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Any salsa/zouk/bachata dancers here?

I'm going to check out a salsa club tonight.

I'm also trying to find somewhere downtown to do zouk classes so if anyone knows of anywhere that teaches brazilian zouk let me know.

For those interested in taking salsa lessons you can try here (i'm signing up for classes in Jan w00t!)

If you don't know the difference between salsa and zouk check out these vids. Tempo, rhythm and musica are very different.

zouk

salsa

I dance salsa almost every week since I started learning almost two years ago. You will have fun learning at TDS, I took group lessons there for over a year.

Never heard of Zouk, but it looks interesting. Thanks for posting the link!

quote:

Originally posted by goodnet I dance salsa almost every week since I started learning almost two years ago. You will have fun learning at TDS, I took group lessons there for over a year.

Awesome, how did you find their teaching style? Was there much attention paid to footwork and interaction with your partner?

I visited a different class last week and they taught movements/patterns but didn't really focus on the little things, correcting students where they needed work, etc. Which is OK if the students are fast learners and can pick up the details, but if they're not then they can get stuck.

Any clubs you'd recommend checking out downtown?

As a kid I used to dance with my friends to this song called Lambada but never knew that style is called zouk lol

Erratik you can check out Babaluu or Plaza Flamingo for some salsa. Both have been around for years and are well known for salsa nights but each caters to a different crowd.

quote:

Originally posted by endless_summer As a kid I used to dance with my friends to this song called Lambada but never knew that style is called zouk lol

Actually zouk is the music, lambada is the dance style. Like salsa there are different variations of the dance. From what I've seen zouk is the sexiest.

Cool will go check out those spots soon enough. I'm going to Lula Lounge tonight.

Found these sites:
http://www.salsapower.com/cities/canada/toronto.htm
http://www.tosalsa.com/clubs/clubsbyDay.htm

Seems like there are a lot of places, so it's always good to get opinions based on experience.

I had a look at tosalsa and salsapower and tosalsa seems more up to date than salsapower. I've noticed names of couple of venues on salsapower that are not around anymore. Please call ahead to confirm the place is still open if you are using that site as a reference.
As for Plaza vs Babaluu, I can't say I prefer one over the other. I had fun at both places. Babaluu is more upscale club than Plaza. Give them both a try.

Babalu is much better than Plaza IMO. Plaza is more ghettoed. Also, El Rancho is s good place. Here's a list of some salsa clubs in the city/;

* Babbaluu - 136 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto ON (416) 515-0587
* Bamboleo - 1910 Yonge Street, Toronto ON (416) 483-2111
* Cherry Room - No Regularly Scheduled Salsa Events Photos
* El Convento Rico - 750 College Street, Toronto ON (416) 588-7800
* Di Carlo - 1655 Weston Road, Toronto ON (416) 247-1811
* El Sitio - 1238 St. Clair Avenue, Toronto ON (416) 652-6463
* Fregata Restaurant - 1900 Dundas Street East, Toronto ON (905) 270-6265
* Latin Fever - 2220 Highway 7, Toronto ON (905) 761-5651
* Left Bank - 567 Queen Street West, Toronto ON (416) 504-1626
* Mana - 722 College Street West, Toronto ON (416) 633-8705
* Park Avenue - 2800 Highway 7, Toronto ON (905) 738-1727
* Plaza Flamingo - 423 College Street, Toronto ON (416) 603-8834
* El Rancho - 430 College Street, Toronto ON (416) 921-2752
* Society - 137 Peter Street, Toronto ON (416) 593-1550
* Palazzo - 99 Pellar Road, Toronto ON (905) 738-0000



I used to hit up the salsa clubs alot back in the days, but not so much anymore. But still love me some good salsa, merengue, bachata, even cumbias.

quote:

Originally posted by eRRaTiK Awesome, how did you find their teaching style? Was there much attention paid to footwork and interaction with your partner? I visited a different class last week and they taught movements/patterns but didn't really focus on the little things, correcting students where they needed work, etc. Which is OK if the students are fast learners and can pick up the details, but if they're not then they can get stuck. Any clubs you'd recommend checking out downtown?

I found their teaching style broke down the steps well for beginners. They also have "helpers" in the classes; volunteers from previous semesters who help students with one-on-one learning. It helps a lot to get out and practice so you can improve.

Club-wise, it depends on what experience you want. For proper nights of dancing, I find nights in the middle of the week have the best dancers (Tues/Weds at Babaluus, Mon at Alleycatz, Thurs at Remys in Yorkville). For regular club nights out, Babaluu Fri/Sat & Plaza Flamingo Sat have a more regular club crowd with some salsa mixed in. Lately I prefer the salsa dance socials at Toronto Salsa Practice (Saturdays) and Mambo Tribe (Sundays) on the weekends. Also check out the outings that TDS organizes where you can practice with other partners from your school.

Awesome thread! I started taking salsa lessons at the Joy of Dance on Danforth and Broadview, which were fun. Started to be too much of a hassle driving all the way down from Richmond Hill on Fridays so now I'm looking for a place in north GTA.

I also just finished my first class of Argentinian Tango, which I have always wanted to learn since watching the Scent of a Woman!!! LOL. So passionate, that dance.

But definitely going to continue salsa/bachata/merengue elsewhere, and going to look into this zouk form of lambada now!

quote:

Originally posted by fayraree Awesome thread! I started taking salsa lessons at the Joy of Dance on Danforth and Broadview, which were fun. Started to be too much of a hassle driving all the way down from Richmond Hill on Fridays so now I'm looking for a place in north GTA.

How is that place? It's fairly close to where I live.

quote:

Originally posted by fayraree I also just finished my first class of Argentinian Tango, which I have always wanted to learn since watching the Scent of a Woman!!! LOL. So passionate, that dance.

noice! Yeh that movie and that scene makes me wanna tango too. Of course, I'd want to have that woman as my dancing partner

Speaking of tango, check this out...

quote:

Originally posted by fayraree I'm looking for a place in north GTA

Not sure how north you mean but TDS have classes at North American Centre, Yonge & Finch.

If anyone finds any classes for zouk post it here coz I've yet to find one.

Bachata 101

Lesson 1:


Lesson 2:


Lesson 3:


Enjoy

^^^cool, will check out those vids when I get home. Yonge & Finch is perfect for me, I will def check it out; thanks for the heads up!

I also came across Main Street Dance (mainstreetdance.ca) in Markham. Looks really bland though (lol not enough latin energy up here) so I'm not too sure. May just drop-in for one class to feel it out.

I got that link from torontodance.com, which has tons of links all over the place; I have no measure to judge what's good and what's not.

Graham, the Joy of Dance was okay. Nothing special. The key is having chemistry with your dance partner so if you can go with someone with whom you'll have fun dancing, I highly recommend it. However, you're always switching partners and there seemed to always be more women than men.

I went to do an assessment at TDS Yonge & Finch yesterday (I'm starting in their level 2 class on jan 7). The beginner class was running 5 mins late so I got to watch them close. The instruction looked good and in line with what goodnet had said about TDS. So I definitely recommend checking it out and soon. Their classes start in jan and are filling up real fast.

Also came across this site today:
http://www.danceontario.ca/classes-01.php3
Looks like a good resource for dance classes (all different styles)

I sent an email to Ballet Creole asking what they cover in their Beginner Dance Cuban/Brazilian course. I'm wondering if zouk is part of the plan

Also came across these guys. I might drop in next Tuesday to see how their beginner Cuban salsa class is. I really want to learn Cuban style. TDS (and others) teach NY style I think.

*Toronto Salsa Practice*

No bar, just music, and social dancers of all levels.

Where: Trinity-St. Paul's church, at 427 Bloor Street West - on the south side of Bloor, just west of Spadina.

Every Saturday there are three practices:
3:30 - 5:30 PM (Afternoon Practice-Cost: $4)
5:30 - 7:30 PM (Evening Practice-Cost: $3)
7:30 - 9:30 PM (Night Practice-Cost: $3)

Facebook page.

++

I'm might go check out the 3.30pm session tomorrow.

^Cool Heatz.

I'll probably be at the 3:30 and/or 5:30 sessions. Send me a PM if you wanna meet up or something. I'm headed to Babaluus tonight

I use to salsa dance in my younger days.....it would be cool to do it again

quote:

Originally posted by eRRaTiK Also came across these guys. I might drop in next Tuesday to see how their beginner Cuban salsa class is. I really want to learn Cuban style. TDS (and others) teach NY style I think.

I'm not a big fan of Cuban style salsa...they start on the '2' count..and believe me when I tell you that when you come out busting the Canadian style salsa around the Cubanos, especially in Cuba, all the ladies are eager to dance with you.

Check these guys out. They're fooling around here, but they're really good. lol...@ the way they battle-dance for the girl.

quote:

Originally posted by Stilez I'm not a big fan of Cuban style salsa...they start on the '2' count..and believe me when I tell you that when you come out busting the Canadian style salsa around the Cubanos, especially in Cuba, all the ladies are eager to dance with you.

The way I see it, the more styles I learn the more I am able to adapt no matter where I am. I've had instances dancing in Sydney where the ladies were taught Cuban style and had no idea (or great resistance) with following the LA style that I'd been taught.

Different styles are useful in different situations too.

Haven't found a single place that teaches Zouk yet, and I'm guessing it'd be just as hard finding a club to dance it at. So I might have to wait until I return to Sydney before I take it up. At least that allows me to focus on the salsa and maybe some bachata

quote:

Originally posted by Stilez Babalu is much better than Plaza IMO. Plaza is more ghettoed. Also, El Rancho is s good place. Here's a list of some salsa clubs in the city/; * Babbaluu - 136 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto ON (416) 515-0587 * Bamboleo - 1910 Yonge Street, Toronto ON (416) 483-2111 * Cherry Room - No Regularly Scheduled Salsa Events Photos * El Convento Rico - 750 College Street, Toronto ON (416) 588-7800 * Di Carlo - 1655 Weston Road, Toronto ON (416) 247-1811 * El Sitio - 1238 St. Clair Avenue, Toronto ON (416) 652-6463 * Fregata Restaurant - 1900 Dundas Street East, Toronto ON (905) 270-6265 * Latin Fever - 2220 Highway 7, Toronto ON (905) 761-5651 * Left Bank - 567 Queen Street West, Toronto ON (416) 504-1626 * Mana - 722 College Street West, Toronto ON (416) 633-8705 * Park Avenue - 2800 Highway 7, Toronto ON (905) 738-1727 * Plaza Flamingo - 423 College Street, Toronto ON (416) 603-8834 * El Rancho - 430 College Street, Toronto ON (416) 921-2752 * Society - 137 Peter Street, Toronto ON (416) 593-1550 * Palazzo - 99 Pellar Road, Toronto ON (905) 738-0000

All these places are ok...if its where u wanna be. I did my share of
good salsa, merengue and cumbias. I don't like El Rancho but will admit it's a great place once your past the novice stage. Plaza is meh...and Babbaluu seems to be the running fav for most girls I know.

I still can't appreciate bachata...it just feels so deliberately mechanical rather than free flowing and stylish like salsa. IMO a man who knows how to Salsa will be the one with the girls lined up

So practice

I break dance..... mostly b-boy shit, but I throw in a little nasty in your face freak the funk shit as well....

I've won competitions.

Ive danced ballroom since I was young...did some competitions, etc.
Recently just doing salsa for fun, nothing too serious.

My mom actually opened her own studio last year. So heres the shameless plug: http://www.dancedistrict.ca

Group classes wednesdays and thursdays!

quote:

I also just finished my first class of Argentinian Tango, which I have always wanted to learn since watching the Scent of a Woman!!

now i've been looking for a place that would give me tango lessons since 2003 but all that i could find was ballroom tango. where is that place???

since i saw this girl bustin' a move in the back room of system i've been hooked on all forms of dance. in an amazingly short time i've learned (if not mastered) pretty much all of the latino dances, im very highly ranked in balroom tango....

but the truest form of them all is escaping me, it is soooo hard. i'd give.. i dont know what to be really good at breakdancing. dont get me wrong i have shitload of moves in my bag-o-tricks but im still not satisfied.

dance is the purest form of art.

I went and checked out the salsa practice at Trinity church today. It was packed, but still room to move and it was a lot of fun.

I think I'll go again next Saturday.

quote:

Originally posted by fayraree I also just finished my first class of Argentinian Tango, which I have always wanted to learn since watching the Scent of a Woman!!! LOL. So passionate, that dance.

let's do a comparison

Scent of a Woman



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