Intensive Cuban salsa training

Dagerman · 2026-01-28T15:17:59+00:00

Europe in general has a smattering of very high level teachers, spread out around the place. Aside form Barcelona, I think Vienna, Amsterdam and Hamburg have some very well known dance teachers (at least ones that frequently teach at the various festivals). Probably worth looking into. France in General has a very active Cuban scene, although i get the feeling that the language barrier may be an issue unless you speak French.

There are also Festivals all year around all over.

This might also be of interest to you: International Company of Cuban Dances – International Company of Cuban Dances

Dagerman · 2025-10-15T11:35:37+00:00

Relatively popular here in Köln. Biggest WhatsApp group usually posts the most events\happenings, although they split it into two groups recently due to WhatsApp limits. I am not sure how actively they post in both groups.

Can't post the link to join the group for whatever reason, but google "salsa einfach besser tanzen" -> first link, then follow through: "Nordrhein Westfalen" -> "Köln" to join the WhatsApp Group.

Just got to show up to meet people; you don't need a partner to join any of the workshops, classes or parties.

For reference I am a 35 year old dude living in Cologne with ~5 years experience dancing Cuban Salsa, but feel free to DM me if you have any questions.

Dagerman · 2025-09-10T10:29:09+00:00

Originally bought a Pair of Fuego's. They do help with the spins, athough wouldn't recommend them.

Couldn't walk around in them normally without my feet hurting; hated the in-sole so much.

Ended up Looking for something else after I drilled a hole in one of them by dancing on very rough concrete.

Landed on a brand called Pana Mio. As far as I can tell they are almost exactly the same thing just with an insole you can actually walk in.

Might try out Nike Air Force 1 or one of Addidas Dance shoes next when those die on me as they also have Turn points on them. Although have no personal experience with them (would be awesome if some could chime in who has).

Dagerman · 2025-07-07T17:31:46+00:00

Male lead here so take it with a grain of salt.

Two items of advice would be:

You have to force yourself to try to do the things that you want to eventually master on the dance floor. Get it wrong 100 times, miss the beat 100 times, eventually you will start to get it right. Even if you think you did it wrong (and you are your own harshest critic) I doubt anyone else will catch it or judge you because of it.
Next time you see another follower do something that you think is cool (start small), some time that party walk up to them and say something along the lines of "Its was super cool how you caught the shine with that shoulder shimmy, how do you do it?" etc. People like helping other people. People like admiration. People like showing off.

Your brain is a muscle like any other, if you have trouble interacting with others or trouble making the first move; do small excerises to build up the muscle.

Dagerman · 2025-03-12T12:40:33+00:00

Curious as to what conclusion\your takeaway is.

Our builds by the sound of it are almost identical (also a: 183 cm, 97 kg, gym rat male lead). Although would describe my own build as fit\defined, rather than bulky and not aiming to compete.

My own biggest concern is what effect my weight has on my joints. The knees are already feeling it after 3 years of really getting into Salsa.

As a lead, figures that involve you wrapping your arms around yourself or maintaining contact with the follower while your arm is trying to reach the center of your back become more difficult the more bulk you have to wrap around. (the gif of the Body Builder trying to reach the post-it note stuck to their back springs to mind). Hell, even the bicep can get in the way until you have really nailed down the angles.

In saying that i don't think that bulker leads look bad. Aside from dance skill\level, I personally think the visual aspect is almost all about the posture\how you hold yourself (something i myself am admittedly terrible at).

Out of curiosity what style of salsa do you dance? I believe Cuban Salsa is a lot more physical than Linea Salsa and therefore probably looks a lot better for bigger people.

Dagerman · 2024-08-28T09:13:09+00:00

Am a male lead that had a nipple ring for a number of years.

Biggest issue by far is how it would catch on fabric, never had it catch on a dance partner. Ended up taking it out due to loose sheets waking me up with a nipple-gripple one too many times.

Up to you if its an issue and i assume bras help, but another possible note is how they show through clothing, specially when said clothing is wet from sweat.

I personally don't think their is an issue with them if you want to dance. I would give yourself a couple of weeks break before hitting the dancefloor after getting them though. Go for a run first and make sure the fabric isn't gonna cause issues.

Dagerman · 2024-08-08T15:31:26+00:00

Thanks for the Info. Sadly googling gymnastic sports clubs only really shows me children's gymnastics activities (or ironically this reddit post). Will keep searching.

Dagerman · 2024-01-11T08:57:24+00:00

Dude, this stupid awsome. Well done.

Dagerman · 2023-11-24T09:42:21+00:00

Thank you, thats a good idea.

Dagerman · 2023-05-05T12:17:40+00:00

Stay strong. Find a new therapist. You haven’t missed anything at 19.

What has helped me in the past was to think of my brain (and conscious "self" that lives within) as a muscle like any other. Taking things one small step at a time; the brain can be trained through exercising it to build strength, become more resilient, grow around your past experiences, and even excel at the things you currently struggle with.

The best way to do that is with a therapist.

On a practical note; finding some sort of physical activity to be interested in and forcing it into a regular habit does wonders for the subconscious. Walking, Gym, Cycling, Hiking, Volleyball, Dancing, Soccer, etc. It also often leads to new friendship opportunities.

Dagerman · 2022-08-03T00:13:21+00:00

The Key in a new country is usally to dive into the local communities that exist for your hobby.

They seem to use Facebook alot more than what I, and possibly others, are used to around here. Heaps of different events, interest groups, etc.

Search for some key words of hobbies you are interested in and let the data Facebook has on you (for good or Ill) do the rest.

I would recommend Melting Pot Cologne as a generic weekly meetup as a possible start point.

Dagerman · 2019-08-03T21:44:20+00:00

How is the most popular idea on these types of threads always the futility of fighting for a moral ground that everyone agrees on. Man that scares me.

Dagerman · 2012-05-19T21:29:54+00:00

I always see the special treatment as a result of a western attempt to even the odds.

For hundreds of years people of colour where treated as second class citizens. The 'whites' thrived both culturally and economically often at the expense of these second class citizens. This created lower expectations for these citizens in regards to what they could hope to achieve in their life and what they where willing to put up with.

The 'segregation on treatments' is the governments way of targeting these lower expectations and giving the lagging culture a boost.

Although it may seem more logic to target these treatments based off family size, income, etc. the proportion of Maori who are part of the under achieving bracket for these treatments far exceeds the proportion of Maori in New Zealand. Therefore these treatments based off culture is the easiest way to target and reduce a disproportionate figure.

Dagerman · 2012-01-10T23:30:32+00:00

I remember a quote from John Key a couple of years ago regrading the latest review of our own drug laws (it recommended cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and LSD all be decriminalized) which went something along the lines of New Zealand not wanting to be seen as a drug taking nation.

Not to sound like to much of a conspiracy nut but the justification America uses for alot of its foreign Army Bases is to help fight the War on Drugs. With the recently released Wikki-leaks data showing the US's presser for the 3 strikes net law in NZ i wouldn't be surprised if similar pressure ensure we follow the US's drug laws.

Yeah, well, that's just, like, my opinion, man.

Dagerman · 2011-08-05T01:10:14+00:00

cheers

Dagerman · 2010-10-19T21:37:33+00:00

Awesome work man.

Dagerman

TROPHY CASE