SALSA AND LATIN DANCING

LATIN DANCING (Street and Ballroom)

SYDNEY DANCE RHYTHMS ('SDR') offers Latin Dance Classes in Summer Hill.

Please refer to Timetable to see the term dates. 

Please refer to Prices to find out the fees. Make sure you click on the correct Prices for Dance Classes for Adults or Dance Classes for Children.  

The focus will be on Latin Dances from both Street (salsa, merengue, bachata) and Ballroom Latin (Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Jive).

Salsa is a blended street dance that originates from Cuba and spread to many other parts of South America forming different styles. Salsa is danced in many countries and evolved from the more traditional South American folkloric styles unique to regions and fused movements from Afro-Cuban influenced music and movements borrowed from the root dance styles such as Merengue and Cumbia. All different regions add their own flavours of the dance and their own unique flare. There are many styles of Salsa, such as the LA Style, NY Style, Cuban and Casino Rueda. Salsa music is rich in percussion and suave beats that make dancing to this style lively, exciting and fun.

Salsa has become one of the most popular dances throughout Europe and South America, and in the last few years has known a great increase in popularity in Australia as well.

There are many night clubs where the salsa beats can be heard and danced to. It is a way of meeting and socializing with other people from different cultures, a way of expressing yourself, and escaping the daily routine.

It is danced on music with two bars of four beats. Typically the music involves complicated percussion rhythms, ranging from slow at about 120 beats per minute to its fastest at around 180 beats per minute.

Salsa is a slot or spot dance. Unlike, for example, Waltz or Samba, in Salsa a couple does not need to travel over the floor rather, they occupy a fixed area.

Cha Cha Cha is one of the newest Latin American dances in international competition.

But it is still seen as a "party dance", being played in most of the Latin Music Clubs. It has got a cheeky nature and playful rhythm that can be easily picked up by anyone. The Cha Cha rhythms can be easily identified in some popular songs such as: "Get this party started" –Pink, "Unchain my heart" Joe Cocker, "Represent Cuba" – Orisha, "Can't Stop the Feeling" - Justin Timberlake

What differentiates the cha cha from other music written with four beats to the bar is that there is a little rhythmic triplet joining each bar to the next.

The cha cha does not move around the room, so small steps should be taken.

The"Cha Cha" is danced at about 44 beats per minute. The steps are taken on the beats, with a strong hip movement as the knee straightens on the half beats in between. The weight is kept well forward, with forward steps taken toe-flat, and with minimal torso movement. The chasse on 4&1 is used to emphasize the step on beat 1, which may be held a moment longer than the other steps to match the emphasis of the beat in the music.

Rumba tells a story of love and passion between a male lover and a teasing woman; it is one of the most popular ballroom dances and is seen around the world at nightclubs, parties, weddings and dance competitions.
The Rumba is a very slow, serious, and romantic with flirtation between the partners. This dance is fun to watch, as many of its basic figures sort to tease the other - the lady flirts with and then rejects her male partner.

A slow Rumba can be danced to the Ed Sheeran's song" Thinking Out Loud".

Samba is a travelling dance so it progresses quickly around the floor with plenty of rhythm and movement at the waist and the legs.

Jive is a formalised version of rock and roll dancing. It is essentially a variant of the swing whereby the hip swings from side to side and the weight changes resemble a type of skipping and hopping. Swing come from the 1930's to the 1940's.

Merengue
Bachata

Please click on the image below to watch our students perform some salsa moves:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2279049262327772

DRESS CODE, WHAT TO BRING? WHAT TO EXPECT?

  • Wear comfortable shoes: Latin shoes/ Dance sneakers (Please avoid thongs and shoes with too much grip)
  • Wear comfortable and practical clothes for sporting and fitness activities 
  • Bring a small towel
  • Bring a bottle of water or other liquids

TIMETABLE & PRICES

 
 
Please refer to the Timetable for Adults.
 
Location: St Patrick School's Hall, 3 Drynan St, Summer Hill (entry via Prospect Road)
 
 
Prices:
Please refer to Prices for Adults. 
 
 
 

Ready to dance with us? Get started today!

Sydney Dance Rhythms is a well established Dance School in Sydney offering dance classes for children, adults and seniors.  We run dance classes in Summer Hill and Parramatta.  We have developed confident and competent dancers since the beginning of 2010, and we have given everyone the opportunity to perform at different small and large scale events in Sydney. No matter the reason you want to learn how to dance  for (be it for fun, to meet new people, socialise, for your wedding, for an event, to get back into dancing, to compete, to follow a career in dance), we can cater for everyone.   

Latest NEWS about Dancing and Sydney Dance Rhythms!

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“Sydney Dance Rhythms have provided our school with great value and quality dance-fitness classes over the past two years. The energetic dance program known as ZumbAtomic covers a variety of dance skills including Hip Hop and Zumba. The sessions which incorporate fitness as well as dance certainly engage and motivate the students as well as develop their fitness level. Cristina and her staff are qualified professionals who have experience in dancing and teaching young children to grandparents.”

ANNA MONTGOMERY

Principal at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Summer Hill

"I highly recommend Cristina and Sydney Dance Rhythms to anyone interested in wanting their children to participate and excel in dance. My daughter Elena who is 6 was fortunate to have a full term of dance as part of her school curriculum and absolutely loved it and flourished under the instruction of "Miss Cristina". She now attends a weekly jazz dance class and is thoroughly enjoying learning new routines and participating in a fun team environment. My daughter has been to other dance schools in the last 3 years but Sydney Dance Rhythms is definitely the one she has most enjoyed and looks forward to attending every week!"

ANGIE MARINO

Elena’s mum (Jazz Dance Class)

“I took my very first dance lessons with Cristina and it was amazing! I learned how to Salsa 6 months ago and I still remember the steps she taught me. I met great people while taking the course and at the end the whole class we went out to for an authentic Salsa night in Sydney. We all got to put our moves to the test, have fun and see how much more we can improve by watching everyone else at the club. Overall, it was a great and affordable opportunity in a relaxed, comfortable environment that everyone should take advantage of sooner than later!”

PETER CHICARIELLI

Latin Dance Class

“My daughter, Lizzie, has enjoyed participating in the Creative Dance Classes running on Saturday mornings. She loves pretending to be animals, doing silly falls, learning a little routine, pretending to sleep and wake like a flower. As a parent, I enjoy seeing the creative play, freeze, circuit, pompoms, the mix of boys and girls and parent involvement.”

EMMA BAYLEY

Lizzie’s mum (Creative Dance Class)

“My daughter loves the Hip Hop classes. The teacher is wonderful, very friendly and easy going and my child loves her style of teaching.”

Maria

Ella’s mum ( Hip Hop Class)

“Our wedding was very memorable and I'm proud to say the bridal dance was the highlight of the night.  We had such great fun with you during the dance lessons, and you gave us so much confidence for our dance. You pushed us hard to do a dance that we didn't even think we had the capabilities to do.”

PETER & WINNIE

Wedding Dance Lessons

“It was fantastic having Sydney Dance Rhythms dancers demonstrate and then dance with the members of our senior’s club last week. Our members were very excited to get a chance to dance as most of them have not danced in a long while. It stirred up some lovely memories for them and started conversations about the past. Your friendliness and warmth drew our members into participating and it was a surprise to see some of our frailer seniors take to the floor. The music was well balanced and the variety was enjoyed by all. Our members have agreed that it would be wonderful to have you back again and we look forward to another session of dance and enjoyment.”

CECILY ABRAMSON

Manager at Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish Home