The spirit of Cuban Salsa in the suburban heart of Joburg

Do you want to learn how to shake your hips, Latino style? Then maybe you should consider taking up salsa dancing classes at Canto Latino, a Spanish café in Rivonia, in Joburg‘s northern suburbs.

Canto Latino is a Spanish/Portuguese styled restaurant and bar located in the Rivonia Square Mall. Every Monday and Wednesday night there are Cuban salsa classes to suit every level of expertise. The classes are run by a lively and lovely Chilean lady called MÃ³nica, giving you an authentic salsa dancing experience. There is also a male teacher, Byron, who assists MÃ³nica in teaching the men’s part.

If you are single or have a partner with two left feet; not to worry. During the hour you will swop partners and everyone gets a chance to dance with everyone. This not only helps the single people (like me) not feel lonely or left out, but (according to MÃ³nica) it is better when learning to dance salsa to dance with several different people. This will give you the opportunity to get used to different ways of dancing and to improve your techniques.

The five week beginner’s class starts right from the basics. You will be introduced to the basic footwork, turns and timing, how to hold you partner, weight transfer and the basics of leading and following. In subsequent classes, more complex steps and turns will be slowly added. Don’t be alarmed by this, if you can walk, you can dance. It takes a huge amount of practice and determination to get to the level of a professional. But it all starts with the first step.

Every lesson begins with a warm up salsa line dance to get everyone in the right mood. The entire class (of about 16-20 people) stands in rows with MÃ³nica and Byron in front. To the energetic sounds of a Latin artist, we follow their lead, secretly wishing we could move like them. We then review what we learnt the week before, before learning a new move. Doing salsa is not only good exercise; it is also a great way to meet new people. What better way to get up close and personal with a stranger, than when you are holding each other in the salsa embrace? Occasionally on the weekends Canto Latino will play host to Latino parties which will give you the chance the show off your newly learnt salsa moves and mix and mingle with the Spanish and Portuguese community in Johannesburg.

If you are a little shy, then arrive at Canto Latino between 5 and 7:30pm, and take advantage of the happy hour before the class starts. And if you get a bit hungry, on Monday nights, they have a “50 bucks burger and beer” special. Choose between five variations of beef or chicken burgers and a choice of chips or a side salad.

For more information about the salsa classes please contact MÃ³nica MuÃ±oz on 076 350 5320 or email her on [email protected].

Address: Canto Latino is located in Rivonia Square Mall, Cnr 9th Ave & Rivonia Blvd.

Opening hours: Monday- Wednesday: 11:00-24:00; Thursday- Sunday: 10:00- 02:00

Tip: Be sure to park in the shopping centre where Canto Latino is (entrance is on 9^th Ave) since there have been some incidents of theft on the street.