Mike Garcia began dancing salsa in northern Italy, while in the Marines, in 1996.
Continued dancing in Chicago with various schools, including Latin Street Dancing in 2000. Became a member of the Chicago Latin Street Dance Company and Performed in various venues with LSD.

Started to dance "ny on2" in 2002. Performed in the Chicago Salsa Congress with Descarga Caribe, and also Saladin. Traveled all over the country and Canada to study salsa and mambo with world renouned "on2" dance instructors.

Performed as the solo artist "mambo mike" in the Chicago Salsa Congress, Boston Congress, and many other venues. Moved to New York City in 2004 to continue training in salsa and mambo.