Tom

Tom grew up listening to Latin music, as it was always being played in the Mauritian household he grew up in. However, rather than salsa, Séga was the preferred genre of dance at family parties.

During his time with Salsa Bristol, Tom has risen through the ranks of the Beginner’s Course and on to the Improvers and Intermediate classes.

Tom’s enthusiasm for Salsa was such that he started helping the team each week by laying out the tables and chairs and setting up the PA system, and at the end of the night he would still be there ready to help with dismantling. This is work that goes on behind the scenes which most students don’t get to see, and Tom’s help was much appreciated. From there, Tom started helping to set up the bi-monthly Latin parties which we hold, and as this involves even more work, setting up even more equipment. Again, Tom’s help was much appreciated.

In September 2024, Tom was formally invited to become an official Salsa Bristol Team Member, in which we were delighted when he accepted.

It wasn’t only Tom’s enthusiasm which endeared him to the team, his dancing ability was clear, and it wasn’t long before he was invited to help assist teaching in the Beginners classes.

Presently, Tom helps demonstrate the Beginner’s warm-up steps at the front of the class each week, helps demonstrate with the teachers the various moves being taught that evening, and dances with students as he moves around the circle giving advice and tips to those who want it.

By helping teach Beginners, Tom has surprised himself with just how much knowledge he has gained over the past 12 months, and in turn, can now pass this on.

Our View
Tom quickly made himself an invaluable member of the Salsa Bristol team. His dedication to everything salsa will serve him well in the future as he learns the industry from the inside out. As his mentor, I can see Tom has great interpersonal skills and is developing an understanding of the need to transfer knowledge in different ways, and how students can learn to use different methods. Tom’s dance future looks bright and if the feedback I’m getting is anything to go by, the students feel the same way about him as we do.

I look forward to the future and nurturing Tom’s development as he moves through the many stages needed to become a competent Latin dance teacher!
Clare.

NB: In 2025, we now run 4 different levels being taught on a Monday evening. Tom will continue to assist on the Beginners Course during the 7.00pm to 8.00pm session, before joining Andy in teaching the new Beginners Plus Course starting at 8.00pm, before switching to a student to continue his own dance development by attending the Intermediate class held between 9.00pm and 10.00pm.