Whether you're a seasoned Salsero or you just started your dance journey in Bachata, you can get the most out of your summer by soaking up the Viennese atmosphere and moving those hips. This summer 2024, Vienna offers a multitude of outdoor venues where you can show off those Salsa moves, connect with others and have fun. 

Vienna's Donauinsel, a 21-kilometer long artificial island completed in the late 80s for flood protection, has evolved into a popular summer destination. It offers a wide range of attractions including beaches, cycling paths, volleyball courts, and grill zones, making it an ideal spot to savor Vienna's sunny season.

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If you enjoy dancing by the water, the Donauinsel offers numerous options. At 

, you can groove to Salsa and Bachata tunes while sipping on a variety of refreshing cocktails.

On opposites sides of the Donau, you will be able to find different options throught the week to satisfy your SBK (Salsa, Bachata & Kizomba) dance urges, with places like Rumba y Mambo holding events like the 

On the other side of the Danube, Copa Beach hosts a variety of parties and events for all Latin music dancers every summer, with events like 

, you are sure to feel like you are on a beach listening and dancing to Latin music. 

Just a few meters away from the U1 Donauinsel station, the renowned 

 is held every Sunday. It's a gathering for dance enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels, who come together to enjoy Salsa and Bachata music, as well as to socialize with fellow dancers.

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Located in the heart of the city, this public park was once the private garden of the Habsburg emperors. It now offers beautiful grass fields and a serene atmosphere, inviting everyone to take a leisurely stroll and feel like royalty.

In the summer, several events are held behind the national library, where the stone floor is perfect for dancing and the park provides a picturesque backdrop. If you're a student looking to join a lively and laid-back Salsa event, 

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Connecting the 1st and 2nd district, the underside of the Salztorbrücke has become a well-known spot for hosting lively Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba parties. Among them is the weekly Salsa 

workshops / rueda de casino by Salsa Fun Club

Not to be overlooked is last year’s Open Air Friday Donaukanal/Schwedenbrücke party, offering an ideal opportunity to kick off the weekend on the right note with its three dance floors. This year’s series of parties start on June 7 with 

 so make sure to check it out for an excellent Friday after work dance party. 

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Unlike the main Danube river, it's a calm, crescent-shaped body of water ideal for swimming, sailing, and windsurfing. Dotted with beaches and lidos like Strandbad Alte Donau, it's a popular summertime destination for locals. Despite not being as popular as other outdoors dance locations, the Alte Donau still hosts numerous events during the summer for enthusiasts of Salsa, Bachata, and more. One example is 

 in the Arbeiterstrandbadstraße, that welcomes everyone every Wednesday for a Latin Wednesday after work. 

Do you have any favorite outdoor dance spots for summer in Vienna that we might have missed? Feel free to share in the comments. Also, don't forget to visit our page and social media for the latest Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, and other events happening in Vienna.

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Top Outdoor Salsa & Bachata Vienna Spots in Summer 2024

Salsa music originated in Cuba, evolving from Son Cubano in the 1930s. Over the decades, the genre gained traction throughout the Americas, especially in the United States, where many Cubans migrated following the Cuban Revolution. Due to geographical, cultural, and temporal differences, each region in the Americas developed its own distinctive flavor of Salsa music and dancing. The 1960s and 1970s are often considered the golden age of Salsa, as New York City popularized the genre worldwide.

In most cities around the world, you will encounter one of three primary styles:

Cuban Salsa, as the name suggests, originates from Cuba. The dance is performed in a circular fashion, with the leader and follower moving around each other. By the 1980s, a new music genre called Timba emerged, bringing corresponding changes to the dance. Timba incorporates influences from American R&B/Funk and Afro-Cuban folkloric music known as Rumba. The last one is not to be confused with the ballroom dance called Rhumba. Cuban Salsa is danced on the first beat (on 1) of a song and features a grounded yet energetic style with elaborate arm movements that can appear complex to beginners.

Rueda de Casino is a sub-style of Cuban Salsa where groups of pairs dance in a circle, performing figures announced by a "cantante" (caller), and switch partners throughout the song. This style originated in Cuban dance halls frequented by wealthier Cubans and tourists. It is popular in dance schools as a method to teach Cuban Salsa.

LA Style Salsa is danced in a linear fashion, often referred to, along with NY Style, as "crossbody lead" styles. This style emphasizes show performance, especially in the professional scene. It is danced on the first beat (on 1).

NY Style Salsa shares many elements with LA Style but differs in that the emphasis while dancing is on the second beat (on 2) rather than the first. This subtle difference gives NY Style a unique feel and timing.

While the aforementioned styles are the most common, other styles might be encountered depending on your location.

Originating from Colombia, this style emphasizes intricate footwork and is often performed to fast-paced music.

Also from Colombia, Salsa Choke focuses on footwork but is typically danced solo rather than with a partner.

Puerto Rican Salsa is less defined in its rules compared to other styles. It is usually danced in a linear fashion with simpler turns.

Often, the choice of style will depend on what is available in your city. Typically, one style will dominate the local community, although this can change over time. It's usually a smart choice to start with the predominant style, as it means there will be more socials and practice opportunities in your area. Regardless of whether you choose Cuban, LA, or NY Style Salsa, each offers a unique and exciting way to experience this vibrant dance form. Happy dancing!

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The Different Styles of Salsa Dancing Explained

Learning to dance Bachata, Zouk, Salsa or Kizomba is like gaining skills in a new language, except with two left legs and awkward bumping into people. But how you choose to learn can be as diverse as the steps themselves. According to my observations as a social butterfly in Vienna, there seem to be four types of dance students, each with its own set of quirks and benefits.

“Part of the family” aka “dedicated disciple”

Meet Susi. She has been with the same dance school for over a year now and absolutely loves it! This dancer is a creature of routine, hitting the same studio like clockwork. She's the one with the most impressive footwork, her movements smooth and confident. Susi keeps paying for monthly passes, religiously attending daily classes with her beloved instructors. Although “beloved” is not quite the word. She worships her instructors, seeing them as queens and kings of the dance scene and only goes to socials organized by her school - nowhere else! It would be disloyal to dance anywhere else. Being a part of the family means everything to her. That’s why she even started styling her hair and dressing like the instructors she admires. Actually she lost some of her old friends as all she wants to talk about is dancing.

Learn Progress: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Consistent practice and personalized feedback lead to super fast and impressive improvement.

Efficiency: ⭐️⭐️ - Focused learning with minimal distractions.

Costs: 💰💰💰 - Regular class fees in a professional but expensive school and potentially additional private lessons.

Time Invested: 🕰️🕰️🕰️ - Daily commitment to classes.

Opportunity to Make Friends: 👫 - Regular interaction with classmates and instructors fosters connections. They are a family. 😀

Compatibility with Work: 🏢 - Good, as the classes are in the evenings, after work. 

Compatibility with Family Duties: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👎 - Requires finding childcare or coordinating schedules with family members. But since Susi is single and fabulous, free evenings are not a big deal. 

Max is a butterfly of the dance scene, flitting from one workshop to another, collecting knowledge and inspiration from various teachers. He knows everybody and can high-five DJs at any Latin party. This flexible “tonight here, tomorrow somewhere else” approach gives him a chance to meet pretty ladies, especially in trial and beginner classes.  He's the one with the most diverse skill set, able to switch seamlessly between Salsa, Bachata, and Zouk. The man is also the one boasting about his collection of “private dance meetings”. But his bank account might not be as happy as his… feet, and the dancing progress might be less linear than Susi’s. Still, Max wouldn't trade his eclectic experiences for the world.

Learn Progress: ⭐️⭐️ - Varied perspectives can be enriching, but consistency may be lacking.

Efficiency: ⭐️⭐️ - Requires travel and planning between workshops (since they happen to be in different parts of the city and often on the same nights).

Costs: 💰💰 - Varies depending on workshop fees, but generally from 5€ to 25€ a workshop.

Time Invested: 🕰️🕰️ - Varies depending on workshop schedules and travel time, but generally a lot of flexibility. 

Opportunity to Make Friends: 👫👫 - Opportunities to meet new people at each workshop. Especially beginners. The prettier the better ;)

Compatibility with Work: 🏢 - Moderate - Can be flexible depending on workshop schedules, but generally good, as only travels in Vienna are required.

Compatibility with Family Duties: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 - Good! Max is single and likes to keep it that way. Workshops across town during weekends or evenings? No problem!

Sophie is a single mom with low income. She’s also a self-sufficient soul, learning through online tutorials and practicing with her dance buddies at socials. She's the one with the most control over her learning pace and budget, often found in her cozy apartment, perfecting her moves with the help of YouTube and online communities. While she might miss out on the personalized feedback of a traditional studio, Sophie thrives on the flexibility and independence of her chosen path. She is free to go to socials spontaneously and tries to learn whenever she gets a chance.

Learn Progress: ⭐️⭐️ - Can be self-paced, but requires self-discipline and access to reliable resources.

Efficiency: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Flexible - Can be adjusted to personal schedules.

Costs: 💸 - Can be free or require minimal subscription fees.

Time Invested: 🕰️ - Flexible - Can be self-paced and adjusted to personal schedules.

Opportunity to Make Friends: 👫👫 - Requires active participation in online communities and social events.

Compatibility with Work: 🏢⭐️⭐️⭐️ - High - Can be self-paced and adjusted to work schedules.

Compatibility with Family Duties: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦⭐️⭐️⭐️ - High - Sophie works around her family commitments and tries to dance whenever her kid is with the other parent. 

Franz is a weekend warrior, dedicating his entire vacation (yep, 25 workdays a year) to intensive workshops and social parties at dance festivals in Spain, Greece, UK, Germany, Turkey or even North Africa (looking at you, Habana in Tunisia!). He's the one with the most immersive experiences and the most epic dance stories, often regaling his friends with tales of his latest festival adventures. He is proud of all the dance videos with world-famous Bachata and Salsa stars - Daniel & Desiree here, Ataca and La Alemana there.  But his progress is… not so great, as he tends to sleep and party more than learn. It’s punctuated by long stretches of "normal life," where he patiently waits for the next opportunity to immerse himself in the world of dance.

Learn Progress: ⭐️⭐️ - Intensive learning bursts, but gaps between festivals can hinder progress.

Efficiency: ⭐️ - Significant time commitment for limited learning periods.

Costs: 💰💰💰 - Festival passes, travel, and accommodation are SUPER expensive.

Time Invested: 🕰️🕰️🕰️ - High - Intensive learning during festival weekends, lots of time spend traveling. 

Opportunity to Make Friends: 👫👫👫 - Immersive environment encourages socializing and making international connections. Plus what happens in Italy stays in Italy, right?

Compatibility with Work: 🏢👎 - Requires taking time off work for festival weekends (as travel is mostly on Fridays and Mondays).

Compatibility with Family Duties: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👎 - Requires taking time away from family for festival weekends.

So, which approach is the best? Sticking to one teacher/school, running to a different workshop every time, learning at home or traveling to festivals? I personally tend to mix and adjust, depending on the level of private and professional stress, but generally speaking, flexibility and cost efficiency are a big plus. Ultimately, the best approach depends on your individual goals, preferences, and lifestyle. So, put on your dancing shoes, choose your path, and get ready to sweat your way to Salsa, Bachata, Zouk, and Kizomba mastery!

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Four Methods of Learning Social Dancing

For me, musicality begins with the sound of an instrument. Not with the song structure, not with the rhythm, but solely with the fact that a sound emanates from an instrument. This one sound already tells a story of tonal qualities. How does it sound? How does it feel? The sound of congas is different from that of bongos. The sound of percussion instruments is different from that of string instruments. Shouldn't we incorporate this quality into our dance? It would be such a shame and a wasted expression to ignore these instruments in the music.

At the level of sound, it is even possible to teach musicality to inexperienced dancers or beginners in just a few sessions, if not even in one session. I was able to observe firsthand how quickly the understanding of musicality can happen. They could dance with their bodies to different instruments and express their qualities. They could mutually recognize the differences in each other. For more advanced dancers, the movements became more meaningful and musical, as the sounds provided a context for the movements.

Don’t believe me? Right, don’t take my word for it—find out for yourself! You can try it out and experiment on your own! Download a music app that allows you to turn individual instruments on and off and select their rhythms.

The simplest group that I like to put together is the Campana and the Congas. Set the Campana to a simple rhythm with a single beat each time, and the Conga to a simple Tumba rhythm. From my perspective, this group forms a meaningful bridge in learning from conditioned counting (1, 2, 3,...) to musical feeling. Close your eyes and listen. Now, try to personify, characterize, and humanize these sounds for yourself. Describe these qualities. I like to describe this percussion group as "macho," "direct and minimalistic," and "determined and strong." Try to honestly let this feeling arise within you. Focus on the chest area. Step by step, when you feel ready, start to dance. It is recommended to simply do your basic Timba steps and coordinate them with the feeling generated by the listening. When watching yourself in a mirror, your steps and your body as a whole should ideally describe "macho" or "determined and strong." Observe your torso as you extend the feeling in that area.

Now, do the same with the piano. Listen, personify, describe the feeling, and dance slowly to it. I like to describe the piano as "jazzy," "flowing," and "relaxed." Yes, the mind can already recognize when listening that the piano sounds different from the first percussion group. But it's only when you feel it in your body that you realize how truly different it is.

Of course, you can use this method for other instruments as well.

If you do this exercise with a friend, you can practice recognizing musicality together. Stand facing each other. One person dances, and the other watches. The dancing person chooses a group of instruments and dances to them. The observing person tries to recognize which instruments are being represented. If the observing person cannot identify the instruments in the dancer's movements, it means the dancer's movements are not clear enough. If that’s the case, don’t hesitate to let the feeling rise up more strongly. Think of it a bit like stepping into a role. Don’t be afraid to show yourself and let the other person try to recognize your movements. It’s a relaxed space, and you’re not yet at a social dance event.

In the next post, you'll learn how I build musicality and why I don’t start with song structure and rhythm.

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Musicality: Pt. 1 - What Is It To Me? - The Core

: Respect is the cornerstone of social dancing. Always treat your dance partners and fellow dancers with courtesy, regardless of their skill level. Avoid criticizing others and focus on fostering a supportive environment.

 Maintaining good personal hygiene is essential. Use deodorant, brush your teeth, and avoid strong perfumes or colognes. A fresh appearance helps ensure a pleasant experience for everyone.

 Choose clothing and footwear that are both comfortable and suitable for the dance style. Avoid outfits or accessories that could be hazardous or uncomfortable for you or your partner.

 When asking someone to dance, be polite and considerate. A simple, “Would you like to dance?” is often the best approach. If someone declines, accept their decision gracefully without taking it personally.

 If you accept a dance, do so with a positive attitude. If you need to decline, do so politely with a smile. A brief explanation is courteous but not required.

 Establish a comfortable connection with your partner and maintain a frame that is comfortable for both of you. Ensure you are not too forceful or too loose.

 Leaders should give clear and gentle signals, while followers should be responsive without anticipating moves. This balance creates a harmonious dance.

 Always respect your partner’s personal space and boundaries. Avoid moves that might make your partner uncomfortable.

 Be aware of your surroundings to avoid collisions with other dancers. Adapt your moves to the available space on the dance floor.

 Always thank your partner at the end of the dance. It’s a small gesture that goes a long way. If possible, walk your partner back to their seat.

: If any issues arise during the dance, such as discomfort or boundary concerns, address them gently and respectfully.

 Engage in friendly and respectful conversation off the dance floor. Avoid gossiping or speaking negatively about other dancers.

 Encourage and welcome new dancers into the community. Be supportive and help foster a positive and inclusive atmosphere.

 Be mindful of your partner’s physical limits and avoid moves that could cause injury. If an accident occurs, apologize and check on your partner’s well-being.

 Respect your partner’s boundaries at all times. Never assume consent for intimate or close-contact moves without clear communication.

 Arrive on time for classes or events and be ready to dance when the music starts. Punctuality shows respect for the event and other participants.

 Participate actively in classes and social dances. Avoid sitting out multiple dances unless you need a break. Engaging fully enhances the experience for everyone.

By adhering to these guidelines, social dancers can create a respectful, enjoyable, and vibrant dance community. Remember, social dancing is not  just about the steps and moves; it’s about connecting with others, sharing joy, and having fun. So, lace up your dance shoes, hit the floor, and let the music guide you, all while keeping these codes of  conduct in mind. Happy dancing!

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