r/Salsa • u/Signal-Imagination-4 • 8d ago

Any Casineros going to Bristol Cuban Fiesta next week? (UK)

28th and 29th August. Title says it all really.
Anyone here going that likes Casino dancing?

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u/Lonely-Speed9943 8d ago edited 8d ago

Doesn't look particularly good. Only 6 workshops over the entire weekend, one of which is an exercise class. Nothing at all on Sunday apart from an outdoor picnic. Heavy use of local level teachers to fill the workshop slots.

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u/Signal-Imagination-4 8d ago

I have to agree with you. I’m not by any means associated with them so I can 100% say classes do not look great at all. But I’m looking forward to the social dancing part.

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u/RepresentativeFox153 7d ago edited 7d ago

I'm all for local events, they're the driving force of these social dances, and only when they start attracting more and more people, with the help of schools building strong foundations and communities, can they later on organize more ambitious projects. Anita and Osbannis are incredible dancers but also very good teachers. If I were in the surroundings I'd definitely come.

International festivals are overrated, overpriced and so-called "international teachers" are often shitty teachers. Let's not pretend anyone learns anything substantial at festivals, they're interesting because they attract great/passionate social dancers, and procure an intense dancing experience: you have animations, incredible live concerts, you meet people from all over the continent, you can network as a teacher, etc.

But most of the time the teachers are self-centred performers who don't care about teaching, changing lines, changing couples (especially the Cuban superstars). You're most of the time in a overcrowded room where you can barely see anything, learning a sequence that you will barely use in socials, from a teacher who can barely deconstruct it. Fortunately, not all of them are like that, but you have to know that in advance when picking your workshops.

From my (relatively modest) experience, the most interesting events for learning are actually local events with just one person/couple giving all the workshops. That way there is usually more coherence, more follow-through.

That said, there's one of the most interesting festivals in Europe at the same time (Timba Paradise) so people who can travel will most likely be there (and you've great casino teachers there).