Shines or Partnerwork

Hi All,

I was just wondering about the mixture of shines and partner work when you are dancing...

When you are dancing, I guess the leader mainly gets to decide this, what sections of the song, or instruments generally drive you towards shines? what parts of the song would inspire you to do partner work? Are there some genres of music that make you want to forget about partner work all together? Does the montuno section of a song make you want to leave partner work alone?

I would love to know what you think...

toan-hoang said:

Hi All,

I was just wondering about the mixture of shines and partner work when you are dancing...

When you are dancing, I guess the leader mainly gets to decide this, what sections of the song, or instruments generally drive you towards shines? what parts of the song would inspire you to do partner work? Are there some genres of music that make you want to forget about partner work all together? Does the montuno section of a song make you want to leave partner work alone?

I would love to know what you think...

Click to expand...

The section where the percussion starts going crazy - definitely solo
Certain reggaeton/hiphop music - forget the partner work
Montuno - Sometimes, depends.

Sometimes no reason or a break or if i mislead something or a change in the music.

Many of the above....
Mostly the leaders decide this (Im a follower)
but if I feel the leader is giving too much spins and I need a break I will def do something to let go and shine on my own.

I like the shines, because they give you a break to breath apart and plus they give you the opportunity to do some shine on your own. They also give you time to flirt a little.
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There are other threads that speak about this for reference
The importance of shines for beginners
http://www.salsaforums.com/showthread.php?t=14566


Someone Shines,the other doesnt
http://www.salsaforums.com/showthread.php?t=18413

Definitely where the percussion is going crazy. However, some guys carry on doing partnerwork through that bit and then do shines to another bit, so I suppose different people like different things in the music for shines.

Also, not everyone actually listens to the music!

Depends on the follower, if I know they wont do them I dont bother or I just hold onto her and do a few for a bar or two when i really want to.

However with good followers:

Usually when the drums are going crazy

Sometimes when I hear distinct clave as I have a some nice clave shines

Sometimes for the horns/trumpets or piano (montuno?) as they are my favourite to make stuff up too

normally I'll jsut do 3-4 bars but sometimes I get carried away

While I can see how the percussion section is an obvious choice for solo shines, I think it depends on how crazy the drums are being played. Peter Fige has in my opinion a great example on his DVD, where the drums are too crazy to shine to.

But generall speaking, it depends for me on my partner (ie. does she know shines, does she enjoy them, etc.) and my connection with music and my partner to decide where to break into some shines and where to resume partnerwork. Sometimes it might be something obvious in the music, ie. a break, but sometimes it can just be based on how I feel (my partner and the music, of course) at that moment. As for the shines, it's up to my partner and me to negotiate via our shines and bodymovement when we resume partnerwork.

toan-hoang said:

When you are dancing, I guess the leader mainly gets to decide this, what sections of the song, or instruments generally drive you towards shines?

Click to expand...

- instrument solos (percussion, piano, flute, etc.)
- during/right after a break where for a few bars you can hear only one instrument (mainly to reset)
- a few bars before a break occurs that you are anticipating (so you look cool doing some interesting shine when the break happens of course)

toan-hoang said:

what parts of the song would inspire you to do partner work?

Click to expand...

Partnerwork is the filler between shines. Also, I can't shine to salsa romantica, doesn't feel right.

toan-hoang said:

Are there some genres of music that make you want to forget about partner work all together?

Click to expand...

Charanga, if the follower can stomach me doing sloppy pachanga for 5 minutes.