Classes
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General information
Welcome to our Purple Salsa class information! All of our regular classes run in Wokingham on Tuesday evenings. Scroll down for our class timetable.
Venue: Emmbrook Village Hall, Emmbrook Road RG41 1JN (What 3 Words: ///goat.lame.tall). The entrance to the hall is right on the roundabout of Emmbrook Road/Commons Road - you can view it on the satellite view here, for clarity.
Parking: there is a small car park. If that is full, try the roads nearby (e.g. Emmbrook Road near the Emmbrook Inn, Lowther Road, Commons Road) - please park considerately, and it is your responsibility to check for any parking restrictions.
Other information:
- Payment is via the website (use the ‘Book now’ buttons below - you are paying for the next upcoming session). We prefer not to take cash on the door (although we can if you get stuck one evening!), so please set up your account ready to make payment either in advance of the session, or when you arrive - just please note, mobile connection at the hall is a bit ropey, so doing it before you leave home can be easier!
- No partner needed.
- Wear whatever you feel comfortable in - salsa is very relaxed!
- Footwear - it probably goes without saying, but avoid things like flipflops that won’t stay on well! Trainers are great if you’re just starting out. You can get slip on ‘Dance Socks’ from us at a low cost if you want to make your turns easier, but aren’t yet ready to shell out on dance shoes!
- Bring a drink (and a snack if you want one!)
- Do you want to get a head start, access some supportive materials, or just see what we’re all about? You can get our Salsa Library here - covering all the moves from our Foundations course, our improver-level moves, and much much more!
Join our newsletter here to be kept informed of upcoming event dates and other useful salsa stuff!
Timetable
| Weekly classes | |
|---|---|
| 7:45pm-8:30pm | Foundations & Improvers classes |
| 8:30pm-8:45pm | Social dancing |
| 8:45pm-9:30pm | Intermediate class |
| 9:30pm-10:30pm | Social dancing |
Weekly classes
Our weekly classes run on Tuesday nights from 7.45pm, all year round. We do of course take occasional weeks off!! If we’re taking any time off, we will let you know here on the website, via the salsa newsletter, and on the Purple Salsa Facebook page, so do feel free to connect with us in any of those places. Cost is £10 for the evening, no matter which classes you do. (Note, we haven’t raised our prices for a number of years, but sadly we will have to increase the cost to £12 from Jan 2027).
Note! There will be no sessions over the summer (2026) on the following dates: 28th July - 25th August. We’ll be back and raring to go on the 1st Sept!!
Weekly drop-in class times:
- Foundations class: 7.45-8.30pm
- Improvers class: 7.45-8.30pm
- Social dancing for all: 8.30-8.45pm
- Intermediate class: 8.45-9.30pm
- Social dancing for all: 9.30-10.30pm
Foundations
Learn the foundations of salsa dancing in a fun and friendly environment. We run our Foundations sessions on a rolling, 4-week basis, to give you all you need to know to get out on the dance floor and start salsa-ing! We welcome drop-ins at any point in the cycle (although we confess it is slightly easier to start at the beginning of a cycle!), and you are welcome to repeat the Foundations classes as many times as you wish before moving up to improvers - there is certainly no rush in this work!!
Next block starts: 1st Sept 2026
Class times: 7.45pm-8.30pm (plus optional social dance time after the class).
Price: £10/person.
Pre-requisites: none.
Improvers
Once you’re feeling confident in the steps from Foundations, come and join us in Improvers. You are also welcome to join in any or all of the social dancing time on any evening that you attend class.
Class times: 7.45pm-8.30pm (plus optional social dance time after the class).
Price: £10/person.
Pre-requisites: able to dance the basic steps, left and right turns, cross body lead, cross body with an inside turn, and cross body lead with a walk through. These can all be learnt through completion of the Foundations classes, or by using the beginner level resources in the Salsa Library (see below).
Intermediates
When you’ve covered the improver moves and are feeling ready for more challenge, you will want to join Intermediates. We do recommend talking to us about whether you’re ready - making sure you’re really ready for this level (and it is a level-up!!) will ensure that you and others in the class can get as much out of it as possible. Social dancing is of course included, as above.
Class times: 8.45pm-9.30pm (plus optional social dance time after the class).
Price: £10/person.
Pre-requisites: come and talk to us when you feel confident with the moves taught in the improvers class (e.g. Titanic/shoulder check, exchange/side wrap/octopus, sombrero, reverse CBL, drop catch… Note, this is not an exhaustive list!), and we can see if you’re ready for taking the next step into Intermediates! You will definitely need to have dance shoes (or equivalent) by the time you get to this class - talk to us if you need help with this, or visit the FAQs page.
You can pre-book your space for any class level on the day of class here:
Social dancing
Every Tuesday evening, 9.30-10.30pm. (There is also a short time between the classes, from 8.30-8.45pm, which you can use for social dancing as well.)
You are welcome to just attend for the social dancing time on any of our Tuesday evening sessions. Booking for the social dancing does not include attendance at any of the classes.
Pre-requisites: none.
You can pre-book your social dancing on the day you will be attending, here:
Salsa Library
Your extensive salsa resource library, with all you need to get started or to progress in your dancing.
What the Library will help with
- When you’ve covered a move in class, but want to get some more practice in at home to consolidate it
- When you want to get a sense of a move that you missed one week
- When you want to get a headstart on a move before it’s taught in class!
- When you’re getting frustrated with a move from the warm up - and want to be able to go over, and over, and over it :-D
- When you want to extend your range of beginner/improver moves or shines
- When you want to get a bit more information about technique or styling
This offering started life as a ‘salsa beginner’s course’ - but even before I finished creating the resources for beginners, it grew into so much more!
So it’s for you if you’re just starting out - but it’s also for those further along on the salsa path, who want reminders of the shines we teach, or technique, or some of the foundational, beginner and improver level moves…
In these short, pre-recorded sessions, you will receive a grounding in the beautiful dance of salsa, including a little of the theory - and lots and lots of practice! For questions and support throughout (and afterwards!), you would be made most welcome in our WhatsApp group - just get in touch and we can add you :-)
This is a highly practical and experiential course - you will need space to move, around 2-3 square metres would probably be ok, but you can do it in a really small space if needs be! It is great if you can also reach hands up above your head, but don’t worry if you’re in a low-ceilinged space and can’t do this! You’ll need to make sure you have suitable device and the ability to stream videos.
Course content
- The basic rhythm and steps of cross-body lead salsa, dancing solo
- How to move your body as you carry out the steps
- Recommendations of music to dance to
- Introduction to leader/follower steps and timing
- Beginner and improver level foundational moves
- All the shines we teach in the warm ups
- Extra footwork and bodywork to enhance your dancing
- How to freestyle your new salsa steps and movements
Bonuses
- Introduction to merengue
- Introduction to bachata
- Introduction to On 2
- Information about social dancing and equipment
Get immediate access to all of the resources in the Library for just £39 by booking here:
Salsa Saturdays Social & Surgery
Come and join us at our Salsa Saturdays! These will be small-group events, giving you a chance to practise what you’re learning, get guidance, just have a dance, or chat with your fellow dancers. Very low key and relaxed, you can use the time as you want!
Event details
Next date: tbc
£12 per person (£10 early bird). Payment is via the website or via BACS (get in touch if you need details). Due to the very small numbers on this event, we are unable to offer refunds.
8-10pm. There is no fixed class at this event, so it doesn’t matter if you run a bit late! We might do a warm up, but it’s fine if you miss it!
Bring drinks and nibbles if you wish to.
Venue: at our home in Finchampstead (RG40) - you’ll see the full address when you book on. Please park on the driveway if there is space, but otherwise you can park considerately in the roads around the house. It is your responsibility to check any parking restrictions.
A few reflections on our Saturday events: “The Salsa Social and Surgery was a lovely opportunity to catchup – both with dancing and with other people – in a more relaxed setting. There was chatting and laughter but also lots of dancing. The evening offered the chance to go over steps from class, ask for advice, try new things or just dance for the joy of dancing.”
“It was my first time attending the unique Saturday night salsa classes and I was nervous. I don’t know why from the moment I arrived I was welcomed by Emilie and Stuart and some familiar faces from class. It was a wonderful fun night. A great chance to practice some steps I was unsure of and to try something new. I learnt some new moves and had a great time. Why don’t you come to the next one.”
“A relaxed atmosphere where we can get to know our fellow dancers and experiment with the skills we’ve learnt. Socialising that allows us to break up dancing with fun and laughter. Not to be missed”
Party nights
Come and join us for our occasional party nights, the format of which is generally 7.45pm arrivals, before a fun class for all at 8pm! Bring some nibbles (to share if you wish!), and whatever you want to drink (we won’t get you to share that lol)!
Event details
Next date: tbc.
£10 early bird bookings - early bird bookings close a few days before the next upcoming party date. £12 usual price. Payment is as usual - via the website, or via BACS (get in touch if you need details). We no longer take cash on the door (unless there is an urgent need), and the mobile signal is poor at the hall, so we recommend making your payment before you set out from home.
Arrivals from 7.45pm.
Fun class for all levels at 8pm.
Social dancing from 9pm to 10.30pm.
Bring any drinks that you’d like, and some nibbles to share if you want to!
Wear whatever you feel comfortable in - dress up, dress down, whatever works for you!!
Where to find us: Emmbrook Village Hall Emmbrook Road Wokingham RG41 1JN
Parking: There is some limited parking at the hall itself. Otherwise, please park considerately in the roads near the hall.
We look forward to welcoming you at our next party - if we don’t see you before that for our usual Tuesday evening sessions!!
If you have questions about any of our events or offerings, please do feel free to get in touch - we’re always happy to hear from you!