Cambridge International Friends

This is our weekly meetup.

If you are interested in having some drinks/food and a chat please join us at one of the pubs in Cambridge City centre or close by.

Please sign up only if you are sure you are coming and respect the RSPV list, as its a small group event.

If you sign up and do not turn up without changing your RSVP, I will move you to waiting list in future events.

Hope to see you there!

***Very Important: This is an event type where numbers are very important so please respect your RSVPs!

Starting to dance is not as easy as it sounds and I know it very well. So here is an event dedicated for Beginners just to “start” and get on a dance-floor to dance — we don’t care about doing it perfectly.

We will do Bachata!
Here is one of my favorite videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmayR29pKbQ
Just to see the dance.

### Where to find us

We will be in the park.Since we’re in the open air, look for a guy with an orange mat and a big wireless speaker. That’s our "dance floor" for the day. Just come and ask “Bachata?” and you’ve officially started.

### The Plan:

• We’ll be hanging out for a while to get to know each other. Feel free to arrive early, say hi, and get used to the vibe of the park.
• Warm-up: we’ll spend the first 5 minutes stretching and then moving our feet.
• Basics: we will review basics, and understand how they are supposed to work.
• Small sequence: You end up doing a small sequence of 3 or 4 moves
• The "Hacks": I'll share a few concepts, like how do I find the damn “1” and tricks to improve, etc…
• Afterwards: we can chill and put on some music if people want.

### What to Wear

Since we are on grass and in the open air, please keep it casual:

• Shoes: Sneakers or flat shoes are best. Avoid formal shoes and NO heels!
• Clothes: Very comfy. Think "going for a walk" rather than "going to a club."
• Layers: This is the UK, so bring a jacket just in case the wind picks up.
• A Change: You might get slightly sweaty once we start moving, so you might want to bring a spare shirt to change into afterwards.

### Keep In Mind

To keep this a “nice” space, here a few points:

• I will be asking if you and your guests are leaders of followers when you join event, so that we can auto-balance ourselves.
• This isn't a speed dating event. We are here to connect with the music and the movement, not to find a "match."
• Please avoid correcting others. If there's a big technical hurdle, I’ll step in to help—otherwise, just keep flowing!
• We all make mistakes, and we are 100% okay with that. It’s the only way to learn.
• If you’re moving, you’re doing it right.
• We know that with time, we’ll all make fewer mistakes. Today is just about getting those first ones out of the way.
• This is a drop-in class, so we are kind of self-contained starting from the basics.
• We are at the mercy of the "typical UK" weather. If it’s cold, rainy, or too windy, I will postpone the event and update you here.
• This is a community-run session. Whether we are a small group or a big crowd, the music stays on and we keep moving!

### Links

If you want to send us a message: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScX8dGu8m5wXk9tjuIqTly26LJJCwjosV4R6o06T6nYiuVqVQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Music with counts to find the "1": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVLZWDJts_g&list=PLnGPtlzdk2UOjeYOjcNqSRTgMgvcz5F_L&index=1

—------ The backstory

Hello everyone!
My name is Manuel and I am a dancer. I do a lot of Salsa and Bachata—you’ll usually find me at events every weekend unless I’m sick.

I’ve spent the past years traveling to festivals and learning from some of the best dancers in the world (and also the worst eheh). I’ve collected a lot of different perspectives and ideas, and I will be sharing them with you.

To be honest: I have never taught a formal class before, so please be patient with me. But I have a lot to say and a lot to show you, that’s for sure.

Victor and I decided to kick these events off specifically for Beginners. This is for the person who wants to start but doesn't know where to go, or someone who just wants to see if they even like it.

Here is a free event to learn the basics of the dance.
The goal: Just get on the dance floor and enjoy yourself.

We are doing this in the park to keep it free, which I know can feel to be "exposed." But here is the truth: nobody is really looking at you. They might see us, look confused for a second, and then forget we exist 5 minutes later... which is its own kind of sad!
We will be weather dependent, if it is cold/cloudy/raining/windy (pfff the typical UK), I will postpone the event.

Starting is not easy. I still remember exactly how it felt to be a beginner. My goal is to keep this as comfy as possible.

For now I will organize communications via meetup and newsletters. Via emails it is easier to keep privacy.

Note: I am not a performer. So I won’t teach you how to “perform” on the dancefloor, but how to dance!