About

About Michael Casciato

Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Michael Casciato’s interests are as varied and rewarding as they come. He loves dancing salsa, playing pickleball, learning languages, and traveling.

Feeling the Rhythm of Salsa Music

His love of salsa music led Michael Casciato not only to the dance floor but also to teach others the fancy footwork of the most popular Latin dance practices worldwide. Like other types of Latin dances, salsa originated in Cuba and emerged at the turn of the 20th century. It’s widely acknowledged that early radio influenced American artists to incorporate aspects of Latin American rhythms into their own music and, later, into their dance routines.

Salsa typically involves a lead and follower dancer. The lead dancer guides the follower through spins and turns patterns to music. The basic step is a series of weight shifts and steps that form the foundation of more complex steps. The basic salsa dancing rhythm is three steps per four beats of music. There is also a turn pattern, a sequence of movements involving turns, spins, and other styling elements. Additionally, there are solo footwork moves known as “shines.” Shines allow dancers like Michael to show off their unique flair.

Michael enjoys the art form of salsa dancing. Its steps and movements make it one of the most invigorating and interesting dances to watch, participate in, and teach. He loves sharing his passion for the dance as a teacher and gets a great deal of satisfaction when his students learn the steps and are ready to shine on the dance floor.

Salsa dancing is also a great way to remain fit, build muscle, improve one’s posture and balance, and exercise your lungs, cardiovascular system, and heart.

On the Pickleball Court

When Michael Casciato is not on the dance floor, you can find him on a pickleball court. Similar to the benefits of salsa dancing, Michael gets many rewards from the pickleball game.

Pickleball is a paddle sport that is a cross between table tennis, badminton, and tennis. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), it is the fastest-growing sport in the United States. In 2024, the number of pickleball players reached more than 36.5 million in the U.S. Players 18 to 34 comprise the largest percentage of pickleball players at 28.8% nationwide, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP). More men than women play pickleball.

There are even major league professional pickleball teams now, owned by the likes of Tom Brady, Mark Cuban, LeBron James, and others.

The sport is typically played on a hard court, which is about a quarter of the size of a standard tennis layout. It involves hitting a perforated hollow plastic ball (like a whiffle ball) over the net. Different balls can be used, depending on the conditions (whether you’re playing inside or outside), and each can have anywhere from 26 to 40 holes in it. Points are only scored on the serve, with games generally played to 11 (win by 2).

You can play singles or doubles in pickleball. Michael Casciato typically plays against another player or on teams (four players).

Michael took up the sport over a year ago and loves it. He finds pickleball an excellent form of exercise and competitiveness, a great way to make friends and have fun. Pickleball allows Michael to work on his balance, agility, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination without unduly straining his body. It’s also a great cardiovascular workout. According to one study, people who play pickleball for an hour three times a week had improved cardiorespiratory fitness, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased blood pressure.

The rules of pickleball are simple, and it can be pretty challenging and fast-paced if you want, which drew Michael to the sport. Also, like many others who play pickleball, Michael enjoys the sport because it’s easy to pick up and requires only a couple of people and limited equipment.

Pickleball is also a social activity, and due to the close proximity of everyone on the small court, conversations can easily be had with others. Michael loves the bonding experience pickleball offers, inviting friends to join him for a number of games on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. He also likes making new acquaintances and connections on the court.

There are 1,071 locations where Michael resides to play pickleball in Florida.

The Travel Bug

Off the dance floor and pickleball court, Michael Casciato loves to travel where he can learn about other cultures, cuisines, and traditions. He loves exploring the natural beauty of the places he visited around the United States and abroad. Michael loves languages, too, learning about the roots of words, including Latin and Greek.

In addition to his varied hobbies and travels, Michael also takes time to volunteer, including at the Feeding South Florida food bank. He has donated to several important organizations like GLAAD and the ACLU.