Salsa is a dance and musical genre from NY based on the Cuban Son. Vitalidad Movement Arts Center has quickly become known to be "the place" to learn salsa in Portland OR. We offer Adult Salsa classes for beginners and more intermediate/advanced dancers, both On1 and On2. We don't just teach steps in our salsa classes, we teach proper body movement for salsa, salsa music timing, musicality, technique, and the roots of salsa, all in a fun, supportive atmosphere. We hope our salsa classes will help to bring out the salsa dancer in you and help the salsa scene in Portland continue to grow and thrive.
***No Partner Necessary, Partner Rotation Required***
Beginners Salsa (on1) - No experience necessary (Class is run on a monthly cycle beginning with the 1st Thursday of the month)
This class is for students new to salsa dancing. We will cover the basic steps of salsa, outside turn, cross-body lead, back-spot turn, cross-body lead with a turn, timing, leading and following technique. Some basic salsa shines will also be introduced. This class is intended to give students the confidence to go out and practice their fundamentals in a salsa club or social.
Class held Thursdays 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Also Mondays at Studio E with Branden and Deblin at 7:30 pm
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
Beyond Beginner Salsa (on1) - Prerequisite: 1-2 cycles of Beginners Salsa or Instructors approval (Class is on a monthly cycle increasing in difficulty as the month progresses)
This class will expand on the curriculum of the beginners salsa class. Each week we will focus on a a different salsa fundamental movement such as cross body leads, cross body lead with a turn, backspot turn, three sixty, copas, whips, and wraps, working on leading and following technique as well as variations of the fundamentals. We also focus on salsa shines to build students' coordination and timing, body movement and salsa spinning technique for multiple spins.
Class held Thursdays 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
Intermediate Salsa On 1 - Pre-requisite at least 3 cycles of Beyond Beginners Salsa or Instructor approval
This class is intended to take students to the next level. We will continue to reinforce solid foundations in body movement, and leading following techniques and concepts. Higher level shine sequences and turn patterns as well as double turns will be used to continue to challenge students. We will also increase student's knowledge of the music and culture by working on musicality, Rumba Guaganco, and Pachanga
Class held Thursdays 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
Transition to On2 Salsa - Prerequisite: Intermediate level (see description below)
This class is intended for intermediate level on1 salsa dancers (Can keep on1 timing while executing all basics taught in Beginners and Beginner/Intermediate salsa) who want to transition to on2 salsa. On2 timing and rhythm will be a main focus of this class; clave and tumbao rhythms will be broken down to aid in learning. Son, basic shines and turn patterns will also be used as learning aids. Differences between on1 salsa and on2 salsa will also be discussed such as the on2 prep.
Class will be held as a periodic workshop
Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
Intermediate/Advanced Salsa On2 & Technique - Prerequisite: Transition to On2 Salsa or Intermediate level On2 (Class is continuous focusing on different aspects every week, not on a cycle)
This class will expand on the curriculum taught in the Transition to On2 salsa class and is intended only for intermediate/advanced On2 salsa dancers who have a solid understanding of the On2 rhythm and can execute all salsa fundamentals while maintaining the rhythm. Higher level salsa shines and turn patterns will be taught as well as more advanced concepts such as musicality. Salsa body movement, arms technique, stepping technique, turning and spinning as well as gaining proficiency with other rhythms in salsa such as Rumba and Afro-Cuban will also be developed through drills.
Class held Wednesdays 8 pm to 9:30 pm
Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
***Private Salsa Lessons are also available with Carolina and Jamal***
Salsa Private Lessons
**Don't miss the VMAC monthly Salsa and Bachata social the first and third Sunday of every month! Music provided by DJ Armando 7 pm to 10 pm with a $5 cover.**
***No Partner Necessary, Partner Rotation Required***
Beginners Salsa (on1) - No experience necessary (Class is run on a monthly cycle beginning with the 1st Thursday of the month)
This class is for students new to salsa dancing. We will cover the basic steps of salsa, outside turn, cross-body lead, back-spot turn, cross-body lead with a turn, timing, leading and following technique. Some basic salsa shines will also be introduced. This class is intended to give students the confidence to go out and practice their fundamentals in a salsa club or social.
Class held Thursdays 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Also Mondays at Studio E with Branden and Deblin at 7:30 pm
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
Beyond Beginner Salsa (on1) - Prerequisite: 1-2 cycles of Beginners Salsa or Instructors approval (Class is on a monthly cycle increasing in difficulty as the month progresses)
This class will expand on the curriculum of the beginners salsa class. Each week we will focus on a a different salsa fundamental movement such as cross body leads, cross body lead with a turn, backspot turn, three sixty, copas, whips, and wraps, working on leading and following technique as well as variations of the fundamentals. We also focus on salsa shines to build students' coordination and timing, body movement and salsa spinning technique for multiple spins.
Class held Thursdays 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
Intermediate Salsa On 1 - Pre-requisite at least 3 cycles of Beyond Beginners Salsa or Instructor approval
This class is intended to take students to the next level. We will continue to reinforce solid foundations in body movement, and leading following techniques and concepts. Higher level shine sequences and turn patterns as well as double turns will be used to continue to challenge students. We will also increase student's knowledge of the music and culture by working on musicality, Rumba Guaganco, and Pachanga
Class held Thursdays 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
Transition to On2 Salsa - Prerequisite: Intermediate level (see description below)
This class is intended for intermediate level on1 salsa dancers (Can keep on1 timing while executing all basics taught in Beginners and Beginner/Intermediate salsa) who want to transition to on2 salsa. On2 timing and rhythm will be a main focus of this class; clave and tumbao rhythms will be broken down to aid in learning. Son, basic shines and turn patterns will also be used as learning aids. Differences between on1 salsa and on2 salsa will also be discussed such as the on2 prep.
Class will be held as a periodic workshop
Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
Intermediate/Advanced Salsa On2 & Technique - Prerequisite: Transition to On2 Salsa or Intermediate level On2 (Class is continuous focusing on different aspects every week, not on a cycle)
This class will expand on the curriculum taught in the Transition to On2 salsa class and is intended only for intermediate/advanced On2 salsa dancers who have a solid understanding of the On2 rhythm and can execute all salsa fundamentals while maintaining the rhythm. Higher level salsa shines and turn patterns will be taught as well as more advanced concepts such as musicality. Salsa body movement, arms technique, stepping technique, turning and spinning as well as gaining proficiency with other rhythms in salsa such as Rumba and Afro-Cuban will also be developed through drills.
Class held Wednesdays 8 pm to 9:30 pm
Instructors: Carolina & Jamal
Drop-in rate is $15 per class, for package prices visit the Pricing tab
***Private Salsa Lessons are also available with Carolina and Jamal***
Salsa Private Lessons
**Don't miss the VMAC monthly Salsa and Bachata social the first and third Sunday of every month! Music provided by DJ Armando 7 pm to 10 pm with a $5 cover.**
