Welcome to iFreeStyle.ca

iFreeStyle.ca Salsa Newsletter

NEWS
Thursday August 12, 2010

iFreeStyle's Student Appreciation Social - Saturday August 28, 2010
Dovercourt House, 2nd Floor
805 Dovercourt House

FREE Social and $5 Workshops! Performances, snacks and discounts on group classes! Don't miss it Sign up online to reserve your spot in the workshops!

Sept 1 - 5 , 2010
NO CLASSES - Labour Day Long Weekend

FALL 2010 GROUP CLASSESS
Early bird promotions in effect! Save 10% on 8-week group classes between August 1 - 27, 2010

FALL 2010 Performance Classes
1. Ladies Styling Technique with guest Caryl Cuizon & Baila Society Guest instructor Gulsaya

2. Intermediate Salsa On2 Partnerwork with Joey Lopez & Caryl Cuizon

3. Advanced Salsa On2 Partnerwork with Mo Kobrosli & Caryl Cuizon

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Salsa Dance Lessons with iFreeStyle.ca

Where do you offer classes?
How much does does a course cost?
What are the options for learning to dance salsa (or to advance my skills in salsa) at iFreeStyle.ca's Salsa Dance School?
Do I need bring a partner to take classes?
How do I know which class is right for me?
Can I watch a class prior to signing up?
I missed the first class of a course, can I still join?
Do you offer drop-in classes?
What is a 6-Class dance card?
Are there discounted rates for full-time high school/college/university students?
Can I videotape during classes or workshops?
What do I do if I miss a class?
Do you have equal numbers of men and women in your classes?

Registering for a Course

How do I register for a class?
Which payment methods are accepted?
What is the cancellation policy?
Should I repeat a course? Are there discounts for repeating a course?
How will I know if my registration is confirmed?

Preparing for a Class

What do I wear to class?
What kind of shoes should I wear?
Where can I buy salsa dance shoes?
Is there anything else I should bring or do to prepare myelf for class?
Is there anything else I should know before coming to class?

Performance/Choreography Class

Do I have to audition to participate in the performance class?
What are the pre-requisites to join the performance class?
Do I have to perform if I join the performance class?
What should I wear to class?
What should I bring to class?
When does the next performance class begin?
How much does it cost to join the performance class?

Salsa Dance Lessons with iFreeStyle.ca

Where do you offer classes?
iFreeStyle.ca classes are offered in midtown Toronto at Yonge & Eglinton - Martha Hicks School of Ballet and downtown at Mad for Dance Studio.

How much does does a course cost?
Visit our Classes page for course/class rates.

What are the options for learning to dance salsa (or to advance my skills in salsa) at iFreeStyle.ca's Salsa Dance School?
iFreeStyle.ca offers group classes, drop-in classes, private lessons, workshops, crash courses and performance classes. We offered dance instruction at all levels from beginner to advanced, and even to aspiring performers.

Do I need to bring a partner to take classes?
No, partners are not required to participate in any course, open class or performance class. Just bring yourself and get ready for some fun!

How do I know which class is right for me?
If you are unsure which class is appropriate for you, please contact us at (416) 669-1385 to discuss options or to schedule a free skill assessment . Assessments usually take about 10 minutes.

Below are some general guidelines.

Experience Level	Course Recommendations
No prior dance experience OR club-style salsa experience with no formal instruction in Salsa On2:	Courses: 8-week Beginner class or On2 Fundamentals If you missed registrations or are unable to attend Sunday classes, then you can also start in the On2 Fundamentals class.
Intermediate to Advanced On1 dancer with little or no salsa On2 experience.	Courses: On2 Fundamental classes (how long it takes to acquire On2 timing and technique will vary by student.) Then join an 8-week profressive course OR continue with OPEN classes at the beginner/intermediate through to the intermediate/advanced levels.
Intermediate Salsa On2	Courses: Beginner/Intermediate (A) or (B), Intermediate (A), (B) or (C), Intermediate Open classes, Body Movement & Shines, Body Conditioning for Salsa Dancers
Intermediate to Advanced On2 experience	Courses: Intermediate/Advanced (A) or (B), Intermediate Open Classes, Body Movement & Shines. NOTE: Permission by instructors is required for Intermediate/Advanced 8-Week Course and Intermediate/Advanced OPEN course. Students MUST have solid On2 timing and be comfortable with multiple spin technique and coca-colas. Please contact us for more information or to schedule a free assessment.

Can I watch a class prior to signing up?
Potential students who are interested in taking classes with iFreeStyle.ca may audit ONE class with permission by the instructor(s). Those with permission to audit a class must be seated quietly at the back of the class so as not to disrupt the class in progress.

NOTE: Auditing during Styling, Body Movement or Body Conditioning classes is not allowed.

I missed the first class of a course, can I still join?
Yes. Students who miss the first class may still register for a course, however they must commit to catching up in one of two ways (prior to the second class):
1) Quick catch-up lesson prior to the next class
2) Private lesson to be scheduled. Click here for rates on private lessons.

Do you offer drop-in classes?
Yes. In addition to our 8-week courses, iFreeStyle.ca offers various open classes that can be attended on a "drop-in" basis. This means you can come as frequently/infrequently as your schedule will allow. You can also enjoy cost savings while taking open classes with iFreeStyle.ca through the purchase of our 6-class dance cards. These cards can be used for any combination of our open classes. See below for more details.

What are 6-Class Dance Cards?
6-class dance cards are class credits that can be used for any combination of our OPEN classes. Dance cards are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase. Note that dance cards are non-transferable.

Are there discounted rates for full-time high school/college/university students?
Yes, iFreeStyle.ca is pleased to offer discounted rates for full-time ACADEMIC students who register for an 8-week courses and purchases 6-class dance card. See the classes page for pricing.

NOTE: Students are required to present a valid student care each session or before the purchase of each 6-class dance card.

Can I videotape during classes or workshops?
No, video taping is not permitted during class time.

What do I do if I miss a class?
Missed classes are the responsibility of the student. In some cases you can make up the class by coming in 15-30 minutes before the class to get caught up on the core material missed. There is no refund or credit offered to students who miss class. Some students who miss classed opt to book a private lesson or a make-up lesson. Please contact us for more details about private lessons.

Do you have equal numbers of men and women in your classes?
The ratio of men to women tends to vary by class though we certainly do what is possible to even out the numbers. Instructors are able to lead and follow, as well, student helpers are available to help with balancing out numbers.

Registering for a course and course policies

How do I register for a class?
You can either use the online registration form accessible from the Classes page or drop by one of our classes to see us in person.

Which payment methods do you accept?
iFreeStyle.ca accepts the following as methods of payment:
• Cash
• Cheque or Money order payable to "iFreeStyle.ca"

The following payment methods are accepted if paid at least 48 hours prior to the day of your first class:
• Email money transfers to payments@ifreestyle.ca
• PayPal including Major Credit Cards (including Visa, MasterCard, AMEX)

What is the cancellation policy?
• Up to 1 week prior to start of class - Full refund less $5 administration fee
• From 1 week prior class to end of 2nd week of classes - 50% refund
• After 2nd week of classes - No refund

Should I repeat a course? Are there discounts for repeating a course?
Repeating classes is highly recommended if you feel uncertain about the elements learned during the course, especially at the beginner levels where basics and timing are first taught. IFreeStyle.ca offers a reduced rate for students that would like to repeat a class. See the Classes page for pricing.

How will I know if my registration has been received?
After completing you online registration, you will receive an email confirming your registration. The confirmation will be sent to the email listed on your registration form. If for any reason the course is full or has been cancelled, you will be notified by email as soon as possible.

Preparing for a class

What do I wear to class?
Dance classes require free movement, so please dress comfortably (i.e. stretchy jeans, comfortable slacks and aerobic wear will do just fine). Students should wear shoes with a non-rubber sole (something slippery). Ladies can wear high heels with ankle support. No flip-flops or slip in shoes.

What kind of shoes should I wear?
At some point many students choose to purchase dance shoes; for your first classes however, any shoes with non-rubber soles will do just fine (rubber sole shoes can make it difficult to move and so are not recommended). Note that during the winter, "outside" shoes are not permitted in the studio.

Where can I buy salsa dance shoes?
Check out the links section of our website for various stores that sell dance shoes-many of which provide discounts for iFreeStyle.ca students!

Is there anything else I should bring or do to prepare myelf for class?
We highly recommend bringing bottled water to keep hydrated during class. Salsa dancing is active, so be prepared to sweat! And as it's a partner dance, please be considerate of other students and practice good hygiene good hygiene (keep mints, fresh change of clothes, deodorant on hand, towel, body spray).

Is there anything else I should know before coming to class?
• Please arrive about about 10 minutes before class to allow yourself time to change your shoes, stretch and get mentally prepared for some fun!
• Please keep turn your cell phones off OR put on vibrate during class time.
• Please wait outside of class until your instructor has opened the door to allow for your class to enter.

Performance/Choreography Class

Do I have to audition to participate in the performance class?
Students do not have to audition to join the Performance Class, however there are some minimum requirements. If you are new to iFreeStyle.ca or if we have never danced with you, a free assessment will be required before you are acceptance into the class. This is to ensure that the class can learn together at an intermediate/advanced level pace.

What happens if I miss a class?
There are no make up classes for missed classes. To catch up with the material, you can schedule a private lesson with your instructor or try to learn the material from one of the other students.

Do I need a partner to sign up? OR If I have a partner can we sign up together?
Partners are not required to sign up. We will match you with a partner. To participate in a Bachata Performance Class, you must sign up with a partner. For other performance classes, you can make requests to be partners. They must fulfill the necessary pre-requisites.

What are the pre-requisites to join the performance class?
While this course is intended to help solidify On2 timing, all students who are interested in participating in a performance class must have experience dancing salsa On2 at an intermediate-level. Basics will not be taught. If you are interested in joining a performance class and already have On1 experience, you can prepare for the performance class by dropping into our On2 Fundamentals classes to learn/refresh On2 timing.

Do I have to perform if I join the performance class?
If you are joining the Performance Class and there are no understudy positions, then all participants are expected to perform. If you are joining a Choreography Performance Class, then you may elect to chose the Choreography program and not perform.

What should I wear to each class?
Students should wear comfortable, loose, stretchy pants. Jeans are not recommended. Tops/t-shirts should also be stretchy, but should be more form fitting to allow the instructor to see and correct body and arm work. Unless otherwise stated, male dancers should wear dance shoes (jazz slippers or dance sneakers) and female dancers should wear high heels.

What should I bring to each class?
We highly recommend bringing bottled water to keep hydrated during class. Please be considerate of other student's, and keep practice good hygiene (keep mints, fresh change of clothes, deodorant on hand).

When does the next performance class begin?
Click here for our Performance Class page.

How much does it cost to join the performance class?
Click here for our Performance Class page.