Interview with Somoloco Alum, Helen Fisher from England
We followed up with Helen Fisher, a Somoloco Salsa Alum from England who joined us for a Group Immersion in February 2024. Here's what she said! What was your favorite part of the Immersion? I really appreciated being in Colombia and having an activity that gave me access to one of the best aspects of the local culture and environment that I wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. Meeting genuine local young people and having a chance to get to know them over several days. What drove you to sign
Group dance classes don’t work…
...as well as private classes. One month of privates are equivalent to one year of group classes! And actually affordable in Colombia :) Here’s why privates are better: More feedback. You get constant attention from your teacher to course correct you every step of the way (pun intended :)). So imagine over the course of an hour you get feedback every minute, which is 60 pieces of personalized feedback in a class. In a group setting, a teach can only spend so much time per each student,
Non-Latinos can’t dance or be flavorful…I call bullshit!
Dear Somoloco Salsa Familia, I don't think I've expressed this publicly, so here it goes: White, Indian, and Asian men and women: you know how people like to say that we lack flavor and can't dance? That only Latinos and people of African descent can be that way? And that somehow they are inherently more joyous and affectionate? I know it well myself, I've been hearing it my whole life and even used to say it myself. Well I'm here to tell you THAT IS TOTAL BULLSHIT. (its also
Top 3 Reasons to Learn Salsa in Colombia!
So you want to learn salsa. Your first instinct will be to find some local dance school and get involved with some group classes. Thats a great first step. But what happens if you really really want to learn salsa. Like, go to where its alive, learn from people embodying it, be immersed by it, in it, dance every day, etc etc. Well my friends, I have the answer for you: Colombia! Here's why
6 Reasons for doing a Salsa Bootcamp in Medellin, Colombia
If you're looking to improve your salsa skills and have oodles of fun doing it, a salsa bootcamp in Medellin, Colombia might be just what you need. This city is known for its lively salsa scene and has some seriously talented instructors to help you up your game. Here are a few reasons why a salsa bootcamp in Medellin is a great idea: Improve your salsa skills: You'll get intensive, live one-on-one personalized training from experienced instructors, so you can focus on learning what you need to learn.
COVID / Somoloco Salsa Immersion Update
Dearest Somoloco Salsa Community, We've been a bit radio silent as of late as we've been tracking the COVID situation here in Colombia as well as internationally. Just when we thought we were in the clear in April/May, COVID variants are abound including our own homegrown Colombian variant. As much as we would have loved to host public immersions this time of year, particularly during the amazing Flower Festival (Feria de las flores), with the recent spikes in June it just hasn't felt right yet to be promoting a
4 Types of Salsa Dancing — How to Choose One
Want to take salsa classes in Medellin, or elsewhere in Colombia – South America’s vibrant salsa capital? The first thing to decide is what type of salsa you want to learn. “Salsa” is, in fact, a very broad term. In 1960s New York, musicians playing a wide range of high-energy latin rhythms would cry out “salsaaa!” to the crowd to signal: bring the spice; crank up the heat on the dance floor. The name stuck, but remains quite general, encompassing 4 major global styles: On-1, Cuban, Colombian and On-2. The
Bailemos? The unspoken code of salsa etiquette
If you’ve got a few salsa lessons in Medellin under your belt, and you’re ready to shake it in one of Colombia’s legendary dance clubs, we’ve got great news. As a leader or follower, you can walk into pretty much any salsa bar in Colombia, invite a complete stranger to dance — and odds are, they’ll smile and shimmy out onto the floor with you. In Colombia, part of salsa culture is saying yes to a first dance as much as possible. Sound shockingly non-awkward, easy and fun? It is.
Colombian salsa: What’s it all about
When night falls over Colombian cities of Medellin and Cali, the city lights up with salsa — a palpable electric current that animates and unifies this twinkling city nestled in the jungle. More than deserving of its title as the global salsa capital, the city lives, breathes, and dances salsa like nowhere else on earth — to its own distinct rhythm: Colombian salsa. Completely unique from the other 3 major global salsa styles (On-1, On-2, and Cuban Salsa), Colombian style salsa (aka Salsa Caleña) is all about moving your
5 things to remember before your salsa class
You've just bought a pack of hours for private salsa classes. Congratulations! Now you must be wondering -- what should I expect? And more importantly, how should I prepare? We've put together a list of 5 things to remember before you salsa class in Medellin, or wherever you are in the world! Brought to you by our crew of Medellin salsa dancers in Colombia