Tromsø Salsa - hva er salsa workshop?

Methods of learning:
Organized classes, drop in classes or workshops?

Organized classes
Organized classes are the most popular, and probably one of the best ways to learn. These classes last anywhere from 5 to 10 weeks, after which you may choose to progress to the next level. These classes are progressive so that you all the time build on what you previously learned. Organized classes shoulkd teach you everything you need: dance steps, technique, music, and leading and following.

The great thing about organized classes is you’ll that have a core group of fellow students at your level that you will be able to dance and practice with; creating a mini dance community of people with the same passion for dance as yourself. The drawback is that it requires a commitment of time. With people’s busy schedules nowadays it may be hard to commit to a specific time once or twice a week for an 5 or 10-week period.

Drop in classes
Many instructors teach drop-in classes, which means anyone can join in at any lesson. This type of class is often offered at nightclubs early in the evening. Since anyone can drop in, the class level can vary a lot, and the instructor may not be able to accommodate everyone's level. Another drawback, if the class is in a club setting, is that the environment can be noisy and disruptive, and there may be people (who aren’t participating in the classes) watching which may make beginners feel uncomfortable. An advantage of drop-in classes is that they are usually inexpensive and often include admission to the club. A big bonus is that you'll be able to practice what you’ve learned right away since you are already at a nightclub. Another advantage to drop-in classes is that you don’t have to make a commitment of time or money. It is also a great way to evaluate different instructors, to see who you like best, without having to sign up for a whole session. Drop-in classes can be a good complement to your organized classes. Experiment, enjoy the evening, and make sure to ask some of your fellow students to dance.

Workshops
Most workshops are geared towards intermediate or advanced dancers and are a great way to learn new moves. They can be a single 2-3 hour class specifically focused on a specific subject or a series of intense workshops offered over 1 or 2 days (usually a weekend). They usually focus on very specific dance topic: turn patterns, shines, styling etc. Workshops can cover a lot of material in a short amount of time, and therefore are a great value. However, unlike organized classes, you will not learn the fundamentals very well and the moves you learn will usually not be covered again with the instructors. Since this is a one-time deal, you may find yourself in a workshop class where the general dancing level is too low, or too high. Check with the instructors prior to the class to see whether the level is right for you.

Watch out for special workshops from out-of-town instructors - some of these opportunities should not be missed as they usually teach some really unique turn patterns or shines with the style/flavor which is specific to their city.

Lets start dancing salsa!
How many times have you seen either on TV or in a nightclub a couple dancing salsa and you have wished to move like them, well maybe it is the right time to take this seriously and start dancing.

Acquiring the skills is not an impossible mission; on the contrary it is totally do-able!

There are several myths that come and go in the Salsa environment such as "Only Latinos can dance", "Salsa requires advanced preliminary dancing experience" "Salsa is only for young people", etc; some of them could be more realistic than others, but none of them are right or wrong as long as you have the desire and enthusiasm to learn.

Sasa is a perfect way to help you reduce the stress produced by your regular activities. Furthermore, dancing salsa is an inexpensive activity in comparison to many others that required some outfit, equipment, etc; all you need is the desire to move your body and dance.

Where to practice
Where can we practice? A lot of people ask us about places to go to practice what they have learned in a class. This is a very important question, because although going to the classes itself can be a lot of fun, it is still to be considered an investment. You pay money now, but in return you can receive a future flow of utility in form of fun and joy (that's how economists talk).
The answer is easy: If you are a beginner and want to become a good dancer, there are two things you can do. One, go to classes and two, go to the clubs! Salsa is a partner dance, so a good salsa dancer means a good lead (guys) or a good follow (ladies). It doesn't matter how many moves you know if you can't lead or follow. You have to realize that when you go out to a club, the guys are gonna do different moves and have different styles. On the other side, the girls are all gonna act different to every guys lead. The follows can't expect that the moves from the class will come, and the lead can't expect that the lady they are dancing with knows the move he learned in class. But you know what? That's what's fun with salsa. If the lead is good, the follow is good, then anything can happen. So go to the clubs, learn to love it and enjoy it! If you see somebody on the dance floor doing a cool move that you would like to learn, just ask him or her. If you see somebody from class, ask them if they remember that move you learned together. Another good tip is to ask a dancer who is better than yourself if he or she will dance with you. Salsa dancers are very social creatures; we love to share the fun! The salsa scene welcomes everybody regardless if you are an experienced dancer or a complete beginner.

Learning to dance is not only about technique, it is also about coping with the fear (or fact) of not having technique. A lot of people are afraid to go out. They fear that they will do mistakes and that they won't be able to enjoy. I know the feeling, but I also know that it's a big mistake to even worry about it. Why? Because you will miss out on a lot of fun! So what if you mess it up? Everybody does that sometimes regardless of what level they are at. When I mess up a move, or loose track of the beat, I just smile and start over again. It's nothing to worry about, just have fun! Remember that everybody who is a good social dancer now, used to be bad sometime. Learn from other dancers, but don't judge yourself by them. If you see a good couple on the dance floor, keep in mind that no matter how born to dance they seem to be, they were once a pair of gangly dorks who banged into other couples, ended up in the wrong place and screwed up steps all the time. Remember too, that 99 out of 100 dancers are really nice people who are there for the same reason you are: to dance and have fun.

All this being said, remember one thing: When you are at the clubs, do not ever criticize or give tips to your dance partner without being asked. It's just rude. We go out to have fun, right?

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