Free Mambalsa in Kings Cross Mondays

Mambalsa for FREE every Monday in Kings Cross!

On Mondays in Kings Cross I’m running classes in Salsa and Mambalsa and I’d like to invite you to come to this fun, friendly and supportive space where you can try and improve both your salsa and Mambalsa dance.

Mambalsa:
You may not have heard of Mambalsa but it’s a new stylish partner dance similar to salsa but designed to work with any music from anywhere at any speed! It’s easy to learn and in no time you’ll be creating the nuance and complexity to express your personal style.

Salsa:
The salsa classes are presented using the Salsa Rapido method which is fast and fun.
The style is integrated spanning linear (CBL), static (Colombian) and rotational (Cuban Casino / Rueda)

As I mentioned the cost of the classes is FREE, although contributions are welcome at the end of the class if you wish. There'll be no arm twisting unless it’s done gently and is part of a move :) At the moment it’s more important to me to grow and establish the classes so please spread the word.

If you’re interested please take a moment to join the contact list to let me know you're coming at Join the contact list

Times:
6:00 to 6:45 Introduction to salsa (Absolute beginners most welcome)
7:00 - 9:00 Improver Salsa and Mambalsa (‘Blend’ format) about Blend Format

Location:
Upstairs at the The Star of Kings, 126 York Way, London N1 0AX The Star of Kings location

I hope to see you there,
Alastair - The Streetbeat Salsa Co.

More info at salsakingscross.co.uk

Spring 2022

Well just as I thought covid was over....

Omicron seems to come in waves that crash over the dance scene sapping the confidence of potential newbies. It's nearly Easter and I've been busy.

Yesterday, after four long years, I qualified as a Humanistic Integrative Counselor and upgraded my student BACP membership to registered member. Ooo errr missus! That's a bit flash sounding but really all it means is I'm a qualified counselor. I've been seeing clients for three years and I'm quite experienced for someone who's just qualified. I've been a volunteer counsellor at a placement called the Nightingale Cancer Support charity in Enfield and I'll continue there as I like it. They've supported me through my student years so a nice long thank you is in order. 

So why all the counselling blah blah on the Mambalsa blog?

Part of the reason to train as a therapist was to go into the psychological detail of relationships and change. That's what therapy is: a need to change, and the relationship on the dance floor is amazing similar to the therapeutic relationship. The core conditions of humanistic therapy as proposed by Carl Rogers are:

Empathy, Congruence and Unconditional Positive Regard.

Empathy is considering the other persons point of view, i.e. how it is for them. When empathy is put into action I call it consideration. Without empathy we're simply using our dance partner for our own gratification.Without empathy there is no relationship, just two individuals wasting each other's time.

Congruence is basically 'straightness' as in 'being straight with your partner'. There's no point pretending your partner is advanced if they're not. Pretending you're the greatest dancer is just that, a pretense, does wearing a fake smile really make you happy or confident? Nooooo! Only when you shift that fakeness can you really express yourself. Being real is confidence boosting and relaxing and therefore your start to look confident and relaxed. Welcome to the Gestalt paradox of change! 

Unconditional Positive Regard is going out there with a clear expectation to be the best for you partner and yourself. Do you really want to dance with someone who's going to be negative or disinterested? Hell no! Are you expecting your next dance partner to make you happier? Why no take responsibility for the relationship and invest positivity from the moment you start. I find it always gets reflected back.

Back to Mambalsa:

The counseling training has given me the psychological depth to Mambalsa. It's vastly improved my communication skills. It's also given me an occupational safety net. 

It feels very fitting for me to invite instructors to add Mambalsa to their portfolio of occupations when I have a portfolio of my own. We're all in the gig economy now!

Details of my counselling practice can be found at thecounsellorforyou.co.uk

 

 

What has Mambalsa been Up to?

 

Here's a list of the things I've done with Mambalsa since it's creation in 2014. It's not as big as it could be but it's been a lot of fun. Apart from the public side of the Mambalsa project, I've developed the dance and the psychology behind it.

I've nearly qualifies as a Therapist (Humanistic Integrative for those in the know) and studied positive psychology which has added a lot to my understanding. I feel post covid (hopefully), it's time to get the ball rolling and seek a wider community for Mambalsa. Please see that as an invitation :)

• Coming soon Autumn 2021 Workshops in London
• 2020 Covid Lockdown  -A lot of dancing in the kitchen with Fliss :)
  
• 2019 Daytime Dance - An inclusive daytime class aimed at tackling isolation
  
• 2018 Filmed Mambalsa clips at bar Salsa but I haven't finished editing them... yet!
  
• 2018 Various corporate gigs and parties 
• 2017 I took Mambalsa into primary schools to see what the kids made of it.
  
• 2016 Dancing Squares - lunchtime central urban outdoor silent disco classes
• 2015 Edinburgh Fringe show "One Man's Quest to create a new partner dance"
  
• 2014/5 The original Mambalsa workshops at Salsa Soho
• 2014 Mambalsa created in coffee shops and my kitchen 
  

Mambalsa is back!

Mambalsa Autumn Workshops

This Autumn ‘21 I’m offering a series of full day workshops at Salsa Soho in central London to explore and develop Mambalsa as a social partner dance. 

Dates: 3 Oct,  14 Nov,   12 Dec.

[----Book Now!-----] 

Mambalsa at a glance:

• It’s the first new partner dance of the 21st century.
• It can be danced in partners, solo or in groups and looks similar to many popular Latin partner dances with a little extra sizzle and giggle.
• Mambalsa is danced to almost any music fast or slow, from Acid House to Zydeco! Mambalsa adapts and moulds itself to the music's rhythm.
• It’s very easy and fast to learn. You’ll be dancing Mambalsa in five minutes and showing your friends in ten!
• Built into the heart of Mambalsa is an ethos of: confidence, respect and positivity that generate well-being. Mambalsa can be just a fun thing or an ongoing conversation about practising life skills leading to a more fulfilled life.
• Mambalsa’s new and that means there’s a huge opportunity for anyone who gets involved at the start. My aim is to build a group of Mambalsa dancers as the first step towards establishing Mambalsa on the global dance scene.

What we’ll cover on the course:

• The Basics of Mambalsa including the fundamental rules that define the dance.
• Event based moves e.g. spins, travelling steps leading to small combos.
• Five categories of moves and  how to generate 100,000 combinations.
• How to lead and follow with presence. (In Mambalsa everyone learns to lead and follow)
• Using empathy and respect to build confidence within the dance relationship.
• Working with the music.
• The psychology of having more fun more often.
• How to research and develop within Mambalsa
• The Mambalsa community and business model.

Some of the Mambalsa Originals in 2014/5

What to Bring:
I would ask every participant to choose a track they would like to dance to but not from a genre they already dance e.g. a salsa dancer should not choose a salsa track.

Cost:
I’ve kept the cost to a minimum so it isn’t a barrier to participant:
£25 per person
11am-5pm Salsa Soho, 96 Charing Cross Road.

[--Location--]

Covid:

Due to the pandemic courses may need to be postponed at short notice.
All courses are now booked on the basics that we will be swapping partners as before covid 19. This reflects salsa culture and improves the course in many ways.
Covid has not gone away so I ask that:
If you have any possible symptoms of Covid you postpone your course date. I will not charge transfer fees. Please let me know ASAP.
Anyone showing symptoms similar to covid 19 will not be admitted.
If you can test before coming please do. I will test myself before every course.

The workshops are presented by Alastair Sadler creator of Mambalsa, professional dance teacher since 1995.  

[----Check Dates & Book-----]

Dancing squares- first at Kings Cross

Today was the second attempt at Dancing Squares, this time at Pancreas Sq. Kings Cross...
and it worked! Mainly thanks to Thomas who supported me at Euston yesterday and works in an office overlooking St Pancreas Sq. He brought a wonderful bunch of co-workers along and we did an intro to Mambalsa session.  We were joined by a man who worked on the building site, which shows a group grows.
The equipment worked fine after I switched to flight mode and the sun shone.
 
Most importantly, many people stopped and watched and took note as we had fun. Fingers crossed for next week :-)

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Dancing Squares launch Tue 14th Wed 15th Thurs 16 June 2016

Dancing Squares Press Release
Would you like to dance? - a timeless phrase that moves into the twenty first century with pop-up silent disco lunchtime dance classes starting in Euston, Kings Cross and Paddington from Tuesday 14th June.

The project’s called Dancing Squares and it’s a world first, bringing together open air dance classes with music via silent disco headsets.
Our fun, friendly twenty-minute Salsa and Mambalsa classes will de-stress and energise your day.

Times:
12:50 Tuesday 14th - Regents Place, Euston - Intro to Mambalsa
12:10 Wednesday 15th - Battle Bridge Place, Kings Cross - Intro to Salsa, Mambalsa and La Rueda
12:50 Thursday 16th - Paddington Basin - Intro to Mambalsa

We’ve two dances for you to try:
Salsa: the world’s most popular partner dance and it’s Cuban wheel dance cousin - La Rueda. From the plazas of Havana to the streets of New York, Salsa’s hot Latin rhythms are perfect for the summer sizzle.
Mambalsa: a brand new partner dance that’s got loads of Latin flare plus extra funk and groove. Mambalsa works to any music so it’s perfect for a slow romantic smooch or a strutt your thang at a party.

No partner and no experience needed, just log in to www.dancingsquares.co.uk to reserve a session. Then come along, show your token, put on a silent disco headset and enjoy the class.

Launch Offer:
Your first session is free and the first seventy-five people will get three weeks of sessions completely free!

The Dancing Squares project has been designed and created by Alastair Sadler, London- based salsa teacher with twenty-one years experience and originator of Mambalsa, the Salsa Rapido teaching method and the 1-Day Intensive salsa course format.

"Dance classes should be friendly, fast-paced and above all fun” said Alastair, “The Dancing Squares format allows people to participate in a bitesize dance session in a great outdoor environment during their lunch break. The wireless headsets are a fun and unique way to really get into the mood.”

Contact:
Alastair Sadler
Mob: 07939 012231 / Office: 0208 888 5507
salsa@streetbeat.co.uk
www.dancingsquares.co.uk
www.mambalsa.com
www.streetbeat.co.uk

The Mambalsa One day Challenge 11th Oct 2015

Report:
Sadly this event was cancelled because I could not get enough people to attend :-(
This was down to not enough work on my part, for which I take full responsibility.



The Mambalsa One day Challenge - four hours to learn a new dance from scratch - Mambalsa.
Learn the steps, learn the moves, learn the partner work and learn how to make it all come together for a filmed multi-track demo.
That's the Mambalsa One day Challenge!
We meet at 11am to start at 11.30am and we finish filming at 5pm.

It's held at bar Salsa in London’s Soho. 96 Charing Cross Road WC2H 0JG use Tottenham Court Rd or Leicester Square tube.

No dance experience is required! Two left feet and a ‘can do’ attitude. The course is led by Alastair Sadler creator of Mambalsa and salsa teacher with twenty years experience.
Mambalsa is a new partner dance created in 2014. It combines Latin style with funk and groove. It’s easy to learn and fits any music.  The Mambalsa ethos is to dance anywhere, any-time, to any music and squeeze the maximum fun out of every track  :-)
Sounds fun? It is!
Get a head start suss out the basic step at http://www.mambalsa.com/video-player.php#/?playlistId=1&videoId=0
More info about Mambalsa at  www.mambalsa.com
To reserve your place email me your name and mobile to info@mambalsa.com

We have this event on  Meetup.com Check it out and RSVP! http://meetu.ps/2P5Pqz

bar Salsa, 96 Charing Cross Rd London WC2H 0JG. Transport: Tube: Tottenham Ct Rd