WHAT IS CUBAN DANCE ACADEMY?
Cuban Dance Academy is the study of Cuban culture, music and dance.
Salvador is not the inventor nor the creator of Cuban Dance Academy, he is another qualified voice like many Cuban professors who, in every part of the world, spread Cuban culture, music and dance in a professional way.
In the end, the goal of each professor is the same: to create a dancer. Everybody has his/her own technique, however, we are not speaking about just any method, but about the FSR Method (•Functional • Successful • Revolutionary).
It is currently being performed in Plus53, the Academy based in Malta.
What sets Salvador apart is the creation of the FSR Method, which is an academic method that helps people to understand Cuban dance styles more quickly and to establish the necessary knowledge to progress in the right way.
Santiago de Cuba not only provided Salvador with the University studies and learning through the experience of more than 40 professors, but he also managed to successfully create the FSR Method, which was applied to more than 500 Cuban dancers from different cities of Cuba. Currently, more than 100 of these dancers are now dancing or teaching in various countries around the world.
Santiago is the motherland of some Cuba’s popular dances and music such as Trova and Son. Furthermore, the first national folkloric group was from the city of Santiago de Cuba, Ballet Folklorico de Oriente.
The Academy consists in the study of the five main sections which group the different Cuban Dance Styles:
WHAT ARE ITS ORIGINS?
Plus53 offers professional Cuban Dance courses aimed for everyone (from beginners to advanced) who would like to study and make the difference in order to be able to dance ANY Caribbean Style SOLO, in COUPLES and in a GROUP (choreography & rueda de casino).
It is an Academy because, unlike a Salsa class, all Cuban Dance Styles are explained through an Academic Method created and conducted by Prof. Famoso Salvador Rodriguez, who is specialized in Afro-Cuban, Franco-Haitian and Popular Music, Dance and Culture: FSR Method (• Functional • Successful • Revolutionary).
The Academy consists of 5 years of study, during which you will learn and study more than 20 different Cuban Dance Styles which are continuously being updated.
From each of these Cuban Styles, you will study technique, movements and play instruments, in order to enrich Cuban Salsa.
Our promise is to take students from point A to point B through an academic method and a program that follows a learning sequence, adapting the curriculum to the needs of the students.
The FSR Method is a combination of more than 15 years of experience in Santiago de Cuba as a student, dancer and teacher in continuous contact with the greatest exponents of Modern Cuban, Folkloric and Popular Dance. This Method is based on three fundamental sectors:
The FSR Method will help you to prepare your body, to be able to perform the technique, which will allow you to make the steps and movements.
1. ATHLETIC PHYSICAL PREPARATION
Being defined as a sportive dance, students of the Cuban Dance Academy are trained to express skills and abilites such as athletics and gymnastics.
Athletic physical preparation is defined in two major sectors:
1. Aesthetic
2. Athletic
THE DIFFERENCE
A potential dancer who begins training physically and athletically may have a well-defined and muscular physique and aesthetic body due to genetics. Whereas, he/she may have not enough endurance, agility, strength, coordination, mobility, etc. On the other hand, there may be aspiring dancers who before starting to train, do have some of the previously mentioned skills due to genetics.
The FSR method aims to develop the first sector of athletic physical preparation through TRAINING.
The goal of the FSR method is to develop a hybrid body, that is, to have a good athletic and aesthetic preparation.
Gymnastics together with athletics provides this Hybrid set.
BENEFITS OF ATHLETIC PHYSICAL PREPARATION
SECTORS OF DEVELOPMENT:
This set of elements of physical-athletic preparation will allow you to dance in any professional dance company and perform shows. (GINNASTA-ACROBATA)
2. GENERAL AND SPECIFIC TECHNIQUE
BENEFITS OF CUBAN MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE
The fundamental objective of all techniques is to train the dancer and give him/her the necessary tools to be free in terms of movement. Technique gives one freedom of movement, expression and self-awareness. Moreover, technique will prepare the dancer for the stage.
On the other hand, the goal is to train a dancer. A dancer who does not know the technique will surely have more difficulty to express himself in all senses. When one acquires the dance technique, the way of projecting and manifesting oneself in society is different. Technique does make an impact on your day-to-day life.
This set of elements of physical-athletic preparation plus cuban modern dance technique, will also allow you to dance in any professional modern and folklore dance company and perform shows.
3. ATHLETIC GESTURE
Body movements are defined by Professor Salvador Rodriguez as “athletic gesture”, are nothing more than the translation and interpretation of the music through body language.
In Cuban dances, especially in folkloric dance, the athletic gesture is in perfect harmony with the musical instruments, with fluid, cadenced and percussive movements.
In the FSR method we always work with two groups of “athletic gestures”:
Simple
Compound
In the first group, the student will learn to move one or two parts of the body at the same tempo.
In the second group, the student will learn to move two or more parts of the body with different tempo.
Both groups will use the popular concept of “change of dynamics” and will be performed in the center and in space.
The Cuban and Yoruba dance techniques, together with the support of athletic training, will give the maximum performance to the body language.
CURRICULUM FOR THE ACADEMY YEARS
Course is 2/4 hrs weekly for a period of 12 months resulting in roughly 144hrs
Course is 2/4 hrs weekly for a period of 12 months resulting in roughly 144hrs
Course is 2/4 hrs weekly for a period of 12 months resulting in roughly 144hrs
Course is 2/4 hrs weekly for a period of 12 months resulting in roughly 144hrs
Course is 2/4 hrs weekly for a period of 12 months resulting in roughly 144hrs
Coming Soon
Students of our Academy are free to choose to attend classes according to their own needs and availability.
Each academic year consists of four quarters. All students will be tested with an exam after the sixth month and at the end of the year: theoretically, practically, musically, solo, in couples and in a group.
If you comply with the three sectors of the FSR method, you will be able to translate the music not only with dance elements, but also with acrobatic and athletic elements.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF FSR METHOD
The FSR Method is a professional method, recognized by the University of Oriente (Santiago de Cuba).
Prof. Famoso Salvador Rodriguez defines the dancer as an ATHLETE, therefore, the steps or dance movements are determined as “ATHLETIC GESTURES“.
For this reason, the Cuban Dance Style is defined as a SPORTIVE DANCE, where each aspiring dancer prepares and trains the body to develop a technique that will lead to the final movement, that is to say, the Dance Style.
MEET SALVADOR: “THE PROFESSOR”
𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐳 started University in 2006 at Universidad de Oriente (International Relations Section) in Santiago de Cuba. During the five University years he developed not only talents as a dancer but a strong desire to spread this culture specializing in the art of teaching as a professor and choreographer. He reached such maturity that he graduated at the end of five years, as Professor, Dancer and Choreographer in Afro-Cuban and Franco-Haitian dance, culture and music.
He was part of the Audio Visual Company “Loc@mocion” Santiago de Cuba as Professor and Choreographer. He was also Choreographer (Rueda de Casino) and Solo Dancer (Columbia) of the Company “Teatro de la Danza del Caribe”, first modern dance company in the Eastern part of the country and Solo Dancer of Folkloric Groups “Tiempo Joven”, “Ikachè” and “Miokan Olofi”.
Salvador’s style, methodology, originality and, above all, his desire to push himself beyond any obstacle, have brought him great rewards.
His cultural, musical and dance knowledge are the result of the teaching received from all his professors over a period of 5 years. However, the experience that marked Salvador’s development in Cuban dances was teaching in two big dance companies: Ballet Folklorico de Oriente, in the charge of Prof. Emilio Carrion (First Solo Dancer) and Teatro de la Danza del Caribe, heading up by Prof. Yamilia Prevals Feneron (Prima Ballerina) and Maestro Eduardo Rivero Walker (1936-2012) (National Dance Award 2001).
After all these experiences, Salvador could say that his dreams came true.
SALVADOR'S PROFESSORS
LOC@MOCION DANCE COMPANY
What the students say about us
It is not necessary to have danced before or to have a particular level of physical fitness. Anyone of any age and background can dance salsa well, and the FSR method will give you excellent results.
With the FSR Method, you will learn Salsa far differently to the traditional method. We will prepare your body physically and by adding technique to it, you will feel confident in dancing Salsa.
Result: you will take less time and your level will be higher.
If you practise at least two to three hours a week, in less than three months you will not believe (recognise) yourself.
Minimum age is 5 years old.
You should wear comfortable clothing which allows you to move freely, and indoor shoes (e.g. sports shoes). Do not forget water and a spare t-shirt!
Cuban Salsa (Tuesday 8:30pm/10:30pm, 75€ per month or 195€ three months).
Yes, we provide general and specific professional training through 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 conducted by Prof. Famoso Salvador Rodriguez.
Yes, you can cancel your subscription within the first five days.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐀𝐩𝐩
𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐨, 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐬𝟓𝟑
Private lessons are available on site (Plus53 Studio) and on-line (for women, men or in couples)
Also if you are not available at the times written above, we can come to your address at different times in Malta and Gozo.
It all depends on the course.
Cuban Dance Academy has an academic teaching structure. A full course of 1 year consists of 4 quarters. At the end of each year, there is a test with a certificate that allows you to move to the next year.
Other courses have different levels to attend considering that not only years of experience are taking in consideration, but rather your skill-set.
Yes, there are
Salsa is a very sensual dance, in which dancers express their emotions through the movement of their bodies. It is a very passionate dance and to see a professional salsa dancer on the dance floor is truly captivating.
It is not compulsory as on our partnered classes (like salsa, bachata and zouk) we are frequently changing partners, which helps students to learn. If you would like to bring your partner, friend or colleague it’s awesome too!
Monday from 9am
Wednesday at 10am
Friday at 9am
It is for all those who, apart from meeting people, feeling good, socializing, WANT TO STUDY AND LEARN.
Join our Saturday’s party, noche latina from 8pm at St. Gregory’s Club Lounge, Sliema.
Classes can be paid by cash, Paypal or Revolut
