1) What is Salsa?

The term salsa is a generic term used to refer to the fusion music and dance forms originating from Latin America. The term salsa, meaning sauce, was first coined in the 1920s by Cuban musician by Ignacio Piñeiro in his song Echale Salsita (add a little sauce).  The arrival of Latin American immigrants to the US brought with it many forms of music and dance which were all referred to simply as "Latin" music.  By the 1960s, following the development of mambo, cha cha and  boogaloo. these Latin music and dance forms came to be known as "Salsa" with the fusion of Cuban, Puerto Rican and NY jazz based musical influences and the creation of the Fania Allstars Salsa band.

Orginating in Latin America, Salsa is the fusion of

African rhythm, Spanish melody and Latin American Heart & Soul

2) Are the lessons just for beginners?

We provide lessons in salsa, merengue, bachata and cha cha for beginners, improvers and intermediates.  The class begins with a salsa and merengue warm up class covering the basic steps which is suitable for absolute beginners with no prior knowledge.  Following this, there is a salsa class for beginners and for intermediates.  Cha cha and bachata line dances are taught later during the disco.

3) Do I need to attend every week?

You can attend the classes on a drop in basis and there is no obligation to attend every week although regular attendance tends to improve progression and continuity.  There are also discounts available for people wishing to take an entire beginners or mprovers course.

4) Do I need a partner to do a salsa class?

Many people attend salsa classes by themselves because it is a great way to meet new people and have fun.  So no partner is necessary just make sure you bring your two left feet!

5)  Do I need to wear special shoes?

It is always best to wear shoes that are comfortable and will allow you to spin on the dance floor without sticking or sliding too much.  So avoid shoes with rubber soles and make sure that they have a sturdy heel to provide good support.

6) Do I need to wear special clothes?

No ! Just wear whatever you feel comfortable in but remember that it gets very warm on the dancefloor and you may need to wear something that keeps you cool.

7) Where can I buy Salsa music from?

You can get hold of salsa CD from most music retailers such as HMV.  A good CD to look out for is the beginners guide to salsa and the rough guide to salsa series.  For more specialised Latin Music check out Mr Bongos Salsa, Tower Records amd Descarga.com

8) Is salsa just for young people?

Salsa is suitable for all age groups from infants right through to senior citizens.  My first salsa dance was with an inspirational gentleman who was celebrating his 80^th birthday in Mexico city.

9)How can I remember the salsa moves?

Salsa is not about how many moves you can remember it is about feeling the music and responding to it.  So it is not necessary to remember every single move that you have learnt in class when you are dancing to a track.  The key to being able to interpret Salsa music is by understanding how each move fits in with the music i.e. is the music more percussive therefore requiring more footwork, shines and hip movements. Is it a piano mambo section, therefore fitting in with cross body and partner work.  Is the music fast and accentuated by horn sections, therefore fitting in with turns and spins, or are there breaks in the music that emphasise more dramatic moves such as lifts and dips. Once you analyse where these moves fit in with the music then you will be able to recall different moves when and where you need them spontaneously and not as a whole sequence.

10) How long does it take to learn salsa?

Anything from 3 months to 2 years. There are two main ways of learning to dance salsa.  Firstly, the easiest way and the way we learn in Latin America which is to simply feel the music and go along with rhythm.  The second way for people who have not had much previous exposure to this type of music is the technical way by breaking down and isolating each move.  If you have natural rhythm and an understanding of music you will learn quickly if not we will show you the fundamental key moves to enable you to dance salsa effectively.