Salsa social dancing hiding under a competitive umbrella....

[peachexploration]

In viewing today's Salsa dance world, I'm seeing it becoming more of a competitive sport rather than enjoyment for the "social" dancer. Very close to a football game. So what of it? Nothing wrong with it if you are interested in competing but again what of it for the social dancer? Dancers who just want to enjoy the "joy" of dancing? What am really asking? Well, the thing is all I've been seeing these days is competition in social dancing. Now, I do understand that competition is just part of being human, it will always be there but what of the sheer enjoyment of dancing? Scenarios like partner against partner, lead against follow, dance school against dance school, move against move, On1 against On2, not enough "good" leads or follows in my area, I'm in advance class so I don't dance with beginners anymore, teacher against student, etc. The list could go on endlessly. All in "social" dancing. What of it? Why are non-competitors worried with such competitive views. Your thoughts?

[squirrel]

It's funny, you know... in my country, the number of salseros isn't that big... I guess in Bucharest we are around 300 tops... and the better ones are probably around 50... with around 15 advanced dancers!
There are no organised competitions, no shows, no congresses, no workshops... nobody world-famous has come to Romania so far!
Still, the competition is fierce! Instructors talk bady about one another and keep to themselves, if they organise a party they invite other schools just to show them how good they are... some instructor even forbade his students to visit other schools and have classes there! People invite you to show off, they don't care about dancing and music and they just wanna do aerials and the like... yet they do not master the technique to do the basic!!!
I stayed away from this until I opened my school... now I am involved... I hate it and try to adopt a different attitude... but the things I heard about myself from others... made me wanna throw up!!!
There is not much I can do... but teach my students dancing and real manners ... :)

[azzey]

In viewing today's Salsa dance world, I'm seeing it becoming more of a competitive sport rather than enjoyment for the "social" dancer.
<snip!>..
What of it? Why are non-competitors worried with such competitive views. Your thoughts?

Human nature. People bring themselves to the dance and that's a good thing since most people are there for so******ing, connection with another human being and the music. They also bring variety in different styles and ways of expressing themselves. It's human nature to like something different but not TOO different. The same, but not EXACTLY the same. It's not the difference that's bad, it's the judgement that we make thats negative.

Personally I've never seen a salsa competition (excluding a fun jack and jill) and I have been dancing 3-4 times a week for almost 3 years in many different cities. Surely you have to go out and find it? (If you want). To each their own.

I've found it useful to watch video clips of salsa competitions to improve my own dancing, however I have mixed feelings about competing myself. I still think their is a role for competition, just as there is for shows. I go to congresses and weekends for the dancing, however I can appreciate that some people like the shows more and that's fine. As long as I can dance I'm happy.

If you were a first time visitor to our planet and judged our world based on our news you might think we are ALL violent people. However the mass majority who are good simple people just get on with going about their life.

The crime is not to be different, but to judge.

[peachexploration]

Here's some more questions to add: :D

Do you think that the average social dancer comes into social Salsa dancing with competition in mind? I know that people come to dance for as many reasons as there are dancers but do you think they have all this extra stuff in mind initially? What of the joy for the social dancer? In order to be a social dancer, should you be competitive? We talk all the time about getting that connection with our partners. How is this possible or attainable when all this other stuff gets in the way?

[squirrel]

I think it depends... some learn Salsa to prove they can become good, or to pick up girls/guys... others learn it 'cause they enjoy it and become competitive as time goes by...