FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
|
How do I book courses? |
In person, post or online. Click
here for more info |
|
|
What should I wear to classes? |
Dress for salsa is generally
smart casual. The most important aspect is footwear.
While it is not necessary to buy special dance
shoes initially, we do recommend you wear shoes
that support your feet (e.g. not backless shoes, stilettos, slip-ons).
It is better if they have a smooth sole to allow
freedom of movement on the floor. Eventually
you may want to invest in dance shoes,
on which we will be able to advise you. |
|
|
Do I need to bring a partner? |
No! We rotate partners during
class. The best way to develop leading and following
skills is to experience a variety of partners.
And it's more social!! Please note that for beginners courses we aim to keep the male:female ratio as equal as possible and limit places to keep a balance. |
|
|
Can I just dance with my own partner? |
We operate a rotation system in all classes whereby we change partners every few minutes, for the reasons given above. |
| |
|
Do I need previous dance experience? |
No! Our beginners course
is structured to take you step-by-step through
the basic fundamentals of salsa. This is necessary
for everyone whether they have any other dance
experience or not. |
| |
|
I booked the beginners course on Tuesdays but cannot make it one week, can I do the Thursday class instead? |
Of course! The class content for the beginners course is virtually the same on both evenings each week. Therefore you can transfer your lesson if necessary. Your course fee entitles you to one lesson each week. |
|
|
What if I want to attend twice a week? |
Brilliant! There's no better way to accelerate and consolidate your learning than attending both evenings. Students on the beginners course are entitled to one lesson per week in their course fee. Just pay the drop-in class fee for any extra lessons. |
| |
|
I have danced salsa before, how do I know
which level class to join? |
Entry level to the Academy is Level 1, 2 or 3. Teachers at the Academy assign students to the appropriate class and will promote students through the levels according to their progress/ability. The Level 4 & 5 classes are by invitation from Marchant & Davina only.
We offer 'assessment' dances at 7.30pm on Thursdays to assign new students (who have prior salsa experience) to the appropriate level. This is optional, however it is the best method we have found to integrate new students into our school. It eliminates time wasted in a class not suited to your level of ability, and we will also give you things to focus on in class.
If you have been attending
another club,
please be aware that the class structure here
differs, and the level you may be attending
elsewhere may not be appropriate for you at
the academy. It is normal for new students to start at a lower level to get used to the teaching at the Academy.
We teach
cross-body salsa, so if you have learnt
an alternate method (eg Cuban) you will need
to learn different techniques. |
| |
|
Why can't I choose which level class I do? |
Our Academy is structured like a dance school not a salsa club. We have a syllabus designed carefully
to take students
through a progression of building blocks intended
to create good foundations for dancing salsa the Alchemy Way.
We aim to have all our students in an accurate level class for their individual
ability, which is more beneficial and enjoyable to both teacher
and class. We know which level students should be in based on our many years of dance teaching experience and knowledge of our own syllabus. |
| |
|
How do I get invited to the Level 4 or 5 classes? |
The minimum requirement is that you attend the Level 3 class and demonstrate a good practical understanding of the fundamentals of the Alchemy Way of dancing salsa. All students undergo an assessment dance with Marchant & Davina to ascertain if they are ready for the Level 4 or 5 class or what specific aspects of your dancing you should work on in order to progress.
The Level 5 class is for very experienced Alchemy students who can demonstrate an excellent understanding of our methods. This class is taught On2, so you must also be proficient in that rhythm of dancing salsa. |
|
|
I've been to the Academy before, can I come back to the class I attended previously? |
That would depend on how long you were at the Academy, and how long you've been away. If you are out of practice, have been away from the Academy for some time, or cannot remember what you learnt previously, start at a lower level!
The Level 4 & 5 classes are in constant progression, therefore invitation to the class can be revoked if students do not attend for a period of time. This is to minimise disruption to regular students. If you have not attended for more than 2 months, please attend the Level 3 class and check with Marchant/Davina. |
|
|
How do I learn On2? |
We run annual Conversion to On2 Bootcamp weekends, which we have found to be one of the most effective ways of helping students make the transition from On1 to On2. We also occasionally hold Introduction to On2 workshops. Once you have learnt the fundamentals, there are plenty of people to practice On2 with at the Academy. |
| |
|
What is the 'Alchemy Way'? |
The Alchemy Way is a method of dancing salsa
and mambo being developed by Marchant Birch.
Through continual experimentation and exploration,
the Alchemy Way is constantly evolving and developing.
It is a very flowing, smooth and effortless style
of salsa. The aim being to create a harmony between
the man, woman and music. Check out our gallery for
video clips. |
|
|
Some feedback from previous course... |
"Had
a fantastic time. Came away feeling self improvement
& personal achievement"
"Marchant
& Davina did a great job getting across
the real essence of leading and following -
several people commented to me afterwards that
they had learnt a lot. "
"Lots
of good points, enjoyed it. I noticed they are
very smooth and precise when they dance,
even basic moves look good. This is what i want
to achieve .."
"Have a
greater respect for the art of salsa now - Thank
you so so so much!"
"Loved
the aspects of making it flow"
"Everything
was brilliant. I really enjoyed every single
week. I would love to do more." |
