Here are answers to frequently asked questions. Please contact us if your answer is not in this list.
>>> Contact / communication
How can I message Amity Salsa?
Send us a private message on WhatsApp or Instagram or Email.
How can I follow Amity Salsa online?
WhatsApp – class info: request to join here
WhatsApp – event info: request to join here
WhatsApp – chat: open to everybody here
Instagram: follow us here
Facebook: follow us here
TikTok: link
>>> COsts / Payments
How much does a class at Amity Salsa cost?
Passes give you the most affordable cost per class, as we reward commitment. We also offer discounts to college and university students. Please navigate from 🎫 Timetable & Tickets to find the right class and ticket type for you.
Why are the Beginners course and Beginners Plus course cheaper than the other courses?
We know that taking that first step to try salsa is the hardest thing for most people. For that reason we want to make our lower level classes as accessible as possible – including removing any possible financial barriers.
Which payment methods do you accept?
We work with TicketTailor to provide you with passes and tickets, where we can currently accept debit cards, credit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Revolut Pay, and Link. When paying in-person we can currently accept contactless payments via phone or card, or you can pay by cash.
>>> Experience & Requirements
Do I need previous dancing experience?
No, everybody is welcome. Even if you have ‘two left feet’.
Do I need to come with a partner?
No, you can come alone. Many people in the salsa scene start taking classes by themselves, only to end up making new friends for life.
I am quite shy, are your salsa classes suitable for me?
Yes, a lot of people feel nervous when they start salsa. Please let our friendly teachers and student make you feel at home in no time and look after you. People around you may look confident and be great dancers, but we all started exactly where you are – shy and gambling on this ‘salsa thing’ being something fun. Except this is a gamble with nothing to lose but lots to win (new friends for life, many fun evenings, feeling more confident over time, etc)!
What do I need to wear?
Whatever you feel comfortable in.
What shoes do I need?
For beginners, any type of mainstream shoe will do. For higher levels we recommend that at some point you look into dance shoes or dance sneakers. They will look amazing on you and they will help you turn easier. We will be happy to advise you.
Do you offer food and drinks?
We offer limited water and soft drinks for free. You are also welcome to bring your own reusable water bottle. On occasional days (birthdays / celebrations) we may also bring snacks…
Are the salsa classes at Amity for any age?
Currently, our salsa classes are open to anybody aged 18 years and above.
I have previous dance experience. How do I best join in?
Our Find Your Level page can give you an idea of where to start. We strongly advise you aim to start a level lower than where you think you are, then move up a few weeks later after you have become used to our classes, teachers, and fellow students. For example, if you believe your are at Improver Plus level but have not regularly danced Salsa On2 before, then we recommend you start with a few of our Improvers On1 classes first. After that you can start taking our Conversion to On2 classes until the On2 timing feels natural for you. Once you are there, then please reach out to one of our teachers to discuss about you moving up to our Improvers Plus On2 level.
>>> general Class info
Is dancing salsa safe?
Yes. All teachers and students at Amity Salsa are actively reminded that we have a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying, that we embrace (gender) equality, and that we are welcoming to new members. From a technical point of view – as long as you can do ‘mild exercise’ for an hour or so, you will be fine. You will never be asked to do anything that is physically uncomfortable for you.
Can I do a beginners class as a drop-in?
You can only join a new 4-week Beginners course or Beginners Plus course once every 4 weeks. However, you can do your first class as a free Try Out class – there is no requirement to sign up beforehand.
Your Intermediates On2 (19:30) is before the Improvers Plus On2 (20:30), is that a mistake?
No – this is intentional. Many experienced salsa dancers love to (and should) keep practicing slightly easier techniques and patterns just below their level, so many of them prefer to do two classes on an evening. Doing it the ‘hard thing’ first while still being fresh means the second hour feels less exhausting. Plus, this also means more time for them to enjoy Amity Salsa Thursday Social instead of having to recover!
What happens if I miss a class after I have purchased a course or pass?
Your course or pass remains valid until the original expiry date. The expiry date does not extend by a week due to you missing a class during a week. However, you can still attend all remaining classes as normal within your existing course or pass period. We also record videos of our classes and post these on our social media and the Amity Salsa WhatsApp news group, so you can try to use those videos to practice what you have missed. However, of course we recommend that you attend classes every week so you have the maximum amount of fun and learning opportunities!
What is Salsa ‘On1’ vs ‘On2’
Salsa On1 is often called LA (Los Angeles) style or sometimes just ‘cross body salsa’. The key characteristic is that the change of direction forwards and backwards happens on the 1st and the 5th counts within each repetion of 8 counts. Salsa On2 is often called NY (New York) style. The change of direction in this style happens on the 2nd and 6th count within each repetition of 8 counts. There is no better or worse style – but the trend globally is that Salsa On2 is becoming the dominant style. After dancing salsa for a while, many salsa dancers start preferring the On2 style as it connects better to many instruments (rather than the cowbell and the vocals), and because it gives many turns an extra beat, making it easier to perform triple turns and other complex figures.
Why do you teach your lower levels On1 and not On2?
For two primary reasons: first, the salsa scene in Bristol is primarily Salsa On1. All Salsa On2 dancers in Bristol can also dance On1, but many Salsa On1 dancers do not dance On2. We want our beginners to be able to dance socially with any salsa dancer in Bristol from an early stage, not just with Salsa On2 dancers. Second, there are anecdotes and evidence that learning Salsa On2 as an absolute beginner is genuinely harder than learning Salsa On1 first. For example, the ‘1’ is an active step forwards (leaders) or backwards (followers), which is intuitively easier to comprehend for those that are just starting salsa. However, our passion is developing our salsa dancers into Salsa On2 dancers, so this is why we only teach Salsa On1 up to the improver level, in the hope they stay with us and convert to Salsa On2 at higher levels.
>>> Private classes
Do you teach private classes?
Yes, we can teach private classes, either at our small mirrored home studio, at our Faithspace venue, or at a location of your choosing. Please DM us using one of the listed contact methods (see above) to enquire about the possibilities and pricing.
Do you teach at private events?
Yes, we can come visit you and teach you one-on-one, a couple, or a group of people. We can also organise the whole event for you, depending on your needs. Please DM us using one of the listed contact methods (see above) to enquire about the possibilities and pricing.
>>> the name
Why are you called Amity Salsa?
We chose Amity because of what it means and because it is easy to remember and pronounce. Amity comes from the Latin word ‘amicus’, which means friend. However, Amity is also an existing (rare) English word, which means friendship. “Hey, are you going to Amity tonight?”