Son – The Dance
A popular Cuban couple dance and music genre that dominated Cuba between the ’20s and the 50s of the 20th century. It’s the first and foremost father of Salsa Cubana both in terms of Music and dance, and while there are many similarities, it’s the differences between the two that cause many dancers to fall in love with the dance once they give it a try. It is of such big importance to Cuban culture that as of 2025 it is registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The music has some spice in it, it’s often more collected and elegant. The emphasis is on the offbeat and that gives a new feel to the music and the dance. What many don’t know is that many of the Salsa songs you dance to are actually Son and are asking for you to dance another dance on them.
The dance is more traditional than Salsa and instead of bursting energy, you will find elegance in a pure form of dance. It enriches the closed position and the connection between the partners and teaches often how simplicity is beautiful.
If you are interested in learning more about Son before you join us, have a look at this article.
Why should I learn Son Cubano as Salsero
There are many reasons – it’s truly an essential development for anyone that likes Salsa Cubana. But here are 3 reasons why it’s super useful:
- Son is played a lot more than you think – It’s similar to Salsa, but it’s not. Every 3-5 songs the DJ is probably playing Son. And the music does “ask” for the dancer to dance differently.
- Son is another vibe – Son has an elegant old school vibe. It’s beautiful, really. It adds another taste to your dance.
- Son Cubano has a stronger focus on connection – Son Cubano has a strong emphasis on connection between the partners. A lot of focus goes to the closed position, intricate leading and following, and even party acting.
The Course
The course is an intensive fundamental course to Son (10 X 75 mintues classes) and will build up as we go. If you want to study the dance from the bottom up, understand the structure of the dance, and have all the essentials in your bag – that’s the course for you.
We have a lot of experience with the dance and teaching it. And we can safely say that with dedication to the class and practice, you will be able to dance Son Cubano after this course.
What will you learn?
- Focus class on how to dance “Contra Tiempo” – learn all the tricks, and learn how to listen to the music and find it by feel.
- The important and most common elements in Son Cubano. The leading and following technique is explained in detail.
- Simple, typical acrobatic feats of Son Cubano: Torniilo & Planchas.
- History, context, and feel of the dance.
The course should set you up with the base to dance an entire song as well as to take Son classes of any level if you want to take your Son dance further.
Who is it for?
Normally, we advise at least around 6 months of experience in salsa. For Students of La Candela we recommend finishing the Technique Foundation level before attending the course.
Son is considered a bit more challenging to learn than salsa as it requires control and a deeper understanding of timing, music, and precise movement. We will also assume knowledge of couple dance principals, and essential moves from Salsa Cubana (such as Vacilala, Prima and the like). This allows us to advance a bit faster and focus on the flow of Son.
The Teachers
Ido Flaishon
Ido is a highly experienced dancer, artist, and educator. He is active in Berlin and in the international scene. an avid Cuban Salsa and Folklore dancer.With close to 20 years of experience teaching, he is known as a teacher with an eye for detail and to help his students grow. He will provide you with a good technique while keeping it fun and casual. (more info here)