Here’s why privates are better:

         More feedback.

You get constant attention from your teacher to course correct you every step of the way (pun intended :)). So imagine over the course of an hour you get feedback every minute, which is 60 pieces of personalized feedback in a class. In a group setting, a teach can only spend so much time per each student, let alone see all students up front given how many people there are. You are lucking to get 6 pieces of personalized feedback over the course of the group class. Thats 1/10 the amount of feedback you are getting in a personalized class!

         Work at your own pace.

You may like to take your time and perfect certain exercises or moves, or maybe you like to breeze through them to just get reps and start creating muscle memory. There is no one way, but everyone has their own way.  Private classes allow you to move at your own pace vs group classes its one pace, that’s it!

         Work on what you need.

Since private classes are just for you, they can constantly adapt to exactly where you are at. There isn’t a canned program like a group class that is meant to be for everyone. So if you and your teacher observe you are stiff, maybe you just focus on body opening. Or maybe you master a sequence quickly and want to film an artistic version of it for your socials. It’s your time … you and your teacher get to use it as you please.

The gist?  I believe 1 year of group classes are equivalent to 1 month of private classes. 

So here’s what you are probably thinking: the problem in doing private classes in the US, Canada or Europe is that they are EXPENSIVE! In NYC an hour of private class with an experienced salsa teacher is minimum $100 per hour.  If we were to do the same immersion we do in Colombia in North America or Europe, it would cost minimum $5k per week, more if in cities like NYC or London (includes accommodation costs).   

In Colombia we are not only able to provide you with a much more affordable experience, but also a richer experience in a beautiful country that lives and breathes the salsa spirit! So you not only will learn how to dance, but learn how to feel and practice joy, flavor, and affection just like Colombians do

Are you ready to deep dive in private, one-on-once salsa classes with us in Colombia? Come alone, with a friend, a partner, or a group of friends any time of the year or during one of our public immersions to join others just like you wanting to bring the joy of salsa into their life

Book your Somoloco Salsa Immersion now!

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-David

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3 Reasons to Learn Salsa In Colombia:

1. Salsa is alive in Colombia: It is a country with a long history of salsa music and dance that has continued to this day. It’s uncommon to meet people who don’t know famed salsa musicians, their famous salsa song lyrics, how to dance salsa, and most of all, that salsa spirit! In Colombia, salsa is more than just a dance – it’s a way of life.   This vibrant salsa culture is the perfect environment for learning and growing as a salsa dancer and a salsero in spirit!
2. The best people. Colombia is home to some of the sweetest, most fun people in the world IMHO. They embody joy, flavor, and affection — the salsa spirit! It is also home to some of the best teachers in the world. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned dancer, you’ll be able to find a bright, happy, experienced, patient, knowledgeable teacher who can help you improve your skills and take your salsa dancing to the next level.
3. Affordable: I know I say this over and over again, but to do a salsa immersion / salsa bootcamp the same way we do it in cities like San Francisco, London, or Toronto would cost 5-10x.

Interested in learning more?

Read on about our immersive salsa experience in Medellin, Colombia

The post Top 3 Reasons to Learn Salsa in Colombia! appeared first on Somoloco Salsa Immersion.

Here are a few reasons why a salsa bootcamp in Medellin is a great idea:

1. 1. Improve your salsa skills: You’ll get intensive, live one-on-one personalized training from experienced instructors, so you can focus on learning what you need to learn.
   2. Immerse yourself in the salsa culture: Medellin is all about salsa, with a thriving scene and tons of clubs and venues where you can practice your moves and feel the salsa spirit. Plus, you’ll get to learn from locals who have a deep understanding of the music, dance, and most of all embody the salsero spirit!
   3. Meet high quality humans: Salsa is a social dance, and a salsa bootcamp is a great way to connect with other dancers from around the world who have also come down to dance it up!  You might just make some friends for life! Or more And let’s not forget the locals — Colombians are an exceptionally warm, friendly, fun loving bunch. Particularly the salsa dancers!
   4. Explore a new city: Known as the City of Eternal Springtime, Medellin is an absolutely beautiful city tucked away in a forest covered valley, with lots to see and do. While you’re here, take the opportunity to check out the stunning botanical gardens, Parque Arvi, Comuna 13, and all the other amazing sights the city has to offer. We will recommend several salsa and non-salsa related destinations when you come down with us!
   5. Get in shape: Salsa dancing is a fun way to stay active and get your heart rate up. Now imagine doing it 3-6 hours a day, every day. You’ll be burning calories and getting fit while you are just laughing and smiling having fun.
   6. Save cash money: A similar bootcamp would cost 5-10x in a city like New York or London.  Can’t beat the prices in Colombia!

A salsa bootcamp in Medellin is a fantastic way to improve your salsa skills, immerse yourself in the culture, meet new people, and explore a new city. I guess its that simple! So why not give it a try?

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer, there’s something for everyone.

Learn more about our salsa bootcamp in Medellin, Colombia (we call it an immersion!)

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We’ve been a bit radio silent as of late as we’ve been tracking the COVID situation here in Colombia as well as internationally.  Just when we thought we were in the clear in April/May, COVID variants are abound including our own homegrown Colombian variant.  As much as we would have loved to host public immersions this time of year, particularly during the amazing Flower Festival (Feria de las flores), with the recent spikes in June it just hasn’t felt right yet to be promoting a public trip. The most important thing to us is the health and happiness of our community 

Here’s the good news: while we had a tough June in Colombia with a spike in new COVID cases and deaths, thankfully the numbers have dropped significantly with the rapid vaccination program — over 1/4 of the country is fully vaccinated and that number is growing every week.  And despite it all, Colombia and Medellin remains open.  To stay tuned on the latest COVID situation in Medellin and Colombia, Medellin guru has all of the up-to-date information to stay informed.

So what’s next for Somoloco Salsa Immersions?

We are looking ahead to 2022 and want your help!

We have launched Somoloco Salsa Partnerships to host immersions for communities of 10 – 40 people starting in 2022 

• Co-host an unforgettable experience for you and your community
• Be our business partner for the trip $$$
• Activate your community, and we’ll do the heavy lifting of hosting the immersion

Whether you are a salsa instructor from NYC, zumba teacher from Miami, yoga teacher from Mumbai, wellness coach from Berlin, or a community activator who wants come co-create an unforgettable salsa experience with us for you and your community, this is a great opportunity to create meaning, joy, and connection with your people while doing well.

Get in touch

Start planning for 2022 with an initial conversation with us.

Wherever you are in the world, we are sending you lots of love, sabor, and buenas vibras

La Familia de Somoloco Salsa

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After last year’s historic peace deal ending an over 50 year old civil war between the Colombian government and leftist guerrilla group the FARC, foreigners are finally able to safely access this beautiful land, and its rich, diverse culture. Tourism has been exploding here over the past three years, growing 13% per year, and continues to rise along with foreign investment in real estate and industry.

As we like to say to visitors, “The only danger in coming to Colombia is that you just might stay.”  

So what is so special about Colombia? Why are Americans and Europeans alike coming, and many times staying in Colombia? Besides it’s stunning physical beauty, delicious coffee, romantic pueblos, and famous magical realism authors like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, its all about the people. The culture of physicality, warmth, passion, close family ties, serving others, and joy. And let’s not forget sabor (flavor). Its not enough to read about in guide books or in walking tours to really experience this way of living. It must be experienced. And few things embody the essence of Colombia more than dancing salsa.

We feel part of something dancing salsa in Colombia…because everyone dances!

Well, almost everyone. Salsa is alive here in Colombia. Its considered the salsa capital of the world, and with good reason.  Colombians grow up with salsa. Its in homes. In the streets. At family parties.  At cafes. In restaurants. In taxis. No exaggeration, salsa is everywhere. Its hard to find someone who isn’t impressively knowledgeable about salsa music or doesn’t know how to dance.

And of course, there is no shortage of places to dance :). Not just dance clubs, but also little bars sprinkled throughout major cities like Medellin, Cali, and Bogota, as well as in every town and pueblo across the country. To dance salsa in Colombia is to be part of and participate in their culture.

Here we can live and breathe salsa dance culture in an authentic way hard to find in North America and Europe.

Dancing salsa in Colombia awakens our passions and creativity.

Colombians express emotions through dance. Its a cathartic therapy of sorts, using salsa dancing as a way to externalize and express their internal worlds. Love. Sadness. Anger. Everything.

They are a passionate, high energy people, which is reflected in the Colombian born salsa style called salsa caleña (see video), although all styles of salsa can be danced here (on 1, on 2, cuban, and more).

People here really know how to let themselves go and leave it all on the dance floor, all through the context of enjoyment, self-expression, and sabor (flavor).  Not to mention doing it all suavecito (smooth + cool — props to Chirry).

Colombians are incredibly welcoming and friendly.

Colombians are brought up from a young age to be friendly, polite, and affectionate. To enjoy serving others, and practicehumility. Its an incredibly welcoming culture, where you can very quickly get invited to a family dinner after just having met someone dancing — get ready for the guaro (aguaardiente)!

And people are definitely down to dance with you, no matter who you are or where you are. Its all about feeling good together.

Learn presence through feeling the saboroso music.

Colombians grow up listening to salsa music with their papas y familia from a young age.  Its in their blood.  So when you dance salsa in Colombia, you are instantly struck how people truly feel the music. They let go of control, let go of thinking, and let their bodies interpret whatever the music, their own emotions, and their dance partners are expressing.

To learn salsa in Colombia means to learn how to be present with the music, and with your dance partner…because if you don’t, no one will dance with you! (just kidding :P, but really, if you can do as the locals do, you can feel the depth and magic of the music + dance).

It’s pure joy.

At the end of the day dancing salsa is all about happiness down here. Its an essential feature of the music.  Its a way to experience our lives with a smile, no matter what the circumstance. Had your heart broken? No problem, we can dance some salsa.  Lost all of your money? No problem, we can move and feel good with our friends and family. No matter what the circumstance, dancing salsa in Colombia teaches foreigners and locals alike how to experience joy through an embodied practice.  It holds similar health benefits as yoga and meditation, only dare we say…a lot more fun!

So why are travelers going to learn salsa in Colombia? To put it simply: to learn how to feel good. Together.

And whenever you are ready to come down and dance with us, come on one of our salsa immersions to experience the flavor and joy of salsa in Colombia with the only community of pro independent dance instructors, now 60 dancers and counting.   We are waiting for you 

Con amor, from Colombia,

David from Somoloco

The post Why even non-dancers are going to Colombia for salsa appeared first on Somoloco Salsa Immersion.

“Salsa” is, in fact, a very broad term. In 1960s New York, musicians playing a wide range of high-energy latin rhythms would cry out “salsaaa!” to the crowd to signal: bring the spice; crank up the heat on the dance floor. The name stuck, but remains quite general, encompassing 4 major global styles: On-1, Cuban, Colombian and On-2.

The 4 main global salsa styles: How to pick salsa classes in Medellin, Colombia, and beyond

You can find all 4 major styles of salsa classes in Medellin. So, how to decide where to start? You may want to consider where in the world you plan to dance, what type of music makes you want to get up and move, and how you like to dance — rapid turns, or fun footwork; fast and frenzied, or smooth and sensual.

We’ll go over the basics of each style to help you decide which best fits your groove.

Colombian salsa

Popular in: Colombia, Latin America, Latin American diaspora in USA / Europe / Asia

If you’re looking for an easy-to-learn dance style AND be able to dance with most latinos around the world, this is the style for you! AND If your primary goal is getting down in Colombian clubs, and this rapid, flashy footwork looks wildly fun to you, then Colombian salsa is your groove.

Colombian salsa (often called Salsa Caleña or Cali-style salsa), stands out for its explosive energy and speed, with more emphasis on kicks and footwork, and fewer complex turns. When salsa first arrived in Cali in the late 60s, DJs would often play records at up to double their intended speed — and the exhilarating pace of Cali-style salsa hasn’t let up since. 

Also danced on the count of 1, Colombian salsa is more approachable for beginners than you might think — you won’t need to know the intricate, speedy footwork in order to get out and shake it on the dance floor! 

We like to think that “street salsa” danced my many latinos in the world is most akin to Colombian style salsa — so why not dance what most of the world’s salsa dancers are dancing?!  (Just be aware that “academic” salsa schools aren’t teaching this as much as On-1, On-2, or Cuban as seen below)

On-1 Salsa

Popular in: The U.S., Europe, Asia

Do you love the look of fast, complex turns, and an energetic, elegant style of dancing? Does this look cool to you? If so, check out salsa On-1 (commonly called Salsa en Linea in Colombia, or LA style in the U.S.). One of the most popular styles of salsa in the U.S. and Europe, On-1 is a great place to start because of its accessible timing (with the leader stepping forward and the follower stepping back on the count of 1, hence “On-1”). As you get better, you’ll learn intricate, showy spins, graceful arm styling, and jazzy steps called “shines” (like those you’ll see by our instructors, Sergio and Jessica in their winning dance at the Cali world championship!)

Cuban Salsa

Popular in: Cuba, the U.S., Latin America

If you’re all about shaking your hips and shoulders, and you love the funky sound of Cuban Timba — Cuban salsa is for you. Saleros worldwide love Cuban salsa, also known as Casino, for its playful, provocative vibe, vigorous hip movement, and Afro-cuban styling. Compared to On-1, Cuban style follows a more circular pattern of motion, as dancers weave intricate, pretzel-like figures around each other. Cuban-style social dancing also differs from the other styles in that it isn’t just a couples dance. From the streets of Havana to clubs in Berlin, Cuban salsa is commonly danced in a synchronized ring of couples, called a Rueda.

Many dancers start out with this style because its timing (on the count of 1) is easy to grasp — and few things are more fun than a sweaty, boisterous Rueda.

On-2 Salsa

Popular in: The U.S. (New York in particular), Europe

Are you drawn to a smoother, more sensual style of dancing? Do you like the intricate, old-school rhythms of Mambo music? If so, check out On-2 Salsa. Also called New-York style, On-2 shares much in common with On-1, but has different — and more complex — timing. Followers step forward on the count of 2, and leaders on the count of 6, giving the dance a slower cadence — with time for some extra sabor / flavor. Experienced dancers love On-2 for its rhythmic complexity. However, the On-1 count is more dominant and easier to hear as a beginner, so most dancers start with one of the first 3 types of salsa before learning On-2. Here’s our very own Waldy show what smooth on-2 dancing is all about.

https://youtu.be/CPbVk4ebP8s

Now…ready to dance? Our community of instructors offers salsa classes in Medellin in all 4 of the above salsa styles. Nothing makes us happier than getting new dancers out on the floor! Read more about our teachers and the styles they offer.

And remember, there is no wrong place to start. No matter what style you begin with, you’ll build a foundation of salsa vocabulary that transfers to the others — enabling you to find common ground with salseros on any dance floor, anywhere in the world.

Love,

Somoloco Salsa Immersion

PS Theres also a specific type of Salsa in Puerto Rico and Miami — more on that in a followup post!

The post 4 Types of Salsa Dancing — How to Choose One appeared first on Somoloco Salsa Immersion.

In Colombia, part of salsa culture is saying yes to a first dance as much as possible. Sound shockingly non-awkward, easy and fun? It is. But it only works because of an unspoken code of salsa etiquette that keeps the dance floor as comfortable and inclusive as it is sweaty and fun. We’ll do our best to speak the unspoken and give you a rundown on how the code works.

Wanna dance?

In your average top-40s nightclub, the prospect of asking a stranger to dance can be sweaty-palms-kinda awkward, and agreeing can be equally tricky. When it’s uncomfortably ambiguous whether are you asking / agreeing to a dance — or to a prelude to a hookup —  it sometimes feels easier to just retreat to a barstool and nurse a mojito. We thank the salsa gods daily for salsa’s refreshingly clear expectations around how to invite someone to dance (as either a leader or follower!) — and what it means to agree.

Here’s how it works: a leader or follower may invite someone to dance by smiling and extending a hand, or verbally asking: “bailemos?”  The salsa code makes it easy for your prospective partner to say yes because it’s understood that all they are agreeing to is a dance: 3-5 minutes of spontaneous connection, silliness, creativity, maybe even some sexy moves if you’re both comfortable with it — that’s it. When the dance is over, the idea is to thank your partner, and show you’re in the know with the non-creeper clause of the salsa code by not asking again for a while. Let them approach you, or try again later in the night.

A note on saying “no”

While the salsa code encourages you to say “yes” the first time someone asks you, it is of course, totally fine to politely decline a second dance — or say you’re tired, want to chat with friends, or need to collect yourself after being knocked out by the ineffable power of Celia Cruz’s voice. Just try not to immediately dance with anyone else that same song.

If someone turns you down, or says “ahorita” (“later”), don’t take it personally. If you’ve ever been to Medellin’s beloved, furnace-like basement salsa bar, Tibiri, you probably get that sometimes you really just need time to sit with a cold beer and catch your breath. 

Do right by the dance floor community

Within the cavernous walls of Medellin’s fabled salsa club, Tibiri, you get the feeling: everyone is dancing with everyone. A frenzy of footwork and contagious smiles, the dance floor is a community in motion, and we its sweaty citizens. Some tips on salsa citizenship:

Ask everyone

You’ll get the feeling the dance floor vibe isn’t about singling out your next one night stand. Quite the opposite: it’s about finding the connection you share with a wide range of cool people, and creating a lively, impromptu community on the dance floor. So don’t be shy — both leaders and followers are encouraged to fuel that community and invite many new partners to dance throughout the night. Of course, it helps to ask people around your same skill level, but don’t get too hung up on it! We all have to start somewhere. 

Leaders, manage your space

Another way you can show some TLC for your dance floor community is by mindfully managing your space. It helps to watch your followers back and not send her off careening into some other couple’s intimate moment.

It’s all about connection

We know it took us by surprise when we first started dancing — how quickly you can feel a playful connection with someone you’ve just met. This doesn’t require flashy moves, just a willingness to meet your partner where they’re at, and some solid eye contact and body language. (And, of course, it helps if you don’t smell like dead eels.)

Meet your partner where they’re at

Jazzed about the rapid-fire footwork you picked up in salsa lessons in Medellin? Before you try it out on someone new, you’ll want to gauge your partners skill level. (This is more true for leaders, but can also apply to followers.) Dancing is more fun when you meet your partner where they’re at, and focus on finding the unique connection you share on the dance floor — perhaps through unspoken jokes, sensual moments,  goofy playfulness, or enthusiastic belting-out of the lyrics.

Smell good

We’ll state the obvious: it’s easier to connect with someone when you aren’t distracted by their scent of funky hot wings. Try to be one of the good smelling people. Things that help: showering, mouthwash, and clean clothes. 

Make eyes

Eye contact is vital to a strong dance connection — keeping followers balanced as they brave swift spins, and giving both leaders and followers a read on their partner’s level of comfort with things like personal space, touch, dips, or whirlwinds of consecutive spins.  Let eye contact and body language be your rutter as you venture into unknown seas of spins or sensual moves with someone new.

Try not to read into it

The salsa code is all about reading your partner’s body language — without reading into it (especially here in Colombia, where people often interact in a closer, more intimate way). Maybe in the world beyond the dance floor, eye contact, touch, or closeness can sometimes signal sexy times to come — but on the dance floor, they are just part of the lifeblood of salsa. And we wouldn’t want it any other way.

From salsa lessons in Medellin to nights out dancing…

As you pioneer your new moves on dance floors and group salsa lessons in Medellin and beyond, remember — the fun, open vibe we love so much about salsa is only possible because of the unspoken salsa code, which keeps things comfortable and inclusive. The code opens up salsa as its own dimension of play and fantasy, where we can share creativity, fun and intimacy with people we’ve just met – and drop the awkward palm-sweating.

Enough talking. Let’s go out! Wanna join us out dancing with local pro dancers in Medellin? Why not join an immersion?

Love,

Somoloco Salsa Immersion

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Completely unique from the other 3 major global salsa styles (On-1, On-2, and Cuban Salsa), Colombian style salsa (aka Salsa Caleña) is all about moving your feet. Dancers kick, shuffle, and swivel across the floor, punctuating the dance with swift turns. But don’t let that deter you! Salsa Colombian style is much more approachable than it may look, and we’re here to get you up to speed — quite literally, as the dance is famous for its fast footwork and explosive energy.  (You will also find plenty of the familiar, forward-back basic step of On-1 Salsa in Medellin Colombia!)

Colombians like it fast

Salsa made a grand entrance in 1968 when New York musical duo, Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz, tore it up at Cali Colombia’s annual cultural festival, the Feria de Cali. It was like salsa set fire to the city, as neighborhood salsatecas sprung up and new, innovative musical groups proliferated. But Caleños (people from Cali) didn’t just take the music and dance it as it came. The city made the rhythm its own. To dial up the energy, DJs would play records at nearly twice the normal speed. (So much so that Richie Ray was disturbed by the chipmunk-like effect this had on his voice). 

A frenzy of footwork

As salsa spread, much of Colombia started dancing along in a similar style to the Colombian Cumbia, a folkloric courtship dance. Cali went a step further. To match the uptempo, wildly-energetic spun by Cali’s DJs, Caleños took some of the basic steps of the Cumbia, and layered on fast kicks, skips, shuffles, and twists.

The result? An exhilarating dance that feels more frenetic, playful, and explosive than it does romantic or graceful. Salsa Colombian style is really all about the fast footwork. Since those days, the style has permeated all of Colombia, including Medellin, where everyone and their mother dances salsa in the way trailblazed by their neighbors in Cali.

Cali Pachanguero

Colombian-style footwork is powered by some of the kicks and loose, rock-and-roll styling of Latin Boogaloo — as well as the swift skipping, shuffling and swiveling steps of the Caribbean dance, Pachanga. To this day, Pachanga is so vital to Colombian-style salsa, that one of the city’s best-known salsa anthems is Grupo Niche’s classic, “Cali Pachanguero.”

With all this talk of kicks and shuffles, you may be wondering — do you need to know crazy footwork in order to dance salsa Colombian style out on the town? No way! Salsa Caleña is as diverse as it is energetic. The flashy, lightning-fast style you’ll see in dance academies and competitions varies quite dramatically from the casual street style you see in neighborhood bars, or even on the street.

Colombian style salsa, street edition

Paradoxically, street style Salsa Caleña may be one of the easiest salsa styles to learn as a beginner. Very similar to the Cumbia, it’s got an intuitive basic step, simple turns, and accessible footwork (occasional small kicks or taps). Informally passed down from generation to generation at block parties and family barbeques, the street style you’ll see in local dive bars is almost never taught in group classes. But ask any instructor in Colombia, and they’ll be able to get you dance floor-ready in just a few private lessons.

Cabaret Style

In its crazier, more advanced forms, Salsa Caleña boasts acrobatic tricks and flips, and the dancers’ whirring feet reach such high speeds they seem to blur together like a cartoon character on the dash. 

Planning a trip to Colombia? 

Once you get here, the sheer, contagious energy of Colombian salsa is sure to pull you in. You won’t want to sit on the sidelines. Our advice? If you’re traveling to Medellin, join an immersion! Whatever your level of experience with other salsa styles, Colombian salsa is completely unique and well worth learning.

Love,

Somoloco Salsa Immersion

The post Colombian salsa: What’s it all about appeared first on Somoloco Salsa Immersion.

5) Comfortable shoes

Your shoe should feel like an extension of your foot, so that dancing in them is just as comfortable as dancing barefoot.

For ladies, heels are really unnecessary for your classes, although you may want to try them a couple of times seeing as you may be dancing in heels at social functions where you want to showcase your dance skills. Flats are more reliable though – something that just fits your feet as a sock would. Check out here for some inspiration.

This goes for guys too. Fancy dance shoes are really unnecessary unless you want to break them in for social dancing (note: rarely do people go out social dancing with fancy dance shoes in Cali, Medellin, or anywhere in Colombia. Cali salsa is casual dress.). Obviously boots, or cross trainers won’t work. You want to be able to slide and turn with too much friction, and you want to be able to feel the floor without a huge block of rubber in the middle. Sneakers with thinner soles and not too much grip or traction on the bottom is preferred. Think Adidas Sambas or Converse All Stars for some ideas.

4) Comfortable clothes

The main point is to feel good in your clothes. So they should be lightweight, breatheable, flexible (ie stretchy material is better), and mostly form fitting so they don’t get in the way of your arms and leg movements. Let yourself feel sexy in your clothes — thats for guys and girls. The better you feel, the better you’ll be able to relax, feel the music, feel your partner, and let your creative expression flow. You know, be present and not get distracted by minor discomforts.  Dresses, for example, are completely unnecessary. Even in social dancing! (particularly in Colombia, its rare to see girls out dancing in dresses). Guys think cool sweat pants or track pants and a graphic tee shirt. Ladies think yoga pants and a tank top.

3) Keep it so fresh and so clean clean

Dancing is physical and at times intimate. Its never a bad idea to take a shower before your class, and at least use some deodorant and some mouth wash. Mints work like a charm too!  Cali salsa in particular is hot, so make sure your deodorant works well, which means out for those all natural deodorants that rarely work! Without saying it, your dance instructor will be very appreciative that you don’t stink. We’ve had some of our instructors report that at least 1 in 4 students don’t take care of their hygienic business. Don’t be that person! And further, if you smell great, your instructor will more easily let themselves go in dancing with you. That will be more fun for everyone. Its just human nature folks.

2) Resist eating a big meal right before class

Big bowl of rice oriental fast food

Big bowl of rice oriental fast food

If you can help it, its really best not to eat a big meal before a dance class. Feeling a mass of weight in your belly while you are trying to spin or do body rolls is super uncomfortable. Did we mention cramps?!  Snacks just before are fine. Oh and dance class can get hot, so stay hydrated!

1) Have a sense of what you want to learn

Its always good for you to have some degree of clarity on what it is you want to learn so your instructor can help you get there, or at least reset your expectations and adapt your goals based on their experience dancing. A big decision for example is which style of salsa you would like to learn!  You can learn more about the 4 majors types of salsa dancing and how to the right one for you here.

When you sign up for an immersion with us in Medellin, we will help define your goals and a realistic dance plan before starting classes, including picking the best teacher for your specific path.

Other than that, class is a time for you to practice, learn, and ask questions. Take advantage! Your instructor is there to help you achieve your dancing goals in the most efficient and optimal way possible. Learning is a continual evolution that happens through close contact between student and instructor, so keep the conversation flowing on what works and doesn’t, what you want more or less of.

Enjoy your salsa class!

With love, from the Medellin salsa crew,

Somoloco Salsa Immersion

(Want to come to Colombia and immerse yourself in Salsa with us?  Message us on Facebook!)

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