Where to learn & Dance Salsa in cuba
Juliette in Havana, Cuba
First up on our list of 5 countries in the world to learn salsa is Havana, Cuba.
Havana (also known as Habana) is where the original rhythm & dance style(Son) that makes salsa, salsa was invented. Here everyone from the ordinary person on the street to the maestro in la escuala de baile knows how to dance. No matter what level salsa dancer you are, this is the place to learn.
What you need to know when you go:
1) Style of salsa : Casino
Cuban style salsa is danced in a circular pattern on 1 (on 1 refers to the timing when partners dance towards or away from each other). What truly makes Cuban salsa distinctive is its style of movement which has its roots in Afro-Cuban dance.
(for more information on this salsa style and others go here)
2) Where to take class:
Empedrado #411 between Compostela and Aguacate, Old Havana, Havana, Cuba
Pricing
I came with a group that signed me up for the 10-class special which is 130 Euro roughly $13 a class for 10 classes. I highly recommend bringing cash with you to pay for your classes in either USD or EURO. Both these currencies have more value than the Cuban peso and help your teachers afford a better life in Cuba.
Skill Level
They offer both private and group classes. In private classes, they create the class based off your skill level. Instruction can be in either English or Spanish, you can request how you’d like to learn.
If you’ve never done Cuban salsa before, this is the place to learn. In only a few classes I understood the fundamental steps and was ready to be swung into a Rueda De Casino( a giant salsa dance circle where you are passed from one partner to the next around the venue) at a club in the heart of Havana within 2 days’ worth of classes. Of course, I’m a professional dancer so this may take a little more time if you are a beginner dancer.
3) What socials should you go to:
-1830
4HJR+F4C, La Habana, Cuba
Phone : +53 7 553090
This open-air venue is right on the Malecon overlooking the ocean. They typically have socials on Saturdays, but also potentially on Thursdays. This is where the locals and travelers in the know go dancing.
I love dancing here. Everything from the magical atmosphere of dancing under the stars (you can see them here) to dancing with locals who can really dance made the night great. They also tend to have performances on Saturdays and my absolute favorite part of a Cuban social is doing Rueda de Casino (dancing in a massive circle with a good portion of the club where you keep switching partners around the circle). If you are a follow and have taken a class or two in Cuban salsa, do it! If you are a lead, I highly recommend watching it once or taking a class in Rueda de Casino before you give it a go.
Note
This venue is old school! The only way to contact them is over the phone or whatsapp. I highly recommend calling or whatsapping them before you go to make sure the party is on.
-Habana Casa De La Música de Centro
4JQP+8J3, La Habana, Cuba
Phone: +53 5 3320486
This is another great venue for dancing. I went on a Tuesday night, and it was popping. If you come a little earlier in the night around 9-10pm it’s much easier to get a table closer to the main area for dancing. Trust me you want to be close to the action so you can dance with as many people as you can. This is an indoor venue with a stage. They too will have a Rueda de Casino during the party and a dance follow along with their professional dancers.
The best information you’ll get about when the party starts, and the cover charge is on their Instagram
4) Bonus Tip: Hire a Taxi dancer
Now what’s a taxi dancer you may ask? This is a professional dancer who is hired to come dance with you or a group, so you have guaranteed dance partners. A lot of the time, you can hire your own salsa teacher that you’ve been working with in the day to come and dance with you at night.
Honestly, this is a great idea if you are new to the Cuban salsa scene. I did this and felt instantly comfortable at my first social because I was dancing with some of my teachers.
