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Salsa, Latin-American
& Ballroom Dance
Lessons in London

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  Salsa Music Is Popular

  Salsa music is increasingly used in a number of films, TV programs & commercials as well as growing in popularity generally. Popular musicians include salsa music amongst their repertoire such as Michael Jackson’s "You Rock My World", Sting’s "Fragile" and Cold Play’s "Clocks" to name a few. Salsa music varies across the world and new clubs are starting up all over the place every month. Click on the "Salsa Music Clips" link to hear free samples.
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  Dance styles develop from particular types of music

  For example Mambo was originally a Cuban dance, but in New York, it is now a totally different dance which has become very popular across Europe in the last 10 years or so. The most common styles in London are now L.A. (also known as New York On1) and the original Cuban, but there are a few who prefer the Miami or Colombian styles whilst New York style is rapidly growing in popularity. Click on the "Salsa Video Clips" link to find out more.
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  What About Ballroom & Latin-American Dances?

  There are quite a few dances which seem to be returning to fashion again thanks to dance programs on the television such as "Strictly Come Dancing" etc. BestSalsa will concentrate primarily on teaching moves which can be used on the social dance floor rather than choreographed moves which would be unuseable with anyone other than a regular partner.
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  Learning to dance Cha-cha-cha will help you improve your salsa styling & timing

  The music is a little slower & will therefore help enable you to learn New York Style Mambo which is becoming increasingly popular amongst many salseros & salseras - especially those planning to become professional salsa dancers. If you are not sure what Cha-cha-cha is, then why not check out our "Cha-cha-cha" page? There are video clips showing how to dance, along with examples of what is good, what is great as well as the not so good.
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  Individual Lessons

  The advantages of individual lessons (or private lessons as they were once known as) are that they are tailor made to suit you. You can learn whatever you want to learn at your own pace in the style & level of your choice rather than take the risk of wasting time. This is particularly useful if your time is valuable. Some people feel too shy to go to group classes until they feel reasonably competent.
  
  Barry Gordon is often available for individual lessons in any of the dances listed on the "Dances Available" page.
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  Salsa Dancing Is Popular

  Salsa dancing has become a particularly popular partner dance and is still growing across the UK and the rest of the world at enormous speed. Salsa dancing is now commonly included nowadays amongst traditional Latin American Dancing and is becomingly increasingly popular over the last few years. There is a lot of freedom to freestyle & include one’s personal styling rather than copy a rigid set of instructions as in Ballroom dancing. Hence some people become competent in salsa dancing relatively quickly.

Learn how to dance Bachata as shown below.

The video clip below shows Hustle (Ballroom Style). This became very popular in New York in the 1970's to date, but sadly never spread much outside the USA despite the popularity of the music.

The video clip below shows the orginal Lambada. This tune & video clip became a mainstream chart topper which sparked off interest in authentic Latin American music & dancing. Sadly, not many Lambada tunes were made, so it soon went out of fashion & was replaced by Zouk & Salsa. Perhaps this video clip also sparked off an interest in very brief ladies underwear!

The video clip below shows Zouk.

The video clip below shows Kizomba which is the latest fashionable dance in many salsa clubs in the UK. Kizomba originates from Angola & is typically danced to the same sort of music as Zouk above.

Learn how to dance Basic Merengue as shown below.

The video clip below shows Colombian Style salsa which Colombian label as Pachanga. This is the same as Cali style salsa, but without a Cross body lead. Some moves may have a subtle timing difference to other styles of salsa - notice how they sometimes pause, tap or kick on beat 3 rather than pause on beat 4.

Pachanga in New York & Puerto Rico it would be as shown below. This is normally associated with shines danced on "2", so it would not incorporate any lead/follow technique.

The video clip below shows 2 dance routines to Boogaloo music as performed in Colombia. Note how the first is similar to, but bouncier than Pachanga above so it is like a cross between Salsa & Jive. Boogaloo music was originally Chachacha speeded up by playing reords at 45rpm instead of 33rpm. Boogaloo music was later produced as you hear it below.

The 2nd track is still Boogaloo music, but the dancers are not bouncing much. This dance is Cali Style Salsa.

This Colombian Boogaloo music should not to be confused with the Electric Boogaloo which is like Hip Hop.

The video clip below shows a Colombian Cumbia Dance Performance.