Salsa Cubana, the longest-running and arguably most successful and first-ever Salsa Club (still in existence) in Sussex, will be celebrating its fifth birthday during the Brighton and Hove Festival with an open night on May 12.

We use the term salsa "club" by the dictionary definition - "association of people" - and this is definitely what we are lucky enough to have every week at Sussex Arts Club.

Piru, who runs Salsa Cubana, is a well-known and popular face around Brighton and has built up a fine reputation as a superb dancer and excellent teacher. He has recently been made a member of the UKA dance teachers' association.

He came here from Havana, Cuba, seven years ago and has been teaching in Brighton every Thursday for the last five years. The vast majority of salseros in Brighton have been taught by Piru and many have gone on to enjoy the experience of dancing street salsa, by visiting Cuba and dancing with the Havaneros.

Where many salsa venues have given in to pressure over the years and play a wide range of Latin, Lebanese and Puerta Rican music, Piru sticks true to the belief that he teaches pure Cuban salsa and plays predominantly Cuban music.

Piru would like to thank all his students over the years who have helped create a wonderful atmosphere at the Sussex Arts Club every Thursday and who help to maintain the friendliness and welcome for new students.

-Mary Sassi, manager, Sussex Arts Club