About Salsa/Bio page

About the Instructor Isabel

Age 35, born in Spain of Cuban descent, Isabel has lived in England for 27 years. She has been involved in the Salsa scene for 16 years, teaching with Nelson Batista's Salsa Rico for 10 years.

Apart from being Nelson's dance partner, Isabel also runs Salsa Xpression, based mainly in Peterborough. She has been involved in the promotion and organisation of Latin Events, including the much publicised London Salsa Congress in 2000. In 1999 Isabel took part in BBC Roadshows at both Peterborough Queensgate and Lakeside (Kent) shopping centres and also the Peterborough Dance Festival in 2000.

She still assists Nelson in the running of Salsa Rico's other classes/clubs in Cambridge, Canterbury, Newmarket and many others, and has also taught over 200 workshops throughout the country. Isabel has appeared in various TV Programs relating to Salsa, alongside Nelson Batista

Salsa Xpression provides a variety of services, such as dance instruction, private lessons, performances, DJ's and bands for private parties and corporate events.

ABOUT DANCES TAUGHT

Salsa

is now the most popular and fashionable form of Latin Dance. Cuban in origin, Salsa originated in the 1920's from a very unlikely mixture of African Rhythms and the melodies of the Spanish Colonies. This was called Son, which together with other Cuban rhythms like Rumba and Danzon, merged to create a rich four-beat musical style.

In the 1950's other rhythms, such as Jazz and Blues, began to influence Salsa. At this time, horns such as the trombone, saxophone and trumpet were introduced giving the music its rich distinctive sound.

Other Latin Rhythms such as Mambo were incorporated into the Salsa musical structure, this was reflected in the dance, creating faster and more complex footwork with more twists, turns, giving birth to the extremely stylish dance we know today as "Salsa".

The music spread rapidly with the large migration of Cuban and Puerto Rican people to the US since 1959 when Fidel Castro took power in Cuba. Many famous musicians, among them Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria and Celia Cruz began to play at well-know venues in New York, such as the Palladium, establishing Salsa in the United Estates.

More recently the music migrate to Europe. In London there is now a thriving Salsa scene, with many clubs and bands involved.