Free open day 08.01.19 Click for more info!
Dance classes/courses in Oslo. Group classes and workshops in bachata, salsa, kizomba and ballroom
Duende - dominican bachata show.
Spring Bachata Festival 2017, Oslo
Spring Bachata Festival 2017, Oslo
Dominican bachata
Bachata today is known as a "latin dance that originated in the Dominican Republic" as Wikipedia describes it, and is now almost as popular as salsa. Almost all latin clubs around the world play bachata just as much as salsa, although bachata has a very different history. It developed much faster than salsa and in fact the bachata we dance and listen to today evolved in less than 60 years.
The name is strange because it comes from a local name Dominicans uses for 'a home party', and for many years, bachata was exactly that - a gathering or party at someone's place with drinks where this type of music was played by a couple of guys with guitars. It was very informal and in fact, looked negatively on by society. The music itself has some roots in bolero, but evolved when it was mixed with merengue. The reason for its 'underground' life and lack of popularity were the lyrics. Bachata lyrics were quite vulgar and sexual at first. It was actually somewhat embarrassing to be caught playing bachata!
However, a few devoted Dominican singers that had a deep love for the music and the rhythm itself, started trying to change that by introducing better, more sentimental lyrics, mostly about love and heartbreak, lost love and pain from love (that's why it was called 'amargue' for a while, which means bitter in Spanish). This is also where some singers took their stage name from like Luis Miguel Del Amargue. With more beautiful lyrics (often borrowed from Dominican folklore), the music became more and more popular. The fastest growth was only 40 years ago but it was still very local and mostly popular in the Dominican Republic.
Only 10-20 years ago, as some musicians such as Aventura started mixing bachata with pop, the music and the dance exploded on a global level. Naturally, as the music evolved, so did the dance. Often the bachata danced in the clubs today has the roots from the Dominican bachata dance but also elements of salsa, zouk, pop and many other styles.
The name is strange because it comes from a local name Dominicans uses for 'a home party', and for many years, bachata was exactly that - a gathering or party at someone's place with drinks where this type of music was played by a couple of guys with guitars. It was very informal and in fact, looked negatively on by society. The music itself has some roots in bolero, but evolved when it was mixed with merengue. The reason for its 'underground' life and lack of popularity were the lyrics. Bachata lyrics were quite vulgar and sexual at first. It was actually somewhat embarrassing to be caught playing bachata!
However, a few devoted Dominican singers that had a deep love for the music and the rhythm itself, started trying to change that by introducing better, more sentimental lyrics, mostly about love and heartbreak, lost love and pain from love (that's why it was called 'amargue' for a while, which means bitter in Spanish). This is also where some singers took their stage name from like Luis Miguel Del Amargue. With more beautiful lyrics (often borrowed from Dominican folklore), the music became more and more popular. The fastest growth was only 40 years ago but it was still very local and mostly popular in the Dominican Republic.
Only 10-20 years ago, as some musicians such as Aventura started mixing bachata with pop, the music and the dance exploded on a global level. Naturally, as the music evolved, so did the dance. Often the bachata danced in the clubs today has the roots from the Dominican bachata dance but also elements of salsa, zouk, pop and many other styles.
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Dominican bachata class with Ewa Trela og George Daniels.
Sagene, Oslo |
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Dominican bachata class with Ewa Trela og George Daniels.
Sagene, Oslo |
Ballroom - Sport dance - Social dance
Ballroom
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Grunde Myhrer and Ewa Trela dance slow waltz,
Skal Vi Danse 2017, Oslo |
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Grunde Myhrer and Ewa Trela dance paso doble,
Skal Vi Danse 2017, Oslo |
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Grunde Myhrer and Ewa Trela dance viennese waltz,
Skal Vi Danse 2017, Oslo |
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Grunde Myhrer and Ewa Trela dance rumba,
Skal Vi Danse 2017, Oslo |
Ladies styling
Ladies styling in bachata, salsa, rumba. Ladies styling courses are the perfect way to learn to express yourself in Latin dances. Styling is inspired by bachata, salsa, rumba and other dances, such as flamenco or kizomba. Here we learn new moves, shines, footwork, spin technique, and gracefullness, elegance and looking attractive on the dance floor.
To me, the most important thing is that you have fun and find yourself in the dance. We will build our confidence, basic technique and dance attitude with short choreographies.
The Lady styling course is a tailor made hour especially for women. There is an open level at these hours, all ladies are welcome. Ladies, let's shine!
To me, the most important thing is that you have fun and find yourself in the dance. We will build our confidence, basic technique and dance attitude with short choreographies.
The Lady styling course is a tailor made hour especially for women. There is an open level at these hours, all ladies are welcome. Ladies, let's shine!
Kizomba
I fell in love with kizomba in Lisbon, in 2005, because of my friends from Cabo Verde who introduced this dance to me. Since then I’ve studied kizomba at many workshops and festivals and shared my knowledge with students. I was one of the first dance teachers in Poland to begin teaching kizomba when the dance was just beginning its international career. My dance style is elegant and sensual and I put a large focus on both a perfect man’s leading and lady’s following in a dancing couple, as well as on the musicality.
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Armanch Saleh and Ewa Trela, urban kizomba workshops,
Tønsberg 2017 |