Salsa City Forum » News and Chat » Late nights?

The Toad has wrapped up around midnight the last couple of weeks. It's a shame because it's much better after midnight - fewer drunks and more space. Personally I'd pay a higher entrance fee for a guarantee of staying later.

That means there's no real late night dancing available in Cardiff. And now that the Steam Rock has ended we don't have that alternative. Does anyone know of any good Thursday or Friday nights within reasonable distance where we can dance till late?

On the plus side, Mike (from Swansea, not Lambadaman) took an interesting Cuban-style lesson last night. I normally dance CBL but I'd like to know a bit more Cuban-style and I found his lesson very clear - it would be good if we could persuade him to do it regularly. (Though there's not really enough space in the Toad for Cuban style lessons - it really does take up more space than CBL style.)

With classes dragging on till past 10.30pm and dancing finishing at midnight The Toad is not a very attractive night out for me.

I've come to the opinion that classes are a vital component of a Cardiff salsa night (the failure of the brave effort to do without classes at The Social is evidence for this) but I'd like to see them become tighter and more focused. Half an hour for beginners, half an hour for improvers and half an hour for advanced, with everything over by 9.30pm, would be perfect. Follow that with music carefully chosen by a knowledgable dj, with no lame attempts at "mixing", and I'd be happy.

The new night at Callaghan's is supposed to go on till 2.00am; we'll have to see how it pans out.

I still like the Toad, partly because I rate Andy's teaching very highly, but I can't see any good reason why the classes go on so late. I don't have a problem with the length of the classes - I'm quite happy to do an hour or more of classes with a good teacher - but I don't understand why they can't start an hour earlier.

I think the failure of the Social has more to to with the fact that people were knackered after Thursday night, and also to the night of the week changing a couple of times.

Callaghan's sounds like a very good way to be completely useless at work for most of the week. I can just about get away with a late night on a Thursday as I've only got Friday to worry about, but Tuesday would be another matter.

I too agree that classes in Cardiff are going on for way, too long into the evening.

I'm all for catering for everyones needs; but anyone who has been dancing for more than a few months, I'm sure, would appreciate time to do some freestyling before going home for work the next day. So come on Guys please try to finish by 10.30 at the latest!!

Not to mention that it would be lovely if we were guaranteed more regular teachers at both the Toad and O'Neils. I get a little cheesed off with new teachers, such as Mike and Joe, showing up for one night stints then disappearing. It ends up taking them 30 to 60 minutes to work out our levels and abitities, and by then the class is over.

Both Mike and Joe are good teachers, don't get me wrong on this, but surely the same teacher each week; who knows our strengths and weakness can help us develop more easily and throughly?

Thanks for your input, Pinky. maybe the promoters and teachers will read this thread and tighten up their class schedules. If anyone else has a view on this, let's hear your voice!

Same teacher every week? Does that mean they're not allowed to go on holiday, take the occasional night off, or fall ill? Either they get someone to cover or there's no class.

And I'm not convinced the issue of getting used to levels is that stark. Even the regular teachers are faced with a fairly fluid class each week, with different people coming and going. Isn't it likely that they do a few moves, see how they go down and then tailor the rest accordingly. And that would be similar whether its a regular teacher or a last minute sub. Having said that, I'm prepared to be proved wrong by the revelation that Andy, Kate, John, etc all have detailed notes on our strengths and weaknesses, and plan accordingly.

I've found the experience of different teachers a good one, much as I enjoy the regulars. Although if I'm to be exposed to further samples of Joe's wardrobe, some advance warning would be useful.

Hi guys,

Just to reply to a few of your concerns on the classes at the Toad. The classes run from 9-10:30pm only because nobody would turn up before. I've run classes in Cardiff for a long time now and it is the one constant that people will not come out en-mass before 8:30pm. At Life I originally attempted to start the classes at 7pm but was inexorably pushed back to 8:15ish. Personally I would prefer the classes to start earlier so that the dancing would have more time and prevalence during the evening unfortunately for a lot of Salsa dancers here the main element is the classes not the dancing.

With regards to teachers changing, as Alun pointed out we do have other commitments such as holidays and other workshops. Having a new teacher should be looked at as a new opportunity; sometimes even being taught the same moves but by a different teacher can help to bring a whole new perspective.

As a teacher I find it very helpful to do the occasional workshop away, as it boosts my motivation and helps to sharpen my focus which is then brought back to my regular classes.

On that note would anybody be interested in doing courses at a dance studio, such as a 5 week intermediate course?

Regards

Andy Witt

I wonder whether a little firmness is what's needed? If the Toad started just half an hour earlier and started on time no matter what, people would get used to having to get there early. If only a few people got there on time, fine - they get a better lesson with more space.

I agree. People who wander in late are, by definition, uncommitted. Many, perhaps most of them, will come to a few classes and then lose interest. Giving proper consideration, ie, time to dance, to people who have studied and worked to learn would lead to a better salsa scene in the end. In my opinion.

I think Andy is making weak excuses, with regards to venue start times.

Surely, John @(The Monk), who has had years of Salsa experience in Cardiff would know what works or not and it's hard to believe that on a Monday, Yes - I did say a Monday Night, classes start at 7/7.30. Without fail!

It works for him at the start of the week, he also finishes with PLENTY of time for free-styling and his venues are normally busy. Maybe this is because he has found the right balance? Perhaps the other venues should give it a try?