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Dance Styles and Dress Codes


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Known for its sensual body movement and sexy flair, Latin dance is gaining popularity on dance floors everywhere. Movies about Latin dancing, ones that portray the beauty of the art of Latin dancing, seem to be favorites among dancers and non-dancers alike. Besides being a staple in the ballroom, many Latin dances are also being taken to country-western dance floors. Learning Latin dances is fairly easy, as most of the dances are made up of the same basic foot steps.

At Tropical Soul, we specialize in:

SOUL-LY BACHATA

 

SALSA

Salsa is one of the most popular Latin dance forms with origins from Cuba, as the meeting point of Spanish (European) and African cultures.

It is danced throughout the world and has become a global phenomenon. Salsa is normally a partner dance, and is usually improvised on the dance floor, or it can also be performed with a set choreography for entertainment purposes.

Today’s Salsa dancing is a rich blend of Latin-American and Western influences, as there are many styles of Salsa dancing out there (Cuban, Colombian, Linear On1, Linear On2 or Mambo). Be warned: it is highly addictive!

DRESS CODE: There is no specific dress code for this class, and people usually wear casual clothes. For the shoes, ladies can wear flats or heels, as long as they are comfortable to dance in for one hour, and also ensuring they have an ankle strap or are well fitted to the feet so they don’t slip out as you dance or turn. Sneakers are not recommended.

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BACHATA

Bachata is a partner dance that originated in the Dominican Republic, but is now danced around the world.

The music is romantic and sensual (traditional Bachata is referred as a bittersweet music) , and has developed along with the dance, from traditional Dominican Bachata to urban and modern Bachata.

Tropical Soul’s instructors are none other than the pioneers of Bachata Moderna, a modern and exciting style of Bachata that will make you a favourite on the dance floor!

DRESS CODE: There is no specific dress code for this class, and people usually wear casual clothes. For the shoes, ladies can wear flats or heels, as long as they are comfortable to dance in for one hour, and also ensuring they have an ankle strap or are well fitted to the feet so they don’t slip out as you dance or turn. Sneakers are not recommended.

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BRAZILIAN SAMBA

Brazilian Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin danced to Samba music.

It is a solo dance with high energy music and movements, and also enables the woman to display her beautiful and sexy body movement.

Samba is an amazing cardio dance which engages bum, core, leg muscles and much more. Samba also helps to improve fitness level, reenergizes your body and mind, makes your core stronger and improves your endurance.

If you’d like to learn to move like a Brazilian goddess whilst getting fit and having fun, this class is for you!

DRESS CODE: The ideal footwear for this class is dance shoes – either with heels, such as Salsa/Latin dancing shoes, or flats such as jazz or ballet shoes. If you don’t have any of these, you can dance with half-folded socks, which will be more comfortable then dancing completely barefeet. I also recommend that you wear comfortable clothes such as gym wear, and bring a bottle of water if you can.

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KONGA Fitness

Konga is a full-body high intensity, low complexity danced based workout that is a a wild mash-up of Boxing, Kickboxing, Cardio, Dancehall, Pop, Rock, Pilates, Disco & everything in between. It’s the ultimate fun workout that is designed to shape, sculpt & redefine your physique.

The “switch-up” Konga formula and the sustained, high intensity nature of the workout can have you burning up to 700 calories in about an hour.  It’s a time to let loose and move to your all-time favourite songs!

DRESS CODE: Don’t forget your gym clothes, sneakers, and a bottle of water!

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REGGAETON (Latin Hip Hop)

Reggaeton is a form of Latin urban music, and blends music influences of reggae and dancehall with rhythms of Latin America such as salsa, latin pop and bachata, as well as those of hip hop and R&B.

Reggaeton is a fun solo dance and requires lots of energy, attitude and body movement! Reggaeton is often blended with Latin Hip Hop, a style of Hip Hop that combines Latin moves and flair.

DRESS CODE: It’s preferable to wear sneakers and comfortable clothing (such as gym wear, for example) for this class and don’t forget a bottle of water.
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KIZOMBA

Kizomba is a beautiful partner dance described as an African tango due to its mix of Afro body movement and Tango-esque patterns and danced to Zouk music. It’s both beautiful and deceivingly technical and is a joy to learn and dance.

DRESS CODE: There is no specific dress code for this class, and people usually wear casual clothes. For the shoes, ladies can wear flats or heels, as long as they are comfortable to dance in for one hour, and also ensuring they have an ankle strap or are well fitted to the feet so they don’t slip out as you dance or turn. Sneakers are not recommended.

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WEST COAST SWING

This hugely popular dance style came to us from the U.S.A – it’s the State Dance in California! – and is taking Australia and the world by storm. West Coast Swing (WCS) is a beautiful smooth & sexy partner dance that has a huge emphasis on musical interpretation. The dance allows for both partners to improvise steps while dancing together, and is particularly fun as it can be danced to blues, pop, R&B and many very popular songs that may be heard on the radio. Tropical Soul is very proud to be the first and only dance school to offer WCS classes near Sydney CBD. Our WCS instructor is the very Clint Glasgow who is known for his infectious personality, his enthusiasm and love of both dancing and teaching West Coast Swing.

DRESS CODE: There is no specific dress code for this class, and people usually wear casual clothes. For the shoes, ladies can wear flats or heels, as long as they are comfortable to dance in for one hour, and also ensuring they have an ankle strap or are well fitted to the feet so they don’t slip out as you dance or turn. Sneakers are not recommended.

West Coast Swing demonstration (dancing starts at 0:40 secs): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brbBkKSpwDk
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CUBAN SALSA

Cuban-style salsa is popular in many places around the world and characterized by Afro-Cuban rhythmic body motions and unique fluid turns. You’ll learn basic steps of the dance, leading and following, and executing moves from the Guapea, Para Arriba to the Enchufa and much more.

DRESS CODE: There is no specific dress code for this class, and people usually wear casual clothes. For the shoes, ladies can wear flats or heels, as long as they are comfortable to dance in for one hour, and also ensuring they have an ankle strap or are well fitted to the feet so they don’t slip out as you dance or turn. Sneakers are not recommended.
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DANCE CONDITIONING

This class is a workout class, where you will learn and practice many movements and stretches that contribute to creating a dancer’s body. It will be challenging for most people, but very rewarding with regular practice.
We will focus on a wide variety of exercises borrowed from ballet, pilates, yoga and more, to build your core and lower body strength, your flexibility, your lines and your technique. Guys, this is not only for women, you too need to work on this! ;)
DRESS CODE:  You will need to wear gym or yoga-style wear (stretchy) and bare feet are preferred. Please bring a small towel or a yoga mat if you have one, as we will do many exercises on the floor. We suggest to bring a change of clothes if you are staying for the following Salsa and Bachata classes.

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LADIES STYLING

Ladies, if you want to have flow and style on the dance floor, this is for you! This Salsa Ladies Styling course is for all ladies wanting to push their dancing to the next level: It will focus on Shines, Styling and Body Movement to help you reveal and develop your inner sexy Salsera. We will also work thoroughly on technique, lines, balance and spins. Become a completely versatile Salsera!

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ZOUK

At Tropical Soul, we teach the popular style of Brazilian Zouk, also called Zouk-Lambada. Brazilian Zouk is a dance that developed from the Brazilian dance Lambada. The dance is now combined with a variety of music, including Caribbean Zouk music, which is how the dance came to be known as Zouk. Unlike Salsa, which is led mainly with the hands; Brazilian zouk is led by more parts of the body. Sometimes, in a basic sideways movement, it is the hips that move first, followed by the rest of the body, and this is part of what makes the dance so sensual. However, in various moves the dance partners are also connected by eye contact, legs, arms, shoulders, head, etc.

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EURO SALSA

In this class, Kevin Benamar will teach the newest and most popular salsa moves from Europe. It’s a class that will open your mind to a new way of dancing. This class will also focus on technique: we will work on all the little details and understand why & what you’re are doing. If you’re looking to take your Salsa to a new level and dance like no other in Australia, this class is meant for you.

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SOUL-LY BACHATA

Soul-Ly Bachata, by Marc Ly, is a new and fun way of learning the fundamentals of Bachata to help you understand and improve your skills as a Bachtata dancer. It will focus on all aspects of Bachata from the basics, connection/partner work, frame, footwork, posture, musicality, and social dancing skills in style of Traditional Bachata, Moderna Bachata, and Urban/Street Bachata.

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