Salsa City Forum » News and Chat » Potential for a new Wednesday night?

Hi there everyone!

The first thing I have to do is explain that this is only POTENTIAL. I need to know who maybe interested before I approach the company involved and don't want to say too much over the chatroom (you don't know who's reading this do you)

First - the truth. I left teaching in October due to the people I was working with and for. I felt I was being "forced out" and not appreciated for the dedication I put in. Whether this was me being over sensetive or not really doesn't matter now. I am telling you this as I don't have anything to do with anyone on the scene, I have nothing to loose from the truth I and said at the time I had "work commitments"

I have read some of the very kind comments about me in the chatroom and thankyou for these. This is what has primarily kicked me into action.

My Proposal - I teach in a "members only" venue which is going very well. However - I would like to approach them to see if they would allow the admission of "non members" strictly for a salsa dance class at the ADVANCED level that I used to teach at the Toad followed by 1/2 hour of freestyle.

The time I am suggesting would be 9pm - 10pm and then till 10.30 for dancing. The cost I am suggesting would be £5

What's in it for them? The £5 revenue per head would be split 50/50 so they could make some money. Plus there is drink / food revenue potential and the oppourtunity to use an otherwise empty room. On top of this - some of you may wish to become members of the school.

What's in it for me? The oppourtunity to teach again and have a laugh + bitch about the rubbish politics that the Cardiff scene has (no different to my old Thursdays then) Plus a bit of pocket money to fund my medical training - still!

What's in it for you? An ENORMOUS room with a sprung dancefloor and full mirrored front wall. Free and secure car park. Great surroundings to relax and "chill" in and the oppourtunity to learn my advanced salsa "style and philosophy" in a politics free environment with NO LAMBADA (but just a tiny bit of merengue just for Tom!) Remember...I am not Wales' leading authority on technique - but everything I teach works and is practical for freestyle dancing. Plus - I can usually make you laugh.

Let me know what you think either by email or through this thread. I will not respond to an e-mail from an "alias". I want to know you and trust you before I explain where this place is.

Don't forget - this is only a POTENTIAL idea. The dance school might say "no" to non-members, old people or Hugh! (Joke - just incase)

Many thanks for reading this "ESSAY" :-)

Regards Paul Gordon-Smith - email Salsa.dance@ntlworld.com

The proposition would have to include more time for free dancing to be attractive to me, but salsa in Cardiff seem to be in a transition phase at the moment, so I'm interested in news of any developments.

Sounds lke a good idea but I think that £5 is too much for a salsa night. Escpecially one with limited dancing afterwards. Look at the example that the social has set...

Great idea. It would be interesting to know where the Club is, and if it would be worthwhile to become a Member just for the salsa tuition, that is if Non-Members aren't allowed. Would Members have to pay membership and also pay for tuition, or is tuition free to Members. To be interested to hear more.

Yes, I think the free dancing afterwards is important so there would need to be more of it for me to sign up. Otherwise I would be interested, though as previously mentioned £5 is a lot for Cardiff. (Went to Susanna Montero's class in London last week and that was £5 for a single class with about an hour of free dancing afterwards, and she's a former UK salsa champion!)

Points Taken. Thanks everyone - I'll see what I can do.

Paul, I know teaching improvers is probably deadly but you're very good at it. If you're looking to fund your medical training, have you thought about offering a course of workshops to help people make the transition from improvers to intermediate? Speaking personally, the series of lessons you ran in Reds made a big difference to my dancing, and I'm sure there must be plenty of people around who are at the stage I was then.

Reds?!?! My word - that seems lke such a long time ago. Actually Tom, I enjoy teaching improvers / intermediate the most and thank you very much for the kind compliment.

The idea I had for wednesday is now scrapped. The venue was David Lloyd who were interested but with them being such an exclusive club, non-members would have to pay a premium. That is why I chose a fiver, they were not interested in anything less. (for the record - ESPORTA in Bristol charge £6 for two hours salsa and no freestyle and there are about 15 - 20 participants each week)

Personally - I am not interested in earning mega money from salsa - a bit of pocket money was fine but thanks for the thought.

The idea was also stopped due to Mike and his lambada/rueda on Wednesdays. I certainly can not be bothered in competing for "punters" that's not my style at all.

If people wish to learn from me then the only days I could realistically do anything is Saturday or friday at a push. Let me know if the interest is there and I'll see what I can do - but if any other smart alec tries to start something on the same day (not that I don't trust people) then I'll stop. In truth - I just wanna have a laugh now and want to be seperate from the scene that I got so sick of.

Hi Paul,

If it's a venue you're after, i may be able to help you out. 5 mins from the town centre, large wooden dancefloor, upper level seating area with bar and our own cloakroom.
If you're interested, leave a note here and i'll get back to you.

Maybe? What does the chat room think? Should I try to organise a Saturday evening? Yes Kaz I could well be interested.