Michelle (Mayers) Kinkaid began her dance career in 1975, teaching classes in East Coast Swing and Jitterbug, which lead to her first series of undefeated championship titles (1977-1980) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her first exposure to West Coast Swing was in 1979 at the “Avenue Ballroom” in San Francisco. This dance style quickly captured her attention and her heart and lead her to many other local West Coast Swing dance venues, including the “Jolly Friar’s” (California Swing Dance Club); “Bay Swinger’s” Swing Dance Club; and the “Top of Beardsley’s”, where she later met and competed with co-owner, Phil Trau. Together, they won three U.S. Open Championships (as well as many other competitions.) .

When Michelle’s dance teaching and choreography work began in 1975 she was coaching a performing dance group at San Francisco City College. In addition to Ballroom, Folk, and Swing dancing, this group’s primary focus was Clogging. Michelle later added Hustle, Night Club Two Step, Ballroom, and Latin dance forms to her teaching expertise, teaching weekly Swing and Latin classes at the South San Francisco Park and Recreation Department, as well as guest teaching at various San Francisco city schools.

In 1983 Michelle began studying International Ballroom and Latin dancing with champion Rex Lewis from the “Imperial Dance Club”. She later did Pro/Am competitions with her students, as well as Pro/Pro routines with Rex. In the mid 1980’s Michelle became involved with County Western dancing and began attending and working at those events as well. In 1991 she pioneered the first “Swing Joins Country” event in the Bay area, which bridged West Coast Swing and Country Western dancing.

Included in her extensive list of accomplishments are Michelle’s three-time undefeated U.S. Open Swing Dance Championship record and four-time undefeated Jitterbug Championship record. Michelle has also successfully competed in Ballroom and Latin dancing and in Country Western Jack & Jills, winning the Fresno Country Classic for two consecutive years (1993 & 1994). Michelle has also performed in film, television, and theater and is credited with numerous awards and championships (see below).

Michelle continues to personally oversee and run all aspects of her varied dance offerings: her monthly Swing dance events, workshops, group classes, “Mountain Magic” Dance Convention, “Sea Magic” Dance Cruise, and the “Train Magic” Fun Train Adventure Event. She often works as the D.J. and continues to teach private lessons. Michelle travels all over the United States, Canada, and Europe to teach, judge and promote dance.