How a Moldovan dance instructor inspires and shares joy at a Miami-Dade studio

For three months, Cecelia Calderon passed by the Let’s Dance Miami studio on Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami.

“I went by almost every day,” she said. “I was hesitant, and one day I just decided to go in. I’m so glad I did.”

Calderon, 64, an executive coach who is originally from Chile, found community after a recent divorce. She takes classes on her own and is paired with partners.

“I’ve been taking ballroom dancing for almost two years, group and individual,” she said. “It’s awesome.

“I came to it for personal reasons. I always liked to dance, at weddings, but I never took classes to learn. I asked my mom recently, why didn’t you give me lessons to dance?”

She is inspired and encouraged by her Let’s Dance Miami instructors Daniela and husband Anatoly “Toly” Vacaru. They came to the United States from the Republic of Moldova with their three young children.

“I was born with dance in my soul,” Daniela Vacaru said. “From early childhood, movement became the most honest way for me to express myself, and my artistic journey began naturally, guided by essential support — my mother. She had a profound influence on my life path, instilling in me discipline, sensitivity, and the belief that art can become a way of life, not just a passion.”

How the dancing started

A national dance champion as a teenager, Vacaru became an international choreographer.

“I studied at the Academy of Arts in Chișinău, a place that shaped not only my profession but also my destiny. There, I met my other half — a dancer equally dedicated and passionate — alongside whom I lived extraordinary experiences, created precious memories, and built a beautiful family. Together, we have three children, who are our greatest joy and motivation,” she said.

“Dance gave us the opportunity to travel, discover the world, and connect with different cultures. Every stage, every city, and every audience contributed to my growth as an artist and as a person.”

Sharing joy at the dance studio

Now, it is a joy she shares with many others at the dance studio.

For Maggie Fazzah, 63, and her husband, Edward, learning at Let’s Dance Miami changed their lives.

“We don’t spend quality time together until this. It’s the best thing we ever did together. There is a connection. Security. It is like to enforce our relationship,” Maggie Fazzah said.

“When you get older, everything is routine … work, dinner, and maybe you have one hour together for quality time. This … it’s amazing. You have to believe in your partner when you dance. You have to have the confidence they won’t drop you. When you dance you have a connection, and your partner is your security,” she said.

Fazzah, who is from Colombia, worked in banking and is now retired. She and her husband started taking classes together in May 2024.

“I never danced before. I was in a big shell. I’m really a shy person. My husband, Eddie, is very spontaneous. If I’m the child, he’s the older one,” she said.

“You can do the gym, walk, go to the beach. Everything is quality time, but this is different. This creates in your soul something special. You understand your partner more than ever,” Fazzah said. “It’s beautiful. That’s the word. Beautiful.”

Vacaru, her inspiring teacher, is in charge of the new students at Let’s Dance Miami where there is an international group of mostly Eastern European instructors. She is also the studio’s wedding dance specialist. She speaks several languages and can dance everything from a smooth waltz to a fast quick step, or the latest line dance.

Her students say she is a positive and welcoming cheerleader for anyone who wants to give dancing a try. They say she even organizes outings, including one to a Moldovan food festival earlier this year, and she leads group classes, always making sure no one is left behind.

“Today, one of my greatest fulfillments is sharing my knowledge and experience with others,” Vacaru said.

“I love working with people who adore dance, even if they do not yet master it, helping them disconnect from daily worries, reconnect with themselves, and rediscover the joy of movement. I truly believe that dance heals, frees, and brings happiness.

“My belief is simple and deep: When I manage to make people happy through dance, I become happy as well. The smiles, emotions and pure joy I see in their eyes are my greatest reward and the reason I continue this journey with the same passion as in the beginning,” she said.

Life lessons

Her student Cecelia Calderon, who found the courage to stop and finally go into the Let’s Dance Miami studio, said she’s now learning foxtrot, waltz and tango.

“Daniela teaches me the grace. How to coordinate my arms, and the expression in my face. She’s really awesome at teaching arm movements. She’s the consummate teacher, kind and patient,” Calderon said.

“It’s a workout. It’s a great way to move your body other than sports,” she said. “And it’s a wonderful way of connecting and finding a community. It’s just fun. I’m dancing!”

If you go

Let’s Dance Miami is located at 15400 Biscayne Blvd., suite 114, North Miami

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.