Club" (2006)




2020 and beyond!


We are now focusing on Dancing for Couples!









Dancing at the original Ground Zero
Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi








"A couple that sways together, stays together!"

Many couples made the weekly group classes/dances their "date night." There were several occasions where people who met at the studio were later married. (One couple even had their wedding in the studio!) The type of dancing Mike and Lisa offer is perfect for creating, enhancing or reconnecting a relationship. After all, what better way is there for a couple to develop a common interest than learning to dance together? Mike & Lisa have always felt that connecting people was one of the most important objectives in dancing since they themselves were a couple brought together by dance! "Lessons for couples" are currently the primary type of private and group instruction they offer. Call 601.927.4461 for more information.



Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church couples dance class


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Mike & Lisa were also the first dance instructors in Mississippi to feature wedding dance lessons
as a specialized service. See more about their wedding dance lessons here!


Swing dancing at Dancing on the River
Natchez Festival of Music
Mike and Lisa currently specialize in private & group lessons for couples. If you want to experience the fun that social dancing can add to your life, give them a call at 601.927.4461.

Mike Day is also available for coaching, student evaluations, group class instruction, event organization, music editing, staff dance sessions, dance choreography for couples and group formations, dance exhibitions and program design for any dance event.



Performing at "The 2022 Butterfly Ball"




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"Gato Barbieri"

Mike Day is also an artist. Check out some of his work at Beyond the Ballroom.



The Mississippi Dance Doctors - Michael K Day Photography 2024