Salsa Inspiration

[peachexploration]

Who or what would say was your inspiration to start dancing Salsa?

[David]

When I was first learning to dance, I wanted to dance as much as possible, and often danced 30-35 hours per weak in addition to having a full-time job. Salsa clubs were open late and they gave me the opportunity to go somewhere else after the dance studio. I also met a lot of partners that way. It was really cool when I started, but just as cool now. :D

[mexi_gabacho]

Well, for me, I had been playing music since I was 8 years old. Growing up in a mexican family, we played alot of different latin music (primarily cumbia and corridos, but some salsa, latin jazz, etc.). I had played percussion since I was 8 years old and played all through high-school. I received a scholarship and studied percussion (music education major) in college with a few semesters spent abroad studying asian percussion in japan and studying latin percussion in a school in venezuela.

The music had always been a huge part of me... - I guess that's my point - , but it frustrated me that I could only watch the great salsa dancers. Well, my life was rocked around and I needed something productive to do with my time. So, a friend of mine (fellow percussionist) was a salsa instructor at a local salsa dance studio. I decided to give it a shot.

My first lesson was a private because I was too nervous to dare to jump into a group class. I was very surprised that I managed to do pretty well for my first lesson (stress on the FOR MY FIRST LESSON :) )... which made me think "I can do this". The rest is history.... I've been dancing salsa consistently ever since (for about 8 months now) and I now help teach the beginner classes. :D

[David]

That's really cool that you have a background in percussion. I'm sure you have a great understanding of the rhythms. I also have a background in music. I played flute for about 10 years.

[swede]

First of all I just want to say hello to everybody. This is my first post here.

I've played trumpet in a salsaband since four years ago. In january this year I decided to learn the basic salsa steps to make me look and feel better on stage. I attended a beginners class and got hooked. Now I dance 4 times/week.

[peachexploration]

Hi Swede! :D So happy to have you aboard. Welcome. :) Wow, another Salsa musician. Cool!

[Haz]

Welcome to the forums swede.

I've got some musical background (10 years on the sax and various other instruments - anything with 6 holes). But I never have (much to my dismay) played a single salsa song...maybe I'll start a thread on that...

Started dancing? Not so great reasons I s'pose - a girl. She was looking for a partner for an intermediate class (more beginner-intermediate I think) and I hopped in blindly.

It took a lesson and a half to get hooked (on the dance...not the girl). The music was amazing, the moves were amazing...the dance was amazing. We practiced 4hours minimum daily on the first few weeks so I could get up to snuff and I just couldn't get enough.

When she wasn't around to practice I took it to the net (where my skills are more fine tuned) and found the dance forums...I ended up showing up to lessons on a weekly basis with her with a new few moves to try. She knew to expect it, but never knew what I'd come up with ;). Everything from the slick LA style recommended stuff, to a forced hi-jacking (very fun btw).

Our lessons were in swedish. I speak only english, and she german (and a tad bit of english). So we just had a blast watching/learning by example and dancing the way we felt like dancing. We turned out to be the quickest learning couple in the group, but I haven't been back to the salsa scene in any great amounts since...:(.

[peachexploration]

....I've got some musical background (10 years on the sax and various other instruments - anything with 6 holes). But I never have (much to my dismay) played a single salsa song...maybe I'll start a thread on that... Hey, we're ready when you are. ;) :D That would be awesome for the Salsa Music section! :)

[salsachinita]

:D Hey, welcome to this side, Haz & mexi-gabacho!

And a warm welcome to you too, swede :wink: ....!

I fell in love with salsa music during the late 80s, but didn't learn to dance until '89, aged 19. Our local latino community welcomed me into their (most of them musicians) lives & my growth started there :D .

I was taken under the wings of a well-respected local salsero, who became my salsa mentor (and a love/hate saga soon followed that was to last for the next ten years on & off :roll: ) & my main influence in not only dancing, but the rich culture where salsa came from.

I started living salsa as a lifestyle eversince 8) .

More than just a dance, it's music, culture, history, identity, comeradery, passion & a celebration of life lived to the fullest.

That was the first part. My old-school upbringing. Then Edie SalsaFreak was responsible for the next stage of my growth :shock: .....

While I am yet to meet her in person, her writing (which I discovered after my final split-up from my salsa mentor/ex & in need to re-build my own identity) was my main influence/inspiration to keep an open attitude & never stop learning. Also to share whatever I know so others may benefit from it :oops: ........

SF & DF became my medium for exactly that. A place for all to learn & share....

[Miami Rueda dancer]

I was way too shy to try it out at first.... but... my friend lucky saved me by forcing me to go to lessons with him and from there on im dancing Casino Rueda every day and listening to a whole new genre of music. Salsa :D

[Rosa]

I came to salsa as an adult. I had NO background in dance, nothing. But I was travelling to Spain a lot, and I decided to start learning to speak Spanish. I quickly developed an all-consuming interest in Hispanic culture... and one of my first Spanish teachers was Latin American, as have been a number of my subsequent teachers, so...

The rest is history!

Rosa :)

[El guru]

I listen to music since I was 5 years old... so music is part of my life (I bagan to sing at 14, dj, pianobar, radio speaker... everything with music in my 37 years)
My last passion was jazz and already I was listening to latin jazz.. when...

My best friend had broken with her girlfriend, my girlfriend was in the US for a PhD, he involved me to participate to a lesson with other 2 girls friend of us without dance partner...

In 2 year we changed completely group of friends and gradually ever more involved in dancing salsa... without a particular style a freestyle with the base of rueda.

Then during a workshop I found "my way to salsa"...
2 persons that opened my mind completely
Alberto Valdez... a cuban so elegant in dancing to change any opinion vs. NYS=elegant e Cuban=passionate
on the other side Tito Tassinari.. an italian that interpretate his puertorican salsa in an animal, passionate feeling...

That 2 persons shown me both their passion, and that everyone can find his own way to interpretate correctly salsa and dancing...

In the same period people of my club begun to appellate me friendly "el guru" and I begun their rueda singer..., and at the same time I meet the one that have been my dance partner for one year with which I explorate and invented every night something coming from our fantasy...

Since one year and a half... the salsa forums... (italian forums) that allowed me to meet people all around italy and some in europe...

Now.. I'm here...