Class Overview
It is now cheaper to book online than to pay on the door. If you do want to pay on the door please pay by card or cash.
From January 2024 we are offering a DISCOUNT to attend BOTH Salsa AND Bachata on Wednesdays, using our new COMBINED ticket. Please note the amended times of the Bachata classes.
Our weekly classes are held at Tracie’s Latin Club:
St. Barnabas Hall, Lodge Road, Southampton SO14 6QS
We cater for all levels from Absolute Beginners to Advanced (see below for details of levels). Partners are very welcome, but not necessary as we rotate partners.
We also have great gift vouchers available to purchase for any of our courses, which is a fantastic gift for your loved ones.
Rough Guide to our Class Levels
Salsa Classes
Level 1 is only available by enrolment on a 6-week course for our Salsa classes. Level 2 is also a 6-week course, but can also be attended on a drop-in basis. All other Salsa levels are on a drop-in basis.
Absolute Beginners : 6 week course
This is only available as a 6 week course which starts assuming you know nothing, and helps you to be able to dance basic salsa confidently on the social dancefloor.
Over the 6 weeks you will learn the salsa step patterns for side and forward basics, mambo step, crossovers, and right turns. You will also learn partner connection, how to lead & follow, and some salsa turn patterns in partnerwork, such as Lady’s Right Turn, Men’s Right Turn, Cross Body Lead, and a 180 Draw.
Our Level 1 courses are offset by 3 weeks between Wednesdays & Thursdays, so that a new course starts every 3 weeks.
Beginners Plus : 6 week course
This is also available as a drop-in class.
Most people will come to Level 2 having completed our Level 1 course, but if not, you would need to be confident with all the material in Level 1 (please contact us before booking a course if you have not completed a Level 1 course with us).
Level 2 builds on the basics from Level 1 and widens your repertoire of moves. Not everyone learns at the same rate, so it may be appropriate to repeat some or all of the course to assimilate everything with confidence (one of the reasons we allow drop-in classes at this level).
Our Level 2 courses are offset by 3 weeks between Wednesdays & Thursdays, so that a new course starts every 3 weeks.
Our Coached Practice class at 8.45pm reinforces techniques from Levels 2 and 2+ to aid progress.
Improvers : New 12 week syllabus (as of Jan 2024)
This is available as a drop-in class.
Most people will come to Level 2+ having completed our Level 2 course at least once (your teacher will be able to tell you if you are ready to progress to this level), but if not, you would need to be confident with all the material in Levels 1 and 2 (please contact us before booking a course if you have not completed a Level 2 course with us).
Level 2+ follows on from from Level 2 and completes what we think of as the fundamentals of Salsa technique in preparation for Level 3 (Intermediate). Not everyone learns at the same rate, so it is often appropriate to repeat some or all of the syllabus to assimilate everything with confidence (one of the reasons we allow drop-in classes at this level).
Our Level 2+ syllabus is offset between Wednesdays & Thursdays.
Our Coached Practice class at 8.45pm reinforces techniques from Levels 2 and 2+ to aid progress.
Intermediate : drop-in class
Level 3 is available as a drop-in class, but you must be competent with all the Level 1, 2 and 2+ material before attending – your teacher will be able to tell you if you are ready.
By this level, there are many, many possible permutations of salsa moves, so it would be impossible to cover everything within a short course, but our teachers mix it up so there is plenty of variety, whilst ensuring that essential core techniques are covered. Therefore there is no specific number of weeks to complete before progressing to Level 4, but usually it would be for a MINIMUM of 12 weeks, assuming regular attendance and plenty of practice!
Intermediate – Advanced : drop-in class
Most people will have been dancing Cross Body Salsa for 9 months to a year before attending our Level 4 classes, but it is dependent on achieving the appropriate standard, rather than length of time.
They are run as drop-in classes, but it is particularly important to be confidently competent with Level 3 standard, as Level 4 includes more in the way of spins and fast changes of direction, which depend on secure foundation technique from Levels 1-3. It is not fair on the rest of the class if someone is not yet ready, and is in danger of causing an accident – to themselves or to someone else. If you haven’t attended before, please check with one of the teachers first.
Advanced : drop-in class
Most people will have been dancing Cross Body Salsa for a year or more before attending our Level 5 classes, but it is dependent on achieving the appropriate standard, rather than length of time. Your Level 4 teacher will be able to tell you if you are ready to progress to this level.
They are run as drop-in classes, but it is particularly important to be confidently competent with Level 4 standard, as Level 5 includes even more in the way of spins and fast changes of direction, which depend on secure foundation technique from Levels 1-4. It is not fair on the rest of the class if someone is not yet ready, and is in danger of causing an accident – to themselves or to someone else.
If you haven’t attended before, please check with one of the teachers first.
Advanced (On2 timing) : drop-in class
On2 timing uses different beats in the music for the break steps in the salsa step pattern, giving a different feel to the dance. It means the leads and moves happen with a different part of the music.
Level 5 is a drop-in class, but attendance at our Level 5 On2 classes is dependent on two things:
1. Being confident with maintaining On2 timing for at least Level 2 moves.
2. Being ready to progress from Level 4 / 5.
Most people will have been dancing Cross Body Salsa for a year or more before attending our Level 5 classes, but it is dependent on achieving the appropriate standard, rather than length of time. Your Level 4/5 teacher will be able to tell you if you are ready to progress to this level.
They are run as drop-in classes, but it is particularly important to be confidently competent with Level 4 standard, as Level 5 includes even more in the way of spins and fast changes of direction, which depend on secure foundation technique from Levels 1-4. It is not fair on the rest of the class if someone is not yet ready, either in technique or ability to maintain On2 timing, and is in danger of causing an accident – to themselves or to someone else.
If you haven’t attended before, please check with one of the teachers first.
Bachata Classes
Level 1 is only available by enrolment on a 6-week course for our Bachata classes. All other Bachata levels are on a drop-in basis.
Absolute Beginners : 6 week course
This is only available as a 6 week course which starts assuming you know nothing, and helps you to be able to dance basic Bachata confidently on the social dancefloor.
Over the 6 weeks you will learn the Bachata step patterns for side and forward basics, as well as turns and other footwork patterns and body movement. You will also learn partner connection, how to lead & follow, and some turn patterns in partnerwork.
Improvers : drop-in class
Our Improvers Class is for those who are confident with the basics of Bachata, usually having completed our Bachata Beginners course. At this level you will learn changes of timing and step patterns (and how to lead & follow those changes), more turn patterns and more body movement. The Advanced class is a significant step up from this level, so you should be completely confident with everything at this level before considering progressing to the next level.
Advanced : drop-in class
Our Advanced Class focusses on the Bachata Sensual style, and involves a lot of body movement (particularly for the followers). Leading and following these moves requires a solid technique and good flexibility. Please check with our teachers before attending this class for the first time.