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,Colombian) - 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 1 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!
|
Kitsilano
Active Physio
(Between Trafalgar & Stephens)
2665
West 4th Ave. Vancouver
FREE
Street Parking
|
Your
First Class is FREE!
