Learning Salsa together
Read about learning Salsa as a couple, including leading and/or following, and practicing together.
Salsa Dance Lessons in Vancouver
SALSA WITH DOMINIC BOYER
Salsa is an energetic way to enjoy music and stay active. I teach private Salsa lessons in Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, helping you develop timing and coordination as you dance through turns and changing footwork. Come on your own or with a partner; lessons are for one or two people.
Learning and Developing Your Salsa
Salsa Lessons for Beginners
No experience necessary. You’ll learn a few steps you can use with music straight away. Practice helps you keep dancing through the song without stopping to work out every step. We add turns and other movements as you develop.
In beginner Salsa classes, we work on keeping the basic rhythm while changing direction and moving with a partner. We can take a turn apart, practice each person’s steps, then put it back into a short combination you can repeat with music.
Developing Your Salsa
Show me a movement or combination you want to develop. We can look at how your weight changes, how clearly a turn is led or followed, and how one movement connects to the next.
Musicality also grows with your dancing: hearing the phrasing, playing with accents and pauses, and choosing movement that fits the song. We can keep returning to these details as your dancing develops.
“Going from 0 to being able to salsa was immensely enjoyable with Dominic. … the individualized dance lessons helped me improve more quickly.”
PRIVATE LESSONS
Your first Salsa lesson
Trial Lesson
$50 + GST
55 minutes for one or two people.
First lesson only. For new students, subject to availability.
You don't need to buy a package to take your trial lesson. If you'd like to continue, regular rates apply. I'll explain individual lesson and package options before you decide.
Packages never expire, are transferable and are non-refundable. Cancellations require 36 hours' notice.
How to book
- Send me a message. Tell me whether you're coming alone or with a partner, what you'd like to learn and when you're usually available.
- I'll reply personally. We can talk through your questions and arrange a time for your lesson.
- Come to the studio. We'll start dancing and take time to work through the steps together.
5 W 4th Ave, Unit 214
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1G2
How I teach Salsa
I pay attention to how you learn. For some students, an explanation helps; for others, it makes more sense to see the movement or try it several times. I adjust my teaching as we go.
Alongside the steps, we work on timing and dancing with a partner. You can learn leading and/or following. There is time to practice, ask questions and go over movements again.
Dancing Salsa together
In social Salsa, you and your partner make up the dance as you go. You can respond to an accent or let go of hands for your own footwork, then come together again. Dancing becomes a playful exchange, with energy for a lively song and tenderness for a softer one.
Practicing between lessons
A little practice between lessons helps you get used to what you've learned. Try a step or turn a few times, then practice it to music. We can go over it again in your next lesson.
Questions about Salsa lessons
Are these private Salsa lessons or group classes?
These are private Salsa lessons with Dominic, for one or two people. The lesson follows your starting point, with time to repeat a movement, ask questions and work on your timing and partner connection. See the private and semi-private lesson options if you are comparing lesson formats.
Do I need a partner?
No. Private lessons are for one or two people. Come on your own and dance with Dominic, or bring a partner.
Can I learn if I have trouble with rhythm?
Yes. Learning to hear the beat and move with the music is part of the lesson. We'll take time to practice it along with the steps.
What should I wear or bring?
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that stay securely on your feet. If you're unsure whether your shoes are suitable for dancing, ask me before the lesson. Bring a favourite song if there's one you'd like to work with.
How many lessons will I need?
There isn't a fixed number. It depends on your experience, what you'd like to learn and how the lessons progress. We can discuss continuing lessons after your first visit.
Salsa’s history
Salsa’s story connects Caribbean music with the experience of Latino communities in New York. Cuban son and other Afro-Cuban traditions provided much of its musical foundation. Puerto Rican and Cuban musicians helped shape a sound that also made room for jazz and other influences.
New York became a centre for that exchange during the 1960s and 1970s. Recordings and performances by Fania artists, including Celia Cruz and Héctor Lavoe, carried the music to a much wider audience. As Salsa travelled, dancers developed distinct local approaches. The differences you see in Cuba, Colombia and New York are part of that continuing story.
More about learning to dance
Get in touch
Tell me what you'd like to learn, or ask a question about the lessons. I'll reply personally.