Latin dance has taken the world by storm in recent years and deservedly so! It is fun, passionate, social and great way to get fit. There is a plethora of different dance genres and styles to learn and enjoy. At Latino Grooves, our aim is to spread the passion and energy of Latin dance through our weekly Salsa, Merengue and Bachata classes!
Salsa has a vast and complex history and has many influences but basically came to be in New York as the result of the mixture of Cuban music and Latin Jazz in the 1940’s and 50’s. With its many influences from countries such as Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela and of course the city of New York – Cuban music and culture has provided Salsa with its foundation. The word ‘Salsa’ actually means a hot and spicy sauce in Spanish and was created for marketing purposes in order to promote this amazing and unmistakable music to the rest of the world.
It is a partner dance and consists of a 4/4 beat or rhythm, with a pattern of six steps danced over the eight counts of music. Salsa entails intricate and rhythmic footwork, turns and spins, dips and many fun and interesting moves and turn patterns. Salsa works on a ‘lead and follow’ system where one person leads - traditionally the male with his female partner following his signals and being led into all the moves. It is considered a ‘street-style’ dance which basically means that there is no set choreography. Once you hit the dance floor, you can definitely expect spontaneity!
The actual dance has changed and progressed through the years becoming a little more sophisticated and stylish due to the integration of many other dance genres but its essence will always remain the same. It is generally upbeat, rhythmic, sexy and fun – it can be romantic, energetic, smooth, debonair and fiery – it is all up to your interpretation and personality.
At Latino Grooves, 4 progressive levels of Salsa are taught in order to have you burning the floor! We aim to teach a standard of Salsa which would allow you to travel to any part of the world and be able to dance with absolutely anybody no matter their interpretation. We focus on correct posture, technique, rhythm, timing and learning exciting moves whilst encouraging you to create your own way of dancing – which is unique to everybody else!
As the name implies, our class ‘Salsa for Absolute Beginners’ is for people who have never danced Salsa (or any style of dance) before. The rhythm, basic footwork and techniques are broken down in an easy to learn manner. Much time is dedicated to mastering the fundamentals of Salsa such as the Ladies and Mans Right turn, Inside Turn, Cross Body Lead and the Cross Body Lead with a left turn. The instructors then take you through basic combinations and variations using these fundamentals. It is recommended that you attend at least 8 of our ‘Salsa for Absolute Beginners’ classes before you can progress on to ‘Beginners 2 Salsa’.
'Beginners 2 Salsa' will take you to the next level in your dancing. Your instructors will take you through all key concepts learnt in ‘Salsa for Absolute Beginners’ a little more thoroughly as well as introducing new techniques and combinations! In Beginners 2, you will start to pay more attention to the finer details of the dance. You will also begin to feel confident with your increasing repertoire of moves! It is recommended that you attend at least 8 of these classes before you can progress on to 'Intermediate Salsa'.
'Beginners 2 Salsa' is often the level where many people feel that they would like to spend more time in before advancing. Our syllabus allows for this and varies from course to course to keep you interested!
By now we guarantee that you will be addicted to Salsa! 'Intermediate Salsa' will see you learning more complex moves, more spins, dips and fancy footwork. 'Intermediate Salsa' sees the introduction of 'styling', which is where you begin to inject personality into your dancing through hand and arm movements, hair flicks (just for the girls), turns and so on. There is a lot to learn so a recommended minimum 16 classes should be attended before advancing to the next level – Advanced!
Once you reach 'Advanced Salsa' you will be more than thoroughly addicted and just want to learn more moves, more turns and more footwork! In Advanced, you will take your styling, musicality, interpretation and technique to the next level! 'Advanced Salsa' is a casual, drop-in class and your instructors will challenge you with a new turn pattern each week.Look out for these artists when you are next shopping online or at the CD store!
• Africando
• Celia Cruz
• Eddie Palmieri
• Edwin Bonilla
• El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
• Grupo Niche
• Hector Lavoe
• Marc Antony
• Ray Barretto
• Ruben Blades
• Sonora Carruseles
• The Spanish Harlem Orchestra
• Tito Puente
• Victor Manuelle.
The footwork is based on a 4-4 rhythm and has quite a fast tempo. The music and the basic steps can be counted 1,2,1,2 or 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4. It is basically danced as a walk, a step being taken with each leg in alternation on every beat. In Merengue you move on every beat.
With the footwork being so basic, hundreds and possibly thousands of figures and patterns are possible! Merengue also uses a ‘lead and follow’ system with one person (traditionally the male) leading his partner throughout the dance. Many people also choose to dance Merengue in closed dance position only, swaying to the music together.
The key to looking good when you dance Merengue is in the body action and the way you move. As you dance, allow your hips to sway side to side as a result of the footwork and knee action. It is this hip motion that makes Merengue so irresistible!
Many dancers have dismissed Merengue in the past simply because it is so easy! Merengue is in fact, a rich, fun and sexy dance in its own right and a must-learn dance style!
At Latino Grooves, you will learn the authentic body movement and action needed in Merengue and will learn move after move, week after week! Our weekly class is open to all people, regardless of skill and experience. Merengue is such an easy dance you will pick it up in no time at all, no matter your level of skill.
Look out for these artists when you are next shopping online or at the CD store!..
• Elvis Crespo
• Fulanito
• Grupo Mania
• Jossie Esteban
• Juan Luis Guerra
• La Maquina
• Los hermanos Rosario
• Mamajuana
• Sergio Vargas
• Wilfrido Vargas.
Bachata music is played in a 4/4 rhythm. The basic footwork is a series of 3 simple steps taken to 4 beats of music that produce a back and forth or sideways motion. The character of the dance is achieved through sensual hip and body movements and its close and intimate hold. It is often romantic and sentimental as the songs nearly always tell a tale of romance or unrequited love.
Latino Grooves’ weekly Bachata lessons will introduce you to this amazing dance style and its infectious music. Come along and give this simple but sensual dance a go!
Look out for these artists when you are next shopping online or at the CD store!
• Andy Andy
• Antony Santos
• Aventura
• Juan Luis Guerra
• Luis Vargas
• Monchy y Alexandra
• Ramon Torres
• Richie Ortega
• Sonia Silvestre
Whatever Latin dance you choose to learn and enjoy, it is all about having fun and imagining yourself dancing bare foot in front of a Caribbean sunset. See you on the dance floor!
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