View Full Version : Burning to learn Salsa but....
egies
10-19-2006, 06:50 PM
have limited time, does anyone know where in Toronto I can find lessons, not crazy expensive of course as it would be a waste since im so busy, personal/private...early mornings or sundays...? I have to learn...it is soooooo sexy!
sweavo
10-20-2006, 04:08 AM
have limited time, does anyone know where in Toronto I can find lessons, not crazy expensive of course as it would be a waste since im so busy, personal/private...early mornings or sundays...? I have to learn...it is soooooo sexy!
Are you sure you need personal/private classes? Group classes are a lot of fun and there are usually plently of other beginners around so you won't feel singled out!
IMO Salsa's not something you can really learn on your own...
have limited time, does anyone know where in Toronto I can find lessons, not crazy expensive of course as it would be a waste since im so busy, personal/private...early mornings or sundays...? I have to learn...it is soooooo sexy!
If you're very busy, don't be under the impression that taking a private lesson or two without practice (you said you were busy) will make you "good" all of a sudden. Expect to pay at least $50/hr for a private lesson. Anyone charging less than $40 or so, in my experience, is likely doing so because he/she can't get a higher rate because of a lack of experience, good teaching ability, or something else.
It sounds like you're contradicting yourself--on one hand you say you don't want to spend much money or time on it, but you also say that you "have to learn" because it's sexy... so which is it? Nothing worth learning ever comes automatically or easily.
englezul
10-20-2006, 09:01 AM
Sounds to me that you're looking for an ultra light learning environment. Check out the spanish centre classes, or the classes at U of T.
If you wanna roll with the heavy join United Salseros or Mambo Tribe. They have classes for all levels of experience so you will feel comfortable but expect less fun and more work. Although what's fun and what's work depends on you.
GayleR
10-20-2006, 10:32 AM
There are lots of places to learn salsa, though I don't know of any that are held early morning. But if you're not sure you have the time or money to commit to salsa classes then why don't you attend one of the many clubs around the city that offer drop in beginner classes for $5-$10 to try it out? You don't need a partner, they're fun and you can go when you want.
Mondays - AlleyCatz - Yonge & Eglinton
Tues-Thurs - BabaLu - Yorkville
Thursday - Myth (teaches On2 and you might prefer to start On1 since most beginners in T.O. dance On1)
Friday - Acrobat - Yonge & Castlefield
Also you might want to check out the Toronto Salsa Practice at Trinity Spadina Church on Bloor Street at Walmer Road, which is held in three sessions every Saturday from 3:30-5:50, 5:30 - 7:30 and 7:30- 9:30 for only a nominal charge each session.
If you want group lessons which are 6-8 week sessions once a week, check out Dance to Live Studios.
I'd post all the URLs for you but I tried before and was told I can't insert them until I've posted 15 times! (how dumb is that?)
Have fun on the dance floor.
alemana
10-20-2006, 10:37 AM
(how much would i LOVE early morning dance classes! my god.)
naturallove
10-20-2006, 11:24 AM
(how much would i LOVE early morning dance classes! my god.)
Oh my goodness--I'd feel like I had died and gone to heaven!
alemana
10-20-2006, 12:12 PM
yeah. you can do lots of things early in the morning in nyc - run, bike, spinning class, yoga and pilates class, lift weights alone or with a trainer... but no dance classes.
KiwiMambo
10-20-2006, 02:03 PM
Salsa just happens to be a late evening thing. I still don't get why "good dancers" don't turn up to a club until 11pm. I would much prefer to get some dancing in during the day when I am more physically awake.
alemana
10-20-2006, 02:25 PM
it's not just salsa, it's any kind of dancing doesn't happen early morning. 8 am is the earliest you can get a class, and for office drones like myself, that's just too late :)
noobster
10-20-2006, 02:44 PM
Salsa just happens to be a late evening thing. I still don't get why "good dancers" don't turn up to a club until 11pm. I would much prefer to get some dancing in during the day when I am more physically awake.
I think it's because the lesson is usually early, so for that time and the hour or two after, the floor is crowded with beginners practicing what they've just learned. But I totally agree. I love the arrangement for the Sunday socials in NYC: dance hard 5-9 PM and then get a good night's sleep before Monday morning. Wish there were more around like that.
For the OP: Honestly, I think it may not be worth starting this if you don't have the time to put into it. From my own experience, taking a lesson once a week is not enough to learn it. I'd say the minimum you have to invest is 2-3 nights a week (maybe one lesson and two nights out), consistently over a number of months, to get to the point where you can be good enough to find it fun rather than stressful.
Obviously this is going to depend a lot on how advanced your local scene is (mine is pretty intimidating), your own dance background (I had none), etc., etc.; and I agree that privates will advance you much faster than group lessons will (I basically decided a private once a month was more bang for the buck than four group lessons over the same time period). But salsa is one activity where you can't trade time for money: you still have to log a lot of hours dancing to become proficient. In addition, you can't leave time gaps of indefinite length between sessions, because you forget what you learned and you end up back at square one.
Maybe you should wait until your schedule permits the time investment you'll need; because taking a lesson once every two weeks and never going out will be a total waste of time and money. You might still not be confident enough to go out after half a year of this type of schedule, and if that happens you will likely end up very frustrated.
englezul
10-20-2006, 05:18 PM
Salsa just happens to be a late evening thing. I still don't get why "good dancers" don't turn up to a club until 11pm. I would much prefer to get some dancing in during the day when I am more physically awake.
Because they're too cool for school. And also, good dancers come to meet their good dancer friends, which also come after 11. So I guess it's a vicious circle. I think you'll understand it 3 years from now, the first night you'll arrive at 11pm.
danzur
10-21-2006, 09:43 AM
I think that it may be possible that a person with little time to dance (yet who has a great interest) may get hooked after taking a class or two and make the time they require.
danzur
10-21-2006, 09:48 AM
I don't understand the 10:30/11 pm thing either.
I like to take advantage of the space and dance the way I want to, not have to be limited by limited space. I also don't understand holding off. I want to dance! So if I get there when they start, I can dance for longer before I have to leave!!! :D
I don't understand the 11pm thing, but that's what I do. I dunno, it just seems hard to dance well before then. *shrug* Every day, even on Saturdays, I'm at work until 11PM, so if I want to go dancing I don't arrive until midnight usually. And about 90% of the time I'm too tired to go.
Maybe it's because people who usually do things early are not the traditional salsa type. Like the guy who eats lunch at 11:15AM, and dinner at 6PM. It's just sort of... I dunno, seems lame. It's like you're in a rush to do everything and get in bed as early as possible. Salsa is a social dance, and social activities among those who go out usually take place later. So if you salsa dance from 8-11, it means you had dinner at 6, etc.... and who wants to do all that stuff early?
Not knocking that "early rise" lifestyle, it just doesnt' appeal to me.
danzur
10-21-2006, 07:23 PM
I usually dance from 9/9:30 to 12/12:30. I take Casino Reuda lessons before (they end at 8:30) and the club is just down the street. I get antsi if I have to wait around. I work too many hours during the week and if I have that down time then, I get too tired (just like you said) and I have to crash. I'm not one who can last on 3 to 5 hours of sleep, though I have been known to do the 5 to 6 hours on occassion.
As my mom used to say, if I stop it is like the blood just gets sucked right out of me! lol!
squirrel
10-23-2006, 03:48 AM
I don't understand the 11pm thing, but that's what I do. I dunno, it just seems hard to dance well before then. *shrug* Every day, even on Saturdays, I'm at work until 11PM, so if I want to go dancing I don't arrive until midnight usually. And about 90% of the time I'm too tired to go.
Maybe it's because people who usually do things early are not the traditional salsa type. Like the guy who eats lunch at 11:15AM, and dinner at 6PM. It's just sort of... I dunno, seems lame. It's like you're in a rush to do everything and get in bed as early as possible. Salsa is a social dance, and social activities among those who go out usually take place later. So if you salsa dance from 8-11, it means you had dinner at 6, etc.... and who wants to do all that stuff early?
Not knocking that "early rise" lifestyle, it just doesnt' appeal to me.
100% agree... :)
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