Ritmo de Havana

“ Salsa Rhythm & Timing ” workshop



I read once "A good dancer is one who makes you see the music" I couldn't say it better!

Where: Mall of the emirates- Dubai community Theater & Art center.
Date: ( 2 days siminars ) Wednesday & Sunday 24th & 28h June 2009
Time: 9:00pm- 10:00pm
Fee: 110 DHS -For the 2 hours
Level Required: All levels, but at least you must be in or have completed basic course - successfully.

Why do you need this workshop?

-Do you feel something is missing while you are dancing even though some of your friends say your dancing is good?

-Have you ever loved a song but you can't dance to it because you think it's "too slow" or "too fast" ?

Fact 1: real salsa dancers can dance to all types of salsa songs (slow , fast, Romantic, traditional, etc)

-Have you ever met really good dancers who, that when it comes to dancing with them you feel helpless or just missing your steps then you end up watching them hoping to be able to dance like them one day?

-Have you ever felt that you are drifting away from the rhythm?

-Do you really know when to start your dance as the music starts playing?

-Do you really know what "salsa timing" or "beat" means?

Fact 2: there are no good dancers or bad dancers! There are those who dance and others who just do moves!!

OK!! Let's make it easy...

This workshop is specifically intended for salsa dancers who wish to perfect their timing . It has been designed to address the fundamentals of Salsa timing and synchronization to the music. You will learn how to distinguish and follow each individual instrument in a salsa band and how they blend together to make up the magic formula of a Salsa song. It will create a whole new dimension to your listening and understanding of the music.

This workshop is not meant to replace a regular salsa dance courses. Never the less it completes it by focusing specifically on rhythm and timing details that often cannot be covered adequately in a group class. The proper understanding of timing is the best asset for a social dancer. Mastering salsa steps with perfect timing is not only essential for proceeding to more advanced levels of salsa but it also makes
dancing far more enjoyable. "Dancing will just feel right "

Why is it so important?

Learning how to move in tune with the rhythm and how to execute dance movements in correct timing is by far the hardest challenge for most salsa dancers.

Salsa teachers normally cannot afford to spend enough time on this subject in their classes. Students are often too eager and enthusiastic to learn cool moves and to progress speedily to focus enough attention to music, rhythm and timing.

However, without this component dancing loses its meaning. Our aim is to provide you with tools which you can use , with or without other Salsa friends, to complement your regular Salsa course.

It explains many concepts of music in a practical, informal way. It introduces you to more sophisticated musical ideas, like accents, syncopations and musical interpretation. Finally, it leads you through a number of exercises designed to improve your dance timing and your confidence with different kinds of Salsa music.

At the core of this workshop are 3 main concepts:

First, dancing out of time is not merely bad dancing, it is not dancing at all !! Rather, it becomes a strange physical activity more akin to gymnastics or acting. You may have a bad posture, no style, or know only a few boring figures, and still be a dancer. Without good timing, you are not a dancer.

Second, there is more to timing than just following the beat, and executing the basic steps correctly. The rhythm structure of different styles of music is responsible for the difference between different kinds of dances. Understanding this allows us to interpret and enjoy the music to a deeper level.

Finally, whether you want to learn nuclear physics, modern philosophy or social dancing, you can not succeed without serious "correct" exercising. It is a cruel reality rooted in the biology of our neural system. Having a full time job or endless exams to prepare unfortunately does not change our biology. If you have troubles with timing, the learning and exercises correctly are a must, a bitter medicine which you just have to swallow for a while to cure your timing problems.

What dancers who attended this workshop said about it:

- " First of all I wanted to thank you for the amazing, well prepared and conducted workshop. It takes two to make a workshop successful, good material and a good presenter, you accomplished both which made you grab our attention and live the final result. You are so passionate about it that made it so easy for us to feel what you are trying to achieve. I must say two hours passed and we utilized every minute of it learning.

I’ll try to summarize the outstanding aspects in the workshop.
1.Though a good number of people showed up ( more than 40 dancers ) but I felt as if the workshop is on one to one basis which says that
you have done a good job in focusing on everyone
2.The flow of the workshop material was well organized
3. Illustrating the instruments was a very good idea
4. Using flow charts to explain made the idea so clear to us
5. Practicing and challenging ourselves.. WOW!! We all thought we knew it all.
6. Taking us back to the history, engaging us and make us feel the importance of it.
7. Making it clear at the end that today was just the beginning, we still have more to learn (When you made us listen to the other instruments and showed the moves)

Believe me, I’ve attended sessions before ( without mention trainers names) but always felt there’s something missing. Your style made your workshop so unique. Thanks A Million. I can’t wait for the next workshop " ~ Emy
==========================================================================

- " I want to thank you for the Workshop. It was really an eye opener for us individuals to focus on the rhythm & locking on the cues from the percussive. I think this is the prime fundamental of any dance form..listening & feeling the music (rather than all the moves & fancy styles). For me (a disaster at dancing). It has been very helpful in understanding the music- focusing on the rhythm & staying "locked-in" the rhythm & tempo." ~ Tony
==========================================================================

- " Del Piero, i remember walking into your class the first day thinking 'i just wanna have fun'...today the Cuban magic has changed my life and my perspectives. I thank you for showing us how to dive into this wonderful and embracing experience. I truly enjoyed the flow of the workshop in the sequence that you used. Combining all the elements that are specific to the stage that we are at: listening to the music, understanding the history and respecting the Cuban culture. Thank you for being so passionate and allowing us to enter this world with you " ~ Suha
===========================================================================
- " thank you for the workshop. It's my 3rd time attending and I learn something new every time. The structure and flow you give to your instruction is very clear and your attention to detail is what makes your classes so special. Thank you for truly bringing the music we all love to life. I can hardly wait for the next workshop... i wonder what I'll learn next time!" ~ Ruba
============================================================================
-" Dear Del Piero, First I would like to thank you for shedding the light on a dark and forgotten side of salsa! I don’t understand how any salsa student, performer or instructor can claim being passionate about salsa without attempting to understand the salsa music first. The "Salsa Rhythm & Timing " workshop is one of the most exciting, inspiring and relevant workshops, introduced by a passionate dancer and instructor who is always exploring the world of salsa percussions, expanding his salsa knowledge."~ Mo - Salsa Instructor / Founder of "Salsa Tribal Jam"
============================================================================
-“ IT WAS AMAZING .... IT WAS WAAAAAAAAAAAAW & IT WAS DIFFERENT. I'd love 2 thank u Del 4 the workshop, i really love the way u explain every think in this workshop, it was fun, the atmosphere was really friendly , and it was really important .
I really feel sorry 4 the advance dancers who never attended this workshop ( bcz they don't know what they are missing ) after the workshop i felt deferent on the dance floor, the music was clear 2 me ...so i was in control. This was not my 1st workshop ( its my 3rd or my 4th . i cant really remember guess i'm becoming old ) & every time i learn something new. This will help me also when i'm DJing. Cant wait for the next one! . Keep doing what you are doing & never stop !!” ~ Udia – International Salsa DJ & 2nd runner UAE 2005 Salsa Dance Champion
=============================================================================

- "A good salsa teacher is one who makes you feel the music - a talent that I discovered through Del Piero" ~ Niety
=============================================================================
-" I finally understand what means "salsa beat ". It helps me a lot to understand that I didn't understand anything about the salsa rhythme. I try to listen to the music differently now, more consciously, more aware of the percussion and clave rhythm (not easy at that stage for me!). I think this work-shop is an absolute must for all dancers and I think I learned more about salsa than in the last 8 lessons" ~ Ellinor
=============================================================================

- " Having attended the workshop during level 1 and now level 2, I have to admit that it is only now that I am able to fully appreciate and comprehend that which was conveyed during the video sessions. I appreciate the time & effort that you put into these workshops (as well as our regular classes) which provides us with practical solutions on "how to do it" rather than "do it". Thank you for being so incredibly passionate about Cuban salsa and conveying this to us, I really enjoyed the session! " ~ Jacki
==============================================================================

- " Del Piero, I'd like to thank you for the invitation to your "Salsa Rhythm & Timing workshop" - It was an excellent learning experience. I've met a few salsa teachers but you are the first one who broke down the theory of salsa music to the smallest elements. I've noticed all attendees were very focused on you workshop and the class went smoothly" ~ Henry
==============================================================================

-“Thank you for the great workshop! Never thought of the beat before!, thank you again for the great experience! “~ Mary
==============================================================================

"SALSA LEBANON would like to thank the SALSA CUBANA TEACHER "DEL PIERO" from Dubai who gave a 2 days seminar for the SALSA CUBANA and SALSA CUBAN ROOTS and Percussions!
The Seminar was absolutely Important to our salseros/as to feel the Real Cuban Spirit existing within the SALSA MUSIC and Percussion distribution, discovering the Rich Musical distribution and Rhythmical Interpretation in the Cuban Salsa Music, which helps a lot Salsa Dancers to know and be aware of the Origin and the Composition of the Music they are Dancing on! A big thank you to DEL PIERO from all SALSA LEBANON Community for offering us this rare Opportunity!" ~ Ziad - Salsa Instructor / Founder of Salsa Lebanon
==============================================================================

-“I think you are without a doubt our Cuban ambassador in the U.A.E, if not in the middle east!” ~ Ahmad Salsa, Founder of “The Legend” Salsa team
==============================================================================

-“Dear Del Piero, Frankly frankly frankly! You have changed my music listening! Even it is still the same music but simply “more beautiful” Thanks!” ~ Wissam
==============================================================================

-“The one-of-a-kind workshop by Del Piero delivered salsa beat essentials required equally by beginners, to put them on the right path, and by experts, to give them a solid theoretical reference that makes them know the beat as much as feel the beat!”~ Nabil
==============================================================================

-” This workshop was the beginning of a new education and growing respect towards salsa dancing!. It is not only how you feel but knowing why you feel it!, when you are dancing to salsa rhythms, that makes you a true and "educated" salsa dancer. As I am a firm believer of things being, not all fun and play, but technical and educational; I thank you, Del Piero, for highlighting this approach to salsa dancing with the workshop you put together” ~ Carin
==============================================================================
-“ The workshop was awesome, its one of those few classes where you took us back to the basics cause if you think about it, not many or any classes teaches you to listen to the music, you just figure it out on your own time and if you’re lucky you would get it faster than others. I think its important and the better you are at listening to what the music is trying to say the more fun you and your partner will have. Thanks for a great workshop, looking forward to another” ~ Simon Jones
==============================================================================
-“the workshop has value tips which comes along with the practice dance. In my opinion, Salsa without this type of workshop is like a body without a Skelton” ~ Assia