All posts by Rosa

Topic of the week : Salsa is not just a dance class

When people first walk into our Tuesday class, they often think they’re “just coming to learn some steps.” But very quickly, they realise…Salsa is so much more than that.

Pictures speak a thousand words so have a look at the end of this post.

You might not notice it while you’re smiling and spinning, but you’re doing a full-body workout.

Salsa improves:

  • Cardiovascular fitness
  • Coordination
  • Balance
  • Core strength
  • Stamina

In just one hour, you can burn serious calories without staring at a treadmill clock. You’re moving continuously, engaging your body and mind at the same time. And the best part? It doesn’t feel like exercise.

Life is busy, Work is stressful AND Screens are constant.

Salsa gives you:

  • A break from daily pressures – a moment to breathe
  • A moment for you to disconnect from your day – relax and have fun
  • Music that lifts your mood and make you smile
  • Human connection – new faces, new friends

When you dance, your brain releases endorphins that help reduce stress and anxiety. I feel so much better after class or socials 🤩 – check our next Social on Friday 13th March at Oxford City, Court place farm OX3 0NQ

For one hour, you’re not thinking about emails or to-do lists. You’re thinking about learning to dance and simply having fun, right? and moving your body.

At the beginning, everyone feels unsure.

“Am I doing this right?”

“Do I look silly?”

“Will I get it?”

And then something happens eventually

You master a turn, you stay on time, you lead or follow smoothly.

You hear someone say, “That was nice!”

Confidence grows step by step an it’s a joy for me to see that in you.

Salsa teaches you to:

  • Stand taller – better posture
  • Make eye contact – not staring 😁
  • Step outside your comfort zone – oh yes!

And that confidence doesn’t stay just in Salsa, it goes with you into your everyday life and that quite powerful, if you ask me.

Salsa is a partner dance so that means:

You dance with different people

You laugh together

You encourage each other

Over time, newbies become familiar faces. Familiar faces become friends.

It’s not just a class, OnSalsa is a lovely community.

Let’s be honest, if exercise feels like a chore, we won’t stick to it. We can see that at the gym for example….

  • The music makes you smile
  • The atmosphere is fun
  • The people are happy

You want to come back 🤩 – Also we extend the fun on our 3rd Tuesday of each month when we have a Themed night (fancy dress optional) – This month is 007 James Bond on Tuesday 17th March.

That’s the magic…..So Remember…

When you come to class, you’re not just learning salsa.

You’re:

  • Improving your fitness
  • Supporting your mental wellbeing
  • Building confidence
  • Growing your social circle

See you on the dance floor 

Rosa & Giles 💖

Be part of this amazing Community | OnSalsa Summertown

Topic of the Week:

There are soooo many ways to stay fit like:

  • Going to the gym , swimming, running (and I do all of these)
  • Following a home workout on a screen

But for me, nothing compares to salsa. Not just because it’s exercise but because it’s so much more than that.

Salsa isn’t something you do alone. It’s a partnership, a togetherness. From the very first basic step, you’re connected to another person. You’re listening, responding, communicating, not with words, but with movement. There’s something powerful about that, language is not an issue and you’re not staring at a mirror or counting reps, in fact you’re sharing a feeling, energy.

Once you step into our Salsa classes, you feel part of something very special, an amazing community. OnSalsa classes in Summertown, Oxford are very inclusive.

One of the biggest reasons I love salsa is the friendships that grow from it. You might arrive at class knowing no-one. But within minutes, you’re rotating partners, laughing at mistakes, enjoying dancing. Week after week, those familiar faces become friends. Throughout my 26 years of salsa dancing in Oxford and further afield, I have met the most amazing people, my husband Giles, my besties, and you all make my world (YES you do!).

I absolutely love seeing you, week in week out:

  • Improving
  • Supporting each other
  • Encouraging each other

This kind of connection is rare, and one of a kind, in most forms of exercise

Let’s be honest, exercise can feel like a chore, especially when you’re tired, can’t get to shift those extra pounds, when “you can’t be bothered to go to your session”.

Salsa never does, at least for me!

The music lifts me instantly. The rhythm makes me wiggle. Even when I’ve had a long day, something magical happens when the music starts, I smile and start dancing to this incredible music.

I never watch the clock in a salsa class and I never count down the minute because I enjoy is so much and I hope you do too.

Of course, salsa is still a workout and it is great for our mental health

  • You’re moving constantly (because I never let you stop in class 😉
  • You’re working your legs, core, arms (and that’s brilliant for our wellbeing)
  • You’re improving coordination, balance, and stamina each week
  • You get your heart rate up (wear your FitBit and you’ll see all these steps accumulating)

More than anything, salsa is a community and that is why I am so PROUD of OnSalsa. We have an excellent team who supports us and believe in our ethos that Salsa should be fun, friendly and inclusive – So THANK YOU OnSalsa Crew.

It’s people from different ages, backgrounds, and professions coming together for one shared reason: to dance. There’s no competition, there’s no ego, just encouragement and fun.

You see the same faces at classes, at socials, at events. You celebrate birthdays together (thank you all for last week 😉 . You cheer for performances. You welcome new dancers. You grow together.

It becomes more than a hobby. For some of us, it becomes part of our life, it is our life.

And once you experience that feeling on the dance floor, it’s very hard to find it anywhere else. 💃🕺

Rosa | OnSalsa | Summertown Salsa

How to deal with criticism on the dance floor

At OnSalsa, our classes are about learning, growing, and enjoying the journey together.

That means:

  • Making mistakes
  • Trying new things
  • Laughing when it goes wrong
  • Supporting each other

But sometimes, dancers experience criticism that doesn’t feel helpful and it can knock confidence.

Nobody walks into a salsa class already “perfect”!

Every confident dancer you see:

  • Once felt unsure
  • Once forgot steps
  • Once got things wrong

If you’re trying, showing up, and giving your best then you’re doing exactly what you should be doing.

Not all feedback is bad but there are ways of communicating it.

  • Given with permission
  • Supportive
  • Private
  • Encouraging

Example: “Would you like a little tip?”, “What about trying this a different way”?

  • Unasked for
  • Public
  • Negative
  • Discouraging

Example: “You’re doing that wrong.” “You should do it like me”.

If someone gives you advice you didn’t ask for from “class mates”, you can respond politely and confidently:

  • “Thank you, I’m just enjoying learning and I’ll ask the teachers for help”.
  • “I’m not perfect but I’ll keep trying and practising”.
  • “I’m trying really hard so with time I’ll get there, thank you”.

Salsa improvement happens in stages:

  • Some weeks feel great
  • Some weeks feel confusing
  • Some weeks feel messy

That’s normal. It isn’t about never making mistakes, it’s about coming back and trying again. AND we are very proud of you for doing that.

  • Encourage you
  • Makes you feel comfortable
  • Respect your level

It is precious so look after it.

If something upsets you, please remember:

When You Want Feedback, Ask for It

If you’d like to improve, the best people to ask are:

  • Your teachers
  • Our assistants
  • Trusted, supportive dancers

Try:

“Could you give me one thing to work on?” This keeps learning positive and constructive.

Our Class Culture

✔ Kindness

✔ Respect

✔ Encouragement

✔ Patience

 Final Message

You belong in this class.

You belong on this dance floor.

You belong in this community.

Keep dancing

Keep learning

Keep smiling

We’re proud of you

With love,

Rosa & Giles 💛💃

Topic of the Week: Make Salsa Your Happy Place

Work, responsibilities, children, and routines can easily take over our week(s) and before you know it, the week is over. Did we have “Me Time”? were we running on autopilot? if YES then read on.

Because, that once a week, when you attend your Salsa lesson, you are absolutely guaranteed time to yourself, to have fun, to do something new or to continue your dancing development in a very friendly and caring environment that OnSalsa creates.

Tuesday evenings become:

  • Your OWN one hour
  • Your OWN evening
  • Your ME time

When you walk into the hall, into your class, phones go away, music turns on and suddenly, we are so happy and excited about what we are going to learn. For that hour, we’re present, we’re moving, smiling and simply having fun. And I feel that is when the magic happens!

Knowing that Tuesday is YOUR salsa night changes how the rest of your week feels:


Monday becomes “two days to dancing” and the excitement is building up
Wednesday feels lighter (as you carry your happy feeling from dancing)
The whole week has more energy and you feel better for it (for the exercise, the friendships, the Summertown OnSalsa Community that you are part of). Soon enough, Tuesday becomes the highlight of your week.

Even dancing once a week can lift your mood, reduce stress, and give you something genuinely exciting to look forward to.

Come and give yourself one hour this week.

And of course, if time allows, join our fabulous monthly Salsa events in Oxford at Bar 1882, Court Place Farm, OX3 0NQ. We offer Salsa and cha cha cha classes for everybody, and a whole evening of dancing. This month our event is on FRIDAY 13th February 8pm – It is your PRE-VALENTINE celebration😍 where better but go Salsa dancing!

No pressure
No judgement
Just music, movement, and smiles with our fantastic OnSalsa crew (John, Jo, Shelley, Sarah, Natalia, Emma).

💃 Make Tuesday your happy place

Rosa & Giles x

OnSalsa | Building Community Through Dance

Topic of the Week: How Salsa Changes You (Even If You Only Dance Once a Week)

  • You don’t need to dance every day
  • You don’t need to be “naturally good”
  • You don’t need to change your whole life

Sometimes, one hour of salsa a week is enough to change how you feel, how you move and how you start seeing things differently – do not underestimate the magic of dance.

From our beginners sessions and throughout all our levels, we make you aware of your posture and always encourage you to work on your balance, on the grounding of your steps and your connection with your partner (through partner hold, tension etc). All these, link to having, and or, developing good posture. Before you know it, you will notice your posture improving as well as your dancing.

Over time, your shoulders will relax, your posture will improve and you will execute moves with ease and fluidity. In turn, your confidence on the dance floor will start building up.

We often hear you say: “I can’t wait til next Tuesday, it’s the highlight of my week”.

I completely get that 😉 – Life is so busy with work, family, school runs BUT you know that comes Tuesday evening, you will do something for YOURSELF

  • You will come out to dance
  • You will have fun on the dance floor
  • You will meet new people
  • You will feel happier
  • And you will laugh more (even more so, if you join us at the pub after the classes across the road)

Your Tuesday evening will bring you such a great feeling that you will be smiling for the rest of the week. After 26 years of dancing and teaching Salsa, we still get that buzz, that feeling that makes you so happy.

You will feel comfortable with rotating partners in class and you will see the benefits from doing so. Getting used to a different lead/following, executing new moves, learning new steps and adding your own style, “flair”.

You will develop a new way of communication through dance (lead/follow). No more small talk, you will be using your leading and following skills to communicate your next step, move. So language then becomes irrelevant so that’s why it is so easy to dance with anyone – Language is not a barrier anymore – ? si o no? This in turn will help your confidence building.

You will notice that suddenly:

  • A step will click
  • A turn will feel smooth and enjoyable (no more dizziness, loss of balance, bouncing)
  • You will remember a turn pattern (series of moves put together by your teacher)

Why does this matter I hear you say?

Because it is the small steps that will make a BIG difference. They show you that progress is what really matters and eventually you will do things that you didn’t think you could do! You will be able to social dance with ease and confidence . So start social dancing after class and then at our monthly OnSalsa socials (2nd Friday of each month).

Salsa will improve your:

  • Co-ordination
  • Help your memory (oh yes, all these turn patterns and shines to remember)
  • Improve your timing
  • Help with your body movement (less stiffness, more stretching and fluidity)

I particularly love when exercise feels like fun and not like a chore – don’t get me wrong I love going to the gym but I do not get that feel good factor of exercising, socialising at the same time.

  • It is OK to come on your own or with your partner / friends
  • You will start recognising faces and eventually make friends
  • You will share smiles when you get “that” tricky move, shines
  • You will celebrate your progress on the dance floor – Yes you can

The hardest thing is to leave your comfy sofa but TRUST ME, once you get to class, meet lovely people then you will never feel along for long as we will welcome you and the “sofa will become history”.

It is easy to manage, it won’t take over your life but it will change it for the better.

  • You will dance
  • You will be doing something for yourself
  • You will become a happier person (music and dance have wonderful effects on our brain)

Join us for our weekly Tuesday salsa classes

Open to beginners, improvers, intermediates, advanced dancers, singles, and couples.

No partner needed.

No experience required.

Just show up and we’ll guide you from there.

Tuesdays, 7:30pm at the Summertown Church Hall, Portland Road, OX2 7EZ

Book your class here

Parking available by venue and if you don’t drive, the bus stop is just outside the hall on the main road.

Topic of the Week: Salsa Social Dancing in your local Oxford venue or in a New Place

Walking into your Oxford Salsa Social/party for the very first time OR into a venue you’ve never danced at before can be quite interesting/challenging due to the mix of emotions. However the truth is that it feels the same for most dancers, from absolute beginners to the most experienced dancers!

There’s something exciting about a new dance space. New Djs, different music, new faces, new energy and this is so cool. You could be dancing for hours on end without even noticing how long you’ve been dancing for until your feet get really sore. This is exactly what happened this week end at the Scottish Salsa Congress where I danced so much, I could barely walk! It was super exciting to meet new people from Ireland, Holland, Spain etc…

You might feel inspired watching others dance by looking at the styling, body movement, turn patterns, enjoying the vibe, or simply excited to dance somewhere new.

Once you take that first step onto the dance floor, fun takes over, for sure!

You laugh at missed steps, enjoy the music, and remember why you started dancing in the first place. It is so much fun when you really connect with your dance partner and have an amazing dance (regardless of their level). Rosa and Giles will always tell you that you learn best when having fun.

Let’s be honest, nerves are totally normal whether you go to your local venue, or a different venue, or attend a festival/congress. That’s human nature for you! it could be excitement, or butterflies in your tummy. Even experienced dancers feel like this, the key here is remember what social dancing is all about: connection with your dance partner, not perfection.

Asking someone to dance doesn’t need to be or feel complicated.

  • A smile and eye contact go a long way
  • A simple “Would you like to dance?” is more than enough and so easy to do. Especially if you ask someone you’ve never seen before, as it will make both of you feel inclusive and friendly.

In simple terms, be kind and courteous to your dance partner and you will have the best dance.

  • Be aware of your partner and the space around you (if it’s busy, make sure you take small steps and don’t bump into the next couple – space awareness pretty important)
  • Adjust your dancing to suit each other (if one of you is a more experienced dancer then adjust the lead/following to ensure you have the best possible dance). I often have amazing dances with intermediate dancers because they know how to have fun and they don’t worry about being perfect but just about connecting with their dance partner and music
  • Always say thank you at the end of the dance – this is so simple, easy but often overlooked – a simple thank you and a smile can really increase someone’s confidence on the dance floor and enhance their experience for the whole evening

A compliment goes a long way – A kind word can completely transform someone’s confidence. Something like “I really enjoyed your leading, it was super fun” or “Thank you so much, loved the dance”.

Whether you’re a complete beginner, returning, or already an experienced dancer, our classes are designed to help you:

Feel relaxed asking people to dance (lots of practice in class and in our mini socials)

Enjoy socials without pressure

Dance with confidence

Be part of our friendly, welcoming community

📍 Rosa and Giles’ Class Details

🗓 Tuesdays

7:30pm for Levels 1, 2 & 4 – following by Social Dancing

8:45pm for Levels 3 & 5 – followed by Social dancing til 10:15pm

📍 Summertown Church Hall, Portland Road, OX2 7EZ, Oxford

Pricing

£9 per class, or £30 for 4 weekly classes

Singles and couples welcome, no partner needed.

🔗 Book Your Place

👉 Book online: www.onsalsa.co.uk

👉 Follow us on Instagram: @OnSalsaOxford

👉 Message us directly, rosa@onsalsa.com, if you’re unsure which class is right for you

If you can walk, you can dance.

And at OnSalsa, you’ll always feel welcome

Rosa & Giles x

Topic of the week: Styling

Styling is the expression of yourself through dance.

It is how you bring your personality, emotions, and musical interpretation into the movements you already know.

It can be:

  • A soft arm line
  • A pause to match the music (musicality… another big Topic)
  • A head movement (head roll, subtle with with arm line)
  • And much more!

In short, styling is how your dance starts to feel truly yours, how you make it yours.

Styling naturally appears as you progress through your dance journey. As you get confident in your dance technique, your moves, you will start thinking about how to embellish your dancing, you will start to explore and express more through your arms, hands, foot work and musicality.

BUT it is not about standing out or showing off, it is about feeling comfortable and confident in your own body, expression while you dance.

This is truly personal and evolves over time. You cannot rush styling and you can’t compare styling because it is how you feel the music, your knowledge and ultimately yourself.

Some dancers,including myself, draw styling from other backgrounds. Having a strong background in ballet and Jazz dance, I incorporate a lot of elegance and grace to my social dancing.

  • Ballet
  • Contemporary
  • Hip hop

Other dancers prefer to let the music guide them and let their body respond to the latin rhythms (listening to the base or campana or piano etc)

Now you might ask yourself

  • What feels comfortable for me to do?
  • What is the music telling me?
  • What do i like doing? body movement? shines? armography?

That subtle “je ne sais quoi” comes from listening to the music and yourself of course. You might feel like not styling your arms but you may start moving your hips, upper body.

Final thoughts

  • Clear basics
  • Solid turn technique
  • Confident leading and following
  • Timing

Once these foundations are rooted then styling will become your next layer, the next step in your dance journey. Styling will become effortless and you will enjoy making it your own and have fun with it and with your dance partner.

Rosa and Giles introduce styling elements right from Level 1, so that you can start developing awareness and confidence early — little by little, without pressure.

Remember:

Styling is a nice touch, not a necessity

It grows differently for everyone

It should be enjoyed, not stressed over

Your OnSalsa teachers are always here to guide, support, and encourage your personal dance development.

Interested in 1:1 styling sessions?

For personalised guidance tailored to your body and movement style, contact Rosa & Giles at rosa@onsalsa.com

Keep dancing, keep discovering, and enjoy the journey. 💃🕺

Rosa and Giles | OnSalsa | Building Community Through Dance

Topic of the Week: Salsa Social Dancing for newbies

Walking into your first salsa social can feel exciting… and at the same time absolutely terrifying…

The music is pumping, the room is buzzing, and then you look around and see dancers spinning, styling, laughing like they’ve been doing this forever. If you’re a beginner, that moment alone can make you want to hide behind the wall—or head straight back out the door.

So Why Does This Happen?

Most beginners compare themselves instantly to others. Well let me tell you something, you’re not just watching people dance, twirl, and do complicated turn patterns (combination of moves) – you’ re watching confidence.

  • ” Everyone is watching me” [FALSE – everyone is busy having fun]
  • “I’m not good enough yet” [Stop here and don’t think like this – My advice to you is: can you walk? yes? so join our beginners workshops at our parties which are the perfect ice breaker]
  • “I should wait until I’m better” [well…. you cannot tell me that staying home is more fun than coming out, having a go and having a drink? and if you make mistakes, does it really matter? of course NOT

Social dancing is not a performance, a show. It’s the opportunity to practice what you’ve learnt in a friendly party vibe environment where we all gather to have fun.

An awful lot! OnSalsa as a dance community plays a big part in making you feel welcome, connected and meeting as many like minded people as possible.

  • We create a welcoming vibe (hope you felt welcomed when you arrived as a friendly environment goes a long way)
  • Giles and Rosa do not believe in mistakes, we believe in learning whilst having fun. If we miss a lead or if the lead was unclear, it is not a big deal! No-one is perfect so practice is key and then all will eventually become instinctive

At OnSalsa, we truly believe that if you can walk, you can dance. We all started somewhere, right? Socials are the perfect setting where class moves turn into dancing and lots of fun…. and this is exactly what will happen when you step onto the dance floor.

Give it a go 💃🕺

TRUST US

  • You don’t need more moves
  • You don’t need more classes before you’re “allowed” to dance

You just need one brave moment

And that’s how you can start building confidence

And one day, sooner than you think (trust me),

Stay for the Social after your weekly Tuesday class, practice with other students, ask us, your teachers, to dance with you and let the magic happen. We are here with you on this amazing dance journey to guide you, help you and make your confidence grow on the dance floor.

See you all on the dance floor 💛

Topic of the week: Why is Social Dancing so good?

In a nutshell, it’s because;

  • Your confidence grows naturally
  • Your timing and musicality improve over time
  • As as result, your moves start to feel more relaxed and instinctive

Stop thinking and start dancing. At OnSalsa, we want you to flourish, have fun and become a confident dancer.

Salsa dancing has amazing qualities which allow you to;

  • Energise yourself (especially after a hard day at work)
  • Help you switch off from daily routine (I love this part of it)

Social dancing is sneaky fitness 😉
You’re moving constantly, improving coordination, balance, and increasing that lovely feeling, all without counting reps or watching the clock. It’s cardio disguised as fun. And if you wear your Fit bit watch, you will see how many steps you’ve taken at the end is the evening.

Dancing releases your feel-good hormones, which means:

  • Better mental health (and we need it especially during these long winter months)
  • Increased self- confidence as you increase your knowledge and apply it
  • A sense of achievement every time you dance (OK, sometimes not all moves work out but practice and patience is key)

Trust me when I say that even one song can lift your mood. Imagine how happy you will be after a whole evening? Our DJs are phenomenal so don’t miss them (every 2nd Friday of each month at the Oxford City FC OX3 0NQ)

We’ve met the best people throughout our years dancing salsa including my husband Giles, my bestie Helen and all of you 😍
Social dancing brings people together in a way few activities do:

The hardest thing you’ll ever do, is to actually join your FIRST social.

So my OnSalseros and OnSalseras,
Social dancing helps you practice, keeps you fit, lifts your mood, builds confidence, ALL while having fun.

Book your ticket and have fun with us


Next social Friday 9th January
2026 at the Oxford City FC Bar 1882, Court Place Farm, OX3 0NQ

  • Doors and bar open 7:30pm
  • Salsa classes 8pm
  • Incredible guest teachers and DJs
  • Have fun til midnight
  • Free car park
  • Central location in Marston
  • Great vibes
  • Great fun
  • GRAB YOUR TICKET – early birds for only £12.00

https://www.onsalsa.com/monthly-friday-parties/ 

Topic of the Week:

Teaching the”unteachables”

I’m writing about this topic as it was a request from one of my students!

Teaching the so-called “unteachables” can feel like a challenge… but here’s the truth:

There is no such thing as an un-teachable dancer.

  • It’s a new style of music
  • It’s a partner dance
  • It has many facets: leading, following, timing, musicality, connection and much more!

We pride ourselves on teaching people who believe they have “two left feet”. It is absolutely incredible to see our students grow, at their own pace, into dancers.

Our job isn’t just to teach steps, it’s to help you:

  • Believe in yourself
  • Become a good learning student
  • Understand how your body moves
  • Learn how your body transfers weight
  • Take your time and relax into the learning process
  • Learn how to connect with a partner
  • Be kind to yourself along the way
  • Great for keeping fit
  • Helps improving coordination, balance, and cardio
  • Helps with mental health, boosting confidence, focus, and mood while reducing stress
  • And of course, it’s brilliant for connection with music, movement, and meet people
  • We provide the right foundations
  • Give clear guidance and encouragement
  • Set the right challenges at the right time
  • Support you through every milestone (be it doing a suzi Q or achieving a double spin)

We love watching your confidence grow week by week and become beautiful dancers through your perseverance and hard work

And we are lucky enough to share with you our fabulous OnSalsa Community and be part of your salsa journey.

So this is what Rosa and Giles say:

“Take your first steps today and you won’t look back. An amazing time to be had for many many years to come – Love to all”