MONDAYS                           Register                     Back to Top 
LATIN DANCE SURVEY & IMMERSION
9-10:30pm, Noyes Community Recreation Center, Multipurpose Room
Start date: 9/7.  End date: 11/30. 12 weeks. Drop-in okay.

Description: An introduction to popular Latin dance music and the main Latin nightclub dances of Merengue, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, Salsa and more.  We will also introduce some of the fundamental Afro-Caribbean traditional rhythms and dances, such as Yumba, Guaguanco and Bomba, Son, Clave and Tumbao, and dances of the South American Pampas region, namely Tango and Malambo (of Argentina and Uruguay). Guest instructors and musicians will provide special demonstrations and workshops throughout the semester.  The beginning of each class will begin with a body movement and line dance warm-up followed by the instruction of a short choreographic routine. We will then move into partnered social dance and will end class with open guided practice. Learning aids include a syllabus, music and video.

Instructors: Michael Luis Ristorucci and guest instructors.
Class size limit: 30
Cost: Free. Sponsored by the Noyes Community Recreation Center and Community Center Programs. Collaboration ¡Pa'lante!
Note: CU ID or day pass required to enter Noyes Multipurpose Room.

TUESDAYS - FINISHED                        Register                     Back to Top
LGBTQ SALSA & LATIN DANCE
8:30-10pm, Robert Purcell Community Center, Multipurpose Room
Start date: 9/8.  End date: 10/6. 5 weeks.

Description: This course is an introduction to Salsa and Latin "nightclub" dance - namely Merengue, Bachata and Salsa - for the LGBTQ community and its allies. Same and different sex couples welcome. In addition to Latin dance learning, a goal of this class is to move toward fuller diversity and integration in Latin and social dance communities. Classes begin with a Latin style stretch followed by a line dance warm-up where we learn and review basic step patterns. We then move into partner work, teaching turns and combinations with rotating partners. For one week of class, or more pending students' interest, we will meet together with the Palante Afro-Caribbean percussion class to learn how to dance to live drumming on the beat of "Tumbao," a rhythmic foundation of Afro-Latin music. Each class will end with 15 minutes of guided dance practice. Learning aids include a syllabus, music and video.

Instructor: Michael Luis Ristorucci
Class size limit: 30. Open to everyone. Cornell and Ithaca community members encouraged to register.
Cost: Free. Sponsored by Residence Life and Community Center Programming with support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center. Collaboration ¡Pa'lante!

WEDNESDAYS                     Register                     Back to Top
¡SALSA! AT BIG RED BARN
6:30-9:30pm, Big Red Barn
BEGINNER SALSA 1: 6:30-7:30pm, practice 7:30-7:45pm
BEGINNER SALSA 2 & 3: 7:50-8:50pm, practice 8:50-9:15pm
Start date: 10/28.  End date: 11/18.  4 week session.
All new students register for Beginner Salsa 1, permission needed for Beginner Salsa 2 & 3(email instructor).

Description: Palante's signature Salsa dance instruction. Beginner through Intermediate classes begin with a warm-up of Salsa Suelta (Salsaerobics), where we go over basic step patterns and their variations ("shines"). We then move into partner work, teaching turns and combinations with rotating partners. Learning aids include a syllabus, music and video.
Rueda: After a few months of partnered Salsa class, many students are ready for Rueda de Casino. In Rueda, dancers change partners and perform known combination moves to the arrangement of a caller. Rueda is one of the best ways to learn Salsa as it allows students to dance with various partners in fluid motion and in a relaxed setting. Rueda moves are easily incorporated into Salsa single partner dancing, and vice versa. Learning Salsa partner dancing and Rueda simultaneously is an excellent way to enhance your repertoire, style and confidence on the dance floor. We teach Rueda to members of the Palante Salsa en Rueda Dance Troupe.  Most of our troupe members emerge from our Salsa classes and many students become integrated into the vibrant social dance community of Ithaca. Salsa at the Barn is Palante’s signature Salsa instruction offering. With the help of the Barn and the Cornell graduate community, we have brought together numerous individuals from many walks of life in regenerating Cornell and Ithaca’s dynamic Latin music and dance scene. All are welcome.

Instructors: Michael Luis Ristorucci, Alyssa de Villiers, Hannah Guthrie and Julia Abramyan.
Class size limit: 40. Open to everyone, Cornell grads given preference if capacity reached.
Cost: Students: $35 per four week session, $55 per couple, $11 drop-in. Non- Students: $40 per four week session, $70 per couple, $12 drop-in. Pay at class by cash or check. Additional class opportunities are included with single payment.

FRIDAYS                     Register                     Back to Top
BEGINNER 3 SALSA
6:20-7:50pm, Willard Straight Hall, Room 601 North Room Dance Studio
Start date: 10/30.  End date: 11/20.  4 week session.
For continuing students or by instructor permission only.

Description: A continuation of Salsa at the Barn, Beginner 3 introduces more complex turn patterns and dynamic forms of connection which characterize "casino" style. Here, lead-follow builds off of a push-pull "guapea" tension and the sharp directional changes of "siete" which guide a distinctive modality of combination work.

Instructor: Michael Luis Ristorucci
Class size limit: 25.
Cost: Students: $35 per four week session, $55 per couple, $11 drop-in. Non- Students: $40 per four week session, $70 per couple, $12 drop-in. Pay at class by cash or check.
Additional class opportunities included with payment.