Dissonant Harmony
Son Montuno
A friend is asking about Cuban Salsa in London. His main worry is that the place has a friendly attitude to it. Any Certain recommendations? I would appreciate it a lot. :O
London people...
- Thread starter AndrewD
- Start date
Sabrosura
Son Montuno
Yes I will! But I am guessing I'd be back in time to catch some of the TNT social, since it goes till midnight
(But if I end up not making it because my visit lasts well into the afternoon/evening, that's ok. )Bar Salsa on Monday is pretty meh IMO, it is more of a drinking crowd than a hardcore dancing crowd. I had a great time at TNT, then went to the Bachata night at Bar Salsa afterwards which was a waste of time.Hi London people, I'll be in London for MamboCity this weekend and will be at Bar Salsa on Monday and the TNT social on Tuesday (leaving on Wednesday). Looking forward to MamboCity and dancing in London again! My first (and only) time dancing in London was 5+ years ago.
I will be in London tomorrow night, planning TNT unless something else is on that is better. Would love to meet SFers
I think most london SFers are retired from SF
We use to have many participants from London and UK in the 'old' times.
JeffDamulira
Changui
(Fridays at Tito's Latin Club )La Pollera Colora, 4 London Bridge Street, SE1 9S
RogueBlader
Son
Just updating the thread for two items which have not yet been noted here:
- SOS moved from the Royal National Hotel earlier this year to the Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 7AY, tube station Camden Town. A much better venue with wooden floors throughout. All other details remain the same, though it is worth checking FB in advance, as they have the venue for most, not all, Sundays.
- The MamboCity monthly socials have moved from ULU (the University of London Student Union building near Goodge Street tube to Imperial College near South Kensington tube at the following address:
- @Metric, Beit Venues.
Imperial College Union
Beit Quadrangle
Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BB - It is worth checking out their website for specific dates. The next one n is one June 1st
- @Metric, Beit Venues.
Inquisitus
Changui
Just visited 2 weeks ago. The Pexava socials on Thursdays at Holborn/Conway Hall was pretty amazing for salsa (on2).
anonymous987
Banned
What do people think of SOS these days? I know the venue is a lot nicer to dance in than the old location. But the whole event seems to be different now. Part of the charm of SOS was that it was on every week of the year, and it was cheap to attended, and always attracted high level of dancers. Plus it was literally 5 minutes from the nearest train station.
Now the event is run less frequently, and its location is more "out-of-the-way" for a lot of people (although north London still has a lot of good dancers that attend). Also, the format used to be lessons than social. But they have started to have regular shows now. The international shows do bring a new crowd from abroad, but stopping the social dancing can be frustrating especially when the event is not that long.
Recently, another promoter has started to run events on Sunday, to maybe cash in on when SOS is closed. They run Vinyl matinee events in the same North London area. The venue is not as nice, but they do vary the DJ so at least there is something "fresh" about the event. Also, it ends earlier which is appealing for people who have an early Monday start. But its frustrating when SOS and this other Matinee event is on at the same day. Basically it means that the Sunday night dance crowd is split, so whichever event you attend, you now you know that the concentration of good dancers will be much thinner..
Now the event is run less frequently, and its location is more "out-of-the-way" for a lot of people (although north London still has a lot of good dancers that attend). Also, the format used to be lessons than social. But they have started to have regular shows now. The international shows do bring a new crowd from abroad, but stopping the social dancing can be frustrating especially when the event is not that long.
Recently, another promoter has started to run events on Sunday, to maybe cash in on when SOS is closed. They run Vinyl matinee events in the same North London area. The venue is not as nice, but they do vary the DJ so at least there is something "fresh" about the event. Also, it ends earlier which is appealing for people who have an early Monday start. But its frustrating when SOS and this other Matinee event is on at the same day. Basically it means that the Sunday night dance crowd is split, so whichever event you attend, you now you know that the concentration of good dancers will be much thinner..
RogueBlader
Son
Yes, absolutely. From discussions with others, the organisers had to save costs at the old venue by closing the bar and reducing the dance floors from two to one. The smaller dance space was enough to put me off going to SOS. With the move to the new venue, I now go regularly.
This is akin to complaining about not having enough icing on your cake. Given that the venue is the centre of English Folk and Dance, I would imagine that they would have priority on booking events over SoS. Ideally, I'd like to have this on every weekend, but I would rather have this at a quality location less often than at a sub-par place every weekend. In July, SOS was on for 2 weeks. In August, it will be 3 weeks. I can't complain.
In terms of "out-of-the-way", that's relative. On the SOS FB page, there are people that travel from outside London to SOS on regular basis. If a event is worth going to, I'd like to believe that people will spend the extra travel time to attend an event.
In London, the salsa organisers have a private Facebook page where they organise events so that they keep such clashes to a minimum (note: I'm not an organiser, but a former organiser has revealed the existence of this group in an older SF post on another topic). So if there are clashes, they would be inadvertent. On last night's "I Like It Like That" vinyl social, that was 50/50 salsa/bachata, which closed at 9pm (vs SOS which is hardcore salsa that closes at 11pm). So there is overlap, but not so much one event takes away from the other...in fact, I know at least one dancer who attended both last night. I view ILILT and SOS as complementary, rather than competitors, and I'd like to think that a lot of London-based dancers feel the same way. I didn't feel as though the quality at SOS last night was lower than usual - just the opposite, in fact.
WessexSalsero
Changui
Nah, I haven't heard anyone complain about any clashes in the 'premium Mambo/Salsa' event category.
I recall just the one (albeit memorable) ding-dong between two promoters a few years back but other than that the London boys and girls are playing remarkably nicely.
Key thing is to focus on growing the cake, not starting fights over the size of your slice.
I recall just the one (albeit memorable) ding-dong between two promoters a few years back but other than that the London boys and girls are playing remarkably nicely.
Key thing is to focus on growing the cake, not starting fights over the size of your slice.
anonymous987
Banned
Well, not everybody has the time, energy or budget to go to every single salsa event in London. Both ILILT and SOS are run with such frequency, that I don't think they can be classed as "special events". As such, there feels like less of an incentive to make an extra effort to go to both, particularly as its a Sunday.
The London salsa scene is over saturated with events, there are so many monthly and weekly parties, that really its a dancers market. If you miss one event, there is always another around the corner. Often same crowd, same local DJ's and teachers.
I am quite sure, many hardcore dancers feel the need to go to everything. But did you bother to spot the people that didn't go to both? Many of the Sunday night dance crowd have been doing salsa for years, for many, one event is enough to give them their "fix" for the week.
Also, it is irrelevant whether promoters work together, or are simply fine with back-to-back events or clashes on the same day. But to see this as a sign of their being no competition is just plain false. As soon as you introduce choice for a dancer, you automatically have competition. That competition is for where people choose to spend their money. Go to both events, go to one or the other, or just do something else and wait for the following week/month's events.
The London salsa scene is over saturated with events, there are so many monthly and weekly parties, that really its a dancers market. If you miss one event, there is always another around the corner. Often same crowd, same local DJ's and teachers.
I am quite sure, many hardcore dancers feel the need to go to everything. But did you bother to spot the people that didn't go to both? Many of the Sunday night dance crowd have been doing salsa for years, for many, one event is enough to give them their "fix" for the week.
Also, it is irrelevant whether promoters work together, or are simply fine with back-to-back events or clashes on the same day. But to see this as a sign of their being no competition is just plain false. As soon as you introduce choice for a dancer, you automatically have competition. That competition is for where people choose to spend their money. Go to both events, go to one or the other, or just do something else and wait for the following week/month's events.
RogueBlader
Son
Over saturated? Are you sure? Can you define at what point the market is oversaturated? I can imagine a few cities and quite a few dancers who would love to have the amount of activity that London has. I can think of at least one visitor to London attending SoS saying that the London dancers do not know how lucky they are to have an event like this.
And if it is over saturated, the market will quickly shake out the underachievers. I'd like to think that the market has diversified (more On2 events, more bachata events), at least that seems to be the case as far as I can see. As WessexSalsero has pointed out, it's a matter of growing the cake.
I could figure it out indirectly but I would be too busy dancing to care.
What about the ones who decided not to go dancing at all that evening when there was a clash, would I bother identifying them? Assuming I know every dancer in London (I don't), my answer would still be the same.I never said this was a sign of no competition, nor implied it (and I didn't get that impression from WessexSalsero, either). There is always some competition going in, even if it's indirect. But if promoters do decide to compete directly on a regular basis then I can see it having a detrimental effect on the London scene. No one wants a smaller cake.
I'm looking at all this in terms of numbers rather than quality of dancers. Is it your view that the quality of dancing is being diluted because of so many events? If it is, it hasn't been my experience, but then again, I know where to go when for good dances....
JeffDamulira
Changui
Revolucion Cuba in Manchester has more musicality of crowd and less of a socialising and drinking crowd of Bar Salsa in London; Manchester salsa scenes have more people who are more interested in learning to improve their salsa dancing skills with different people on different levels than thinking about the next Mojito( the bottom ground floor). Although, I prefer the salsa playlist of Bar Salsa. Also, three years experiences in Bar Salsa has changed my opinion, since I have noticed the London crowd is more into the food menu and multifarious of amazing drinks; rather than being interested in the culture of the salsa music scene.
RogueBlader
Son
I wouldn't use Bar Salsa to gauge the London scene (I haven't set foot in there for years). Where else in London did you go?
JeffDamulira
Changui
2.El Grande, King Cross
Different nationalities from around the world, the women seem very friendly during the basic salsa lesson( my first visit in my early twenties) I should of stayed for the after lessons session, when flexible salsa sesssions of choosing anyone randomly to dance with!! very good venue with lots of spaces and different floors.
EL GRANDE @ SCALA after now 12 years running consistently, has undoubtedly established itself as the biggest and most eagerly awaited Salsa, Latin & Afro-Latin regular monthly event in the UK
This event every month attracts over one thousand avid followers from all over London, Greater London, the Home Counties and well beyond other regions, North and South in the UK and on occasion Europe, it's mission: to bring a good Salsa, Latin & Afro-Latin party to the masses.
With its format of multiple rooms of music and dance, Salsa, Latin and Afro-Latin DJs, Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba dance classes at all levels, special dance shows and Chill Out areas, EL GRANDE can cater for the most demanding Salsa, Latin and Afro-Latin enthusiasts.
3. Tito Latin Club Salsa,
London Bridge
Different nationalities from around the world, the women seem very friendly during the basic salsa lesson( my first visit in my early twenties) I should of stayed for the after lessons session, when flexible salsa sesssions of choosing anyone randomly to dance with!! very good venue with lots of spaces and different floors.
EL GRANDE @ SCALA after now 12 years running consistently, has undoubtedly established itself as the biggest and most eagerly awaited Salsa, Latin & Afro-Latin regular monthly event in the UK
This event every month attracts over one thousand avid followers from all over London, Greater London, the Home Counties and well beyond other regions, North and South in the UK and on occasion Europe, it's mission: to bring a good Salsa, Latin & Afro-Latin party to the masses.
With its format of multiple rooms of music and dance, Salsa, Latin and Afro-Latin DJs, Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba dance classes at all levels, special dance shows and Chill Out areas, EL GRANDE can cater for the most demanding Salsa, Latin and Afro-Latin enthusiasts.
3. Tito Latin Club Salsa,
London Bridge
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anonymous987
Banned
To be honest, I think El Grande is one of the worst Salsa events in London. I haven't been in a long while, but I can't imagine much as changed if it is still being hosted at Scala. I would not really recommend it to anyone seriously interested in dancing salsa.
There are many reasons for this. Firstly, It's a club event rather than a dancer's event, so it has a completely different vibe from other Salsa events in London. It has bouncers and they always seem to have a bad attitude. Salsa dancers are for the most part, a fairly placid bunch of people ranging in ages up to their 60's and beyond. But Scala is a clubbing venue. So you have to go through security checks, bag and body checks etc.. Also when I was last there, there were aggressive toilet attendants asking for money in exchange to use the facilities. I do not know if this hustle is still going on.
The venue itself is dark and dingy, with lots of strobe lighting. Promoters claim the venue has a capacity for over 1000 people. But this claim is in fact nonsense. Standing room capacity does not equal dancing room capacity. The venue has 4 dance areas, and there is no room to dance in any of them. Also, I would say brave is any woman that ventures into the kizomba room. Dark overcrowded and tiny. Plus each of these areas are so disconnected from each other, it really is a hassle to wade through crowds to get to each of them.
In the main salsa room, I found the dance level to be poor. People dance a mixture of crossbody and cuban. Most of the crossbody is on1, maybe you might find a few on2 dancers dancing on the stage. But I think Scala has scared most of them away. I haven't taken any lessons at the venue, but it's usually the same bunch of teachers and DJ's on rotation that you find at other places on London
I remember when El Grande was held in Vauxhall years ago, it was a much better event then. But now I don't rate it at Scala at all. Basically if you are interested in a clubbing night out, and not all that into Salsa, then you might find it enjoyable. Otherwise, for the serious dancer, there are much better places to dance in London.