Frequently Asked Qusetions: Salsa Dancing and Salsa Lessons Sydney
What to Wear?
Wear what you like. However, keep in mind your top should allow you to raise your arm without causing restriction. And when dancing socially its common for men espeically, to bring a few changes of shirts. (It isn't that much fun dancing with a a man in a sweat soaked shirt!). Ladies should avoid the big sleeves as they get in the way. Ladies if you wear a skirt just consider if it swooshes up, what are you weaaring underneath the skirt! You don't have to go old school and wear pantaloons but some boy leg gym shorts could work for you.
Your shoes, if your a beginner then try out at least one lesson first to see if you like to learn to dance salsa before you buy salsa dance shoes. If wearing street shoes they should be leather or suede soles (rubber soles are too sticky and will stop you from turning). They should be stream line shoes (i.e. not bulky) and please ensure that they secure your foot into the shoe. No flip flops. Ladies can dance in heals or flats, healed shoes are preferred, about 2.5 inch is good good height. Please avoid platform shoes.
Salsa dance shoes really are the best shoe to dance in, and most people notice the difference when they get their first pair how much easier it is to salsa.
If you want to buy shoes, there are various places that specialise in dance shoes. JQ dance and Morena dancewear, specialise in salsa shoes.
Salsa shoes generally have a suede sole for better grip on the floor. They have a more flexible yet supportive sole than standard street shoes. Ladies heals are commonly of a hight of 2.50 or 2.75 inch. I would avoid 3 inch heels, there just too high for students to salsa.
Shoe care. 
To avoid stinky salsa shoes, I recommend airing them out immediately after you have danced in them. An openwindow sill works great! Leaving them in the shoe bag is a shore way for overwhelmingly stinky shoes in no time at all.
Personal Hygiene.
You will be salsa dancing with a partner so remember your hygiene, especially your mouth hygiene. We don't need anyone fainting for the wrong reason.
When can I start?
New beginners salsa course start every month. If you have missed the start of a new course you can have private lessons to catch up and then join the group. If there is a high demand of new people to start that have missed the beginning of the course, then we will start a second beginners course sooner than scheduled. Please make contact so we know of your interest.
I've missed the 1st lesson, can I start the 2nd lesson?
Yes, everything from the 1st lesson is repeated (just a little faster) before moving onto more salsa dance steps.
I've never danced before, what class do I start?
Great!, now is the time to start. Beginners is structured for "never danced before in my life" beginners. Come along, for most people salsa dancing is not as hard as it appears.
I have learnt to dance before, do I have to start in beginners?
If you have not danced salsa LA style before, then you need to start in the beginners class, or have private lessons. From my own experience as a professional ballet and music theatre dancer and teacher, even I had to learn the basics when I started to learn to dance salsa, learning about the style and foundational footwork, hand and arm rules of salsa dancing.
For trained ballet, jazz, contemporary etc, dancers who wish to learn salsa but want to learn at a faster pace, I recommend having private lessons. You will learn the same material as in the class but the pace will be tailored to suit your ability and previous experience.
I don't have a dance partner, can i still join the class?
Yes. There are a lot of people that join the class without a dance partner. Everyone is rotated frequently throughout the class so you get to dance with everyone. It is good to learn with many dance partners as everyone is a little different. The frequent changing of partners will prepare you for the variety of dance partners on the dance floor when your at the social salsa scenes.
I'm enjoying the classes but I feel I'm ready to move onto the next level?
You can repeat a course if you feel your not ready to progress. You can also have private lessons to assist your progress. You can also move onto the next level and repeat the level just completed within the same the term, (e.g move on to level 1 and repeat beginners).
