Remember Philip Haymon from Latin Symbolics? You see his naked soul when he dances. He makes every dance a work of art. Hope he will come back from NY soon. — Posted on www.salsagang.com on March 21, 2005 by one of its members.

Philip Haymon is an interdisciplinary dancer and the founder of Dance Philosophy. His love of dance took him from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Detroit, Miami, Maui, Puerto Rico… and now he’s landed in New York City. He has trained with many brilliant coaches, however his two main influences are Ava Apple (SF)/Luis Rosa (Bronx), co-founders of the SF-based dance company, The Latin Symbolics; and Ariel Oceguera, dance instructor from Havana, Cuba.

Philip began his professional career in San Francisco, where he taught general level Salsa at the hugely popular Metronome Ballroom. In the meantime he kept studying classical ballet and Afro-Cuban, Afro-Puerto Rican, Afro-Haitian, and Afro-Brazilian dance.

Philip’s performance experience includes several Salsa routines at major world congresses, including those held in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Puerto Rico. He is honored to have performed at Tito Puente’s Tribute featuring “Cachao” Lopez and John Calloway, and at concerts given by Jose Alberto “El Canario,” and Ruben Blades.

With a mind-body-spirit approach that integrates diverse experience in Eastern and Western dance disciplines, Philip created Dance Philosophy to inspire physical well-being, mental clarity, self-empowerment and development of the knowledge of others. He is now working with his own dance team, which is committed to self-discovery and personal growth through dance. Under his training and technique, the emphasis is on connection — with the music, your partner, and yourself — as well as musicality; balance; postural assessment; and most importantly, self-expression.

Philip considers teaching not only an honorable profession, but also one of the sincerest forms of love. His main interest is in increasing access to dance and movement for everyone. He remains a dedicated dance student; and he is grateful to God for the ability and the opportunity to share his passion for Salsa with everyone who finds the will to try.