Europe / England / London
Twenty local salsa dancers have hip swiveled their way to success, becoming among the first in years to achieve UKA Dance bronze, silver and gold official dance medals.
Salsa Dancers Medal Success
On Monday 4th July, there was a celebration of their success at a special UKA Dance Medals Party at The Duke, 125 Creek Road, London SE8 3BU, where students were presented with their certificates and medals by the London School of Salsa’s Lee Knights before winning. dining and dancing the night away into the small hours.
The medals assessment day was held at the West Beckenham Conservative Club in Beckenham south London on Saturday 21st May. Achieving a 100 Per cent pass rate, dancers impressed UKA Dance examiners, achieving a fistful of Distinction and Honors grades for bronze, silver and gold awards.
“It is an incredible achievement. Everybody worked so hard, they were so committed. I can’t even put into words how proud I am of them. They all stood out, they were inspiring,” says London School of Salsa’s founder Lee Knights.
Lee continues: “Salsa has been my passion for two decades now; it a privilege to be able to pass on the passion to students, and then see that passion lighting them up on the dance floor.”
Introducing the medals system has played an important part in helping to inspire students, instructor explains. “This isn’t about passing a test, it’s about reinforcing the delivery of structured teaching programs, geared to helping people develop and grow as dancers.
Moving through the medals system is a phenomenal way for dancers to see the progress they’ve made, and get a real buzz from their achievements-it is emotional,
It’s also about developing a community of dancers when people commit to the medals, they also commit to the group of dancers they’re training with. That makes for a very special atmosphere and a very supportive learning environment,” Lee explains.
Last year, the London School of Salsa pioneered UKA Dance Salsa and Rueda de Casino medals, reviving these after they had been left on the sidelines for years. The School is still leading the way but has also inspired other instructors and dancers across the country to follow on, working towards salsa medals.
The London School of Salsa offers salsa classes at The Duke in Deptford on Mondays from 7.00pm, as well as Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays in south London, as well as Dance Salsa in a Day courses on Saturdays and forthcoming salsa holidays in East Bourne and Scotland
Medals are optional, accredited Salsa instructor training courses are also offered
More:
Lee Knights
07979 280 283
Lee Knights is a qualified UKA Dance & IDTA Instructor, teaching, performing and working with BBC4, Sadlers Wells, Club Cubana, Afro Cuban Pati, Salsateca, orchestras including Sierra Maestra and more. Lee is a salsa musicality specialist and author of “Find the Rhythm-The Dancers’ Guide to Salsa Music”, co-written with internationally acclaimed Latin jazz pianist Alex Wilson. The guide has now sold across 5 continents, is recommended by the UKA as essential reading for all dancers, with experts dubbing it “The Salsa Dancers’ Bible”.
