Latin Dance Lessons 2

Private Latin Lessons

We teach the following types of Latin dances at Dance Amor: Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha cha, Samba, Mambo, Jive.
“Even if you have danced a latin style before, there is unlimited scope to expand your knowledge and either try out something you haven’t before or build on your existing skills.”
Why Latin dancing is so popular: Unrestricted experimentation, freedom to add in a personal touch and bring out your character, enhances improvisation skills, increases flexibility of your bodies to a great extent.

These are a few defining characteristics

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Timing

This is about moving to music, following the correct beat. It is a fundamental that must be achieved by all dancers. To be able to dance to timing, one must first be able to identify the various beats in the music. For those who have difficulty, the best way to improve this aspect is to listen to more music and consciously count the beats in your mind. A very important point to note is the timing occurs when the foot touches the ground, e.g. one hearing count 1, the a part of the foot must have touched the ground; if you wait till you hear count 1 and then start to move your feet to the final destination, you will be late.

Rhythm

Timing is about being on time to the beats. Having rhythm is about musical interpretation. Students can achieve this by good movement and controlled actions according to different rhythms of music. One must be able to feel the music, rather than just listening to beats in a straight manner. Certain movements may be delayed while some may be speeded up.

Character

Each of the dances in ballroom and Latin has different characteristics. It’s important to understand the differences so that each dance looks like what it is and not all look alike.

Floor craft

Students need to understand good traffic navigation. Floor craft can be achieved by changing alignment, changing variations or having checking action. Good lead and follow is an essential pre-requisite to floor craft. The leader has to be aware of the surroundings and constantly plan pre-emptive actions. This is a skill that takes time to master. Floor craft is probably more important in the moving dances (waltz, tango, foxtrot, quickstep, samba, Paso Doble) as there would be a need to avoid other couples on the floor while they are moving around. See article on “Floor craft” for more information.

Latin Dance Styles offered

Salsa – popular form of social dance that originated in the Caribbean. The movements of salsa have origins in Cuban Son, cha-cha-cha, mambo and Puerto Rican bomba and plena and other dance forms.

Bachata – style of social dance from the Dominican Republic which is now danced all over the world. It is associated with close dance position, sensual body movements and tap or syncopation.

Samba – dance of black/African people in Brazil who brought much of their music and dance culture into Latin America upon arrival into many Latin American countries.

Rumba – the term rumba was used as a synonym for “party” in northern Cuba, and by the late 19th century it was used to denote the complex of secular music styles known as Cuban rumba

Cha Cha – is a dance of Cuban origin. The name of the dance is an onomatopoeia derived from the shuffling sound of the dancers’ feet.

Free latin dance class

Free Trial

Experience a Salsa or Bachata Dance Class at no cost. Ideal for familiarizing yourself with our dance school and its staff! Experience a friendly environment and enjoy learning the basics

Director | Lead Choreographer | Dance Mentor

Oscar Castellanos

Oscar Castellanos is the CEO and founding director of Dance Amor. He is an accredited DanceSport Australia Dance Couch and has been successfully running his studio for 10 years. Here you learn to dance for wedding! Throughout life, his focus and motivation have guaranteed his success in endeavors from school sporting events to independent business projects. He is the best wedding dance instructor.It is this drive and ability to learn quickly that has resulted in Oscar’s impressive collection of awards both statewide and nationally.Over the last decade, Oscar has concentrated on learning and understanding over 16 dance styles with the goal of understanding their individual similarities and differences. Dance lessons for wedding first dance, salsa dance classes for adults near me also be good for you.Oscar’s passion for learning and improving himself as an artist and dancer has sent around the globe, learning from the Mambo king Eddie Torres, Fernando Sosa and most recently Carlos Aragon Del Carpio. Private ballroom dancing classes for beginnersnear me is perfect for you.For the last decade he has specialized in social Latin and social Ballroom dance as well as wedding and performance choreography. However, after his recent expedition to Argentina, Oscar is pursuing the rising style of sensualmodern Bachata. After his time learning and dancing with influential figures like Jorge Solohaga (trifecta champion in both salsa and Bachata) he is eager to share his new passion and knowledge with the rest of DanceAdelaide!Oscar from Dance Amor is one of thegrooviestteacher we know. He is constantly updating his skills all over the world, adult beginner dance classes couples dance classes and keeping up with the trends to ensure that his students are constantly exposed easy Latin dance steps to what the rest of the dance industry has to offer.

Director | Wedding Choreographer | Social Dance Teacher

Simon Noble

Director | Lead Choreographer | Dance Mentor

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I started dancing in 2009 and prior to coming to Dance Amor in 2013 have had in total about 80 hours of private lessons at 2 other dance schools, learning all different styles including Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, Rumba, Waltz, Tango, Samba.

I still remember my first time coming to Dance Amor. You would think that after those hours of dancing, when I asked to show what I knew in Cha Cha dance to determine the level I was at, I would be able to at least show the basic dance step patterns, no problems?!!! Well, I was put on the spot, felt really ashamed that I could barely show the basic pattern properly with wishy-washy timing. It was at this time, I got asked by the instructor: "Do you want to learn it properly from the start or do you want me to teach you the way you have been learning? I am happy to teach you either way".I told him that day I wanted to learn it properly & I haven't looked back since.

Within 2 months, I stopped going to other dance schools as I realized that Dance Amor can offer all that I needed to become a great dancer. What attracted to me the most about Dance Amor was it has always been a dance school Adelaide that is about ensuring that you are equipped with the necessity dance tools (i.e., patterns, footwork, musicality, partnership, body movements, turns styling), each at which you can continue to improve and master. Then when you go out dancing, you can choose to use them at will. The better you sharpen and master each one, the more confident you feel and the bigger the growth. The growth that I have experienced in both my dancing & mentality over the last 7 years have been tremendous. From being shy to introverted I am now confident & becoming the new best versions of myself everyday!!!

Through the vision of Dance Amor creating great dancers the shortest period of time,
I have recently witnessed an absolute beginner dance steps who started learning at Dance Amor for only 4 weeks, learned an entire advanced bachata routine in 5 days and performed it on the 6th day. This in the past would have taken me about 3 to 6 months. What I thought previously was impossible has been proven possible. That has had such a huge impact on continuing to push and inspire me to improve myself even more and pass on the knowledge to Dance Amor students.

Now results can be achieved within 45 minutes with performance achieved within 1 week.
I believe in the near future we can get a student to achieve learning dance and perform a routine within 1 day. I look forward to that day!!! More importantly what drive, positive energy and mindset that it will bring to the school, myself and for everyone who is part of it!!!

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