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| Frequently Asked Questions |
| Class Registration and Payment |
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How do I register for a course?
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The easiest way to register for a course is online on our website. Click on the "Course Registration" button that is on every page on the left-hand side menu. Once on the registration page you will have to provide your name, e-mail address, address, phone number and select the course you wish to register for. After you submit this information you will be shown a link to Paypal. Remember your registration is only complete upon payment.
You do not need to have a Paypal account in order to pay through Paypal. Once on their website you can also pay with Visa or Mastercard. You will receive a confirmation e-mail immediately upon payment.
Alternatively you can also provide payment in person at the studio or by mailing a cheque to us. You can also register to one of our courses in person at our studios during a class. |
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What payment methods are accepted?
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- Paypal/Visa/Mastercard - available online only on our website
- Cash, cheque or money orders dropped off during our classes
- Cheques or money orders mailed to us
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Can I pay on the start date of the course?
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Yes, although not recommended. It is always better to register ahead of time: you secure a spot in the course, you save yourself waiting time in the registration process on that day, and it allows us to better balance the ratio of men and women in the class by knowing ahead of time the number of students |
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Can I pay as I go? What other packages do you have?
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Yes, we offer different class payment packages to suit your availability better: - Drop-ins for those with an unpredictable schedule; they are however limited to the first 2 weeks of a course or to those cases that the student can integrate easily into the flow of the lesson if at a later stage into the course
- Flexible cards of 5, 10 or 20 lessons, for those who know might miss some classes in a course or want to try different classes at the same time
Please check our Packages and Deals for prices and more information.
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| Curriculum |
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Do I need a partner to join your lessons? What is the male/female ratio?
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You do not need a partner in order to join any of our classes. If you do not come with a partner for the salsa classes, you will be partnered there to either a fellow student or one of our assistants and volunteers. We also rotate people often to ensure you dance with as many people as possible, a great way of meeting new people and improve your leading or following skills. |
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How is Cuban Salsa different from "regular" salsa?
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Cuban Salsa is different from the North American styles of salsa in a variety of ways:
- Casino (Cuban Salsa) is danced in a circular way, with both partners usually using a circle as their dance space, rather than a line or slot as in LA or NY style salsa
- It has more emphasis on rhythm and Afro-Cuban style body movement rather than fast and multiple spins. Body isolations and hip movement are as important as leading and following turn patterns.
- The advanced turn patterns are characterized by intricate and arm-twisted movements
- Being versatile with the rhythm is also important as Cuban style can be danced to emphasize (break on) the first beat (Rumba timing or "On 1"), the second beat ("Contratiempo" or "On 2") or the third beat of the music ("A tiempo" or "On 3"). Tapping in between footsteps is also a common feature.
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I have some previous experience dancing salsa. What would be the level I should join?
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Different schools and teachers will likely cover different material, especially if the styles of salsa are different. Without seeing you dance there is no way we can answer accurately this question. You should come for an assessment so we can indicate the best level for you. Assessments are free of charge and are done during our Salsa Practice sessions every Saturday from 7 to 9pm, at our 585 Yonge Street studio. |
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Can I watch a class prior to signing in?
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Absolutely! You can watch any of our classes on schedule. All you have to do is show up at the studio on the day and time of the class. |
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| Miscellaneous |
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What kind of attire is needed for the classes? What about shoes?
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For our salsa classes there is no special attire required. Some people come with their work clothes while other people change into workout gear. There are no special shoes that are needed generally for Cuban Salsa. However, because the floor at the Bloor & Jane location is covered with linoleum, the best would be to bring any kind of dance shoes (dance sneakers, ballroom shoes) or very simply a pair of shoes that is clean (not worn outside) or even just socks. For the studio on Yonge & Wellesley you just need to watch out that your shoes are not wet with snow or mud.
For other classes such as Latin Cardio, Samba, Afro-Cuban Movement, Ladies Styling or Rumba Styling, workout gear is recommended as they are higher intensity classes. Barefoot is recommend for Afro-Cuban while sneakers, dance sneakers or just socks are good options for the other classes.
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Is Albena Cuban? Brazilian?
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Albena is neither Cuban nor Brazilian. She is half Angolan, half Bulgarian. Having grown up in Angola, Portuguese is her mother tongue but she is also fluent in Spanish. |
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