Salsa India Dance Company

Dance Forms

Bachata, Salsa

Location(s)

Khar West

Profile

Salsa India was established in April 2001, by ‘Salsa guru’ Kaytee Namgyal and is today the biggest Salsa school in India, with several studios currently running in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata. Salsa India has seen more than 10000 enthusiastic students meet, greet and fall in love with Salsa, several of whom, after having learnt from Kaytee, have taken up Salsa as their profession.

Kaytee is the heart and soul of Salsa India and is a perfectionist, laying great emphasis on technique and also on attitude and interpretation of the music. He calls his unique style ‘Karma-Salsa’. Why? Because ‘Karma’ is Kaytee’s real name. Karma-Salsa as Kaytee likes to say, focuses on musicality, body movement and dancing through one’s body, mind and soul, in a dancer’s interpretation and representation of the instruments being played and feel of the music. As each dancer has his or her own personality, so is Karma-Salsa synonymous with Kaytee’s panache and energetic yet fluid style.

Kaytee has studied with some of the best teachers in the world – Eddie Torres, Frankie Martinez, Edie-The Salsa Freak and Al Liquid Silver Espinoza, Luis Vasquez etc. He has had the opportunity to learn the Cuban, New York and L.A. styles of salsa and see different styles of salsa which he likes to merge in his way of Dancing. He has taught as an instructor in several Salsa Festivals and Countries across the World, including Berlin, Beijing, Shanghai, Denver, Colorado, USA, Dubai, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Thailand etc. Kaytee was also judge at the China Open Salsa Championship in Beijing and the Asian Salsa Championship in Hong Kong.

Kaytee’s missionary zeal to convert everyoneto ‘salseros’ and to spread Salsa across India, has had amazing results. Salsa India has helped to popularize Salsa through a number of classes and workshops in other Indian cities like Goa, Punjab, Bangalore, Sikkim, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkota, Pune and Indore and has also reached enthusiasts outside India in US, China, Nepal, Hong Kong, Dubai, Kuwait and Thailand.

Salsa is now flourishing in India, as it has around the World. Kaytee is now planning to expand Salsa India’s repertoire to incorporate multiple dance forms and cultures that complement Salsa and the ‘salsero’s’ passion and commitment.

Studios:

1: Churchgate – Qi Gym, Above Eros Cinema, Opposite Churchgate Station.

2: Grant Road – Spark Centre, Wallace Apartment, Behind Bhatia Hospital.

3: Sion – 39, TV Chidambaram Marg, Opposite Cinemax, Near Hotel Peninsula.

4: Khar – Organized Chaos, Next to Intensity Gym, Near Yamini Showroom, 14th Road, In the TBZ Lane.

5: Lokhandwala – Springfields-2, Above AXIS bank, Near Green Acres.

The Salsa India Festival:

Every year, Salsa India holds its Annual Salsa India Festival, bringing in some of the World’s best Salsa talent in the form of renowned National and International Instructors, Performers, and the best Salsa DJs. As one of the biggest Salsa Festivals in Asia, you can experience Salsa on a new level through exciting evening parties, days of world class Salsa workshops and much more. The last Salsa India Festivals held in Mumbai in April 2007 & 2008, saw 3 days of workshops held by over 35 international and Indian instructors and 4 nights of parties and performances attended by hundreds of ‘salseros’ from across India and the World.

More details of the Festival are available on www.salsaindiafestival.com

Salsa India Regular Classes:

Salsa India welcomes new members throughout the year, be they complete beginners or experienced dancers. Salsa India teaches not just salsa but also related dances such as Mambo, Cha Cha, Bachata, Merengue, Body Movement and also other latin and ballroom dances, in addition to street jazz, hip-hop, contemporary etc.

The salsa classes consist of 5 levels, progressing in their grades of complexity of patterns and emphasis on technique. We believe that to be able to dance well, you must be able to dance with anyone and as such, whether or not you come with your own partner, we encourage our students to dance with everyone else in the class.

Dancing great means looking great. A skilled dancer executing a simple move, looks better, feels better and has more fun then a dancer with bad form attempting something complex. Therefore, in our classes, we put a great deal of emphasis on proper form, technique and execution of each movement. Our students learn the techniques of proper hip movement, use of the knees and proper posture. Men learn how to lead a lady with skill and confidence, ladies how to understand and anticipate their partner so that both move seamlessly and smoothly into the next pattern. Once that has been achieved that, we find that salseros like nothing better than showing off their moves on the dance floor!

Salsa India’s Course structure:

1. Basic

2. Beginner Improvers

3. Intermediate

4. Intermediate Advanced

5. Advanced

Each course is spread over 1 month, with 8 sessions of 1 hour each. Graduation from one course to another is not automatic and our Instructor must be satisfied that a student is ready to move on to the next level. Some of course learn faster than others and we suggest to some students and they re-do a particular level as revision before moving on to the next, should we feel their comfort level has not been reached.

The Basics and Beginner Improvers course teach you the basic footwork, technique and rhythm. The goal of the beginner is to build a strong foundation from which to move ahead.

In the intermediate level, kinks in basic footwork and technique are ironed out. Slightly more complicated patterns and exercises are taught. Emphasis is laid on timing, musicality, syncopation, spins, hip and knee movement, as also partner connection and resistance. The goal is to train you in the skill, knowledge, and discipline, to become an advanced dancer.

Advanced students are taught more complicated patterns and exercises, multiple spins and styling. On average, it takes about 1 year to reach the Advanced Level, but we do not suggest stopping after just one advanced course – there is always more to learn, both with reference to patterns, styling and technique, and each Advanced course teaches and imparts more salsa knowledge to the student.

Salsa India Performance Classes:

Apart from our regular classes, we also have a Performance Class, which is an optional class open to students who show great promise. The class is spread over sessions totaling about 24 hours, to a sequence specially choreographed by Kaytee for the purpose and includes rehearsing with a designated partner and learning how to perform. The Performance Team is given a chance to perform at parties and events held by Salsa India, or in which Salsa India is participating, including the Salsa India Festivals and other Festivals.

Salsa India Private Classes:

We understand that due to time constraints it may sometimes not be feasible to join our regular classes. We therefore also conduct private classes for any number of students. Private classes follow the same levels and methods of teaching as do Salsa India’s regular classes, with the great advantage of individual attention. A private class is customized to take into account the personality, capacity and potential of the student(s) to pick up steps, patterns, technique and to so proceed further. Timings and venues are flexible.

Salsa India Group Workshops:

We often come across people who do not know much about salsa but are keen to explore its flavor before deciding whether to learn the dance as a regular student. We also often come across corporate honchos who are looking for some fresh and exciting activity for their employees and / or at corporate offsites and events.

A perfect way to add some fun and pizzazz to a corporate event is to hold a salsa workshop. Salsa is a great way to unwind and have a good time, while getting to know your colleagues better, while maintaining respect and learning about partner-work and team-play. Salsa India doesn’t just teach dance, we ensure that your employees enjoy themselves and forget their inhibitions, thus enhancing the interaction and relationships amongst them.

Salsa India can customize any workshops or series of workshops to suit your needs. The workshops could range from teaching the basics of salsa and simple patterns to choreographing a special performance for specific teams at corporate events.

Salsa India Parties:

Apart from our classes, the parties we host are very popular among fellow salseros and are a great place to make new friends, show off and enhance your dancing skills. Currently we host regular parties in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkota.

The Salsa India family is ever growing, with more and more people falling in love with this fantastic dance form, and we’re hoping that several new enthusiasts will join us.

We hope this profile of Salsa India serves its purpose and you are drawn to enter its World.

Mailing Address:

Salsa India Productions Pvt. Ltd.

Flat # 1, Rajab Mahal, 144, Maharshi Karve Road, Churchgate, Mumbai – 400 020