Salsa Bootcamp offers an introduction to Salsa On2, or New York Salsa. This course is best suited for beginning dancers or for students experienced in other Salsa styles who are interested in learning On2.  Students will learn the fundamental footwork (15 shines total) and partner work figures (6 turns total) of salsa social dancing. Topics covered in the course include Leading and Following, Salsa Timing, Connection for Social Dancing, Social Dancing Etiquette, Turn Execution and Footwork. Salsa Bootcamp is taught by Rhythmology certified instructors, and new material is taught every week of the progressive 8 week sequence. Upon completion of this boot camp, students may continue their studies in Level 2.

Salsa Bootcamp will be offered two times per week for one hour:
Saturday 11am-12pm with Jose Bolivar (Beginning Sat 3/2)
Sunday 1pm-2pm with Andy Frandelakis (Beginning Sun 3/3)

Rhythmology is also proud to introduce a Ladies’ Styling workshop with Crystal Marquez!  Ladies, this course will teach you ways to enhance and embellish your salsa, adding sensuality and pizzazz to your dancing. Crystal will cover techniques to improve basic steps, shines, cross body leads, turns and much more. Topics will include use of your head, hip and shoulder movement, timing and musical understanding, as well how to improve your spinning technique. Join Crystal for 8 consecutive weeks on Sundays from 3pm-4pm, beginning  Sunday March 4th.

Each of these 8-course series is $80 in cost (8 1-hour classes).

Please note, given the progressive nature of these workshops, social drop-ins are not allowed, permitting for maximum skill acquisition for those enrolled!

To sign-up, click the corresponding link below:

Salsa Bootcamp

Ladies’ Styling

Or, call us: 516.280.6677 or stop by the studio!

Most recently, Rhythmology partnered with Groupon, offering two deals: a 10 class special for $39, and a 5 class special for $29. This promotion was very successful, selling nearly 200 Groupons! While the opportunity to buy this promotion is now over, we are working with Amazon Local and Living Social, too, so look out for more deals coming soon!

While Rhythmology is best known for class offerings in Salsa On2 and Bachata, new classes are coming to Rhythmology.

• Flamenco: We recently started a Flamenco class in November, with the talented Erika De Julia, which was very successful! The next 10-week class begins Valentine’s Day, Tuesday February 14^th . Varying levels are offered throughout the week, with Intermediate Flamenco on Tuesday from 7:00pm-8:30pm, Beginner Flamenco on Friday from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, and Open-level Flamenco on Saturday, 1:30pm to 3:00pm.
• Swing:  A new addition to Rhythmology, West Coast Swing is coming to the  beginning this weekend! Sophie Cazeneuve will be teaching a West Coast Swing workshop, held every Saturday from February 11th through March 17th in 90 minute sessions, 3:30pm to 5:00pm.
• Stay tuned for upcoming offerings in Brazilian Samba and Argentine Tango.

Let us know what you think. We hope you come check it out!

Alfred Pena and Aleksandra interviewed lived at TV Polonia over New Year's Eve show

In contrast to Ola’s obvious familiarity with Warsaw, as a Polish native, this experience was Alfred’s first European experience and his first trip to Poland. During their visit, they were honored to meet Jerzy Buzek, the Polish President of the European Parliament. Beyond meeting famous world leaders, our master instructors had the opportunity to check out the Polish social dancing scene, featuring both salsa and bachata. As Alfred’s first exposure to this scene, he notes that, “The scene is surprisingly similar to that of Long Island,” in that it is a developing community with Salsa On2 as a novelty and many beginning dancers, with fewer advanced dancers coming up. Overall, Alfred and Aleksandra’s visit was a success! Their hosts look forward to inviting them back again soon.
Despite the excitement of spending New Year’s in Poland this year, Alfred is already planning a Rhythmology New Year’s Eve Bash for 2013 and we want to hear from you! What is it that you would like for a New Year’s Eve Party, Rhythmology-style? Perhaps a night of Latin dancing at Allegria Hotel, with a hotel overnight stay? Or, Salsa and Bachata all night long at our newly complete Westbury-based studio? Please, tell us what you think!

All experts say, and my experience confirms, it is way better to practice 10 minutes a day, every day, than to practice for an hour once or even twice a week. Of course 10 minutes twice a day and you’re pro before you get off the bus(;>

Last summer I was pretty good about practicing a little every day – it was easy to pop into a pair of leather soles and step for a while. But this winter I find I am so attached to thick socks and fur lined Uggs that it isn’t convenient to dress the feet for dance, so I don’t get those quick daily practice sessions in.

Puttin my foot down! I don’t need that much comfort – I want to dance! Change into your dance shoes as soon as you get up and as soon as you get home. Then it is going to be very easy to get that 10 minutes of hoofin.

1. How did you get started with dance?
I grew up in NYC and I attended LaGuardia HS of the Arts and Performing Arts. I was a dance major and studied ballet and modern dance.

2. Did you always know you wanted to be a dancer? I knew I always needed to dance. But I didn’t necessarily always want to make it my career.

This actually leads me into my real second question….

3. When did you finally consider yourself a professional?
When people started asking me to teach them.

4. What do you think of that as a standard of being a professional? You are one of the top dancers and instructors, but do you think there should be something else set?
I think it was a terrible standard to go by. People asked me to teach them when I started getting good at what I do but I was still too inexperienced to be a good teacher. I became a good teacher after years of figuring it out on my own but I feel there should be a set standard – a training program taught by the best and the most knowledgeable so when people come and ask to learn from you, they know they are going to get quality!

5. What do you think this standardization of a syllabus will do to salsa? Do you think it will be a negative impact or positive?
I think it would push our dance community to be more educated and therefore we would have more respect in the dance world as a whole. Salsa would no longer be an underground dance.

Lets just talk about the basic for a moment.

6. What do you think are the necessary elements of a proper basic?
You would have to give me a few hours to discuss this topic with you. I could talk about the basic step forever. I would say the placement of weight over the ball of the foot is one of the most important qualities. This changes the entire line of your leg and creates a completely different look on a dancer as oppose to some one who evenly distributes there weight on all their toes. The second most important quality would be the movement of the basic step. I see a lot of dancers don’t move through their basic enough. It stays in place too much and it keeps you from looking like you are really dancing.

7. You have tried so many different aspects of the industry. Whether it be teaching, performing, competing, coaching your own dance company, etc.. Which is your favorite to work in and why?
Competition! I am a competitor by nature! It means the most to me. I love social dancing just as much as I love competition but I believe competition pushes the level of my dance more than anything else that I do.

8. What are your current aspirations and goals? How are you getting there?
Since I have sold my dance school and moved to PA my goal for the next few years is to immerse myself in all the training I can possibly get and push my level to the highest it has ever been. I want to focus less on running a business and teaching and more on my own dance career. Of course World Champion is the ultimate goal but as long as I do everything I possibly can to be my best, I will always be satisfied with the outcome.

9. What can you tell a beginner, intermediate or advance dancer looking to grow within their own dancing to take it to a professional level. What should they do?
I truly believe that anyone can attain a high level of dancing. It’s all about the drive! How badly do you want it! Be consistent and be driven and work hard! Get training from reputable instructors and go social dancing as much as possible to practice and apply what you learn in the studio!

10. You are a classically trained dancer, do you think that hindered your salsa or helped it? Definitely helped! Salsa is becoming more and more advanced and dancers are pushing the level higher and higher. I truly feel to be able to be the best you have to get classical training. Flavor and style is not enough anymore if you want to be the best!

Thank you so much Vera for your time. It was a pleasure and I look forward to seeing you on the floor!

Overall this weekend was very successful. I am proud to say, that we are quickly developing into a full blown dance company. My students are no longer beginners memorizing steps, they have reached a new level of understanding behind the movement. I believe that everyone who went with us this year came back inspired and ready to take their dancing to the next level. I cannot wait to find out what next year will bring us.

Over the weekend Rhythmology was representing at the 2011 DC Bachata Congress. The crew took part in a four day festival of workshops, and parties — The congress even featured an impromptu on stage appearance by our own Aleksandra Kozlowska.

Bachata and salsa team members Miguel Contreras, Lucilia Portela, Karen Chicas,
Kevin Jolley and US Bachata champion, Aleksandra Kozlowska.

On Wednesday (August 17th) we host Una Noche de Bachata Caliente at Winner’s Circle Night Club from 8:00pm-1:00am. Featuring a debut performance of “Borracho, Vagabundo Y Loco” by our bachata team!

We follow up the very next night with our weekly social Bachata and Clave Thursdays at Chi Dining Lounge from 8:00pm-1:00am. This is not something you want to miss, as each week continues to get better and better with DJ Jay spinning.

Finally, we end on Friday night with Bachatéame Mamá. Rhythmology brings in DJ Alejandro to deliver the biggest Bachata party in New York City, at Club Cache from 10:00pm-4:00am.

(Left) Kevin and Karen dancing salsa by the pool.(Right) Signage at the DC Bachata Congress.

This blog will share some of the philosophy behind Rhythmology. But, mostly, it will give you a peek into some of the “day to day”… and a lot of the nights.

Welcome to the new home of Alfred Pena’s Rhythmology!  We apologize for any inconvenience while we work to provide you with an easier and more efficient way to access all of our information. This will only be a temporary transition until we migrate to a permanent online address.  Until then, please visit our other online page: www.rhythmologyvip.com. We appreciate your patience, and look forward to continuing to provide you with Long Island’s only social dance network.  See you on the dance floor!