THE HAVANA NIGHTS SALSA PROGRAME

SUMMARY

Our programme was developed by Miguel Valentino, the creator of Havana Nights and one of the first teachers of authentic Cuban Salsa in the UK, when he returned from Cuba in 2001. Recognising that most people think they can't dance and lack confidence, Miguel developed one of the most structured, effective and exciting Salsa programmes in the country, to make the dance accessible and enjoyable for all, whilst maintaining the authenticity and spirit of the dance. The programme is perfected each year and this year is being developed with our new 'Dance Fusion' which provides more opportunities for freestyle dancing and socialising for all after the lessons and takes your dance experience beyond Salsa Turn Patterns to the full richness of Cuban dance, see Dance Descriptions which includes video clips of the dance areas you will enjoy with us.

Our programme includes:

***Salsa Foundation Course: for Total Beginners and gives you a solid foundation in the Cuban Salsa fundamentals, including the basic footwork, turn patterns and related dance technique.

***Salsa Improvement Course: for those who've completed the 'Salsa Foundation Course' and have a solid foundation in the Cuban Salsa fundamentals, including the basic footwork, turn patterns and related dance technique. Teaches you how to link turns to form exciting turn patterns and combinations.

****Salsa Proficiency Course: for those who've completed the 'Salsa Improvement Course' and wish to learn more advanced Cuban Salsa combinations and turn patterns

***Dance Fusion Course: designed to give you lots of freestyle dancing, whether you're a beginner or more experienced dancer, and broaden your dance experience beyond Salsa Turn Patterns. Adds flavour and excitement to your dancing and is a great social.

***Salsa Specials: intensive workshops at the end of each course to consolidate your learning, learn new material; and stretch your dancing with more advanced variations of what you’ve learnt in your previous course.

***Specialist Workshops with guest teachers including other Cuban Dance Forms (Son, Afro-Cuban, Cha Cha Cha), other Popular Latin Dances (Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton) and Styling, Timing and Dance Technique.

Please see Dance Descriptions for a description and video clip for each of the dance areas that you will enjoy and explore with us.

HOW IT WORKS

Salsa Foundation Course - (formerly known as Level 1)

This is a sixteen week course, split into two, eight week modules (A & B) for Total Beginners and gives you a solid foundation in the Cuban Salsa fundamentals, including the basic footwork, turn patterns and related dance technique. Each 8 week module teaches you new material and consolidates your basic footwork. It doesn’t matter which sequence you complete the modules in, so long as you complete both the modules before joining the "Salsa Improvement Course". After lesson three, we close the course off to new joiners, so that you learn new material each week and progress at a faster rate than courses elsewhere, which typically have new joiners each week. It all sounds very technical but don't worry, the foundation course is designed for those with no dance background whatsoever and each lesson gradually stretches your dancing further at an enjoyable pace, whilst teaching you all the fundamentals you need to develop your Salsa. At the end of each lesson, you are welcome to stay on for free, for 'Dance Fusion', an opportunity to dance freestyle, practice your moves or simply enjoy a drink at the bar. Towards the end of the course, we usually have a party where you can meet other dancers from across Havana Nights and enjoy dancing and meeting other dancers. We also have an optional 'Salsa Special', a four hour workshop towards the end of each course, to consolidate and develop your dancing further. Once you've completed both 8 week modules, you can take your dancing further by joining the "Salsa Improvement Course".

Salsa Improvement Course, Turn Patterns - (formerly known as Level 2)

This is a twenty four week course, split into three, eight week modules (A, B, & C) for those who've completed the 'Salsa Foundation Course' and have a solid foundation in the Cuban Salsa fundamentals, including the basic footwork, turn patterns and related dance technique. This course develops your dancing further by teaching you how to link turns and embellishments to create exciting Salsa combinations and turn patterns which will make you shine on the dance floor. Each 8 week module teachers you new material to give you enough turn patterns and combinations to make your dancing varied and exciting. It doesn’t matter which sequence you complete the modules in and most students tend to repeat the entire course at least twice, to gain confidence and mastery of the turn patterns. We also have an optional 'Salsa Special', a four hour workshop towards the end of each course, to consolidate and develop your dancing further. At the end of each lesson, you are encouraged to stay on for free, for our exciting and unique 'Dance Fusion' (see below) which will develop your dancing further whilst having fun on the dance floor.

Dance Fusion Course (New!)

Our new Dance Fusion, at selected nights, includes lots of freestyle dancing, after the Level 2 lessons, to the latest Cuban vibes with fun icebreakers to encourage you to mingle and to give you confidence with freestyle dancing. Dance Fusion also includes two x 15 minute slots of dance tuition, to broaden your dance experience beyond our core programme. We've developed a new and exciting eight week syllabus, initially focusing on Salsa Suelta and Rueda with new content every cycle. You can simply pay as you go, £5 per night (or pay in advance £30 our discounted rate for 8 nights) or join in for free if you are already enrolled for the Level 1 or Level 2 course on that night. See Dance Fusion for more information.

Salsa Proficiency Course, Turn Patterns (formerly known as Level 3)

For those who've completed the 'Salsa Improvement Course' and wish to learn more advanced Cuban Salsa combinations and turn patterns. These 8 week courses are updated each cycle, so you can complete as many modules as you want and always learn something new.