Fundamentals Course Structure | Sabroso Dance Academy

Sabroso Dance Academy

Fundamentals
Course Structure

Fundamentals is the second stage of your salsa journey, built across three standalone blocks of four weeks each. You can join any block in any order and work through all three at your own pace. Complete all three blocks. Get signed off by a teacher. Move up to Scale It Up.

New to salsa? Fundamentals assumes you've already covered the basics. If you're just starting out, the Beginners Course is where to begin.
View Beginners Course

How It Works

3
Blocks
Each one is standalone. Join in any order, any time of year.
4
Weeks per Block
Each week builds on the last within that block.
12
Weeks Total
Complete all three and get signed off to progress.

The Three Blocks

A
Inside & Outside Turns · Reverse Cross-body
FlicksDrop CatchHair Comb
Partner Work
Week 1Inside Turn L→R · Inside Turn R→L · Reverse Cross-body
Week 2Inside Turn · Titanic · Scoop · Drop Catch · Reverse Cross-body
Week 3Outside Turn R→L · Outside Turn R→R · Reverse Walk Through
Week 4Outside Turn to Arm Lock · Outside Turn Double Handed Touch & Go · Reverse Walk Through
Solo Work
Week 1Susie-Q · Tres Tres · Hook Step
Week 2Susie-Q · Tres Tres · Hook Step · Left Hesitation
Week 3Susie-Q · Downtown · Tres Tres · Hook Step · Left Hesitation · Flare
Week 4All of the above
B
Inside Turns & Copa · Left Turn Cross-body
FlicksDrop CatchHair Comb
Partner Work
Week 1Inside Turn L→R · Inside Turn R→L · Left Turn Cross-body (leader)
Week 2Inside Turn Double Handed · Inside Turn with Change of Hand · Left Turn Cross-body (leader)
Week 3Cross-body Change Hand · Copa to Walk Through · Copa to Cross-body · Left Turn Cross-body
Week 4Copa Inside Turn · Left Turn Cross-body
Solo Work
Week 1Groove · Corners · Spiral Step · Heel Heel Toe Toe
Week 2Groove · Corners · Spiral Step · Heel Heel Toe Toe · Hook Turn
Week 3Groove · Corners · Spiral Step · Heel Heel Toe Toe · Hook Turn · Kick Ball Change
Week 4All of the above
C
Outside Turns & Spiral · Cross-body Hook
FlicksDrop CatchHair Comb
Partner Work
Week 1Outside Turn R→L · Outside Turn R→R · Cross-body Hook
Week 2Outside Turn to Arm Lock · Outside Turn Double Handed Touch & Go · Cross-body Hook
Week 3Spiral to Walk Through · Spiral to Cross-body · Cross-body Hook
Week 4Spiral to Inside Turn · Spiral Barrel Back to Back · Cross-body Hook
Solo Work
Week 1Downtown · Mambo Cubano · Rumba
Week 2Downtown · Mambo Cubano · Rumba · Half Turns
Week 3Downtown · Mambo Cubano · Rumba · Half Turns · Grapevine
Week 4All of the above

Full Move Reference

Everything covered across all three blocks.

Shines & Solo Work
  • Right turn
  • Left turn
  • Groove & corners
  • Susie-Q
  • Downtown
  • Tres tres
  • Hook step
  • Spiral step
  • Flare
  • Mambo cubano
  • Rumba
  • Left hesitation
  • Hook turn
  • Half right turn
  • Half left turn
  • Simple twist
  • Heel heel toe toe
  • Kick ball change
  • Pas de bourrée
  • Cross cross Susie-Q / syncopation
  • Grapevine: side, cross back, side, cross front (hold on 7)
Partner Work
  • Half turns
  • Cross-body
  • Other side cross-body
  • Right turn
  • Left turn
  • Walk through
  • Cross-body with leader turn
  • Cross-body hook turn
  • Inside turn
  • Outside turn
  • Other side inside turn (reverse)
  • Other side outside turn (reverse)
  • Titanic
  • Spiral (exits: walk through, cross-body, inside turn)
  • Copa (exits: walk through, inside turn)

Questions

Do I need to complete the blocks in a specific order? +
No. Each block is completely standalone. You can join any of the three in any order, at any point in the year. We do recommend starting from week 1 of whichever block is running, rather than joining mid-way through.
Can I join if a block has already started? +
You can, but each week builds on the one before so joining at week 2 or 3 can make things harder to follow. Wherever possible, we recommend joining from the start of a new block.
What if I miss a class? +
To complete a block you need to attend all four sessions. If you miss one, you have three options: book a private catch-up with one of the teachers, wait for that specific week to come around again in the next cycle (the full three-block cycle is 12 weeks), or ask a teacher to assess you on the material you missed.
How long does it take to complete all three blocks? +
The blocks run back to back in a 12-week cycle. If you attend consecutively, you can complete all three in one cycle. You can also spread it across multiple cycles if you need to repeat a block or life gets in the way.
How do I move up to Scale It Up? +
Complete all three blocks, then have a conversation with one of the teachers. We'll have a look at where you are and let you know when you're ready to progress. There's no rigid test, just an honest look at your dancing together.
I'm new to salsa. Can I join Fundamentals? +
Fundamentals assumes you've already covered the basics of salsa. If you're just starting out, the Beginners Course is the right place to start. Once you've completed that, Fundamentals is your next step.