Summer Camp, Extra Curricular Teen Classes, and School Curriculum
Salsa dancing is very conducive to opening the mind for learning. It can be compatible with and complimentary to many academic subjects. Classes can be taught in Spanish for Spanish curriculum classes. In addition to developing coordination, stamina, strength, mental and physical agility, kids are challenged to understand rhythmic patterns (great for mathematical acuity), musicality and instrumentation, as well as cultural, historical and geographic origins of these dances. These elements are taught using methods such as: team and individual games, geography games with maps as the "gameboard", clapping and rhythmic games, clapping in "parts" that represent different tracks of the music, listening exercises and identification of genres and countries, assignments in which the kids develop their own choreography using learned elements and rhythmic features, and lots of follow along dancing, floor patterns, circle and partner dynamics.
In School...
Carolina came to my class in San Rafael to teach the Spanish students about dance (speaking only in Spanish of course). During the course, she encouraged our middle-schoolers to learn the history of different Latin dances, taught them individual dance skills and partner salsa dancing. It was a fabulous time, with so much energy and joy radiating on the students faces. I would highly recommend her as a dance teacher for any age group, but especially the middle school students who suffer from being self-conscious!
Elizabeth Scott
Venetia Valley School
Science and Spanish teacher