Salsa fever grips Dubai

If you're in the mood to put on your dancing shoes, then the mood's hit you at just the right time. Salsa fever has swept Dubai off its feet and seems to be waltzing everyone around.

Salsa is the new Latino craze that's hit not just Dubai, but the rest of the world. It might seem complicated, when in fact, doing the salsa and giving Jennifer Lopez a run for her money, is easy as pie.

Also, it's really easy to identify the Salsa sound once you hear it. Latin music has a distinct feel to it, which makes it either Mambo, or its more popular cousin Salsa.

Once you've mastered the rhythm, the rest just falls into place, as Salsa is, in fact, based on only four basic steps. Once you've identified with that and learnt to move your feet to the rhythm, you've perfected the art of salsa-ing your way to – well – just about anything.

Salsa gets its name from Casino Deportivo, frequented by great dancers. They put together steps and turns, formed couple combinations and named them. A variation of Salsa is La Rueda.

There are a number of classes run here, all offering different teaching methods.

JW Marriott:
The Griffins Health Club at the Marriott offers a weekly salsa dancing class every Monday between 7.00pm and 8.00pm.

Classes are open to both couples as well as individuals who want to join on their own. The classes are taught by Karlos De Moraes who has just joined the Club.

For those who are interested in a package deal, 10 classes can be had for Dh247.50. Alternatively, members pay Dh22 for hourly sessions, whereas non-club members pay Dh27.50.

Trade Centre Apartments Club:
Tami Fowlie, a qualified Salsa dancer, teaches at the Trade Centre Apartments Club two nights a week. On Tuesdays, the class is from 8.00pm to 9.00pm and on Saturdays from 8.15pm to 9.15pm.

Tami manages to give individual attention to each student as there are an average of 20 to 25 students per class. According to Tami: "There are no fixed number of classes that anyone has to take. It depends on the individual."

Anyone interested in learning does not need to make bookings in advance. Members of the Trade Centre Apartments Club have to pay Dh20 per class, and non-members pay Dh30.

The Ballet Centre:
Located just off the Jumeirah Beach Road, the Ballet Centre also offers salsa classes every Monday from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Taught by Philip Bedford, the Ballet Centre attracts students from all nationalities and ages, starting from 15-year-olds.

Anyone who wants to learn to salsa can join at the cost of Dh35 per hour. An average class has about 20 students, a lot of whom join with a partner.

The Pharaohs Club at Wafi City:

Also taught by Philip Bedford, Pharaohs Club offers two classes a week. Every Tuesday from 8.00 to 9.00pm is beginner's hour and from 9.00 to 10.00pm is for intermediate students. Intermediates also move on to learning to dance the Salsa Rueda De Casino, which is basically a variation of salsa. The difference being that you can dance the salsa alone, whereas with Rueda De Casino, you keep swapping partners as the music goes on.

Fees are a standard Dh35 per hour and there's no rule of thumb about how many classes you need to take or how regularly you should attend the classes.

Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa:

Maura and Karlos De Moraes head the salsa classes at the Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa. Maura and Karlos teach there every Tuesday night in the club studio from 8.30pm to 9.30pm for beginners and from 9.30pm to 10.30pm for intermediate and advanced students at the Tropicana nightclub.

Fees per hour are Dh30 for club members and Dh35 for non-members. There's no fixed number of classes you're required to take and are welcome to join either on your own or with a partner.

Cactus Cantina, Rydges Plaza Hotel:

Another of Philip Bedford's domains is the Cactus Cantina where Bedford takes beginners/improvers classes ever Saturday and Sunday from 8.00 to 9.00pm and classes for intermediate and advanced students on Saturdays and Sundays from 9.15 to 10.15pm. All you need to do is pay Dhs 35 an hour and you're on your way to setting the night on fire. Besides teaching salsa four nights a week at different places, Philip also organises salsa evenings and get-togethers.

Laguna Beach Club, Ajman Kempinsky Hotel:

A course of 12 salsa classes every Tuesday evening from 8.00pm to 9.30pm at the Laguna Beach Club at the Kempinsky Hotel would cost you Dh400. However, those who aren't sure if they want to stickthrough 12 classes are welcome to attend random classes at the cost of Dh50 per class. The classes are taught by Sally Bigland.