SALSA CEILIDH IS FOR
EVERYONE
Here's why ~
Main Aims for Non Dancers
Nick's main aim with Salsa Ceilidh is to get more people as quickly as possible into having fun dancing. And particularly to get more people confident at learning salsa. Salsa Ceilidh is so quick to pick up and dance that, without any lessons, you are straight into the fun - that's why it is "the classless way" to have fun, to dance, and to learn salsa.
As for Scottish Ceilidh, it's not too important what gender Leads and Followers are. It's a partner dance, but the fun and changing partners is more important than the romance; so women can be Leads not just Followers, and men can be Followers not just Leads (see demo for example!)
Normal salsa classes require the average British person to run before they can walk - or to climb a ladder that has the first 3 rungs missing. Salsa Ceilidh starts closer to the ground and at a lovely easy walk; it gives you those first rungs on the ladder.
Ordinary Scottish Ceilidh dances include new people better than salsa commonly does - but only if you dumb down the many step patterns. Salsa Ceilidh's step pattern is as easy as it can be. Although it can still take time to get it, Salsa Ceilidh is like Scottish Ceilidh dances - designed so that it doesn't matter if you aren't in precise step. But the step pattern stays the same for all the dances to help you get it.
Lastly, note that at the World Premiere (October 2009), few people knew what to expect. This was the most inexperienced crowd there will ever be - and the Caller (me!) can only get better too! Yet everyone coped and had fun; we kept to the timing on the programme. Just as Scottish Ceilidh dances become familiar to more people, so will Salsa Ceilidh patterns. Presuming appreciative previous Salsa Ceilidh dancers will attend further ones (in the same local area at least), so the familiarity will mean even quicker demonstration to remind enough people before the music and dance begins - as we do in Scottish Ceilidhs. The growth of the culture of the Salsa Ceilidh community will itself be the teacher of newcomers.
Main Aims for Salsa Dancers
Experienced Salseros also enjoy Salsa Ceilidh. Slow and repetitive is not boring! The slow music is very beautiful to dance to, but it is not often played because salsa requires faster tempi. When slower music is played, you need to know how to do the Cha Cha Cha or Son or Bachata.
Slow repeating patterns invite Salseros to discover that speed and athleticism are not the same as good dancing. Slow repeating means time to listen and relax with the music. Slow repeating means you have time to look and smile at your partner and other dancers. Slow repeating means your body has time to relax and move more. Slow repeating means you have time to improvise your own steps and embellishments - put the Cha Cha Cha into it if you want.
Main Aims for Salsa Teachers & Organisers
Finally, salsa teachers and organisers should dance Salsa Ceilidh in order to "steal" it for themselves. The written down choreography available here is much harder to translate than seeing it in action. If ordinary salsa puts off a large proportion of potential dancers because, among other things, it doesn't provide the first rungs of the ladder, then salsa teachers should want to get more people into their classes and social events with the help of Salsa Ceilidh.
This website is to make Salsa Ceilidh available to anyone who wants to use the idea and the choreography. Nick prefers dancing to teaching or organising. He would prefer others to take Salsa Ceilidh on and run with it - sorry - walk with it! Salsa Ceilidh is not copyright. You might like to make your own variations up - in fact, to "copy wrong"! So . . .
Main Aims for Fund-Raisers
Following the success of the fundraising "World Premiere" in October 2009 and by popular demand, but also to show the way for others to take it on, Nick is prepared to run a big Salsa Ceilidh like that one twice a year, preferably early March and early September. He invites charities to contact him to provide the good cause and the other half of the organisation.
The successful formula took four hours in an evening. It included five sets of two Salsa Ceilidh dances (each taking 20-25 minutes including the demonstrating what to do) interspersed with performances by singers or a band or dancers, and with a DJ filling in with other music. A bar and a raffle can be added on the theme of the charity and of the mixed culture of Salsa Ceilidh. The first Salsa Ceilidh cleared £1200 - and that was even without an alcoholic bar. For more detail on how the 2009 one looked, click here.
Click for Demo . . . About Nick . . . Aims . . . Music