Workshops
The OU Salsa Society also organises extra oportunities to dance as well as our regular lessons and social nights. These can range from one-off hour long sessions, to whole weekends full of workshops and parties, and are a great way to improve specific elements of your dancing, such as styling or spinning, or even learn whole new dances!
Follow these links for details of our upcoming workshops:
See examples of our previous workshops here:
Sunday 30th May - Styling with IGNITE Dance Co and Bachata with Inaki Fernandez
Join us for an afternoon of workshops with great guest teachers!
2pm: Styling Workshop with Rosa and Giles of IGNITE Dance Co.
Featuring styling for partnerwork and individual footwork sessions for men and women.
3:30pm: Bachata Workshop with Inaki Fernandez
Each workshop lasts for 90 minutes. All levels welcome!
Workshops will take place in the Oakeshott Room, Lincoln College, Turl Street, Oxford, OX1 3DR
No reservations necessary - payment on the door. Don't forget to bring your membership card for a member's discount!
Prices: 1 workshop £7 members (£8 non-members)
2 workshops £10 members (£12 non-members)
Below are examples of some of our previous workshops.
On1 Workshop with Thomas Finch - 10th May 2009
Improve your dance techniques + Learn simple and easy to follow turn patterns with...
THOMAS FINCH
Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Thomas Finch began dancing in the fall of 2006. In January of 2008, he joined the world-renowned Cobo Brothers Dance Company as part of their student team. He has performed extensively in North Carolina, as well as in Virginia and Washington, DC. Thomas is adept at both On1 and On2 styles of dancing, and is very excited to be teaching his first Salsa Workshop in Oxford. He hopes to share both his knowledge and passion for dance with the growing, exciting Salsa crowd in Oxford!
WHEN: Sunday 10th May
2pm Salsa ON1 (Beginners)
3pm Salsa ON1 (Improvers/Intermediate)
WHERE: Mirrored Studio
Bourton Mill Health and Leisure Club
High Street
Oxford, UK
PRICE:
1 session £3.50/£3 (members)
2 sessions £5/£4 (members)
Music Interpretation and Styling Bootcamp with Irene Miguel
25th/26th April 2009
Programme
This bootcamp is divided into 2 days. Each day runs from 10am to 6pm, with a break for lunch. You can choose to attend just one day, or come to both and take advantage of our excellent value 2 day pass! Workshop details below:
| Saturday 25th MUSIC INTERPRETATION AND TIMING | Sunday 26th LADIES STYLING WITH IRENE MIGUEL MEN'S STYLING WITH NIKO HEREDIA |
|---|---|
| We will work with a musician and live music so you get a chance to try some of the instruments and feel the flavour!!! We will cover the following topics related to Salsa and mambo dancing. (You will get notes at the end of the course): 1-Tempo or pulse - learn to find the tempo in any song 2-Timing - what are bars or measures, how do you find the 1, 5 and all the other beats in any song. Diference between dancing on 1, on 2 New York and ON 2 Puerto Rico 3-Rhythm 4-Instrumentation - what instruments are played in salsa music, what are the rhythms they play and how do we express them with our body 5-Song structure - Different song structures and what to do where 6-Song analysis - Learn to analyse a song from the tempo, structure, instrumentation anf style and how do you dance to it. | First half of the day - separate styling sessions - girls with Irene and guys with Niko. Second half - everyone together for styling for partner work. We will cover: - dancer's posture - leg movements - hip movements - torso movements - shoulders - arms and hands - head movements All applied to: - the basic step both on 1 and on 2 - shines with music interpretation, changing the quality of movement depending on the instruments you follow - a partnerwork routine incorporating all of the above |
Prices
1 day - £30 (OUSS members) / £45 (non-members)
2 days - £50(OUSS members) / £75 (non-members)
Payment
Teachers
* IRENE MIGUEL'S BIOGRAPHY *
Irene Miguel, winner of the salsa UK Lifestyle Achievement Award 2006, is a leading choreographer, performer and teacher with a background in ballet, jazz, contemporary, yoga and pilates. She has been teaching and performing Salsa internationaly with partners such as Seon Stylist, Angel Ortis, Edgard Del Rosario, Leon Rose, Laith Sami and Tamambo amongst others since 1993 and her main teacher and influences include Eddie Torres, and Nelson Flores. With 20 years of experience in dance and fitness she has developed her own training systems: "Danzalifestyle systems, the world's first holistic approach to salsa and mambo" the systems include emphasis on musicality, improvisation, posture, breathing, flexibility and safety. Both the Mambolifestyle and Salsalifestyle systems teach people how to free their unlimited potential and find the latin dancer within.
Irene Shares her passion for Latin music, dance and culture and her respect for all her teachers in her unique approach.
Irene is based in London and runs regular classes and bootcamps in London, Leeds and Milton Keynes. She was the first international teacher to teach performance courses specially designed for congresses, given the students the opportunity to perform alongside their favourite salsa stars! And in 2008 she launched her IDA ( International Dance Academy ) with performance courses taught by International teachers. The first show was CUBAN FANTASY choreographed by Nelson Flores ad performed by Danzalifestyle students at the GBSex congress in Manchester. Her passion and dedication to help her students realise their dreams places her as one of the best and most sought after teachers/director in the world.
www.irenemiguel.com
* ROBERTO PLA's Biography *
Roberto Pla was born in Barranquilla on Colombia's northern Atlantic coast, an area rich in music and folklore. As a boy Roberto studied percusion with Pompelio Rodriguez, at that time Colombia's greatest percussionist.
In 1964 he left Barranquilla to study music at the National University of Bogota, and while he was there he became an active session musician playing
with the best bands in his country including Los Ocho de Colombia. From 1968-78 he played drum kit with Orquesta Lucho Bermudez, Colombia's leading big band, with whom he toured Latin America and the States, recorded numerous albums and appeared weekly on Colombian TV.
In 1979 Roberto left Colombia for New York where he became a busy salsa session percusionist working with amongst others Orquesta La Tradicion in 1980 the atractions of the Europan pop scene drew him to London where he joined the jazz-fusion band Cayenne, and Latin-funkesters Gonzalez (World Tour).
1982 he was touring the world with pop megastars Boney M. since that Roberto has been resident in the U.K. Artist that he has played and toured with include Joe Strummer (Ex Clash) with whom he featured in the French film 'I Hired a Contract Killer' Caribbean soca star Arrow (Europe&U.S. tour) Spanish pop band Radio Futura, Japanese duo The Frank Chickens, and rock heavyweights Motorhead (with whom he featured in the film 'Eat the Rich'.)
In 1987 he toured Japan and the far east with the legendary Slim Gaillard, and performed in North Africa with Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez. He has also recorded for Kate Bush and M. People.
In 1991-2 he toured Europe and America with Virgin Records-signed pop singer Sonny Southon.
In summer '93 he recorded and toured Europe with Bluenote-signed rap act US3.
He has also toured Europe and America with legendary percussionist Carlos 'Patato' Valdez and Fania Allstars vocalist Adalberto Santiago, Azuquita and Tito Allen. Recently (98) toured Europe with Sidestepper and the Nuyorican Poets.
In November '99 Roberto toured China with Trevor Watts' Moire Music.
In September/October 2000 Roberto toured Canada, USA, Central and South America, and Caribbean Islands with Trevor Watts.
Roberto was a founder member of the UK's first salsa band Valdez.
Cofounder of U.K. Salsa band Sonido de Londres who recorded two albums. In 1988 Roberto founded his own 12 piece all-star band the Roberto Pla Latin Ensemble who have numerous European Festival and TV appearances, and in 1990 released 'Cumbia Dominique'.
In 1991 they released a track in the 'Freedom From Debt' CD (WDM Records) In 1993 they receive a bursary from the Arts Council of Great Britain to tour the U.K. and in the Autumn 93 they toured the far east.
1995 recorded a follow-up CD for Tumi Records. And a further release in Spring 97.
In Spring /96 Roberto's band participated in the Salsa Legends Tour Featuring among others the great Azuquita on Vocals as special guest plus Alfredo Rodriguez. on Piano Justo Almario on Tenor Saxophone (Ex Eddie Palmieri Orch. & dizzy Gillespie United nations Orchestra) Steve Turre on Trombone.
Styling Workshop 29th November
Salsa workshop conducted by Takane Oura
A great way to improve your dancing! Don't miss this amazing opportunity; we are holding our workshop in a MIRRORED studio this term, which improves enormously the quality of the training.
Date: 29 November 2008
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Location: Mirrored Studio, Bourton Mill Health and Leisure Club, 6 High Street,
OX1 4AB
14.00 - 14.50
1st session - Open to all ladies and men of all levels. 50 min workshop on body isolation and shines.
15.00 - 15.50
2nd session - Ladies styling (open to all levels)
Entry:
1 session £6 non-member/£5 members
2 sessions £10 non-members/£8 members
Oxford Bachata Weekender 2008
OUSS is proud to present the Oxford Bachata Weekender!!
Taking place on 27th/28th September in the beautiful city centre of Oxford.
Love Bachata and want to learn more? Then come along for 2 days of fantastic workshops where you can learn everything from the basics steps to dips, styling and even Bachatango! Then practice all your new moves at our evening salsa parties!
Taught by fabulous guest teachers Tony Lara and Daniela.
Flexible pricing options, so pick your favourite classes, or come for the whole weekend!
Programme
Saturday 27th September 2008
Flora Anderson Hall, Somerville College, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HD
| Time | Workshop | Price options |
|---|---|---|
| 11am-2pm | 3 hours Bachata Beginners Bootcamp | TicketA: £20 per person TicketB: £35 per couple |
| 3pm-5pm | 2 hours Styling Ladies and Men | TicketC: £12 per person |
| 8pm-1am | Party!! Bar available until midnight | TicketD: £6 per person |
Sunday 28th September 2008
Bar Risa, 3-5 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, OX1 2EW
| Time | Workshop | Price options |
|---|---|---|
| 11am-5pm | 5 hours Improvers/Intermediate Bootcamp -1 hour Body Movements -1 hour Sensual Moves and Dips -1 hour Club Style Turn Patterns -2 hours Bachatango -hour lunch break | TicketE: £30 per person TicketF: £55 per couple |
| 8pm-1am | Party!! | TicketG: £6 per person |
Full Weekend Pass
| Sat and Sun Weekend Pass | All workshops and parties included | TicketH: £65 per person TicketI: £125 per couple |
N.B. Please also note this workshop is aimed at close dancing, so it is always a great idea to have a partner you are comfortable with.
Any questions? Please contact us at salsasoc@herald.ox.ac.uk