What is Bachata?
Bachata originated in the 1960's throughout the rural areas and marginal neighbourhoods of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. At the beginning this era, rhythms were called “Musica de Amarge” mainly due to the lyrics about broken hearts. Later on by the 1980’s, the name changed to Bachata.
This genre's roots is bolero with elements from Traditional Cuban Son. These two cuban rhythms were very popular in the years 1920’s to 1050’s in Dominican Republic.
Nowadays there are two main types of bachata styles:
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Tradicional Bachata
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Sensual Bachata
What will you learn?
At Shumdesalsa, we offer traditional Bachata commonly danced in the Dominica. For this particular style, we focus mainly on musicality, foots works, and free movements for leaders and followers - whether or not it's for solo steps or partner work.
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If you sign up for our Bachata dance classes in Toronto, this is what you can expect to learn:
Basic on the spot
Back cross
Front cross
Square
Solo or Partner
Come with a partner or come alone. We'll match you with a partner in class.
Casual Attire
Dress comfortably in sneakers and loose pants.
Unlimited Classes
When you have a membership with us, you have unlimited classes in any of our studios in Toronto.
About Your Instructors
Our Bachata dance classes are taught by instructors, Dailyn Martinez and Enrico Casertano.
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Dailyn is from Cuba and Enrico is from the Dominican Republic. Both are passionate performer, and experienced instructors. They bring energy and personality to their classes.
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I am a complete beginner, can I still join the class?Of course! Our classes are designed to cater for both beginners and dancers from any other dance styles . As long as you have the interest to start dancing, our instructors are trained to teach individuals from zero dance background to experienced dancers.
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Can I do a trial class?Definitely! Contact us directly and we will indicate what will be the best day for a drop in class. Drop in classes are $20 per person/per class and we'll assess what will be the best level for you to start with.
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Do I need to bring a partner to register for a class?No dance partner is required. You can attend the class individually or with your friends. We do partner rotation in class, it will be a great way to meet new friends.
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What if I have to miss a class?Kindly inform us at least a full day beforehand so that we can pre-arrange your make-up session within the same set of classes.
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I have a dance background. Which level should I register for?If you have experience with Cuban Salsa, please contact us directly to arrange a drop in class for $20 per class. In class, we can better advise you on a suitable level for you.
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What should I wear for classes?We recommend you to come in comfortable outfit which allows you to move freely. Preferably work out or gym attire. It’s not compulsory to wear a street Latin dance shoes for your first class, as you can purchase them at a later stage. For a start, you can wear jazz shoes/dance sneakers.
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Where can I practice my dance moves learned in class?ShumdeSalsa has the Students Night Out Social to Lula Lounge at least once a month. We recommend you subscribe to our newsletter to never miss all these events.
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How long does it take to learn?From our experience a minimum of 3 month until you feel fully comfortable and confident with your style.
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How many people are in the class?It depends on the levels and seasons, usually between 6 to 20 students per class.
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What is "shum"?This is one of the most frequent questions that we get. Shum is a word that Dailyn always uses in her classes. It's not English and definitely not a Spanish or Cuban word. For her, it represents the free spirit of movements. It's the moment you just let go of fears, allow your self for the free ride of music and decide to move any part of your body. As she says "we all have Shum and is just a matter of time until we understand how to use it". That's what Shumdesalsa stand for and that's what makes us different! Once you learn how to "shum" you will become a danceholic of Cuban salsa.