Beginners Level 3 Queer Salsa Course at The Bishopsgate Institute ✨
Dates
Four 90-minute sessions in February, 19:00 - 20:30 every Wednesday on the following dates:
5th 🤎 12th 🤎 19th 🤎 26th
We'll go deep into the technique and Afro-Latin roots of this rich partner dance. Swapping partners throughout the classes, you'll get to know a bunch of new people (although, you’re very welcome to stick with a friend or partner if you prefer) For us, learning salsa is about building community through connection, care, and the joy of dancing together. ❤️🔥
Beginners Level Three
This is a full progressive course in Cross Body Salsa for beginners who have completed a Level 2 course with us or have developed similar experience elsewhere.
We ask that those continuing from Level 2 continue with the same role they started with. If you’re joining from a different path, we recommend not beginning a completely new role from scratch at Level 3.
To feel comfy on this course, you should be familiar with leading or following these moves:
- The basic step
- The cross body
- The cross body turn
- Right and left turns
You don’t need to be an expert, but if they sound completely unfamiliar, and you do have some experience in Salsa or another Afro-Latin Dance, please send us a message so we can work out if the course is the right fit.
Recentring the Afro-Latin Roots of Salsa
Cross Body is a popular style of Salsa in London, but it’s less common in Latin America. As a growing community of queer instructors, the previous training we've had available to us has largely been Cross Body. While Cross Body forms the foundation of our progressive courses, we're committed to honouring and recentring Salsa’s Afro-Latin roots by:
- Developing a curriculum that integrates the Afro-Latin history of the music, dance and culture
- Including moves and approaches from various Salsa styles and emphasising adaptability in dancing rather than focusing on a single style
- Inviting Afro-Latin practitioners as guest teachers on our courses
- Offering specialised workshops and courses led by Afro-Latin practitioners
- Supporting dancers with experience in other Salsa and Afro-Latin dances to explore Cross Body, while valuing the different knowledge they might bring
Prioritising Care and Connection
We’re rethinking what progression means in our courses and teacher training. Instead of emphasising complicated moves and techniques, we prioritise connecting with the music, dancing safely and consensually, and building connections with your dance partners.
Welfare & Accessibility
The Bishopsgate has step free access to the hall where we will be dancing and fully accessible toilets.
At each class there will be a dedicated Welfare Team Member. They will be around to give extra support on moves as well as any needs or concerns you might have to participate in the class and feel comfy in the space. We have also started introducing Guardian Dancers who will join you in the class specifically to dance with you and give you tips.
We are actively working on making our courses as safe and inclusive as possible. Please get in contact with any needs you might have that would make it better work for you.
Tickets
If we sell out, we'll open ticket resale and the waitlist. We're offering 6 reduced-cost spots for those with lower incomes. These are reserved for people on Universal Credit (or similar benefits), those earning minimum wage, or working-class students. Since these spots are limited, please make sure you really need one before claiming it 🥰.
The course cost reflects our new home at The Bishopsgate, which is much better suited to more in-depth learning. It also helps ensure we can fairly compensate everyone involved to contribute their time and energy with care.
Capacity
We know 50 is a lot hehe! We are trying to give as many people as possible a chance to progress to Improvers Level (from April) before we start another complete beginners course. Generally as you progress people naturally drop off and the class sizes will reduce.
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Please send a DM if you have any questions & see you in class cuties!
Lots of love
Queer Salsa Team
💋💋💋💋