Salsa dance the night away

EASTWOOD Leisure Complex is livening with Latin dance each week.

Colombian couple Stefi Tello and Victor Barrantes have launched their own Elemento One salsa dance classes, held each Wednesday evening at 7pm to share their culture and love of movement.

“We’ve been living in Ballarat for the past three years, and we’ve done a few performances. People have requested opportunities to learn how to dance salsa,” Barrantes said.

“My wife and I have started this project so people can have a fun night out and try something different.”

Throughout the term, the couple are teaching participants, whether they come alone or with a partner, different steps so they can grasp a full choreographed song, Londres.

“You are dancing solo but learning steps that will help you to dance in a couple. At the end of the night, we’re all dancing together.

“In the class, we start with mobility to get our joints ready for action, do a small warm up to get our body ready and set, and then one by one we teach everyone, make sure they’re onto the steps, and then evolve to choreography,” Barrantes said.

He encourages those who are willing to learn something new to give the classes a go, and expects they’ll enjoy the vibrant music, the use of Spanish, getting to know others with similar interests, and the exercise component.

“Dancing is a good way to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and you get your body to move. I’m a fitness instructor and love to show people that we’re designed to move.

“Exercise is always needed, and this is something for our body. It’s a good for your fitness, your mindset, mental health, and overall wellness,” Barrantes said.

The classes began on Wednesday, 24 March. In the coming months, Elemento One is hoping to run their classes on more than one night per week.

Visit bit.ly/2PygHGf and linktr.ee/Elementoone for more information and to book.