You may find the following questions & answers useful.

Q. What should I wear?
A. Casually smart clothes which do not restrict your movement. Remember - the better you look, the better you feel.

Q. What about shoes? Do I need anything special
A. Dance shoes or dance trainers are recommended, but any lightweight shoes will do so long as they do not keep falling off and the soles are not too sticky. Flip flops or ordinary trainers are therefore best avoided. Jazz shoes are also very practical, but they are not usually so attractive if wearing a short dress or skirt.

Q. I don't know anyone, should I try to bring a friend
A. That is not necessary in our classes as we change partners frequently. If you do decide to bring 3 or more friends, you and your friends may claim a £1 discount. Make sure that you tell the other members of your group to let Barry know when you pay because none of you will be eligible for a refund later.

Q. You advertise "free club". Can I just come and dance in the club for free
A. Yes except on "Party Nights". If you can dance we would encourage this. If you have had no lessons, don't be surprised if nobody wants to dance with you! On "Party Nights we need to cover the additional costs of food we provide so we charge whether you join in the lesson or not.

Q. How do I know what level of lesson to attend
A. If you have never danced salsa before, then you should attend a class for absolute beginners. After about 3-6 weeks, you may feel that you want to know more in which case try the beginners plus class or both. If this is still too easy, go to the improvers class until you are comfortable with what you are doing. If in doubt ask your teacher. The intermediate/advanced class is aimed at people who have been dancing salsa for some time and will be very challenging if you have not danced salsa every week for at least 4 months. Please remember that good dancing is about beautiful movement in time with the music & not simply "being able to do the moves". It is therefore advisable to stay at a lower level until you have tidied up your style as well as "can do the moves".

Q. Why do I keep forgeting what I learnt the previous week
A. The human brain does not retain information for very long. If you practice what you learn in the lesson for at least 20 - 30mins afterwards, and if you dance more frequently than once per week, you should retain what you learn far more than if you leave it for another week, especially if you take two 1 hour lessons rather than just 1 lesson.

Q. What style of salsa is best
A. All styles can be good if danced well. We recommend that you start by learning Cuban style as there are number of elements that one needs to learn which are easiest learnt in Cuban style. Once you have grasped the basics you may wish to experiment with different styles. See this Salsa Video Clips link for details.

Q. Do I need to book up in advance?
A. No! Just turn up on time, pay & enjoy yourself.

Q. Is it normally acceptable for ladies to ask guys to dance at a club.
A. Yes! If guys do not ask the ladies, there could be a number of reasons. E.g. in the early stages most people usually feel awkward and don't like to ask. Once people feel comfortable, they usually start to relax and dance with whoever they like. This could take some months or it could happen on day one depending on how confident the person asking is.

A. There could be one or more reasons for this. This is common for guys, as guys should be the ones asking usually. Make sure that you know how to dance or you may not get asked again, or for guys you may be rejected if you can't dance as well as the person you are asking. You need to be seen near to the dance floor. If you sit quietly somewhere near the back people will assume that you are resting and do not want to dance. You need to look like a dancer - dress smartly, make eye contact with someone looking at you and smile. Guys often feel intimidated if ladies are in a group all chatting amongst themselves. If you have had food with a strong smell (Garlic, Onions etc.) brush your teeth, gargle, eat mints and/or chew gum BEFORE going dancing. Do not continue eating or chewing gum on the dance floor. If you have been at work first - especially a manual job, then bring a flannel and a change of clothing with you and wash before turning up at the club/class.

Q. What are the health benefits of dancing?
A. Like most other forms of regular exercise - if you dance regularly, you should feel an improvement in appetite, sleep pattern, libido, energy levels, mental alertness, self confidence & self esteem. Dancing also helps alleviate mild depression, helps you to relax and reduces stress levels, anxiety, pain sensations levels of anger and tension. All this leads to reduced risk of heart related illnesses & a longer life.

Q. Is there such a thing as Dance Etiquette, & if so what do I need to know?
A. Yes there is. Dance etiquette are the conventional rules which govern the social behavior of dance by its participants. Such rules include the way in which the participants should look and the way in which they approach, dance with and leave their partner. Etiquette can vary between different styles of dance. E.g. After each Ballroom dance, it is customary for the man to escort the lady back to her seat after dancing with her, but that is not normal in salsa or modern jive clubs. For further details see Elements of Dance Etiquette.

Q. Am I too old to come to classes?
A. No. Not if you are fit & can walk without a zimmer frame! Even an 80 year old lady can perform or a fit one legged man can dance with the aid of a crutch. See the video clips below. -