Cuban and Latin Weekend in Blackpool - This holiday is no longer available -

• An entertaining dance syllabus including Cuban salsa, Rueda, Bachata, Son, Cha Cha Cha, Kizomba and more. (see classes and workshops)
• 2 nights accommodation in the Blackpool-kitsch style 3* Tiffanys Hotel
• Dinner each night
• AfroFusion Dance's unique brand of evening entertainment with freestyle dancing

NB: Accommodation is based on twin-share. Single room supplement is £16 or £20 in twin for sole use. Alternatively we can arrange a room-share partner for you.

Staying half board in the well-located 3* Tiffanys Hotel in Blackpool  you will enjoy daily high energy dance classes (see classes and workshops for details) with Ariel Rios Robert of AfroFusion Dance, Tania Mendonca, Fabiola and Perry, and Hell N, nightly social events and time to relax and explore the lively seaside town of Blackpool.

Our UK weekends are an ideal getaway to enjoy dance, make new friends and explore some of the UK’s most popular resorts. We’re not trying to emulate the large dance congresses and events; whilst we include a full dance schedule our weekends also offer you a revitalising break and the chance to experience one of our holidays without breaking the bank.

"It's an absolute joy for me to write a letter of appreciation to you and your whole team for the totally fantastic weekend that I have just had dancing Salsa.  It has become one of our all-time top three holidays to date." 

"Great fun made special by terrific host."

"Brilliant way to meet like-minded people and dance the night away!"

"V.relaxing and organized events v. enjoyable.  Liked having choice to be independent as and when you please."

"Salsa tuition - professional, sensitive, empowering."

Our UK breaks are ideal for newcomers to dance as well as more experienced dancers - a fantastic, great value way to sample a dance weekend without having to travel abroad. We can guarantee that once you experience a salsa weekend with Club Dance Holidays and AfroFusion Dance, with a group of like-minded people in a fun, lively environment you will be hooked!  It's the perfect opportunity to learn a new or perfect your dance skills, enjoy time in one of the UK's top cities or resorts, make friends and have the most fun you can squeeze into one weekend!

The provisional itinerary below aims to give you an idea of what the weekend might look like. Some details will change.

Friday
2000 Welcome Meeting
2030 - 2130 Cuban and Kizomba fun classes
2130 Social Dance until Late with Dj Ary and Dj Perry

Saturday
Breakfast in the hotel

ROOM HABANA
1000 - 1055 Cuban Salsa (Beginners/Improvers) Fabiola & Perry
1100 - 1155 Rueda de Casino (Beginners/Improvers) Fabiola & Perry

1200 Lunch

1330 - 1425 Bachata (Beginners/Improvers) Ariel & Hell N.
1430 - 1525 Kizomba (All levels) Tania Mendonca
1530 - 1600 Rueda de Casino (All levels)

ROOM CARIBE

1000 - 1055 Cuban Salsa (Intermediate/Advanced) Ariel & Hell N.
1100 - 1155 Son- Cha (Intermediate/Advanced) Ariel & Hell N.

1200 Lunch

1330 - 1425 Kizomba (Intermediate/Advanced) Tania Mendoncan
1430 - 1525 Bachata (All levels) Ariel & Hell N.
1530 - 1600 Rueda de Casino (All levels)

Dinner in the hotel
2030 Fun class and evening social dance until late

Sunday
Breakfast in the hotel and check out of your room

ROOM HABANA
1000 - 1055 Cuban Salsa Partner-work (Beginners/Improvers)
Fabiola & Perry

ROOM CARIBE
1000 - 1055 Salsa-Rumba y Sabor (Intermediate/Advanced) Ariel & Hell N.
Salsa con Rumba y Sabor: Cuban Salsa mixing Rumba and flavor (Styling)

11:30 Fun Class

Afternoon - Free time before making your way home

NB: Late check-out will be possible on some weekends, subject to availability.

Our UK dance weekends cater for all dance levels, from complete beginners to intermediate dancers.

Your dance course will be no less than 8 hours long. All tuition and nightly social events will take place in the hotel.

On your first day, there will be a level decider to ensure that you are in the group most appropriate to your ability and experience. 

Level Criteria
Level 1 - Beginner no previous experience.
Level 2 - Intermediate students and beginners with previous experience. Knowledge of basic steps and understanding of rhythm.
Level 3 - Have skills in movement of the upper part of the body. Be able to interpret the music and have knowledge of three different dance styles.

Saturday from 15:30 - 16:00 all levels will come together in one room to share their experiences and help each other to improve their dance styling and musical understanding.

Ariel Rios Robert from AfroFusion Dance will be your host and teacher on this dance weekend alongside special guest teachers.

Ariel has over 20 years of teaching and dancing experience, from workshops to theatrical performances, including choreography, costume and dance. He have toured the world dancing and teaching foreign & British students all aspects of Cuban Dance, Latin American dance as well as contemporary dance.

He has had the privilege to share the stage with some of the best internationally recognised artists. Ariel has performed and choreographed at some of the best theatres in Havana, Cuba and has toured the UK theatre circuit with the Nitro Theatre Company. With 7 years teaching experience in the UK, having taught all ages from 5 to 80 years old, Ariel thrives on developing people to achieve their maximum potential. My passion is to inspire, educate and motivate through dance culture. I love to mix Afro-Cuban, Latin American and European dances, creating exciting new contemporary styles.

Tania Mendonca Born in Angola, Kizomba is not just a dance for Tania, it's part of her culture and tradition. Raised in Portugal Tania has danced all her life and has been teaching Kizomba to friends and Kizomba enthusiasts since an early age but it was in 2010, after seeing the rapid growth and interest in Kizomba, that Tania decided to take her teaching career to the next level. With the help of some close friends Tania founded KIZOMBA READING in 2010 and has been the home for many "Kizomberos" ever since. Since then Tania has worked in a number of events with UK top Kizomba Instructors and invited to teach at the most popular dance Festivals and Congresses in the UK, including Salsa Splash (Heyling Island), Semba Camp (Oxford), International Cuban Congress (Bournemouth), as well as internationally at Sensual Dance (Madrid-Spain) Salsa/Kizomba Splah (Algarve-Portugal) and Kizomba Connection (Lille France). Tania also teaches regularly in Portsmouth every Sunday with Salsa Sly, Fridays in Bournemouth with Salsa Explosion and on rotation at Sabor Monthly Parties London.

Perry Beaumont Perry has been studying Cuban dance for 11 years, teaching Casino (Cuban style Salsa) and Rueda de Casino for 10 years. He has studied with many of the great Cuban teachers in the UK and Europe and currently teaches with his partner Fabhiola Carpio at 'El Rincon de la Salsa' weekly classes in Oxford. His teaching and performing skills have given him the opportunity to work at congresses, both at home and abroad; performing at the world renowned Miami Salsa Congress and was a finalist in the Tropicana Tropics World Salsa Championships in London, 2003. His love of Cuban music and dance has driven him to communicate this passion to a wider audience, inspiring others to share the richness and depth of Cuban culture.

Fabhiola Oviedo Fabhiola's career has been firmly rooted in the arts and is characterised by a fast, dynamic rise to the top. Initially as a theatre actress, studying Acting Theatre and Contemporary Dance in Peru, she moved to the UK to continue her drama studies and graduated from University of Greenwich. Her focus towards dance has been equally dynamic, studying for only three years, she is teacher level in On1, On2 and Cuban styles of Salsa and is currently studying for a PGCE with emphasis on Latin Dance.
Together with her partner Perry Beaumont, they are the founders of 'El Rincon de la Salsa' in Oxford, specialising in Cuban Salsa; teaching Casino, Rueda, Rumba and men's and lady's styling. Her fast rise to the top has not gone unnoticed, with many offers to join some of the UK's leading dance companies.

Hell N says: "I started dancing at the age of 4 and by the age of 8 continued to further my studies in ballet, tap and modern styles of dance. At this time I also took deportment and styling classes at the Pat Keeling modelling agency until the age of 14. My love of dance was reawakened on a trip to Cuba in 2005 and on returning to the UK, I looked for avenues to enable me to study Cuban dance. In 2006 and 2007 I took 4 specialist dance holidays learning from teachers and students of the Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana and from members of the Sensacion del Cotorro Rueda Team. Many now I can call true friends. My husband and myself continue to visit Cuba regularly and to date have made around 12 trips, visiting every province except for the Isla de la Juventud. Dance, music and culture are at the heart of all our visits. Since 2005 I have also studied regularly with the many accomplished Cuban teachers in the UK, at congresses and through regular lessons. I have studied closely with Ariel Rios learning all styles of Cuban dance, focusing on authentic Cuban style and musical interpretation. Cuban music and dance are a true passion for me, which I express through my Cuban dance style."

 

Blackpool offers  wide variety of restaurant choices, from traditional fish and chips on the promenade to popular pasta and pizza chains and top-end dining experiences.

To ensure you get the best from your trip, we offer you a variety of optional extras to enrich your experience and add some local colour.  There are no optional extras currently available for this trip.

To ensure you get the very best from your holiday, you'll receive a course itinerary with information on the location of classes and your teachers along with information on the local sights, recommended restaurants and other helpful tips when you arrive.

You will receive a course itinerary with information on the location of classes and your teachers. We will also advise you on the local sights, recommended restaurants and other helpful tips.
 

Blackpool has a wide variety of entertainments to suit all ages and there is a choice of pubs, bars and restaurants in the town centre. We include nightly Salsa and Kizomba social events in the hotel.

Course Director Ariel Rios has designed a programme of classes and workshops suitable for all abilities. Some classes will be inclusive and some will run alongside each other, catering for separate abilities.

Beginner dancers will have the opportunity to learn basic steps and practise these during the evening parties. Intermediate dancers will be able to add to their repertoire. Styles include Cuban salsa, Rueda, Bachata, Son, Cha Cha Cha, Kizomba and more.

Level Criteria
Level 1 - Beginner no previous experience.
Level 2 - Intermediate students and beginners with previous experience. Knowledge of basic steps and understanding of rhythm.
Level 3 - Have skills in movement of the upper part of the body. Be able to interpret the music and have knowledge of three different dance styles.

Saturday from 15:30 - 16:00 all levels will come together in one room to share their experiences and help each other to improve their dance styling and musical understanding.
 

Transport to this event is not included in your holiday price.  

The Hotel is approximately 5 miles north of Blackpool Airport and is just a cab ride away. Blackpool North railway station is less than ½ mile away and the main coach terminus is situated next to the football ground about 1 1/2 miles away.

Health and Fitness: There are no particular health requirements for a dance holiday. However you should be able to dance for at least 2 hours a day in order to be able to enjoy the classes.  If you do have any concers do feel free to give us a call - 0207 099 4816.

Blackpool enjoys a typical British climate but our hot Salsa weekend should warm the coldest of cockles!
 

What to wear for Salsa:  We recommend that you bring comfortable and supportive shoes with a leather sole for the dance classes and the evenings. Lightweight cotton socks are also reccommended to avoid sweaty and blistered feet, and comfortable loose clothing for the classes is also advised.