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sprite-camden  Welcome to Camden Salsa

The London Salsa venue right in the heart of London's Camden Market.
Sadly Salsa Classes has now closed :-(

We had so much fun there but all good things come to an end.
Jan 2006- Nov. 2018 Just under thirteen years!
Primarily we were Salsa Rapido foundation level classes plus Int/ Adv Cuban style and Rueda.
Notable Rueda moves pioneered at 'The Cuban / Gabeto' are
Escalera (Amanda Maitland)
Festival De Camden Town, Like Festival De Pelota but one clap Dame Una, two claps Dame Dos, three claps Dame Tres! (usually ends in chaos)
Revolver/ Mujeres Revolver (Alastair Sadler) Like a six shooter, the call moves on to the next leader/ follower each move.
Alaistero (Alastair Sadler) [named by Miriam Armstrong] words cannot describe this move, its simplicity and complexity is a paradox.

Did you know....
....we ran London's first ever weekly bachata class here!
....and we pioneered the Blend Format where class, music and free dance merge into one event.

Teacher: (forgive any errors)
Alastair Sadler
Moe Flex
DeLarry
Felicity Sadler AKA DJ Felicidad
Sam (admin. and telling Alastair what to do!)
former teachers:
Amanda Maitland
Rahila Hussain
Frank Santos (bachata)
Liz
Edward
Gabrielle
Plus many guest teachers.

Most of all I'd like to thank everyone who came danced and enjoyed Salsa Camden and our values of fun, friendship and salsa :-)

sprite-camden  Salsa Camden in Brief

Salsa Camden
Tuesdays
Beginners Salsa from 7.15pm Free 30min class (as many as you need)
Improvers, Intermediate and advance salsa from 8pm

Three teachers all levels

Location: Gabeto, Camden Market, The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd, London NW1 8AH

Style: Beginners/ Improvers foundation (Rapido) Intermediate and above

Cost: £10 per evening for classes Club admission free.

sprite-camden  Getting There and Map Link

From Camden Town tube

Take the exit on the right as you come up the escallator at Camden Town tube station, Turn right onto Chalk Farm Rd.
Walk down until you cross the canal and go under a railway bridge.
Take the second entrance into the market on the left (see pic).

From Chalk Farm tube

Turn left as you leave the station and walk along Chalk Farm Rd. towwards Camden.
Look for the entrance to the Stables Market on your right (see pic)
approx 4 mins walk.
The streets are busy all the time which makes walking safer. We've never had a problem reported.

Parking

As of 18th Jan 2010 Camden has changed the times of the CPZ that runs from beyond Chalk Farm tube to the railway bridge that runs over Chalk Farm Road by the lock.
In this zone avoid single yellow lines as they are "No parking" up to 11pm.
The meters along Chalk Farm Rd run until 11pm and there is maximum stay of two hours.
Avoid residents bays.
The Morrisons car park closes at c.9.30pm
In short take a bus or tube.

P.S. your are not paranoid, Camden Council is out to get you!

sprite-camden  Beginners Offer

Salsa Camden Tuesdays at Gabeto
Special Spring Offer
Get your a beginners classes for Free.
As many Free classes as you need to get up to the next level.
Starting 7.15pm every Tuesday.
No booking required just share and come.
Don't forget to ask for our discount card to start collecting your stamps (cafe Nero style) but also get 20% off at the bar.
Improvers, intermediate and advanced classes from 8pm -10pm £10 per evening + discount card.

details at www.streetbeat.co.uk/camden


Moe in action

sprite-camden  Class Times

Times
Absolute beginners! Please arrive for 7.15pm free class.
All other levels 8pm start.

Intro, Beginners and Improvers with Alastair -Salsa Rapido method


Salsa Int/Adv with Moe Flex?
Intro to Rueda (for improvers/ int salsadancers with little or no rueda experience)
Beginners Salsa with Alastair Salsa Rapido method


Int/ Advanced Rueda with Moe Flex
Improvers Salsa with Alastair Salsa Rapido method
Intermediate Salsa with Gabriel

Please check in at the DJ desk within -Gabeto- to buy a ticket for your class.
All classes run at the same time in different spaces.
After the classes c.10.pm it's free dancing til late.

Salsa Camden Logo

sprite-camden  Blend Format

What is Blend Format?
Blend Format blends the party and class creating an atmosphere of buzz. Fantastic to participate, engaging to watch.
Within an evening of two and a half hours e.g. 7.30pm - 10pm there’s 105 minutes of tuition fulfilling the needs of beginners through to advanced. This is presented in 15 or 30 minute sessions, Whole group active interspaced with Free Dance time.
There’s constant music and a buzzy mixing and mingling.
Come for the evening, stay for the evening, dance for the evening, socialise for the evening.

Why?
The world has changed!
Our classes are aimed at intelligent career minded people who want to wake up fresh the next day. More and more people respect the ‘not on a school night’ lifestyle. Blend means that dancers don’t have to sacrifice their free dance after the classes for an early finish, as a significant amount of free dance happens during the evening.

I’ve spent over twenty two years developing salsa teaching so people can learn quicker and better, so Blend has to offer real advantages for tuition.
The free dance sections allow techniques to be discussed, digested and practiced before another load of info arrives. After the free dance you’ll return to the session refreshed in mind and body :-) Finally the best way to consolidate what you've learnt is to free dance.

There’s no doubt that Blend is a long way from the traditional evening class format but I think you’ll find it a better learning experience, more fun and more social.
Enjoy :-) Alastair

Alastair Sadler Salsa Teacher and Owner of The Streetbeat Salsa Co.

sprite-camden  Beginners Instructor Alastair Sadler

Alastair Sadler has been teaching salsa since 1995 and has clocked up over 15,000 classes.
From the start he has developed and refined the progressive teaching method called Salsa Rapido.
Many of his projects have helped define salsa in the UK:
Salsa instructors forum (a workshop where instructors could exchange good teaching practice an ideas).
The One Day Intensive course (The world's first and most successful intensive course, still running weekly)
Salsa university (an all-dayer concept but weekly with five advanced classes in different styles)
In addition to teaching he runs The Streetbeat Salsa Co. and edited the Email Salsa News from 1999 -2007.
Salsa Camden - London's highly successful Rapido & Rueda venue where we ran the UK's first ever weekly Bachata course and in 2018 ran the first Blend format event.
In 2001 he choreographed & performed a solo demo (dancing salsa with a mop and office chair) at congresses and events throughout Europe.
His TV credits as performer and/or choreographer include Baby Father I & II, Casualty, Happiness, Auf Weidersehn Pet and the BBC Ident ( He was the big guy at the front in the white shirt!)
In 2014 he created Mambalsa, the first new partner dance of the 21st century.
Since 2011 he has realised his love of comedy and performed Stand Up at The Edinburgh Fringe festival taking five shows in 2015/16/17.
I still have many new projects to run such as Mambalsa, Salsa Liquida and teacher training courses and a book! So watch this space for another 20+ years :)
It's all been possible through the support of my partner Felicity aka DJ Felicidad.

Moe Flex

sprite-camden  Intermediate Instructor Moe Flex

Born in Somaliland, East Africa, Moe spent his childhood travelling.
Known for his bubbly, larger than life personality, he started to dance at the age of 4 mimicking Michael Jackson.
Within 6 months of starting salsa Moe won the UKA British Amateur Championships. In 2002 he won the UKA Threesome Championship.
Since then he has been building his profile often described as a rising star He has become an integral part of events and weekenders.
In 2006 Moe was voted British Cuban Salsa Teacher of the Year.
Moe has been voted UK Salsa Teacher of the year 2008.

sprite-camden  The Old Promo Video for Salsa Camden

Here is our Salsa Camden Promotional Video.
It's just under two minute long so please take a look.
I hope it shows the fun we have at Camden.

The film project was an in-house production filmed in the Spring of 2010
The track is an shortened version of Los Van Van's Temba Tumbe Y Timbe, a great track for dancing La Rueda to.

Thanks to everyone involved.

sprite-offer Offers:

Gift Voucher Autumn Offer
Salsa Rapido 1-Day Intensive Gift Voucher Offer
From Sept 1st 2024 to End December 2024
Gift Vouchers for couples will be £79 and Singles £49
No offer code required.
Please spread the word!
All vouchers valid on any course date booked within for six months!

sprite-news Events:

No other events to show at the moment, but watch this space :-)

sprite-news News:

January to March 2025 Course Dates for released
I'm delighted to release the Salsa Rapido 1-Day Intensive dates for January to March 2025.
They are almost weekly on Sundays and I strongly recommend you book ASAP to save disappointment.
I'm working on some Mambalsa workshop dates. Mambalsa is not salsa so please click here for details

Here's a permanent link to the dates page so you can check them at any time:
https://www.streetbeat.co.uk/dates

The i.2.i. Knock the Rust Off is the Salsa Rapido Improvers course.

There may well be a few adjustments to the schedule as 2025 comes into focus.
I haven't confirmed dates out side of London yet!
Groups wanted for Thames Salsa Cruise 2025
The Thames Salsa Cruise returns in Spring 2025.
At the moment we have a proposed date of 18th May 2025 which will be confirmed before tickets go on sale in Jan 2025.

We wish to invite as many groups of salsa dancers from across the land to come on this iconic event that's been running every year (except lockdown) since 1998! Music is mainly classic salsa with a small dash of bachata etc. presented by DJ Felicidad (The UK's longest running female salsa DJ)
Groups are formed mainly by dancers and teachers who want to add something special to their dancing year.
We never have classes on board as we don't wish to clash with anyone's style or method. It's just a salsa party for lovers of salsa and non dancers wishing to see the sites and enjoy the vibe.
We make it as easy as possible to bring a group.
We think of a group as five or more but if that doesn't happen no problem. We're grateful you've made the effort.
We set up a discount code word for your group so no one has to gather the money and everyone gets a discount.
Tickets will be £20 or less with the group discount and I'll add detail as soon as I have it.
Please message me on 07939012231 Alastair and I'll set a group up for you.
regards Alastair
Blog Another Nightingale Support Group completed
I’ve just finished another six week Mambalsa course at the Nightingale Cancer Support Centre in Enfield and what a lovely group it was.
I was aiming for a gentle introduction to Mambalsa without too much emphasis on the well-being aspects of Psych. Ed. but they came up anyway.
Often the classes would end in a group discussion about recovering from cancer and I have to admit it was great to share those stories and feel a paid up member of that club.
Every group teaches me something about dance and life. This group showed me that like a hummingbird, beauty has no relationship to size. We took the lid off our creativity and relaxed and moved freely within the ethos of Mambalsa dance. I’m being deliberately cryptic but confidentiality prevents me from sharing any detail.
I will take the chance to share the last two tracks we danced as a way to illustrate that Mambalsa is danced to any 4:4 time music:
- Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen - complete with head banging and Zimbabwean Wellington Boot dance! (I’ll just leave that to your imagination)
- Would You Be Loved by Bob Marley - A perfect song to end on.
I’m already missing all my Mambalsa Dancers from the Nightingale and can’t wait for the next group.
Alastair
IT issues affect Autumn bookings
I’d like to offer my sincere apologies to all my clients affected by this.
Some courses have been cancelled including the next Mambalsa Dance Curious event and some courses will be smaller than usual (which is not a bad thing).
All bookings are secure as they are made on the Stripe platform and no data has been lost or breached.

Full explanation:
This Autumn’s bookings have not started well with a host of I.T. problems slowing down and eventually stopping the booking process.
In late August my web host (the company where my websites reside) decided, as part of their preparations to be bought out by a bigger company, to ditch many of their accounts that weren't easy to transfer to their new host. I received a polite email saying streetbeat etc. would be switched off on Sept 12th. Why they had to choose the height of the holiday season to do this is quite beyond me. No doubt I wasn’t the only one, because as hundreds of companies backed up / down loaded or shifted their sites, I noticed that my web pages would often take over two minutes to load. This effectively interrupts the booking process as new visitors lose confidence in the booking process.

I found a new host 34sp.com who offer excellent customer support via telephone which is a rare thing these days. The only drawback was that their minimum version of PHP (effectively the operating system of the host) was PHP 8.1 and my site was PHP 7.4. This meant many of my pages didn’t work and none of my back end worked. It was time to stop whatever I was doing and dive deep into upgrading first my IT skills and then the site!
I know it’s a cliche, but I like the phrase ‘build back better’. This I have done and the new streetbeat and mambalsa sites are near completion. The booking confirmation system is fixed and the connection to the Brevo email platform is up and running.

I’ve learnt a lot through this process such as IT is like a sand dune of ever shifting upgrades and technologies that need to be constantly navigated. I’ve also revisited an old debate of whether to delegate or self code. Assuming a developer was available at short notice, the cost would have been considerable and the time taken arguably longer than self coding.
My I.T. department is slow, under skilled, overwhelmed and unsure of himself, but that’s OK because it’s me. So maybe the best lesson learnt is to be kind to yourself.
By the way, if you’re reading this, it’s working!
Blog Me and Bar Salsa
In my latest blog post "Me and Bar Salsa!" I write about why this long standing venue is very special to me on the eve of my thirtieth wedding anniversary.
There's also a potted history of London's salsa scene.
Me and Bar Salsa!
TripAdviser Certificate of Excellence Awarded to Alastair
Yesterday I received an email from TripAdvisor informing me that I had been awarded a Certificate of Excellence.
I had no idea that there was such a thing but now I've got one I'm a big fan.
It's the chance to thanks to everyone who's taken the time and trouble to say some kind words about my Salsa Rapido 1-Day Intensive course.


Click the image to visit TridAdvisor


Reflection: (You may prefer to read this on the Salsa Rapido Blog)
When I embedded TripAdvisor into my site I was hoping for praise but open to the possibility of harsh and unfair criticism, and in fairness I've received a one star review from someone who wasn't on the course and a two star review from someone who enjoyed the class but didn't enjoy the fajitas at lunch! May I just add that fajitas are not compulsory and anyone can eat wherever they wish. Lunch isn't even part of the deal so bring a packet of crisps in if you wish but don't blame my course if they didn't have your favourite flavour! (I'm so over it now)
Anyway, I overcame my fears and gave it a go, realising that feedback is good and TripAdivsor offers a third party review that's useful for the pubic when booking.
Many months later and I've received mainly five star reviews.
This tells me that:
My presentation is engaging and entertaining.
People are way nicer than I deserve.
Salsa Rapido is a mature enough method to stand comparison to traditional classes.
I'm really good at asking for five star reviews.

On the last point my hobby of stand up comedy led to five shows at the Edinburgh Fringe where at the end of a show we would have a 'bucket speech' to encourage the audience to give a tip (our only source of income)
Cliched line like "Take some change, fold it and put it in the bucket" were common.
One time I got a waif-like act to kneel down holding the bucket while looking as mournful as a Dickensian child.
Another time a showed the audience picture of my cats on my phone and asked "which one should I 'economise' first?" Well it works for charities!
The result was seldom any different. It was the show that counted.
Blog Dance School racially problematic and too gender binary
Dance school says ballet is racially problematic and too gender binary!
I saw this article in the news and throught I'd offer a few thoughts so here's my latest Mambalsa blog blog posts titled: Dance school says ballet is racially problematic and too gender binary

Alastairs Adventures in ChemoLand Blog
I've decided to share my recent experience of cancer in a personal blog.
This may be upsetting for many people and I advise caution as to whether you read on.
First I need to address the question: why blog about cancer on a salsa dance website?
Like so many brands on the salsa scene, behind the Streetbeat/ Rapido/ Mambalsa brand is an individual person, who made the jump from dancer to dance teacher. My treatment will affect every aspect of my life including the Salsa Rapido courses and Mambalsa Project. I may physically change as a result of chemotherapy and when someone asks a question about these changes I'd like to answer in a brief and polite way with an invitation to read my blog to get my personal insight if they wish. In other words cancer affects me but it doesn't define me!

Follow this blog: Use this link to add you email to my blog following list:

The blog is a continuation of my 2022 Brighton Marathon blog hosted on Blogger.

24/01/2024 The Last Post

05/11/2023 Round Five Biddy Beep

18/10/2023 Round Four Round Up

01/10/2023 Round 3/4 Review

30/09/2023 Happy birthday Homewood School

05/08/2023 Round Two Update

26/07/2023 Would You A&E it!

26/07/2023 Labels, Trauma, PTSD and Self-diagnosis

21/07/2023 Sepsis vs Sadler A Week in Hospital

06/07/2023 Icky

02/07/2023 Day Three Sitrep (Situation Report)

26/06/2023 Three days to Chemo C-3

24/06/23 Capitano Chemo
In the run up to treatment starting I find myself getting silly to offset the anxiety.

07/06/2023 Scanaxiety
When the prospect of chemo becomes a reality.

24/03/2023 Who's Lynne and what's she FOMO about?
A catch up post from 2019 to 2023. Probably the best place to start :)
Blog Wedding Dances
Summer's a great time for a wedding and this wedding was a wonderful fusion of dance styles.

Here's my latest Mambalsa blog blog posts titled: mambalsa-wedding

Blog I ran the Brighton Marathon 2022
Well I did it! I ran the Brighton Marathon 2022
Here's my latest marathon/ lockdown blog posts titled: Alastair's Marathon
If you want to sponsor me here's the link to the charity fundraising page (open until end May 2022): www.justgiving.com/alastairsadler
Salsa Rapido Method has it's own blog at Salsa Rapido Method
and not forgetting Mambalsa at: Mambalsa
Tripadvisor Intensive reviews wanted
I've set up a new section on the site for Tripadvisor reviews of the 1-Day Intensive Course.
If you've been on the course recently and would be kind enough to review it please go to
link
Thanks in advance :-)
For suggestions and suggestions please email me at salsa@streetbeat.co.uk

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