From 🇨🇺 Havana to New York 🇺🇸 An Intensive Salsa Journey

Experience the Ultimate Dance Training Week

A Journey Through the Cuban Roots to the New York Styles of Salsa!

Get ready! This December, join us for a one-of-a-kind, intensive training week designed to take you on an unforgettable journey from the streets of Havana to the feeling of Palladium Club of New York. Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced dancer, this program has been crafted to elevate your skills, deepen your musicality, and immerse you in the full spectrum of salsa dance culture. To top it off the entire week culminates to our Season Ending Party at the Monsieur K restaurant with a celebratory theme:

👉 The Great Gatsby Goes Latin 14.12.

(🎟 Free Party ticket to the party included in your Full Pass)

This intensive week will explore the rich history and diverse styles that form the foundation of salsa dancing. We’ll begin our journey in Cuba, learning the Casino, the fun Rueda, the elegant Son, and the soulful Rumba. Then, we take a “flight” to New York, where salsa evolved into exciting forms that later has became widely popular around the world like Mambo, Pachanga, Boogaloo, and the classic rhythms of ChaChaCha. You’ll have the chance to study these iconic dance styles, guided and designed by the founder of Sentimiento Manana Jesús La Rosa Pérez and the founder of Helsinki Salsa Academy Mikko Kemppe.

🏆 Two DIFFERENT Levels / LANES, One Incredible Experience

Choose your path:

  • Beginner Lane: Perfect for Novice and Beginner level dancers. This track offers a fantastic introductory classes for various different dance styles: Casino (Cuban Salsa), Rueda, Rumba, Intro to Mambo / Salsa On2, Pachanga, Son, Orishas, ChaCha along with additional complementary classes like Salsa Musicality, Salsa Styling, and Fusion Footwork.

  • Advanced Lane: This lane is recommended for all Improver, Advanced, and Rising Star level students. This track dives a lot deeper into various complex dances and topics including: Pachanga, ChaCha, Afro-Mambo, Abakua, Rumba Colombia, Bembe Haitiano, Boogaloo, ChaCha Musicality, Obatala, Arara and Palo.

Click calendar to see it FULL SIZE! (And rotate on mobile)

📅 Program Schedule (9.12 – 12.12)

MONDAY (9.12)

  • Beginner Lane: Intro to Casino, Rueda, and Rumba with Jesús

  • Advanced Lane: Pachanga, Mambo-ChaChaCha, and Afro-Mambo Choreo with Mikko & Mila

TUESDAY (10.12)

  • Beginner Lane: Salsa Styling, Intro to Mambo On2, and Pachanga with Aurora & Valtteri

  • Advanced Lane: Abakuá, Rumba Columbia, and Bembé Haitiano with Jesús

WEDNESDAY (11.12)

  • Beginner Lane: Mastering Rhythms, Intro to Son, and Orisha Dance Basics with Jesús

  • Advanced Lane: Mambo with Boogaloo, ChaChaCha Musicality, and New York Choreo with Mikko & Mila

THURSDAY (12.12)

  • Beginner Lane: Salsa Musicality Choreo, Pachanga, and Fusion Footwork with Matias & Valtteri

  • Advanced Lane: Obatalá, Arará, and Palo – Deep Afro-Cuban Roots with Jesús

🎟 Reserve Your Spot Today!

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to elevate your dancing. Secure your Full Pass (Recommended options with the best value) now and be part of an unforgettable salsa journey From Havana to New York!

Individual classes: 17€

Day Pass: 39€

Full Pass: 129€

(🎟 Great Gatsby party 14.12. ticket included in your full pass)

About your instructors:

CLICK THE PICTURES TO LEARN MORE FROM EACH INSTRUCTOR

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSES

Please Note: Each class focuses on developing your individual dance skills. No partner is needed!

Beginner Lane (Hall 1)

  1. Intro to Casino (Cuban Salsa)

    • Discover the origins of Cuban Salsa, or Casino, born in the social clubs of Havana in the 1950s. Learn the foundational steps of this vibrant, circular dance style that laid the groundwork for today’s Cuban Salsa.

  2. Intro to Rueda de Casino

    • Step into the dynamic world of Rueda de Casino, a dance born from the playful, social spirit of Cuban salsa dancers. In this class, you’ll learn to dance in a circle, swapping partners to the rhythm of calls, just like it was done in Havana's dance halls.

  3. Intro to Rumba

    • Explore the soulful roots of Cuban Rumba. Learn the basics of Guaguancó, the playful dance of flirtation and rhythm, embodying the spirit of Afro-Cuban culture.

  4. Intro to Mambo On2

    • Experience Mambo as it was danced in the golden era of New York salsa in the 1940s and 50s. Learn the On2 timing popularized by Eddie Torres, the "Mambo King," and connect to the steps that brought mambo to life.

  5. Intro to Pachanga

    • Get into the groove with Pachanga, the joyful dance style that became a sensation in the 1960s New York Latin dance scene. Learn its playful steps that reflect the fun and energy of this era.

  6. Mastering Rhythms

    • Dive into the rhythms that form the backbone of salsa music. This session will give you a deeper understanding of the beats that drive salsa dancing.

  7. Intro to Son

    • Travel back to Cuba’s eastern provinces in the early 1900s, where Son originated as a fusion of African rhythms and Spanish melodies. Learn the elegant basic steps that form the foundation of not only many latin dance steps, but is the foundation for salsa music.

  8. Intro to Orishas

    • Learn about sacred dance movements of the Orishas, spiritual deities from Afro-Cuban religion. Each Orisha dance tells a story, from Yemayá’s ocean waves to Changó’s lightning strikes.

Advanced Lane (Hall 2)

  1. Pachanga

    • Dance like it’s 1960s New York! Pachanga emerged as a fun, bouncy dance style that became popular alongside Latin Boogaloo. Learn its intricate footwork and playful body movements.

  2. Mambo ChaChaCha

    • Explore the roots of ChaChaCha, a music style created by Cuban violinist Enrique Jorrín in the 1950s. Its playful triple-step rhythm blends beautifully with the elegance of New York Mambo.

  3. Afro-Mambo Musicality Choreo

    • Discover how the rhythms of Afro-Cuban percussion influenced Mambo in New York. Learn a choreography that combines traditional Afro-Cuban movements with sleek Mambo styling.

  4. Abakuá

    • Experience the powerful dance of the secret Abakuá society, an Afro-Cuban fraternity founded in the 1800s. This dance is full of grounded movements that mirror the secretive and ritualistic nature of the Abakuá.

  5. Rumba Columbia

    • Learn the solo male dance style of Rumba Columbia, which some say originated in the sugar cane fields of Cuba. Its fast, competitive movements showcase agility and rhythmic skill.

  6. Bembé Haitiano

    • Explore Bembé, a traditional Franco-Haitian dance brought to Cuba by Haitian immigrants. This dance blends African rhythms with Cuban influences, creating a lively, celebratory style.

  7. Obatalá

    • Dance the movements of Obatalá, the Orisha of wisdom and purity. Known for his calm and graceful energy, Obatalá’s dance features smooth, flowing motions that embody peace and clarity.

  8. Arará

    • Discover Arará, a dance with roots in the Dahomey (modern-day Benin) traditions brought to Cuba. This energetic and rhythmic dance celebrates the spirits of the Arará religion.

  9. Palo

    • Learn Palo, a powerful Afro-Cuban dance rooted in the Congo traditions. With its strong, grounded steps and intense drumming, Palo embodies the strength and resilience of its African ancestors.