Life gets busy and takes over

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.

Why does Salsa means so much to so many people?

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!

How does your mood change?

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.

Salsa is not just dance, I truly believe it is a weekly SELF-CARE. Simple as that, Salsa is my Happy place and we hope to make it your Happy Place too 😍

If you’ve been meaning to come back, start again, or try for the first time, this is your sign.

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

How Salsa changes you (even if you only dance once a week) – How?

• 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.

You Start Standing Taller

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.

Salsa becomes the highlight of your week

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.

Partnering up in class becomes the norm

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.

Your dancing will improve

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).

Not only your body gets a work out but so does your brain

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.

You will feel part of our OnSalsa Community

• 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”.

One Class a week – Big Change

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)

Ready to See What One Class Can Do?

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.

Regardless of your level

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!

Excitement

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.

Fun

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.

Nervousness

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.

Breaking the Ice: asking someone to dance

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.

Kindness & Courtesy on the Dance Floor

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”.

At OnSalsa, we don’t just teach salsa steps , we teach you how to feel confident social dancing anywhere

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

What is 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.

Styling isn’t about doing “extra” steps. It’s about how you move (e.g. the timing, the intention, and the body movement that sits around your basics). It is what I call “the cherry on the cake”

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.

Why do we style?

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.

Styling helps you:

• Add your flair and knowledge into your own Salsa dancing
• Make your moves more interesting without overcomplicated them
• Feel more connected to the music (hitting breaks for example)
• Build confidence and your own personality on the dance floor

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.

How do we style?

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

Styling is not the final destination of dancing. It is the Cherry on The Cake. This takes time, patience and experience to develop over time.

At OnSalsa, we believe that strong basics come first:

• 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

Focus: Beginners & Improvers – Your way into Social Dancing

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.

But this is why at OnSalsa, we always offer Complete Beginners and Improvers workshops at our party nights so that you instantly feel included right from the moment you come in. There will always be a smiley face at the registration desk to make you feel welcome.

So Why Does This Happen?

Why do Beginners & Improvers feel intimidated?

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.

What you don’t see is:

• How long those dancers have been learning (1, 2, 5 years?)
• The mistakes they made (and still make – but fun overrides it all)
• The nerves they once felt walking into their first social (and we’ve always felt nervous once)

Beginners often think:

• ” 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.

What can we do to help?

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)
• We always encourage all our OnSalsa students to dance with Beginners (one lovely dance can change your entire night)
• 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 encourage progress, not perfection. Confidence grows from watching and doing, not from waiting and not doing.

SO COME TO SOCIALS AND LEAVE YOUR NERVES BEHIND

Give it a go 💃🕺

If you’re a beginner or improver reading this:

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

• Say YES to one dance
• Smile, relax and listen to the music

And that’s how you can start building confidence

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

YOU will be the dancer that someone else is watching, wondering “wow, how do they do this? how do they make it look so easy, so fun?”

MY BEST ADVICE TO YOU IS:

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 💛

Why is Social Dancing so Good for You?

Social dancing isn’t just the fun part after class,  it’s where everything comes together. It’s one of the most enjoyable ways to improve your dancing and your wellbeing. Believe me, after 25 years of dancing Salsa, I still love salsa socials.

I can hear you ask: Why is it 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

It’s where your class moves come to life

Our OnSalsa classes give you the tools, but social dancing gives them meaning. When you practice your moves in a real social setting:

To start with, you may feel a bit apprehensive however the hardest thing you’ll ever do is to actually take yourself to the social and discover how much fun it is!

My advice to you is:

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

It’s amazing for your Happy Self

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)

Keep fit without it feeling like exercise

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.

You feel happier inside out

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)

You make real friendships

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:

• You meet people from all walk of life (no judging at OnSalsa, just pure joy of dancing)
• You build confidence socially as well as physically (this is quite an amazing thing)
• Friendships form naturally in class, without pressure

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

But once at the venue, you will arrive as an individual but will leave feeling part of a community.

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

If you’re learning to dance, don’t skip the social that’s where the fun really lives 

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/ 

Rosa & Giles

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.

At OnSalsa, we truly believe that if you can walk, you can dance.

From our 25 years of teaching Salsa, we’ve never encountered ANYONE who cannot be taught to dance salsa.

Dancing is a process and everyone learns differently and Salsa is no exception.

• 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.

There is no better achievement and satisfaction for a teacher to see a non dancer giving us the pleasure to watch them social dance, have fun and navigate their salsa journey with a smile on their face.

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

Salsa is also incredibly powerful beyond the dance floor:

• 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

One thing is sure,

At OnSalsa, no one is un-teachable

Because:

• 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

As a result,

• You will become a beautiful dancer
• You will connect with people
• And most importantly, you will have fun

Salsa brings joy, not only to yourself but also to others

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”

Rosa and Giles | Building Community Through Dance

Why I love teaching Salsa

…for over 25 years

For me, Teaching salsa is deeply rewarding on so many levels

It is my joy

• To watch people learn how to dance
• To see them relax
• To see them laugh
• And genuinely have fun

What moves me the most is

• Watching their confidence grow, sometimes quietly, sometimes boldly week after week.

What Fascinates is me is

How differently everyone learns

• Some of you learn best by watching
• Some of you connect through word association and key words
• Others by doing, feeling, and repeating
• And some of you need the movement explained in a completely different way through sports, patterns, or familiar experiences that suddenly make everything click

OnSalsa Oxford | Different ways of teaching

Having students from different backgrounds, with different ways of learning, makes me and all our OnSalsa crew better teachers.

I can hear you asking; “WHY?”

Simply because:

• it challenges all of us (teachers) to adapt
• to evolve
• and to constantly rethink how we deliver our classes and courses

To all my OnSalsa students

You are a pure joy and privilege to teach

Your eagerness makes it so enjoyable, so fulfilling.

My goal and the one of all our OnSalsa teachers is:

To enrich your Dance learning experience even further

OnSalsa Oxford does this by:

• Keeping a fresh curriculum
• Continuously working on our teaching methods
• Delivering each lesson in the most appropriate format
• Exposing your learning journey to guest teachers (they bring their own flavour and experiences in other dance styles such as Son, cha cha cha and Boogaloo were taught at our party nights)

At OnSalsa, a teacher is always a student

• We never stop learning
• We always focus on your learning journey
• We learn from you as well as you learn from us

To our students:

Keep on learning and being humble on your dance journey

Have fun together

Laugh together

and most importantly Connect and Build Community Through Dance 💃🕺

Happy Dancing to all xx

This week we’re focusing on connection, how you communicate with your dance partner without words ( yes this old chestnut is essential: Leading & following).

Great salsa isn’t about complicated moves.

Believe me it’s not! As far as I’m concerned, as a follower I’d rather much prefer being lead nicely into simple and well executed moves rather than being pulled right, left and centre.

For me SALSA is about:

• Clear leading & following

• Feeling your partner’s movement

• Staying relaxed through arms and body maintaining appropriate tension

• Moving together as one

Try this whenever you can

Keep your arms relaxed and your frame comfortable with good tension. Try to lead correctly OR follow without anticipating what the leader might be doing. Connection rather than anticipation is key.

When connection improves, everything feels so much nicer and easier, turns are smoother, the dance is so much enjoyable and dancing becomes way more fun.

Remember: connection first, moves second ❤️

Join our OnSalsa classes in Summertown Oxford to learn more about Leading and Following and all dance skills necessary to achieve this.