Introducing Fluidity in Your Dance Movement.....

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peachexploration

How do you eliminate the appearance of "stiffness" in Salsa? How do we eliminate looking more like robots rather than having the fluid movement that allows us to look as if you're "flowing" as opposed to just "stepping"?
How do you embrace the wave of motion that moves and connects you to your partner?
 
Respecting the technique of stepping would be a start... body isolation moves would be next... enjoying the music and "letting go" are helpful as well... ;)
 
It's difficult to make total beginners look fluid... especially those who have hag no previous dance experience... :(

They have a lot of difficulty in keeping the beat and not mixing the feet already! :shock: :lol:
 
i'd recommend beginners to video themselves and get themselves to pin-point wat they dislike seein themselves do.

tried that a month back and i realised that i can correct myself more easily after watchin some horrifyin early recordings! <laughs> especially when i *thought* that i was movin my arms.. but in fact it was in some circular motion that it looked really ridiculous. at the same time then.. i also realised that once i corrected my circular motion arm moves.. i noticed that my arms are stiff *after* doin a turn. so i made it a point to relax my arms and go with the motion after completing turns.

well somethings you just dun realise till u video yourself. sometimes your partner can't evaluate effectively becuz of the close proximity. when u are just so put off by wat you see.. you will want to correct it immediately (before you develope the nasty habit as a beginner) and then video yourself again to see if it looks okay. this i reckon.. is a way out for some.

as for squirrel's note on beginners havin difficulty in keepin time. then i'd suggest goin for music classes.. and spend some time understandin music on a whole. i have a background in a marchin band and am also a percussionist.. so that eliminated the keepin the beat. but that did not mean that i progressed well into fluidity right from the start. (can say that i'm much better now tho. *after* much self criticism from my own video recordings.) <grin>
 
tingteo said:
i'd recommend beginners to video themselves and get themselves to pin-point wat they dislike seein themselves do.
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Talk about an eye opener. :shock: I was doing a video clip of myself last night and immediately erased it. :lol: :lol: :lol: There is this body roll I do that I thought looked good but to my surprised while I viewed it, it looked like I carried around a ton of bricks and had extreme back pain. Hilarious! Needless to say, I immediatly changed it. ;) So, definitely Ting, recording a video or even dancing in the mirror definitely helps you monitor/improve your dance movement. Unfortunately, it can be uncomfortable. Especially, for me. I hate mirrors! (Afraid of the truth maybe :roll: :lol: ) But I think recording yourself is a great tool. :)
 
you know.. i have a full length glass reflection in my room.. and i use that as a substitute for a mirror (it works fine. haha.) but the reason i suggested recordin a video is that it is quite impossible to note and check our posture in the midst of doin our turns / multiple turns? hehee. =)

next.. my 2 cents on footwork fluidity. my progress from a total beginner's step step step 'look' into a smoother 'glide' and havin a hip motion look.. is to follow / learn / mimick from a better salsera. i picked mine up from a video.. and have since then recieved positive feedback that i got it lookin nice.

some notes that i seem to read from some tips corners (and do put them into practice) are:
1. to *land* on the ball of your feet then followed by the heel. rememberin to practice turnin on the balls of our feet even if we are not in heels.
2. push off your steps with the ball of your feet as well.
3. try not to lift the feet up too much.
4. keep the knees close together in passing or even cross them slightly in front of one another.
5. remember to point toes slightly outwards. remember it bein referred to a 'pigeon-toed' look if you are spotted with toes pointin inwards! lol.

reckon all these are *very* important points to remember if we want to progress out of the 'step step step' look.. and develope a more fluid overall movement.
 
I used to dislike the idea of viewing myself on video until I actually did it. To my suprise, I looked exactly as I felt 8) (*phew*)..........

To answer the original question, I think it truely comes down to being comfortable with the moves, music, your partner and most importanly, yourself.

Apart from good isolation, which beginner usually won't get a chance to work on (don't force yourself to do it at this stage....there are too many things to worry about!), I think having a smooth weight change in doing the basics really makes a difference.

Also, having good suspension is a huge help. Lift yourself up, stand on the ball of you feet (as 'tall' as possible). Now keeping an upright posture, knees flexed, how low can you go and still be comfortable.....? THIS is the kind of suspension I'm talking about: keep your centre of gravity low while lift yourself up ('off' your feet).
 
Hello,

It is true that the video helps a lot, you can analyse what you like in your style and what to improve (in my case, so much things :D)

For me the most impostant thing is to practice every time and everywhere on the point to improve (alone in the elevator...). For instance I want to move better my hips and knees, so I try some new moves when I'm alone (it's a bit ridiculous... and a bit obsessive but it works :P )
 
SMF said:
...For me the most impostant thing is to practice every time and everywhere on the point to improve (alone in the elevator...). For instance I want to move better my hips and knees, so I try some new moves when I'm alone (it's a bit ridiculous... and a bit obsessive but it works :P )
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You're not alone. Our elevators have great mirrors so it's easy for me to practice there too. Security probably laughs (surveilance cameras) but hey, a Salsera needs to practice where ever she can. :lol:

Is it possible to incorporate some of the technical movement (grace) from ballet in Salsa without totally eliminating the street edge?
 
peachexploration said:
You're not alone. Our elevators have great mirrors so it's easy for me to practice there too. Security probably laughs (surveilance cameras) but hey, a Salsera needs to practice where ever she can. :lol:

Is it possible to incorporate some of the technical movement (grace) from ballet in Salsa without totally eliminating the street edge?
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Actually, I'm a Salsero, but I need practice too :D

What do you mean with the ballet's moves ? what kind of movements ?
 
How do you eliminate the appearance of "stiffness" in Salsa? How do we eliminate looking more like robots rather than having the fluid movement that allows us to look as if you're "flowing" as opposed to just "stepping"?
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I think that is possible only with a lot of practice. The best school is the dance floor!Isn't it? ;)
The first movements aren't fluid.I know! :D But is normal! With this kind of dance,there are some particular movements.And you can't do it well!
We have to dance,dance and dance!!! Only that!!!!
Another thing is repeat the steps that you learn at lessons.Each time! I do it!At home,alone and without mirror!This is a pity,because is important see your image while you are dancing!!!See how are your movements,if are good or are not!This is another way to get better!
 
well, I took lessons and from there on, you just.... catch it lol when I used to dance my partners would tell me move your hips more your so stiff :P but now I look more smooth.... fluid.. try taking small steps and moving your hips alittle :D
 
i think that begginers look STIFF and solidated becuz they dont feel comfrtable doing it , specially if its a group class , every body would be scared ** wut if i look rediculus**
i suggest making them feeling comfrtable and at ease , and by watching someone moving their arms in a fluid wayy , or giving a hip movement while stepping would make them wanna do it , cuz it simply looks good

and one more thing is the music, if they could HEAR the music and FEEl it, they have to be fluid!! thats natural !!!!!
 
Anyone take a seperate Styling Class. I was watching Nancy Ortiz and her styling, body movement is just awesome. Hmmm, I wonder if she has any instructional tapes. :?:
 
Dance....

I agree with a large number of the suggestions.

For me, the best thing to do is this:

1. Go out dancing!
2. Dance with many partners.
3. Screw up. Smile. Laugh.
4. Repeat steps 1-3.

The only way for your styling to look natural is for it to FEEL natural. And as a beginner, you are doing something that isn't natural to your body. The only way to make it natural, is to do it.

You have to hit the clubs, dance with real partners (who aren't calling out moves), hear the music, move your body, screw up, get over it.... once you are comfortable with the concept of making mistakes and moving on, you will relax.... once you relax, you will begin to actually hear and enjoy the music.... once you hear and enjoy the music.... etc. etc.

There is no better tool than practice. And I see people all the time trying to find the shortcut to hitting the clubs and messing up. But, I really believe that everyone just has to go through that. How long it lasts is up to HOW MUCH you go and how much you practice on your own. Now, there IS such a thing as PROPER practice. And watching videos of yourself can help you make sure that you are practicing properly. BUT, first you have to get over the fear of mistakes. That is when everyone's first dance "break-through" happens.
 
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