WE RUN OUR CLASSES IN A MONTH LONG SERIES PROGRAM.
DROP INS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME…
however, the later in the term you drop in, the more advanced the class.
Masks optional but encouraged
No partner required. We will be rotating partners in class for those who choose to, but it is not mandatory to do so.
If you would like to book a private individual, couple, or small group lesson, call or text 503.708.2167
salsa styling for follows
Beginning/Intermediate
Instructor: Sarah
SUN 12/7 3:00-4:00p
$18 per student
Salsa stands apart from other dances because of its flair, fluidity, and flirtatiousness. Salsa is danced not just with your feet, but with every part of your body; from the tips of your toes to the tips of their fingers. This workshop is designed to refine and solidify technique you already have, or open up your movement to more graceful and agile possibilities!
You will begin with dance conditioning, stretching and strengthening exercises to keep dancers injury-free and more flexible in class and on the dance floor. Sarah will then have students perfect their linear basics while peppering in arm styling, body movement, and easy footwork additives to mix in with your basics.
You will also work on turn technique and shine choreography. Learn to play with the music and build your agility and grace while building your dance vocabulary!
Sarah's approach is based on injury prevention, which gives students a better dance mechanics and a greater knowledge of how the body works to enable more natural styling.
sign up - 12/7
cross-body lead variations: Salsa
Beginning/Intermediate
Instructor: Sarah
SUN 12/7 4:00-5:00p + Stay for the Salsa Practica at 5pm!
$18
In Salsa, like any other dance, you start with basic steps. But, as any new Salsa dancer has noticed, those basic become few and far between once you learn the Cross-Body Lead. For intermediate dancers, the CBL *is* your basic step! What''s so great about this move is that there are endless variations on the fundamental CBL, and that's what this class is all about. How to use a basic CBL as a transition move, and how to play with multiple variations. Leads benefit from learning how to lead the different styles, and how to plan ahead! Follows get to practice turn technique (see turn workshop for details) during CBLs, and tips on how to add styling, as well as how not to back lead them ;)
No partner required. Knowledge of basic cross body lead is highly recommended for leads.
sign up: 12/7
salsa practica
SUN 12/7 5:00-6:00p
$5 or free for students
salsa social + end of year party!!
MON 12/22 6:30-9:30p
$16
Pay in Advance: 12/22
Pay Cash or venmo in person
SALSA 1: PARTNERING for BEGINNERS
Beginning
Instructor: Sarah
Mondays 6:30-7:30p no class 12/22, 12/29
This Latin dance classic, and evolution of Mambo, has been a club classic for decades. In this class you will learn the background of this fabulous dance and its music as well as how to make it yours. You’ll learn safe, fun, and comfortable turns that are relaxed, balanced, and beautiful. Salsa is filled with core moves that have endless variations, and this class will teach those core moves in the Nuyorican, Cuban, and/or Cumbia inspired styles.
This is social Salsa, not performance style. We will discuss connection, timing, flow, musicality, how to change your technique based on who you are dancing with, dance floor etiquette, and economy of movement.
This. Class. Is. Fun.
december sign up:
12/1 , 12/8 , 12/15
SALSA 2: BUILDING Combos + Styling
beg/int
Instructor: Sarah
Mondays 7:30-8:30p no class 12/22, 12/29
Having established a foundation for Salsa in our Salsa 1 introduction class (or Salsa Quickstart workshop), students will now start to build more on their lead & follow skills while focusing on beginning variations of moves that spin, travel, and groove. Two fundamental moves that go beyond basics in Salsa are open-break variations and cross-body-lead variations. Warm-ups become more intricate and follows are given more styling details than in level 1. Prerequisite: Salsa 1 or comfort with basic steps and a simple turn. Salsa 2 should be repeated before moving on to Salsa 3.
december sign up:
12/1 , 12/8 , 12/15
SALSA 3: Complex Patterns + Footwork
int/adv
Instructor: Sarah
Mondays 8:30-10:00p no class 12/22, 12/29
$22 per person or $80 4-class pass
At this level, students will learn to use, and embellish, the cross-body-lead as a transition between new, more dynamic moves! In Salsa 3 we start to break the rules learned in Salsa 1 and 2, encouraging students to be creative while understanding why moves work, rather than just learning a set pattern that an instructor is demonstrating. Students will also learn ways to incorporate more styling and musicality to their dancing at this level - allowing you inject your own personal style.We will start each class with footwork combos and warms ups designed to strengthen your agility, musicality, balance, and improvisation skills.
Pre-requisite: Mastery of Salsa 2 or equivalent level of experience. Salsa 3 is meant to be repeated at least three times as content changes month to month.
december sign up:
12/1 , 12/8 , 12/15
SALSA SUELTA ROUTINES
intermediate
instructor: Jennie
Sundays 11:00-12:30p no class 12/21, 12/28
$22 per person or $80 4-class pass
Salsa Suelta is an Afro-Cuban Salsa class that is done without partners, and is a full body experience. The dance language of Suelta pulls from Reggaeton, Casino, Santeria, traditional Afro-Cuban dances, and heart. Get warmed up, wake up your heart, mind, hips, ribs, shoulders, feet and everything in between.
This class is suitable for beyond beginning and intermediate dancers. The focus changes weekly, and is centered around short choreographed routines.
Dress to sweat in clothes that promote movement. Sneakers are best for this class.
december sign up:
11/30 , 12/7 , 12/14
SALSA QUICKSTART WORKSHOP
intro/beg
instructor: Sarah
SUN 1/4 3:00-6:00p
$55 per person
Have you been curious about learning Salsa, but feel a little intimidated? Don't be! Let us demystify one of the easier partner dances to learn. It may be fast, but it isn't complicated, and contrary to popular belief, Salsa is designed for ALL body types and degrees of sauciness. This 3 hour intensive workshop is geared to get dancers and NON dancers moving to the joyous rhythms of Salsa! The class will cover Salsa rhythm, body movement, Salsa timing, 3 basic step variations, three turn patterns, and history! After finishing the Quickstart course, students will be eligible to take the Salsa 2 weekly series, without taking Salsa 1! Don't miss out on this ever popular, easy to learn dance.
No partner required.
This class is not offered via Zoom.
SIGN UP - 1/4
Do you know where Salsa comes from?
Latin music and latin dances such as Salsa, Cha Cha, Bugalú, Bachata, Merengue, Suelta, Reggaeton, and Rumba have roots in Latino, Caribbean, African, Creole, European, and American culture. Many early promoters and musicians of Mambo and Latin Jazz in the mambo era were Jewish immigrants, or the children of refugees who escaped (or perished in) the horrors of Nazi occupation. American culture does not exist without immigrant culture and people of color. The dances we teach are borrowed from those who invented them, and are now kept alive, forever evolving, by teachers, students, and practitioners of all races, ethnicities, cultures, and nationalities. Let us not take for granted what an incredible gift these dances are, and the music that inspires us to do them, by forgetting where they come from and what they are rooted in. Please consider supporting the NAACP as you have supported the Viscount by becoming a member, or making a donation: https://pdxnaacp.org/get-involved/#member/
For more information on the roots of Jazz, watch: JAZZ, a documentary by Ken Burns
For more information on the roots of Salsa, Mambo, and Latin Jazz, watch: Latin Music USA - PBS
TIPS FOR SIGNING UP:
1. To get the video link you MUST BE OPTED IN to receive emails from us.
2. When you click on SIGN UP you’ll be directed to the mindbody registration software. Mindbody will redirect you to pay for the class if you have no existing credits in your account (if you do but they expired, email us and we will adjust so you can use them :)
3. If you have credits, just click SIGN UP NOW and you’ll be good to go. If you are redirected to pay, YOU MUST GO BACK TO THE CLASS AND CLISK SIGN UP NOW AGAIN! We don’t know why mindbody does this, sigh.
4. Now check your inbox for the REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION email (not the receipt of payment) - that’s where the link will be :)
5. Dance your lovely face off!
WEEKLY CLASS PRICING
Drop In - $16
4 class pass - $55 online, expires 45 days from activation
8 class pass - $100 online, expires 45 days from activation
90 minute classes - $22
90 min classes 4-class pass - $80 - expires 45 days from activation
90 min classes 8-class pass - $145 - expires 45 days from activation