Cuban Salsa in Alphington, Exeter

Here at Havana Dance we teach Cuban Salsa, Bachata, Merengue and Cha-cha.  Ally is the founder of Havana Salsa and has been teaching Cuban Salsa for 15 years.  Previously, a dancer since the age of 7, Ally has danced and taught Latin American dance and earlier years, ballet.

 

Cuban Salsa is the original form of salsa derived from Cuban Son.  Cuban Salsa is danced with a partner, either freestyle or in a circle with other couples, this is called Rueda de Casino, rueda in English means wheel.

 

In a rueda couples swap partners as they move around the circle, a caller calls out each move usually in Spanish and sometimes use is made of hand signals too, it sounds tricky but you’ll soon pick it up!

In freestyle dancing you are free to link together the moves in any order you chose.

 

There are five basic moves – Mambo, Cucaracha, Basic Back, On the Spot, and Opening Out. Salsa music has eight beats to the bar but you only step on six of them – 1, 2, 3, and 5, 6, 7, on the fourth and eighth beat you either pause or tap.