Salsa City Forum » News and Chat » Tuesday at Callaghan's

Hi there!

Though I’ve entered this website a couples of times before, this is my first message. I’m quite interested in knowing your opinion (either positive or negative) about Tuesday nights at Callaghan’s. Just wanted to know your views on music, atmosphere, classes, etc are in order to get to know everyone’s point of view.

Thanks

Eduardo

Why? What is your connection to Callaghan’s?

I wasn’t too keen on Callaghan’s, I went last night. It advertises a class at 9 o’clock and there was no kinda activity until at least 9:25, got bored and left. Salsa music was being played but didn’t know what was going on. Everyone was in little groups so it was quite difficult to approach ppl to talk. I’m usually unavailble on Tuesdays but had a night off this week, I don’t think I’m missing out on much on the Tuesday Salsa scene.

I haven’t been for a few months, and can’t comment on the beginners’ class which I think Eduardo was teaching last time I was there. So, take this with a pinch of salt.

First problem is the class times. I may go more often if I knew the classes would start and finish when they’re supposed to. I’ve waited 45 minutes for a class to start before now, and conversely I’ve turned up later to dance, finding the class only half finished. Late class finishes mean I have little time to dance if I need to get enough sleep.

The improver/intermediate class (actually called advanced, which may scare some people) I’ve found variable. On the whole I’ve enjoyed it without actually learning anything. And if enough people go just to enjoy themselves, then there’s no real problem. For me to learn more, there needs to be more clarity in the teaching of particular moves (leads, footwork, timing, etc) because once a few moves are strung together they blur into each other and it becomes a mess. This gets worse as the class goes on, suggesting that the teachers aren’t aware of how well the students are picking things up, and change things. There’s no point teaching the next move in a sequence if a good number of the class can’t do what’s already been taught.

Asking the teachers to help sometimes produces different answers depending on who you ask, which suggests that there isn’t a strong, common view about what is being taught.

Learning is made difficult by not having appropriate music to practise with. Either its too fast, or there’s no music and the teacher’s count varies wildly in tempo. The teachers of one of the classes should be controlling the music, so at least half the students have something to dance to.

Dancing afterwards is enjoyable, as its mainly a different crowd from other venues and it persuades me to try some cuban stuff. Far too much merengue for me, but I’m happy to sit out and watch.

Hope this doesn’t sound too negative. Its a nice (and free!) night out, with a good atmosphere.

Bobby:
The lessons are free, I start the lessons when I have 5 couples minimum.

Alun:
If you want private lessons, I can teach you from 10 pounds per hour.

The music is the best because I have 10 years the experience but the principal problem is the people not understand the Spanish lyrics, but I try put the salsa in English.

In this moment I have 4 dancers: Eduardo, Lorena, Dacil and Adaya
Teachers: Maria and me.

This explains a lot!

“I start the lessons when I have 5 couples minimum”

OK, but you should end the lessons at a fixed time. Say, 9.30. Then, if it takes until 9.15 to get a quorum, people will get fifteen minutes of instruction. If people want more they will soon learn to come earlier.

“but I try put the salsa in English”

Speaking for myself, I do not (particularly) want salsa in English. I want the best salsa for dancing, forget about salsa in English.

As well as having to wait until well after 10.30 for the classes to finish, another reason I haven’t been to Callaghan’s for a while is it got very smoky and the ventilation was completely inadequate.

In my club always you have the problem whit the music about ventilation, your drink is missing, the next time I put one security for your drink and ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a bubble of oxygen jajaja

This is for those who wants to know about the time table. From this Tuesday 2/08/2005 the classes are going to start at 9:15pm and we will finish at 10:15-10:30pm. Even if there are 1 or two people to start. Hugh, my name is Eduardo and I’m one of the dancers I help Maria and Manuel to run the classes, I usually do beginners. Hopefully see you there. For everybody who likes salsa don’t forget this dance was born in Cuba, so that’s why we mostly play Cuban salsa, however, manuel is open to play music relate to latin music, like merengue, bachata, salsa en linea, reagueton, etc.

In my opinion, this is still too late. With two classes going on at the same time you could start at 9.00 and be all finished by 10.00. Leaving plenty of time for people who want to come out and dance.

Manuel - the music is good to dance to, but its not always appropriate to dance to during the classes. When the classes are running, the music shouldn’t be too fast and ideally should be simple and clear so that beginners can pick up the beat.

I’m not bothered about whether singing is in English or Spanish, although the less cheesy words I’m aware of, the better! Where Spanish-speakers are at an advantage, and which might be what your comment is about, is that being able to hear the words helps you understand the mood of a song and that affects how you dance to it. I probably vary my dancing a little, but its based on the music only.

Fixed class times are a welcome improvement - cheers, and while I can understand Hugh’s comment about lateness, I appreciate that for a lot of latinos 10.00 is just about going out time.

I’m not really in the market for private lessons, but if I were, I’d pick the best teacher from those whose classes I’d attended. Regardless of dance style, that would be Andy by a long way. Anyone wanting to teach, or improve the way they teach, might find it useful to watch him. Not just to do a class and learn some moves, but to watch how he controls the class while keeping it fun, builds moves slowly, focusses on lead and follow, direction and timing, styling, etc. He allows time for practicing one thing before moving on to the next, and while the class is doing that, he studies everyone to correct any mistakes.