Salsa Society

Welcome to UCL Salsa Society 2025/26!

Salsa Society aims to bring people together through a love for all the different flavours of Latin music and dance. All levels of dancers are welcome, from complete beginners to advanced! No dance shoes, special equipment, or partner is required. 

Most Inclusive Arts Society of the Year, Best Event Award Jazz x Salsa Fiesta - Jazz Society & Salsa Society

General Information

We offer weekly classes, workshops, lots of trips to London Latin clubs for social dancing, and the opportunity to join our performance teams. We also attend several salsa festivals around the UK and Europe every year.

• Weekly crossbody, Cuban salsa and bachata classes run by professional teachers catering to different levels, from beginner to advanced.
• Regular workshops in other Latin dance styles such as reggaeton, Cali salsa and cha cha.
• Chance to audition for our performance teams and perform at dance congresses across the UK (and maybe even Europe). Previously, we have attended DCL Latin Dance Fest in Birmingham, Liverpool Latin Festival, Reading Inter-University Competition, Paris International Salsa Congress, and the Croatian Summer Salsa Festival in Rovinj.
• Regular socials at university or Latin clubs around London so it’s a great opportunity to meet new people and practice your moves!
• Salsa Society Outreach volunteering programme, teaching salsa to kids and older adults.

Classes Terms 1 & 2

Regular (paid) classes are available to book by scrolling to the end of the page ("Events")! To join you will need:

1. Standard Membership (£3)

2. Whole Term Class Pass (£25 per term for unlimited access to our classes)
   OR

   One-Off Class Ticket (£4 per 1 hour of class)

3. "Book a ticket" to secure your place in advance in the class you want to attend.

• Arrive 10 minutes early, so we have plenty of time for registration

  OR

• Cancel your booking by 5pm on the day of the class if you are not going to attend.

Classes will take place Tuesday to Thursday 6-9pm, in the order of bachata, Cuban salsa, crossbody salsa. We hold different levels of classes (beginners, improvers, intermediates) and each level is 1h long.

This year, at the end of each term we are going to hold bridging classes (1.5h beginners to improvers and 1.5h improvers to intermediates) to give you a better idea of what moves you need to be comfortable with prior to advancing to the next level. If you feel you are ready to move up prior to these sessions, or vice versa if you'd like to stay at your current level longer, that is absolutely fine. If you'd like some more guidance, feel free to speak to our lovely instructors after class 🙂.

Classes Term 3

Regular (paid) classes are available to book by scrolling to the end of the page ("Events")! To join you will need:

1. Standard Membership (£3)

2. Whole Term Class Pass (£15 per term for unlimited access to our classes)
   OR

   One-Off Class Ticket (£4 per 1 hour of class)

3. "Book a ticket" to secure your place in advance in the class you want to attend.

• Arrive 10 minutes early, so we have plenty of time for registration

  OR

• Cancel your booking by 5pm on the day of the class if you are not going to attend.

Classes will take place Tuesday to Thursday 6-8pm, in the order of bachata, Cuban salsa, crossbody salsa. The final hour 8-9pm will be for social dancing! We hold different levels of classes (beginners/improvers and intermediates) with each level being 1h long.

Due to the short time span of Term 3, and only having two class levels, there won't be bridging classes on the last week of term. If you'd like some guidance about what level is right for you, feel free to speak to our lovely instructors after class 🙂.

UCL East Classes

We'll be at UCL East Marshgate on Wednesdays 6-7pm at the Floor 2 Balcony for all-level salsa classes with our very own, Amara Mughal!

If you are only attending classes at UCL East, please buy the UCL East Term Class Pass here, OR if you are attending classes on both campuses, please get the Whole Term Class Pass here. You don't need both passes!

The more interest there is, the more sessions we will do! Bring a friend :)

Workshops

This year we aim to have fortnightly workshops on different Latin styles and salsa history. To attend a workshop you just need our Standard Membership (£3 for the academic year).

There will be a number of Workshop Series throughout the year aimed at developing skills in different Dance styles, such as Afro-Cuban Salsa and Role Reversal!

We have plenty more workshops coming in Term 2 and 3! Stay tuned for the timetable.

Socials

Social dancing can be intimidating at the beginning, so we have planned a number of introduction to social dancing sessions with the committee to go through good social dancing technique, to make sure everyone feels comfortable, and to give you a chance to practise in a UCL campus setting!

We have partnerships with multiple Latin dance events happening around London, providing discounted classes and socials - get your Standard Membership (£3 for the academic year) for access to the discounts.

During classes we will be handing out UCL Salsa Society stickers (to standard members). Please keep them on the back of your student ID as you may be asked to show them for access to external socials.

Performance Teams

Keep a look out for our Bachata, Salsa, Ladies' Styling & Rueda Teams' performances and competitions!

Volunteering

Last year the Salsa Society Outreach project began, where we trained interested volunteers to teach salsa. We partnered with Age UK and brought the joy of salsa to a truly lovely group of elderly.

This year we are looking to expand our volunteering opportunities to other groups as well.

Events

We are incredibly excited to once again be running our annual Boat Party on the 12th of November! Beyond that, there will be a number of other Balls and Collaborations with UCL societies and the wider student Salsa world throughout the year 😊.

 Former event pictures are available at the Linktree for a sneak peak at what's coming 😉!

For more information, weekly timetables and updates check out our FAQ, Linktree and follow us on Instagram 💃.

UCL Salsa Society has signed the Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment Pledge.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I join Salsa Society and how much does it cost?

To join any of our activities, please buy Standard Membership (£3) which includes access to our workshops, socials and social dance events. 

Classes are offered on a termly basis by purchasing a Whole Term Class Pass that includes ALL our weekly classes (4-6 hours of Salsa and 2-3 hours of Bachata) so you can attend as many sessions as you like!  The Pass is £25 for Terms 1 & 2, and £15 for Term 3.

You can also try our classes, or pay by the hour, by purchasing a One-Off Class Ticket (£4).

If you are only attending classes at UCL East, please buy the UCL East Term Class Pass, OR if you are attending classes on both campuses, please get the Whole Term Class Pass. You don't need both passes! The UCL East Pass is £10 for Terms 1 & 2, and £5 for Term 3.

Can UCL alumni / staff and non-UCL students join?

Salsa Society currently conditionally accepts Associate / Visiting members.

As of new rules introduced this year, there are new steps required for Associate/ Visiting Members  to join salsa society. Applicants must fill out this waver in order take part. Please reach out to on our Instagram or Email in order to procure your supporting statement from our president or Treasurer. Once the waiver has been submitted and approved, you will be able to take part :).

If you are not a current UCL student please apply for your Students' Union membership here. Until this has been approved, so yourselves and our members are protected, you cannot purchase the society's Standard Membership (£3) OR participate in any activities.

 

What should I do if I have issues getting my membership?

If you can’t purchase your membership online, please talk to the Students’ Union team at the Activities Reception on Floor 2 of the Bloomsbury Building. Unfortunately, our committee doesn’t deal with issues related to memberships and payments.

You can also email the Activities Reception at [email protected].

Do you offer free taster sessions before getting a Standard Membership?

Our free Taster Membership allows you to try out our classes during the Taster / Welcome Weeks at the beginning of Terms 1 & 2. 

Check our communication channels for dates, times and locations of our taster sessions. In 2024/25, there will be taster sessions in Term 1 during Welcome Week (22nd Sept) and the week after (29th Sept), and then a few sessions at the beginning of Term 2 (12th Jan).  Outside of these sessions, we will be unable to offer free tasters.

What does the Standard Membership include?

Standard Membership is £3 for the whole academic year and includes:

• Access to buy our Whole Term Class Pass / One-Off Class Tickets for classes with professional instructors.
• Free workshops for improving dancing skills and exploring other Latin dances / styles.
• Social dancing events at UCL and exclusive access to guest lists and deals in several Latin clubs in London.
• Volunteering opportunities and related training.
• Performance team auditions and performance opportunities.
• Access to tickets and priority communication for UCL Salsa Society events (e.g. Boat Party, End of Term Ball).
• Discounted tickets for salsa congresses and festivals inside and outside the UK.

How do I get updates about Salsa Society activities?

We send our class timetable through our communication channels every week including times and locations: 

• Follow or Like us @uclsalsa on Facebook and Instagram.
• Purchase a membership (Taster or Standard) to be added to the Salsa Society WhatsApp group for the academic year.

We will also aim to provide communication to all members via email when important events are coming up.

Do I need a dance partner or previous experience to join?

Anyone can Dance. All levels welcome and no partners needed!

We do rotational classes so you will get to meet and dance with most people during the class. If you would like to dance with a fixed partner, kindly speak with a committee member, or with one of our instructors, we can arrange that for you.

Can I join classes later in the year?

Yes! We offer beginners level classes each term, and our instructors are always happy to recap any moves you are unfamiliar with. 

What clothes would be appropriate to wear for class / workshop?

Anything that you find comfortable moving in, dance heels are not a requirement as any comfortable flat shoes that allow you to move and spin freely are perfect too!

What styles and levels do you offer?

We hold classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays → bachata, Cuban salsa and crossbody salsa respectively.

Bachata: Beginners, Improvers, Intermediate

Cuban Salsa / Rueda de Casino: Beginners, Improvers, Intermediate

Crossbody Salsa: Beginners, Improvers, Intermediate

• Beginners: For anyone who's new to salsa / bachata as well as those looking to refresh their basics and gain confidence. These classes hone your foundations and build upwards to Improver classes as the term goes on. You will be led through basic steps, foot patterns, turns and change of positions.
• Improvers: For those who have been dancing for nearly a term (~10 Beginners classes). Confident in your foundation and want to take it to the next level? These classes are for those who know their basics like the back of their hand! You’ll be learning more elaborate footwork, spin patterns, and routines to show-off on the dance floor!
• Intermediate: For experienced dancers who have been taking regular classes for nearly a year. These classes are for those comfortable with double spins, travelling turns, and have mastered footwork from improvers. You will be taught complex routines to expand your dance vocabulary, knowledge and musicality skills!