New York style Salsa Dance Instruction

Winter - Spring 2010

Leña Dance Co. is currently not offering studio classes. If you would like to schedule for private lessons please contact us here. To view our offerings and class descriptions, read below.

Shines & Footwork and Essentials of Parnter work
Focus: History, Musicality, Technique, Essentials of Leading and Following
Level: Beginner/Advanced Beginner On 2
Duration: 8 weeks
Instructor: Pierina & Willie

Pierina Sanchez - Always happy, smiling and energetic, Pierina embodies the definition of mambo and style. Currently, Pierina is a member of the world renowned Santo Rico, Inc. Dance Company, famous both locally and abroad for its fast spinning and unique style. [more]

Willie Sanchez - An innately joyful person, Willie truly enjoys sharing his passion of dance through teaching and performing. His style remains uniquely one, developed on the dance floors around the U.S. and Europe. [more]

This NYC brother-sister duo has been teaching around the Greater Boston area over the past 4 years and enjoy spreading their love of mambo dance one person at a time.

Beginner Crash Course—Essentials of footwork, leading & following This class will introduce students to basic principles that are fundamental to salsa dance. The footwork portionof the class will be an essential part to acclimating students to salsa/mambo dancing and On2 timing. Students will be presented with universal constructions in this level as well as variations of these to increasingly encourage students to migrate towards and develop a personalized style. Syncopated timing will be introduced towards the end of this cycle for smooth transitioning into the intermediate level. The Partner Work—Essentials of leading & following portion of theclass will introduce students to basic constructions that are fundamental to leading and following. The core of this level will consist of technique, hand-holds and positions, signalling, and checks. Variations of the fundamental constructions will be presented and students must master these before being able to move onto higher levels.

Furthermore, there will also be a focus on Salsa Theory in this class. Students will learn the roles of various instruments as well as the structure of the music to instil a deeper appreciation for the dance.

Intermediate/advanced Partnerwork and Choreography This class are non-curriculum based and incorporate all the elements of the advanced beginner levels in creative, challenging, and uniquely Mambo-style choreography. The intermediate/advanced classes are sure to be an intense, fast-paced, experience for the most experienced of dancers. This level will build the fundamentals of the advanced beginner level, placing strong emphasis on choreography and creativity. This class will provide students with a means to harness their individual creativity in to elevate their dancing founded on a firm technical level. The instructors seek to pass on skills in musicality and interpretation at this level.

Students of this level are advised to go through a session of the advanced beginner class or otherwise prove equivalent experience.

Beginner-Advanced Beginner (B/AB) level classes will build on the fundamentals of the beginner level curriculum placing strong emphasis on timing and technique. At the end of the curriculum, students will have a basic understanding of tempo, and the ability to identify rhythm and timing as pertains to various characteristic instruments and sounds.

Intermediate-Advanced (I/A) level classes will build on the technique, timing skills, and repertoire covered in the advanced beginner level classes. Familiarity with LDC vocabulary and skills taught in the earlier levels is expected. Students at this level are expected to be ready to sweat, work hard, and share in the lively spirit and energy of their instructors.

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Student Discounts available!