US was formed on the premise of working with fellow salsa hobbyists (or addicts) and sharing our skills together to encourage growth in all areas. We wanted to create an atmosphere where instructors of different dance schools can interact and work with one another in a creative environment. We actively search out and cooperate with instructors/teachers from other schools by doing workshops in an effort to raise the awareness of technique and the progression that was happening in Salsa around the world. Our hard-work and effort has yielded both good dancers, excellent instructors and performers that have gone to become well-respected in their own right. In fact, many students now from the U.S. and abroad come to Canada to learn good technique and to keep them updated to the continual evolution of Salsa dancing. Our dancers actively focus on becoming better dancers and teachers. All our assistant instructors are taught time-tested and sophisticated training theories which give them choices as they become well-rounded dancers and/or instructors. We continually research and update new strategies to become better teachers as part of our program commitment and one of Us’ core philosophies. Some of our unique training methods are rarely taught elsewhere. In fact, this is why many Salsa enthusiasts both near and far have taken lessons and workshops with Us. These strategies for learning, training and teaching now serve as a model for many instructors locally and internationally. US is equally strong in the social dance arena. We have successfully integrated into our dancing the best qualities of various styles of Salsa. We can teach in the finest detail (taking into consideration various learning styles) how to execute all your movements with grace and control. Furthermore, we also create our own intricate turn pattern sequences to have a creative edge. However, it is our instructional strategies that make us distinct and pioneers in the Toronto Salsa community. Our success is founded on the teaching principles that are centered around the student. US proceeds with the understanding that Instructors may have good artistic, musical, and technical knowledge but may not be necessarily good teachers. Teaching is a wide field in itself and demands equal, if not more, attention than performing; it requires going beyond the ability to break down steps clearly. An excellent teacher, by our definition, has to be an excellent communicator, coach, counselor, and administrator to mention a few. It is also crucial that teachers possess good interpersonal skills and have performing experience in case they have to judge or coach at a competition. Teaching and performing are wide fields, and this is why it is rare to find a “two for one” performer & teacher. Thus, we have set up a comprehensive training program to our students, as well as other instructors, throughout the course of their learning: 1 Leading/Following
clearly without tension, stiffness, heaviness or too much softness (regardless
of your weight or height) through proper centering and active relaxation.
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