How it works

Arrive together

Come alone, in couple, or with friends. Drop your children off from 6:15pm with our play team — right next door, and all holding an in-date DBS, first aid and child safeguarding qualifications.

You dance, they play

A full hour of proper Cuban salsa — warm-up, footwork, partnerwork — while the kids do crafts, games, and music of their own next door.

Enjoy, unwind

Collect happy kids at 7:30pm, keep the playlist in your head all week, and come back next Friday. Our classes are seriously addictive!

The class

6:15pmChildren drop-off — settle the kids with the play team
6:30pmSuelta — a solo warm-up (danced on your own, as they say in Cuba). Ten minutes to loosen up and find the mood, musicality and rhythm for the rest of the class
6:40pmCouples — the heart of the class. We learn the steps and practise coordination and musicality dancing in pairs, and partners rotate throughout, so you're never with the same person for long. Expect to dance with people you don't yet know
7:15pmRueda — the group dance. Every couple dances together to the same music, following the moves called out by the lead. Pure fun, and the moment it all comes together for real
7:30pmChildren pick-up — collect the kids, home in good time

Pricing

Start here

Trial class

FREE

for adults and children

Try the whole experience — class for you, play activities for them — completely free. No commitment.

Adult class

£10

per adult, per class

A full hour of Cuban salsa every Friday. Come alone or in couple — partners rotate so nobody sits out.

Children's play

FREE

children go free — even after the trial!

Crafts, games, and music next door (designed for ages 3+) while you dance — and it won't cost you a penny.

We're working with the Beethoven Centre, Queen's Park Community Council and Westminster City Council to secure grants — and as we do, we'll work to bring our prices down for everyone.

Why it works

No babysitter maths

A London sitter costs £15–£20 an hour before you've even paid for a class. Here, the kids' play session is in the same building, at the same time — completely free.

Early evening, not late nights

Almost every salsa class in London runs 7–10pm — exactly bath-and-bedtime. Ours runs 6:30–7:30pm, so the whole family is home in time.

Real Cuban salsa

Social, playful, and forgiving for beginners — casino-style salsa taught by experienced Cuban salsa instructors. Beginners, improvers, and intermediate all welcome.

Everyone is welcome

Come alone or in couple — partners rotate, nobody's left out. And if you don't have kids, you can still join us for the adult salsa class.

About us

Salsa & Play is a charitable, not-for-profit community project with one simple aim: to create a welcoming community where parents can exercise and connect with others while their children are safely cared for nearby — through regular weekly dance classes, all year round.

We don't keep any profit. Any surplus income left after covering our costs is donated to the Cuba Vive Appeal for exclusively charitable purposes — helping send life-saving medical aid to Cuba, the home of the music and dance we love.

We're working with the Beethoven Centre, Queen's Park Community Council and Westminster City Council to secure grants on a rolling basis — and as we do, we'll work to bring our prices down for everyone.

A note from your teachers

We're a couple — in real life and on the dance floor. In fact, we met dancing, and more than ten years later, salsa classes are still one of the best parts of our week.

We travelled to Cuba to absorb the culture at its source: the music, the rhythm, the musicality, and the joyful, social way Cubans dance. It changed how we move and how we teach.

We started teaching salsa in 2019 to a group of people from very different cultural backgrounds, ages, and levels. The one thing they had in common was perseverance — and a willingness to laugh and bring good vibes. That group became a little community, and that's exactly the feeling we want to recreate here.

Cuban salsa has changed our lives. Now we want to spread the joy and the love, because we believe everyone should get to feel this good. That's what Salsa & Play is all about — come dance with us.

Cristina & Adrien

Book your free trial class

Classes start Friday 11 September 2026 at the Beethoven Centre, Queen's Park — but you can join any time of the year, so don't worry if you miss the September start. Your first class is free — for adults and children. Book below, or email info@salsa-play.co.uk.

Spaces are limited — we keep every class small so the teaching stays personal and the quality high. Book early to secure your spot.

Your name

Adults dancing

Children playing

Ages of children

Please tell us your children's ages. We need them in advance so we can bring the right number of childcare staff and keep the correct staff-to-children ratio on the day. Our ratios are designed for children aged 3+ — if yours are younger, submit the form anyway and we'll be in touch to discuss your case with the coaches.

You will receive a confirmation email with the date of your trial class. If it doesn't suit you, just reply to that email proposing another Friday at 6:30pm — we'll be happy to accommodate. No spam, ever.

¡Dale! You're booked in.
Check your inbox — we'll confirm your free trial class date shortly.

FAQ

I haven't danced since my wedding. Will I keep up?

Yes. Cuban salsa is the most beginner-friendly of the partner dances — social and improvised rather than choreographed. Classes are built for adults who haven't moved in years, and partner rotation means nobody is stuck being "the slow one".

Who looks after the children?

Our childcare staff run the play activities in a dedicated room next to the main hall, and all hold an in-date DBS, first aid and child safeguarding qualifications. Drop-off is from 6:15pm, fifteen minutes before the class starts. You're never more than a few steps away, and staff will come and get you if you're needed. Our staffing and adult-to-child ratios are designed for children aged 3 and over — if your children are younger, do still fill in the booking form and we'll be in touch to discuss your particular case with the coaches.

Can I come without a partner?

Absolutely — come alone or in couple. Cuban salsa classes rotate partners constantly, so you'll dance with everyone whether you arrive alone or together.

I don't have children — can I still come?

Yes! Everyone is welcome. The adult salsa class is open to all; the play session next door is simply there for those who need it.

How does the free trial work?

Your first Friday is completely free — the class for adults and the play session for children. After that it's £10 per adult per class — and children always go free. Book via the form above or email info@salsa-play.co.uk.

How is payment made after the trial class?

Payment is made in person on the day of each class — we take both cash and card. There's nothing to pay online and no subscription: you simply pay for the classes you attend.

Do I need to bring professional dancing footwear?

Not at all! Trainers or any other comfortable shoe will be perfect. Just avoid anything with too much grip on the sole, so you can turn easily.

Do I need to book every class in advance after the trial?

No — there's no need to let us know in advance. If you fancy coming along, just pop in on the day, with or without your partner and children :)

I have a baby. Can I still join the adult salsa class?

Absolutely! Babies under 1 year old join you in the adult class in the main hall, rather than the older children in the childcare space. Babies under 1 usually stay calm in their car seat or pushchair watching the adults dance — especially once the music is on! You can step out of the class to attend to your baby as many times as you need, and rejoin whenever you're both ready.

Reconnect. Recharge. Rejoice