How
do I Start?
Well,
you've gotten this far! You are actually at a salsa website. Welcome to a wild
ride! Salsa Dancing is the most fun you can have standing up. However, starting
out isn't easy! You'll miss the beat, lack coordination, fear the unknown, and
of course be scared of making a fool of yourself. These ALL play into the equation.
It takes time, lessons (yes, it does), practice, and a little addiction, to get
the most out of it.
Do
I need to take lessons?
Yes,
you have take lessons, and I recommend at least 2 hours a week and daily practice
of footwork at home. Why so much? Well, it takes a little time to get the beat
that you hear in your ears, and feel in your heart, into your feet. Repetition
helps! If you take lessons and practice many times a week, it reinforces things
you learn.
What
Dace Styles do I need to learn?
Since
salsa has its roots in so many dances and is open to improvisation, salsa styles
are very fluid. Dance styles are associated with their original geographic area
that developed that style. There are often devotees of each of these styles outside
of their home territory (except Cali style). Characteristics that may identify
a style include: foot patterns, body rolls and movements, turns and figures, attitude,
dance influences, and the way that partners hold each other.
As
part of your Core Salsa lessons, you will learn the following stiles
of latin dances:
Salsa
(LA) - Bachata - Merengue -
Cumbia - Cha-Cha
Do
I need to take private lessons?
In
addition, after you've completed your beginners group class, take a private lesson!
Private lessons really help you pick up the style, and leading/following technique,
that aren't necessarily abundantly clear (or even forthcoming) in group classes.
You want an example? Well, a perfect example is "hips movements" (i.e.
how to feel and move your hips with flexibility and sensuality). Private lessons
can REALLY help!
Where
can I practice Salsa dancing?
Beginner
Friendly Club - We offer 2 hours of Salsa practice after our classes. You
can dance with everybody in the class. Also, you can dance with our instructors
to make sure you get the beat that you hear in your ears, and feel in your heart,
into your feet.
Intermediate
Wild Ride - We offer tours to some of the local Salsa venues in Vancouver
wher you can dance with as many people as you possibly can. After dancing with
our instructors, you will not be afraid to ask that great dancer that you see
in the club for a dance. You will feel confident asking just about everyone you
see to dance. Even if you have a partner, it pays to learn to lead and follow
from a variety of people, spread yourself around. You will learn FASTER!
Advanced
Salsa Addiction - In addition to your group classes, you can take a private
lesson with our instructors. Private lessons really help you pick up the style,
and leading/following technique, that aren't necessarily abundantly clear (or
even forthcoming) in group classes. Private lessons can REALLY help!
What
are the benefits of Core Salsa?
Many
people have a desire to dance or improve their bodies shape and posture. Taking
up Core Salsa Lessons is the best way to get fit, meet people and
have a great time. Whether
for personal enrichment or fitness, or as a hobby, dancing is a great form of
self-expression but also a great way to develop fitness, beauty and sensuality.
Our
Core Salsa Lessons will give you all you need to look good on the
dance floor. Core Salsa Lessons last 2 hours long for ten weeks and will give
you a good foundation for any Latin dance style.
What
is the history of Salsa dancing?
Salsa
is similar to Mambo in that both have a pattern of six steps danced over eight
counts of music. The dances share many of the same moves. In Salsa, turns have
become an important feature, so the overall look and feel are quite different
form those of Mambo. Mambo moves generally forward and backward, whereas, Salsa
has more of a side to side feel.
Salsa
music is a fusion of traditional African and Cuban and other Latin-American rhythms
that traveled from the islands (Cuba and Puerto Rico) to New York during the migration,
somewhere between the 1940s and the 1970s, depending on where one puts the boundary
between "real" salsa and its predecessors.
The
term "basic step" normally refers to a forward-backward motion. On counts
1, 2, and 3, the leader steps forward, replaces, and steps backward. On count
5, 6, and 7, they step backwards, replace, and step forward again.
The
follower does the same, but with forward and backward reversed, so that the couple
goes back and forth as a unit.
Dips
are a fairly advanced Salsa moves that your will practice in our Salsa Intermediate
Lessons.
What
are the Salsa Styles?
Today,
Salsa dancing can be divided into several styles defined by the geographic region
from which they come. Generally, these styles are identified as L.A. style, New
York style, Cuban and Miami style. Although these are not "official"
styles, most salseros today identify the styles by these four names.
Core
Salsa ( LA Style )
Core
Salsa style is very linear. It uses sensual hip motions, dips and arm styling.
L.A. style is very flashy incorporating many flips and dips. LA style dancing
is a pleasure to watch and a pleasure to dance and is usually danced on 1. The
Los Angeles style uses the contemporary mambo basic as well but typically executes
this step by breaking forward on count "1".
Our
Style...
As
part of your Core Salsa training, you will learn how to dance Salsa, Bachata,
Merengue, Cumbia and Cha Cha, with the goal of getting you on the dance floor
with the most sensual and elegant dancing style. You will achieve an advanced
level of Salsa Dancing in six months - what normally takes most people to learn
in two years.
No
partner necessary! ...Just bring yourself along!
Flexible
Registration...
(Beginner/Intermediate)
|
CORE
Salsa Lessons - On going
|
|
Sundays
|
-
Intermediate (3 pm - 4 pm)
-
Beginner (4 pm - 5 pm)
- Practice (5 pm - 6 pm)
|
|
What
to wear
|
Comfortable
dress or sportswear
|
|
Cost
|
Special:
10 lessons (10 hours) for $150
Included: Salsa Training DVD & Salsa Demo DVD
|
|
Drop
in Cost
|
Cost:
$15 per 1 hour class
|
|
Important
|
Please
register to confirm your attendance.
|
Great
Location...
|
SKF
Martial Arts Academies
102, 1727 West Broadway,
Vancouver, BC
[
Map] - [Get
Direction] West
Broadway & Burrard Street |
