Seattle Salsa Congress

Schedule is subject to change in the unlikely event that we find a way to improve upon it.

Beginner (1): Someone who is developing a foundation in the basic step, timing, and cross-body lead. He or she should be able to do single turns, basic footwork and simple partnering to slow and moderate music. If someone is just starting out or has taken one or two beginning series, we highly recommend Edie's Beginning Bootcamp.

Intermediate (2): Has a solid grasp of in the basic step, timing, and cross-body lead. He or she should be able to do single and double turns, footwork patterns, and more complex partnering to moderate music.

Advanced (3): Has mastered all the basic techniques and has a repertoire of intermediate combinations and footwork. At this level, the dancer can follow advanced footwork and partnering combinations to faster music.

Class Descriptions

The Basic: So you think you already know the basic? Then why does the lead (or follow) feel like they’re riding in an old jalopy on a bumpy road instead of a Mercedes on the Autobahn? There’s much more to the basic than 1,2,3,5,6,7. Proper posture, weight distribution, upper/lower body coordination, and technique all make the difference between a joyful encounter and one you can’t wait to end. Learn the conservation of energy theory from the award winning inventor of the clock system himself. This class lays the groundwork for a solid foundation in salsa. Believe me it will change your life.

Couples Styling: When you're ready to spice things up a notch or two, this is the class for you. Expand your dance vocabulary with new and exciting moves.

Debates in Salsa History: Salsa’s unique flavors are the result of rich and varied ingredients mixing in a potent stew. To develop your own unique blend of salsa spice, it is essential to understand each of these ingredients, including those that came from Cuba, Puerto Rico, New York, Africa, Spain, France, and so on. In this workshop, we will explore some of the distinct genres of music and dance that became ingredients for the salsa sauce. Learn which Afro-Cuban Orisha grabs lightening and drops it into his pants while he’s dancing. Learn about Palladium style mambo and how Latin hustle turned New York mambo into salsa. We will also explore popular controversies in the contemporary salsa community (e.g., regional variations and rhythm debates) by tracing the historical developments that fostered them. This workshop will deepen participants’ relationship to salsa by giving them a window into its rich and complex history through a combination of lecture, slides, video, first person narratives from legendary dancers, demonstration, and physical participation.

Footwork: Quite literally the foundation. No footwork, no salsa. Learn techniques, patterns, and combinations for dancing with and without a partner.

Ladies Styling: You’re dancing and the lead poses you…an embarrassing moment, ”Now what do I do?” These workshops teach the routines that show leads what you’re made of. A simple cross-body with turn becomes an elegant gesture. You break away and seduce him back with stunning patterns. This is styling!

Lifts & Tricks: From advanced to professional. These workshops will teach you the hottest moves on the dance floor. You’ll learn the techniques the pros use to defy gravity and make the seemingly impossible appear effortless.

Men's Styling: Every wonder why you look like a robot and other dancers look like Ferraris? It’s all in the details. Take your basic cross-body, add some flair, and you have sabor. Break away from your partner and dazzle her with your footwork. Styling is what separates the men from the boys.

Musicality: So you think you can dance? You know the combinations and footwork but do you FEEL IT? There are hits, peaks, and valleys, in the music that are begging to be expressed through dance. This is the heart and soul of salsa. It’s not about how many complex moves you can fit into a song. This series of workshops is about how to express the music and can share it with your partner.

Partnering: This is where leads and follows make the connection. Leads not only learn the moves, but the techniques to lead the follow with confidence. And follows learn to move through the combinations light as a feather.

Spinning: Learn how to properly prep, spin and stop. This dynamic move requires all the dance techniques working together in harmony: balance, posture, spotting, and timing. When done properly, it’s expressing a peak in the music. Done improperly. Your partner may wonder if you had one too many mojitos. These workshops will give you the foundation to perfect your spins.

Timing: You’re standing with your partner and the song begins. You shuffle uneasily, groping for the 1 (or the 2). You think you finally found it and…oops, that not the 1, it’s the 5. Learn how to hear the music so that you can find the 1, anticipate the hits, and sense when the song is about to end.