Salsatropical Dance Company Ltd.- Salsa & Bachata Classes and Workshops — Local services in London

I booked a taster session at Salsa Tropical so that my beloved and I could have a go at a fun but difficult dance style.

If, like me, you are a reserved, shy, awkward, rigid, very shy, stiff, inflexible, introverted, nervous, self-conscious, easily embarrassed and socially inhibited Englishman then an hour of Salsa Tropical will be so uncomfortable that it will feel like the hands on the clock have frozen in time.

As soon as I stepped into the room, I realised I had made a mistake. I say a room, it was more a farm pen packed with writhing human bodies dancing to overwhelmingly loud music which you would expect a Russian prison to play to keep inmates awake. With no warning, an instructor whisked me into a dance/exercise warmup routine of which I had no prior knowledge, had not practised and was physically incapable of doing.

I had been told that Salsa would relax my wooden body, within 5 minutes of this class my already brittle bones had transmuted from rotten Thunderbird puppet wood to industrial granite. After the warmup the instructor looked at me, he was obviously a handsome long haired man with a whitened psychotic smile that made him immediately untrustworthy.

"You haven't been before?" he said.

It was only later that I realised his question was rhetorical and I could mentally confirm to myself that he was a psychopath.

Two other instructors approached. "Beginners over here, advanced over there" said with the same brusqueness as a POW officer.

The two instructors were a bizarre coupling: an older woman and younger man. I soon came to sympathise with the younger man. The older instructor berated him, contradicted him and belittled him in front of us throughout the session. At one point the poor fool dropped his microphone, this elicited a reaction from his colleague that could be compared to a mother who has just been told by police officers her son's body has just been found jammed in a combine harvester.

He had simply been a bit careless with audio equipment.

The tension between the two discoloured the session from the beginning and the young man is still regularly a subject of my prayers.

It was not just that unlucky soul who fell victim to the older instructor. I and other attendees were also publicly shamed for executing moves that were inadequate. At one point she even accused me of bringing alternative dance moves from a different branch of Salsa to her class and I should forget these whilst taking her classes. I view this in multiple different angles and the ever present half glass method remains an effective tool in one's arsenal:

• The glass is half full: my dancing has been mistaken for actual dance moves taken from another class. This is the closest anyone has ever said to me "You can dance"

• The glass is half empty: my dancing is so bad that it is beyond the help of an experienced Salsa instructor who has mistaken it for an alternative style of Salsa.

• The glass has been smashed and the shards smelted in a furnace rendering it incapable of holding any liquid, let alone half a glass: I am being demeaned by a disturbed Salsa instructor in front of 15 people for not moving my limbs in a way that is musically and rhythmically correct.

I have been very verbose thus far and I'll end it here - the instructors at Salsa Tropical seemed to have forgotten what it means to be a beginner.

Salsa Tropical - 1 Star.

I would like to review their pigsty of a booking system but I've run out of characters, and the atmosphere and instructing style deserves to be...

I love these classes, I have been going for the best part of a year and I have learned so much. The teachers are so encouraging and fun, every one of them has taught me something new. The classes are not high pressure but the pace is good and you definitely feel yourself and others progress, which is really motivating. I have also been to a couple of the longer workshops which were great for exploring the fundamentals and technique in more depth.

In particular, Edi and Debora's bachata classes are truly the highlight of my week, the way they believe in their students and challenge them has refreshed my passion for dance.

The students are a great mix of people which makes a relaxed and fun atmosphere. The venue near Holborn/Temple is super-convenient and a pleasant space. The company is popular so it can get quite busy, but on the plus side you get to dance with lots of different people which is a great way to learn. The receptionists do a great job, though I do wish there was a more efficient way to check people in. The cost is reasonable, and the packages are great value if you attend regularly.

I think the recent 1-star reviews are somewhat baseless. A dance company recommending that a pregnant woman seek medical advice before starting classes is the entirely correct thing to do, it is in no way offensive. The pricing structures are clear and understandable - trying to use expired discounts or packages is silly. A balance of men and women/leaders and followers is never guaranteed, but this class is, by far, the most balanced I have experienced in about 15 years, and is successful because of that (most I have tried before stopped running because there were not enough leaders!). And as a female student attending classes alone, I for one am glad that drunk aggressive men are turned away, because I don't go dancing for negative energy or to feel uncomfortable, so I don't want to get close to them. Good vibes only.

In sum, it's a total pleasure learning with SalsaTropical, it's great for confidence and skills, and for spending time in...

A great choice for anyone wanting to start cross body Salsa, improve as a dancer, make friends!

I have been taking classes with SalsaTropical for about 1 year.

Classes take place in the LSE student’s union, about a 10 minute walk from Holborn/Temple tube stations.

The dance space is a large airy room, with lots of light and a great dance floor.

Classes are held twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays. A typical class will have 15 students and at least 2 instructors ( a leader and a follower).

There is a strong emphasis on good technique, and frame. The instructors will have a pre-planned lesson, and over 1 hour everyone will complete a short routine. The instructors demonstrate the moves, but also walk around the class giving individual feedback.

During the class you will change partners regularly, but also dance with the instructors, which helps build your understanding of leading, following, timing, signalling etc.

Overall there will be about 50 -60 students, split into, 3 levels: beginners, improvers, and intermediate.

There are lot of 'regulars', who come every week, and progress together.

The students and instructors are a friendly, diverse group of people, so any new joiner will find it easy to fit in and enjoy a class.

There are classes from 7-9pm, and you can combine different levels as you progress e.g. two beginner classes, a beginner and improver class, an improver and an intermediate class.

The dance floor is open from 9-10pm, there is a friendly vibe, with students from different levels dancing together, along with the instructors. It is a great way to build up your ‘Salsa confidence'.

Besides the weekly classes there are regular weekend workshops, and socials organised by Salsa Tropical , plus there are ad-hoc meet-ups to go to different Salsa...