Course Descriptions
Here are the descriptions of each of our courses. If you are still not sure which class to join then you can always ask our teachers to advise you.
Remember that you will often need to repeat a particular course level numerous times before you are ready to move up. Our teachers will inform you when they feel you are sufficiently competent to move on.
Never be discouraged if you repeat a level, the structure of our classes encourages repetition of most levels to ensure your knowledge is secure and thoroughly grasped. When you feel ready to move up a level simply ask your teacher, students usually know when they are ready to take the next (dancing) step!
Salsa
Salsa 1
Who it’s for?
This is our four week foundation program for students who are totally new to salsa.
What will I learn?
We’ve designed this course to give our students the chance to work from the ground up. You’ll start by learning how to lead and follow some simple turn patterns. Then you’ll learn the basic turns and the Cross Body. You’ll also be introduced to simple shines (footwork), which will help you get the rhythm of the Salsa music. This level also offers basic Bachata and Merengue warm ups during the classes (other Latin Dance styles) which aid students to understand timing.
By the end of this course, you’ll begin to get an understanding of Salsa timing and be able to dance short and simple routines.
What we’d recommend:
You take Zumba® Classes at the same time to help with co-ordination and fitness.
Who it’s for?
For students who’ve completed Level 1 or, have the equivalent experience of Salsa dancing.
What will I learn?
You’ll build on your technique and timing. We’ll continue to reinforce good leading and following techniques and we’ll start incorporating more footwork and teaching you how to be light on your feet. You’ll learn how to lead and follow the Cross Body turn using both your hands and the rhythm of the music.
What we’d recommend
You take Bachata 1 and/or Kizomba classes at the same time to support your grasp of tempo, timing and fluidity in movements.
Who it’s for?
For students who’ve completed level 2.1. or, have the equivalent experience of Salsa dancing.
What will I learn?
You’ll be introduced to the techniques of spinning in Salsa. You’ll learn more complex variations of the Cross Body turn and you’ll be introduced to various traveling turns in Salsa partner work. You’ll become familiar with the more complex and challenging aspects of leading and following in Salsa. Timing and a good understanding of the music is still a recurring theme at this level. It’s something that’ll make you feel more confident and relaxed when following more complicated turn patterns.
What we’d recommend
You take Bachata 1, Kizomba and/or Zumba® classes to cement the timing and co-ordination being learnt in the salsa class.
Who it’s for?
For students who’ve completed level 2.2 twice or have the equivalent experience of Salsa dancing.
What will I learn?
Now you’ve learnt more intricate moves and combinations, involving spinning, you’ll be introduced to more traditional steps called the “In & Out” “Back Hand Drop” and “Double Spins” in partner work. The ladies will be introduced to some basic styling techniques to incorporate in the partner work. Footwork and shines will still be an integral part of this course.
What we’d recommend
You also take Bachata 2 (after completion of Bachata 1), Cha Cha 1&2, and or Kizomba as these will secure timing knowledge and styling being taught in the salsa class.
Who it’s for?
For students who’ve completed level 2.3 twice or have the equivalent experience of Salsa dancing.
What will I learn?
This course is designed to increase your dance vocabulary, while still emphasising proper techniques, precise footwork, balance and co-ordination and dance floor etiquette. You’ll learn more complex and challenging examples of the "In & Out", "Back Hand Drop" and "Double Spins" techniques in partner work. Slowly the turn patterns will get longer and you’ll learn to ‘flow’ the combinations with musicality. This will all give you the confidence to go out social dancing and ask other students to dance.
What we’d recommend
You also take Bachata 2 (after completion of Bachata 1), Mambo 1, Men’s Styling and Ladies Styling to support your salsa knowledge.
Who it’s for?
For students who’ve completed level 3.1 or have the equivalent experience of Salsa dancing.
What will I learn?
This is the course that sets you up to stand out on the dance floor. In this course you’ll learn the techniques of multiple spins from different starting positions in your partner work. You’ll learn how to build your own turn patterns with good leading and following techniques, using styling and intricate footwork. The footwork will involve lots of spinning for both, leaders and followers and also include a variety of 8 count steps. The partner work will involve and encourage ladies styling. Even though you’ll be asked to repeat this course multiple times, the material always changes from course to course. So, this is your opportunity to gain enough knowledge and material to build up your moves repertoire.
What we’d recommend
You also take Bachata 2, Mambo 1&2, Men’s Styling and Ladies Styling to support the salsa knowledge.
Who it’s for?
For students who’ve completed level 3.2 sufficient times or have been assessed by the teacher and told they can join.
What will I learn?
This course is designed to challenge your minds and bodies. It involves improvisation, musical interpretation, spinning, styling and an introduction to very intricate turn patterns. You’ll learn how to create and improvise your own patterns and footwork. You’ll also learn partner connection, new spinning techniques, posture exercises and body movements. All of this will boost your turn pattern repertoire.
What we’d recommend
You also take Bachata 2, Cha Cha 1&2 or Cha Cha 3 and Mambo 3 (as long as the lower levels of these dance genres have been attained previously), Men’s Styling and/or Ladies Styling to support your salsa knowledge.
Who it’s for?
For students who’ve been assessed by the teacher and told they can join.
What will I learn?
This is the highest on1 level at the LDA where students will learn the latest turn patterns from around the world. Body movement and isolation are a big element of this course and students are encouraged to start incorporating these within the advanced turn patterns. A high level of spinning, musical interpretation, footwork, improvisation and dance floor etiquette are strong requirements for this class. The course will elevate your social dancing skills and prepare you for performing, teaching and dancing at salsa congresses.
What we’d recommend
You also take Bachata 2, Cha Cha 3, Mambo 3, Men's Styling and/or Ladies Styling to support your salsa dancing.
Mambo
What’s it all about?
This course focuses on the New York Style of dancing salsa ‘on2’ which is the latest phenomenon around the globe. Learning this style will help you become a brilliant, all round salsa dancer.
Mambo 1
Who it’s for?
This course is ideal for students who are in Level 3.1 salsa or above and are extremely confident with their dancing on1.
What will I learn?
You’ll be taught the basic steps of dancing on the ‘2’, following the clave and conga beats. It’s quite a challenging course and to help you understand the whole concept you’ll be doing a lot of simple footwork exercises, identifying the beats, with some simple partner work.
What we’d recommend
You also compliment your learning by taking Cha Cha 1 & 2, Bachata 2, Kizomba, Zumba®, Men’s Styling and Ladies Styling
Mambo 2
Who it’s for?
This course is ideal for students who have completed Mambo 1 sufficient times or have the equivalent dancing experience with ‘on2’.
What will I learn?
This course is a continuation of Mambo 1. You’ll learn more challenging and more advanced footwork as well as partner work. You’ll need to have a perfect understanding of the music and timing as well as following and leading on2. You’ll start to feel and understand the differences in the rhythm between Mambo and Salsa and how it affects your Cross Body steps and turn patterns. An essential part of this course is learning the differences between Mambo and Salsa preparations and technique for double spins.
What we’d recommend
You also take Cha Cha 1 & 2, Bachata 2, Kizomba, Zumba, Men's Styling and Ladies Styling to support your learning.
Mambo 3
Who it’s for?
This course is for students who have completed Mambo 2 or have equivalent dance experience on2. To join, you’ll need to be assessed by our Mambo teacher.
What will I learn?
This is the highest on2 level at the LDA. You’ll learn the latest intricate turn patterns and footwork. Styling, musical interpretation, isolations and body movements will all be incorporated as part of the turn patterns. Multiple spins will be an essential part of this course, and will be taught with special drills. Dancing to the music rather than numbers is an important objective for students at this level.
And one more thing…
At this level we specialise in the Eddie Torres style and other New York style techniques. Our teachers trained with Eddie, so have lots of tricks and tips to share with you.
What we’d recommend
You also take Cha Cha 3, Salsa 3.3 & Salsa 4, Bachata 2, Kizomba, Zumba®, Men’s Styling and Ladies Styling to supplement your dance knowledge and improve your skills.
Cha Cha
Cha Cha 1 & 2
Who it’s for?
This course is for anyone looking to learn the basic steps of Cha Cha. Prior dance experience is not necessary however, would help with timing.
What will I learn?
You’ll learn the basics of this syncopated-step dance first (which definitely helps your Salsa footwork and timing). Then we’ll slowly lead into some basic Cha Cha partner work. The course will also cover the "drill" steps; a collection of Cha Cha steps designed to improve your understanding and timing of the music and the dance. Everything is broken down to the beat to help you identify the steps in the music. This will help you progress from beginner to improver level in this combined-level class.
What we’d recommend
You could also take Mambo 1 , Bachata 1, Kizomba, Zumba® or salsa to help with rhythm and timing.
Who it’s for?
This course is for students who’ve completed Cha Cha 1 and 2 or have the equivalent experience in Cha Cha dancing.
What will I learn?
You’ll learn some complex footwork and partner work, paying a lot of attention to the music. Body movements & isolations, musical interpretation, and especially improvisation are carefully developed and emphasised in your footwork shines and partner work.
If you get the Cha Cha Cha timing and rhythm, it’ll really help with your Mambo and Salsa dancing.
What we’d recommend
You could also take Mambo, Salsa, Bachata , Kizomba, Zumba®, Men’s Styling and Ladies Styling as all of these would help to reinforce timing, style and musical understanding.
Bachata
What’s it all about?
Bachata is a very sexy and smooth dance from the Dominican Republic. The basics to the dance are three-steps followed by a hip sway and a tap on the 4th beat.
Bachata
Who it’s for
Anyone wishing to learn the basics of Bachata. No prior dancing experience is needed.
What will I learn?
You’ll learn the first basic Bachata steps, followed by some simple partner leading and following. Unlike Salsa (the most traditional Latin dance), Bachata 1 does not emphasise complex partnerwork however there’s lots of body movement put into the basic steps.
What we’d recommend
You also take Salsa (the level depends on your ability), Cha Cha 1 , Kizomba, Zumba®, Men’s Styling and Ladies Styling to compliment the Bachata training.
Bachata 2
Who it’s for?
For students who’ve completed Bachata 1 or have the equivalent experience in Bachata.
What will I learn?
You’ll now learn more intricate and sensual partner work moves, footwork steps and isolations of the body. This will all make you look confident and natural when moving with the music and improve your social dancing skills.
What we’d recommend
You could also take Salsa (level depends on your ability), Cha Cha 1, Kizomba, Zumba®, Men’s Styling and Ladies Styling to support your learning.
Styling Courses
Ladies Styling
Who it’s for?
Ladies who’ve completed Salsa Level 3.1 and above or have the equivalent level of Salsa dancing experience to cope with this intermediate to advanced class.
What will I learn?
This course will cover posture, advanced footwork, elegant arm work, advanced body movements and spinning techniques. We’ll also show how to incorporate styling in partner work. We’ll be working on inlterpreting the music and encouraging improvisation on the dance floor.
What we’d recommend
You take this course for as long as you like (the longer the better) as each course covers new, up and coming styling techniques.
You could also take Salsa 3.1 and above, higher level Mambo, Cha Cha or Bachata and Zumba® to support your styling as these are very much covered in these other classes too.
Mens Styling
Who it’s for?
Men who’ve completed Salsa Level 3.1 and above or have the equivalent level of Salsa dancing.
What will I learn?
How to stand out and sizzle on the dance floor and in your partner work. The course will cover body isolation movements, multiple spinning technique, balance, musicality, posture and presentation, afro-cuban & rumba movements, footwork shines and interpreting the music with style in partner work.
What we’d recommend
You take this course for as long as you like (the longer the better).
You could also do higher levels of Mambo, Cha Cha or Bachata, plus Kizomba or Zumba® to improve your timing, fitness and co-ordination.
Spinning Technique
Spinning Technique
This course teaches essential spinning technique from the ground up, giving you everything you need to develop strength and control during spins. Breakdown includes timing and body positioning details, body and muscle awareness tips necessary to help you execute these exercises, and a full set of practice drills for you to use again and again. Your spinning technique is the most important factor that will most contribute to your dance spins. Also, good quality dance shoes do matter, but they only come second to your dance technique.
Zumba
Zumba ®
What’s it all about?
Zumba® is a new kind of fitness program that fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms with easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness regime that will blow you away. The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body whilst burning fat.
Who it’s for?
Everyone! No matter what your age, background or fitness level you can work out at your own rate to suit your fitness and ability. You don’t need any dance experience just plenty of enthusiasm and energy.
What will I learn?
Zumba® fanatics achieve long-term health benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements that mix traditional fitness with Latin and Afro-Cuban influences.
What we’d recommend
You take this course for as long as you like (the more regular the better). Regular Zumba® classes improve fitness and body sculpture as well as giving ‘feel good’ adrenalin boosts.
You could also take other dance courses to improve co-ordination such as salsa or bachata, to improve musicality such as cha cha or mambo or to improve general dancing skills such as kizomba.
Kizomba
What’s it all about?
Kizomba is the latest dance craze to sweep across London's Salsa club dance floors. Kizomba originated in Angola in the '80s but wasn't really seen in the UK until a few years ago. Recently, however, its profile has soared! The word 'kizomba' means 'party' in the Angolan language Kimbundo; it's danced to music of the same name, a fusion of French Caribbean zouk and Angolan semba and the dance shares the same roots.
What will I learn?
This course introduces the basic steps and patterns of Kizomba. Kizomba is more laid back than tango, slower, more intimate and sensual than salsa. It's sexy, but in an effortless way. Dancing kizomba will be a unique experience – standing really close together, partners move in a sensual wavy movement, where your leading and following skills will find a new dimension.
What we’d recommend
You take this course for as long as you like (the longer the better).
You could also take other dance courses to improve co-ordination such as salsa or bachata, to improve musicality such as cha cha or mambo or to improve general fitness such as Zumba®.
Tango
Introduction to Tango
Argentine Tango
Argentine tango is a popular dance style born in Buenos Aires in the early 1900s, and should not be confused with Ballroom Tango which is different. In popular culture, it is regularly seen on the TV series Strictly Come Dancing. It is danced on a 4-beat bar, but compared to other latin dances, there is more room for interpretation in how to use these beats as there is no basic step.
This arguably makes it both easier to learn and yet harder to master. Tango is known for intricate footwork, elegance and the sensual connection between the partners.
The course will cover all of these aspects of the dance.
Performance Courses
Bachata 4 week Performance Course
Whats it all about?
This is an intensive 4 week course for Bachata students who have completed level 2 Bachata or have equivalent Bachata knowledge.
What will I learn?
Over 4 weeks you will learn a short Bachata routine focussing on performance techniques and working in a group alongside other experienced dancers. Students on this course should already know various Bachata steps and this course will increase their confidence to use these moves and present them to an audience.
At the end of the 4 week course, students are invited to perform the routine at our monthly LDA party in front of other students.
What we'd recommend
Students in level 3.3 or above should also consider the salsa performance group to really cement their knowledge of performing and working in syncronization with fellow dancers.