CLASS SCHEDULE (Toronto)

Level 1 - 3:  Salsa (Intro-Beginner / On1)
Mon - 9:30pm - 10:45pm 
Sat - 7:45pm – 9:00pm

Level 4:  Salsa (Intermediate/Advanced / On2)
Tuesdays: 9:30pm - 10:15pm

Authentic Dominican Bachata (All levels)
Saturdays: 6:30pm - 7:45 pm

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CLASS SCHEDULE (Waterloo)

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CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Level 1 (Intro-Beginner / On1)

Duration: Ongoing – Start Anytime! You May Register On-Line or In Person

This level is designed for those with little or no Salsa experience (around 2 – 5 lessons). The students are introduced to most fundamental footwork and basic lead and follow technique.  Students will also be introduced to some of the key steps in Salsa dancing and are required to attain a functional level in timing, choreography and technique in order to advance to the next level.

Level 2 (Beginner / On1)

Duration: Ongoing – Start Anytime! You May Register On-Line or In Person

This level uses more of the 10 major Salsa key steps and its variations, which are comprised of short movements in order for the student to retain and fine-tune the choreography. Variations of the 10 Salsa key steps may also be incorporated into the syllabus to give students some sense of variety yet familiarity. Furthermore, these 10 key steps (and generic variations) are rotated randomly on a weekly basis so students can start them at any time, and an even stronger emphasis is placed on functional technique and developing solid timing. Students are able to advance to the next level once they can demonstrate a functional level of the choreography, technique, styling and timing they have learned.

Level 3 (Intermediate / On2 & On1)

Duration: Ongoing – Start Anytime! You May Register On-Line or In Person

This level uses the 10 major Salsa key steps and their variations to create constantly changing choreography on a weekly basis while technique and timing in all areas of movements are stressed at a much higher level. Solo and partner-work styling (arm work and body isolations) and shines (fancy footwork) are also covered in this class to give students a multifaceted approach to dancing Salsa.

Dancing On2 is also introduced in this level intermittently, using existing figures that the students already know to make transitioning easier. The choreography may also be done On 1 or On 2 at the end of the class in order to stress the rhythmic differences and pacing of dancing On2, although the technique used in any choreography is exactly the same thing (only with a different timing).

Level 4 (Intermediate-Advanced / On2)

Start Anytime! In Person Registration Only

Duration: Ongoing

Taught directly by Teddy Olaso, this class literally has everything under one roof—turn patterns, body isolations, shines, etc. It was designed to be a multi-level class for students who have had some Salsa dancing experience On1 but would like to immediately start to learn dancing On2 (more advanced students are given a greater challenge accordingly). 

It is recommended that students commit to a minimum of 20 lessons at ($350) to fully benefit from the class. No drops-in is allowed in this class on a regular basis, but you may try the class once if you are not fully familiar with UnitedSalseros’ training standards. 

Please contact Teddy (Teddy@unitedsalseros.com) to ensure this class is suitable for you and to register. On-line registration is not an option for this class. A free assessment or the instructor's consent is required to participate.

Authentic Dominican Bachata (All Levels)

Duration: Ongoing – Start Anytime! In Person Registration Only

Bachata is Dominican!  It is not a style that was created from another Bachata style.  All other styles are derived from Dominican Bachata!  Many modern or fusion Bachata styles retain some or many elements of the classical style (technique, music, timing, etc.) but there are just many elements that are also unfortunately lost or misinterpreted.  While dance evolves (that is great thing), it is equally important that one must understand the structure, history, timing, etc. of the dance in order to innovate and be creative without losing the essence of the dance.  UnitedSalseros could have just simply taken Bachata workshops in congresses or watched them in YouTube clips and infused them with Salsa movements to make them look fancier, but as with our commitment to quality, we went the opposite way.  We sought out an expert in Dominican Bachata (as danced in the Dominican Republic) who is familiar with the local and regional differences of the styles and the ways the locals do it (Rodney Aquino). Hence, the birth of "Bacha-TO" is a style of Bachata that retains all the elements of traditional Bachata and all its complexities on its own but also do not limit ourselves from outside influences (modern or fusion Bachata) because as innovators, we are also aware of the unique benefits it brings on the social dance floor and on the stage.  There are 3 levels of Bacha-TO (Bachata Toronto):

Level 1-3

Fundamental Footwork (only modification is it is danced On1 to make it easier for North American clientele to learn as traditional Bachata is either done on 1 or 2, depending on how they start)  The key fundamental footwork and leading steps are introduced at this level.  This is itself is already challenging on its own (done properly) even for more seasoned dancers.

Level 4 & 5 (Bachata Study Group - By Invitation Only $10 / Monthly)

Anyone who finished Level 1-3 or can show demonstrative equivalent of the fundamentals required.  Level 4 will focus on more advanced syncopations (footwork) that is either individual or complimentary (done by both) while Level 5 focus on both Level 1-4 with or without selective partner work.  We have very specific and innovative goals for this study group with the basic idea of retaining all traditional elements as much as possible but at the same time infusing the good fundamental technique UnitedSalseros has brought into the table (similar to the Salsa program) when it comes to partner-work.  Instead of limiting ourselves by simply copying from another city or another dance, there is no reason why Toronto can't innovate and be unique in its own town or outside Toronto!  Have your cake and eat it too!

To register, please email Teddy@unitedsalseros.com to ensure the class is suitable for you at your level of experience. Registration for this class must be done in person.

What is the 10 Key Salsa Steps?

The 10 Key Instrumental Salsa Steps. Execution and styling, comprising of fancy handwork, footwork and body isolations that are consistently taught and refined using most of UnitedSalseros’ technique in order to fully transcend to a higher level of dancing. 

With qualitative practice, students will be able to remember, retain and randomly alternate the 10 KISSES once they have learned them because the students’ focus will be directed towards executing proper technique in basic timing, partner-work, body isolation, footwork, spinning, and hand/arm styling – rather than trying to always constantly worry about a new set of choreography each week. The class is particularly helpful for beginner dancers who are having a hard time internalizing the fundamental technique required for “real life” dancing in the clubs, as well as those who are more advanced but have specific problems in their dance which they need more attention and practice time to refine them progressively. 

Every instructor in the class will be well-versed in executing the 10 Key Instrumental Salsa Steps, Execution & Styling (as a leader and a follower) and will be able to guide you (or remind you) of the elements you need to remember whenever going through your steps. 

In every class, one and/or a few key steps are covered along with its applicable styling technique, and then the entire class is drilled and constantly reminded of what they need to remember, execution wise. In addition, each student will receive a printed outline of what they are supposed to remember so they can focus on the most important things.  

Although it may seem “boring” executing the same movements again and again, students will soon have their hands full when they realize that executing all the fundamentals required – even in a simple move – is exceptionally challenging. 

Once students are able to randomly alternate the 10 KISSES to UnitedSalseros’ standards, their learning will take a significant leap, and picking up more advanced choreography in the future will be less difficult. They can even take a greater challenge by executing movements with greater artistic depth once the fundamentals are all there because greater options come with greater control of one’s movements. To say the very least and even with a limited repertoire of choreography, students will be able to dance in the clubs effectively, look good, feel good, and be on consistent timing. 

Based on our standards, anyone who can successfully execute the 10 KISSES could be considered advanced (with some musicality) as opposed to someone who knows hundreds of moves but have no proper technique, musicality or floor craft (and all over the place!)