Why We Picked This Event
Sometimes you get hints from your friends about trying new places or new dances that you would like to explore even further. Sometimes you see familiar faces at a new place — and sometimes your brain panics trying to remember whether you know them from tango, fusion, or some other dance event — and sometimes you also want to meet new people. Different places might come with different energy, and I went to Mission Fusion with exactly that open mind.
Mission Fusion is a twice-a-month fusion partner dance event organized by Emily Webb, well known in both the Tango and Fusion dance communities.
What Is Fusion Partner Dancing?
Fusion is a contemporary, improvised social dance that blends styles such as tango, swing, blues, zouk, and more. There is no fixed music, style, or rhythm.
Every dance becomes:
- an unpredictable conversation,
- communication without words,
- and an invitation to embrace the unexpected with another person.
The pure joy of fusion dance often comes from staying open to the unplanned.
Event Details
Location: St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church – 500 De Haro St., San Francisco, CA
Time: Class: 8:00–9:00 pm; Dance: 9:00 pm–Midnight (two DJs each night)
Price: Class + Dance: $15–$25; Dance only: $10–$20. Black Light Party nights add $5. — Venmo, cash, or credit card
Parking: Plenty of street parking in the neighborhood and closeby streets
Food & Drinks: Healthy snacks are available (fruits, veggies, dips, crackers, dessert bites). There's a water table, fountains in the bathroom area, and you're encouraged to bring a bottle. If you prefer to recharge by sitting, the church generously provides — chairs everywhere (the saints approve of sitting, too).
When you enter, a volunteer welcomes you, checks you in, and handles payment. The volunteers help transform the church into a dance space and later restore it for Sunday morning prayers — dancers by night, saints by sunrise.
Dancing With the Saints (Literally)
This is an actual church.
Look up and you'll see The Dancing Saints, painted by artist Mark Duke — musicians, artists, prophets, writers, dancers from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Confucian, Buddhist, and Hindu backgrounds. We dance on the wooden floor below, representing every background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and age, while the saints dance above during Sunday services. A connection below, and a connection above — a truly unique setting for fusion dance in San Francisco. (Honestly, it feels like being supervised by the most inclusive celestial dance team.)
Class Highlights
10/18/2025 – Samuel Samways (Brazil)
Samuel, an ex-missionary turned dancer/choreographer/teacher (fusion, zouk, contact, and more), joked about teaching in a church again — this time bringing connection through dance rather than religion. A memorable and highly recommended class.
12/06/2025 – Jeannie (Los Angeles)
Jeannie encouraged leaders and followers to switch roles, an excellent reminder that stepping out of your comfort zone adds new layers to your dancing.
Black Light Party – December 6
Once a year, Mission Fusion hosts the Black Light Party — neon clothing, white outfits, glowing body paint, and retro vibes everywhere. I wore a neon pink top, but for those who needed more glow, there was a painting table in the back corner. Some dancers arrived with stunning makeup already in place.
(Here are some pictures from the night.)
Outside of this themed night, clothing ranges from casual to dressy — whatever allows you to move and feel comfortable.
What to Wear & Bring
Shoes
Dance shoes with leather or suede soles work best (my preference too). Some people dance in socks. Pivot-friendly footwear is key — your knees will thank you.
Partner
No partner needed. The class rotates, and you'll dance with many different people throughout the night. The class is beginner-friendly — you can walk in knowing nothing and be completely fine. Teachers call out "rotate," so there is no guesswork.
Asking for a dance
You can ask or be asked. "Yes" is great, "No" is also perfectly acceptable. Everyone understands breaks happen — both yours and theirs. Sometimes you give a break and say NO to some dance requests; sometimes the person you'd like to dance with is taking a break, so when you ask, you might get a NO, and that's OK. You move on to the next person — plenty of dances in the sea.
Masks
Optional, but some dancers wear them for comfort.
Skill levels
You'll see everything from first-timers to intermediate and advanced regulars.
Snacks & water
Healthy snacks are available (fruits, veggies, dips, crackers, dessert bites). There's a water table, fountains in the bathroom area, and you're encouraged to bring a bottle. If you prefer to recharge by sitting, the church generously provides — chairs everywhere (the saints approve of sitting, too).
Stories From the Dance Floor
The Lift Incident (Fun + Core Workout)
I danced with someone who sensed that I liked a fast and strong lead. Before I knew it, my feet were pointing at the ceiling. We finished the dance, laughed, and said "it was fun dancing with you" at the same time.
Emily's rule: feet should point toward the ground for safety — especially with partners whose fitness capabilities you don't know yet. I was fine, but yes, core strength helps.
The Female Lead Who Made My Night
We connected beautifully, and I told her afterward that she was my best dance of the night.
The Compliment King (with the most common name ever)
On the same night, I danced with someone whose name I heard 3–4 times that night — it was that popular. Though conversation during a dance is rare, he whispered "beautiful" after a move, and later: "I love how active you are with your body while dancing." One of the best compliments a dancer can get. Wohoo!
The "I Just Dance" Guy
A familiar face from tango nights joined fusion for the first time. I asked his base dance. His answer: "Nothing, I just dance." This deeply resonated with me — because same. I just LOVE to dance!!!
"Who Are You Going With?"
Non-dancers always ask this. My answer: ALONE. But the truth: you won't be alone long. You'll meet many dancers in one night, and some dances will become unforgettable memories.
Classes Are Not Sequential
Each dance is taught by different teachers so you will learn a different part of fusion dancing each time; it is not sequential. It's also a great warm-up and a way to meet potential partners before the social dance begins.
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