Salsa classes in Biel

The salsa we teach here is the Cuban one, also called Casino: born in the social clubs of Havana in the 1950s, fed by Cuban son, mambo, cha-cha-chá and rumba. It's danced in a circle, with Afro-Cuban body movement and plenty of room for improvisation. Nothing like New York-style line salsa — here, it turns. Simon, who runs the show, trained in Cuban salsa directly in Havana, which is to say straight from the source.

We start with a warm-up to wake up the body, then lay down (or revisit) the basic steps. Next come the figures, which we break down calmly before stringing them together. The highlight is the rueda de Casino: everyone in a circle, a caller launches the figures through calls and responses, and the couples rotate with each change. It's playful, a bit of a workout, and honestly a kind of cardio that doesn't feel like cardio.

Yes, and that's actually the whole idea. Since we dance in rotation in the rueda, there's no need to arrive with a partner: we swap throughout the class. Five levels await you, from “Beginners — the basics” (never danced in your life) to “Advanced”, with false beginners in between who are picking it back up after a long break. And the first hour is free, no strings attached: you try it, feel whether it clicks, then decide.

In Biel, salsa is danced in two studios right in the centre: Rue du Canal 36-38, on the 3rd floor, and Rue de Morat 7, on the 1st floor. Two addresses in the heart of a bilingual city, where French and German cross paths on the dance floor as much as at the bar. Fancy adding more? You can combine salsa with bachata or kizomba and enjoy -10% on the second dance.