Learn to dance or improve your Cuban SalsaDancing is one of the best ways to relieve stress and bring happiness to your life. We offer Salsa classes that are full of fun and also great techniques.
What you will learnLearn the moves, from basic beginners, to improvers, intermediates, all the way up to advanced level. Focus is placed on teaching the correct technique for Solo dancing, Partner dancing and Rueda de Casino, with attention to Styling and Freestyle expression at all levels!
Why dance with us?Get it right from the beginning! We focus on posture, technique, enjoyment and no, we Don't Believe In Two Left Feet! Our classes are designed to help you work on posture, technique, connection and musicality, while learning authentic, exciting moves, to make your dance more versatile, fluid and enjoyable....
Classes are held in comfortable surroundings. |
JOIN OUR SALSA COURSES
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No dance partner neededCome on your own or join us with a group of friends.
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All dance levels welcome
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Flexible payment optionsWhether you want to join us for a single class or pay for a few weeks with a discount.
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Start your salsa experience with one of these classes
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Time & LocationThe Place Dance Studio
16 Flaxman Terrace London WC1H 9AT From 5th May Friday: 19:30 -21:30 |
TestimonialsGreat classes!! I now understand more about salsa and I meet a lot of new people and made friends. Great classes!! I love Cuban Salsa. The music is contagious and make so happy. You guys are amazing. We had a fab time. Cannot wait for the next section ;-) |
What is salsa?
SALSA:
Salsa is a dance form with origins from the Cuban Son (1920s) and Afro-Cuban dance (specifically Afro-Cuban Rumba). It is commonly associated with the salsa music style, although it may be danced under other types of music with an 8-count rhythm. In Cuban style, the dancers circle around each other, sometimes in 3 points. This circular style is inspired by Cuban Son, specifically to the beat of Son Montuno in the 1920s. However, as it is a popular music, it is open to improvisation and thus it is continuously evolving.
Salsa is a dance form with origins from the Cuban Son (1920s) and Afro-Cuban dance (specifically Afro-Cuban Rumba). It is commonly associated with the salsa music style, although it may be danced under other types of music with an 8-count rhythm. In Cuban style, the dancers circle around each other, sometimes in 3 points. This circular style is inspired by Cuban Son, specifically to the beat of Son Montuno in the 1920s. However, as it is a popular music, it is open to improvisation and thus it is continuously evolving.
What is rueda de casino?
CUBAN RUEDA DE CASINO:
( THE ORIGINAL WHEEL) –Rueda de Casino – (late 1950s-60s) known as the wheel, it is a dynamic, fun, challenging, creative, friendly competitive, social and inter-disciplinary dance style. Originated in the Havana Casinos’ centre, from where it took the name of Rueda de Casino. A leader (cantante/caller) calls out the movements/combinations, which must be learned. Some figures can be call with different names. This happens also in Cuba; however, some traditional figures should be call the same, such as: dame, enchufla, 70, pa’rriba, pancake, yogur, etc. Many of the moves have hand signs, as well as names, to enable dancing in a loud club setting. The Rueda can be as small as two couples, or as large as a space can hold!
( THE ORIGINAL WHEEL) –Rueda de Casino – (late 1950s-60s) known as the wheel, it is a dynamic, fun, challenging, creative, friendly competitive, social and inter-disciplinary dance style. Originated in the Havana Casinos’ centre, from where it took the name of Rueda de Casino. A leader (cantante/caller) calls out the movements/combinations, which must be learned. Some figures can be call with different names. This happens also in Cuba; however, some traditional figures should be call the same, such as: dame, enchufla, 70, pa’rriba, pancake, yogur, etc. Many of the moves have hand signs, as well as names, to enable dancing in a loud club setting. The Rueda can be as small as two couples, or as large as a space can hold!
Salsa music
Salsa represents a mix of Latin musical genres, but its primary component is Cuban dance music. The roots of salsa originated in Eastern Cuba (Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo) from the Cuban Son (about 1920) and Afro-Cuban dance (like Afro-Cuban rumba).
The contemporary salsa sound coming out of Cuba is called‚ timba. It’s a fast tempo salsa with a strong afro-cuban influence. Songs will often follow a traditional rumba structure – start slow, break into a core salsa rhythm, then settle into a beautiful call and response vocal pattern. The backing vocalists keep the standard response running while the lead vocalist improvises. Ahi Na Ma!
Leading musicians playing Cuban Timba:
Los Van Van
Pupy Y Los Que Son Son
Maraca
Charanga Habanera
NG La Banda
See more about Timba in “History of Salsa and Timba”
The contemporary salsa sound coming out of Cuba is called‚ timba. It’s a fast tempo salsa with a strong afro-cuban influence. Songs will often follow a traditional rumba structure – start slow, break into a core salsa rhythm, then settle into a beautiful call and response vocal pattern. The backing vocalists keep the standard response running while the lead vocalist improvises. Ahi Na Ma!
Leading musicians playing Cuban Timba:
Los Van Van
Pupy Y Los Que Son Son
Maraca
Charanga Habanera
NG La Banda
See more about Timba in “History of Salsa and Timba”
Cuban Motion Practice Tips
Some things to keep in mind when you practice cuban motion:
You can buy now our Rueda DVD on our store page, which is an excellent video about cuban Rueda moves, with further instructions, it's walking you slowly through the technique and different dance moves
- Step on the bend leg and KEEP THE OTHER ONE STRAIGHT - do not bend both legs at the same time (careful: a straight knee does NOT mean a locked knee)
- Start stepping in place (merengue) until you have the correct motion, then expand your steps slightly until you reach your full basic step
- Make sure your stepping leg is bend on the beat it hits the music - the straightening of the leg happens BETWEEN the beats, on the "&" (123)
- Don't actively move your hips - let your knees move them
- Remember your hip goes "out" to the opposite side of your stepping leg - if you step with your right leg, the hip goes "out" on the left side and vice versa
You can buy now our Rueda DVD on our store page, which is an excellent video about cuban Rueda moves, with further instructions, it's walking you slowly through the technique and different dance moves
Try some of other classes
Private Classes
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Afro Cuban
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Rumba
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Reggaeton
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