newbie needs help please!

[funseeker321]

I began salsa lessons, on1, in Feb...I need lots of help with the following:

1. I can follow some people, not perfectly, but I have a clue as to what they're doing. others seem to do some shuffle from side to side type dancing where they aren't doing a basic step at all and I can't feel their lead to ever get on track with what they are doing. is this what people refer to as street salsa and if so how do I learn to follow them?

2.rhythm and timing: I have read reviews somewhere on this site about Edie the Freak's timing cd but I'm not sure if people are referring to the one that covers other dances besides salsa and features Tito Puente's music or if she has a timing cd specifically for salsa. anyone? I keep reading to count as I dance but I guess I'm not very good at multi tasking...I start but then get distracted trying to stay with the lead and do my turns and whatnot without looking completely ridiculous.

3. following: sometimes I'm guilty of leading without even realizing it. thankfully the guys have ,on occasion, mentioned it to me in a nice way. I guess I'm confused ,on a CBL for instance ,do I wait for his hand on my back to "guide" me or do I go on the 5? I feel like if I wait I'll be behind.

4. how do I learn a double right turn vs. a double spin? what is the difference if any in the lead? I went to the DC Congress spin class but had to quit shortly into it because she was doing her steps in the reverse order of what I'm learning and I was totally confused. I'm learning on 1, not on 2...

5. any recommendations for DC/Baltimore instructors on 1? I'm looking for private lessons to add to the group lessons I'm taking. I have had some privates but they seem to focus more on styling and I need to learn the follow/lead, keeping my frame, timing before I start tossing my arms into the mix....

thanks for any help/suggestions you have. I'm trying very hard to get better but it seems like there's soooooo many things to remember...

[peachexploration]

Hi Funseeker321! Welcome to the Salsa Forums family! :D

Here is thread with some good info that will help:
:arrow: Beginner's Corner (http://www.salsaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=196)

I began salsa lessons, on1, in Feb...I need lots of help with the following:

1. I can follow some people, not perfectly, but I have a clue as to what they're doing. others seem to do some shuffle from side to side type dancing where they aren't doing a basic step at all and I can't feel their lead to ever get on track with what they are doing. is this what people refer to as street salsa and if so how do I learn to follow them?. .. Could be the style of On1 throwing you off. Cuban (which is almost like a circular side to side motion) or LA Style which is a slot style (straight forward and back)? If their lead signals aren't clear then that could be a problem. Maybe the other leads could chime in on this one? I'm a follower so I'm not really sure. Here's an interesting thread about leading. :arrow: Lead Your Partner, Not Patterns (http://www.salsaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=16)

2.rhythm and timing: I have read reviews somewhere on this site about Edie the Freak's timing cd but I'm not sure if people are referring to the one that covers other dances besides salsa and features Tito Puente's music or if she has a timing cd specifically for salsa. anyone? I keep reading to count as I dance but I guess I'm not very good at multi tasking...I start but then get distracted trying to stay with the lead and do my turns and whatnot without looking completely ridiculous...I don't have any of her CDs but most seem to think they are good. According to her site, there is the Hot Latin Nightlife Timing CD! which is for various latin rhythms such as Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Cha Cha, Spanish Rock, Bachata and Cumbia .

3. following: sometimes I'm guilty of leading without even realizing it. thankfully the guys have ,on occasion, mentioned it to me in a nice way. I guess I'm confused ,on a CBL for instance ,do I wait for his hand on my back to "guide" me or do I go on the 5? I feel like if I wait I'll be behind. The trick is to always "wait" for his lead. Even if the lead is off beat. For alot of us followers, it takes a while to learn that craft. In "partner" dancing, you'll have to keep in mind that there only two roles. "One" person has to lead and the other person has to follow. Don't worry, you'll get it. :)

4. how do I learn a double right turn vs. a double spin? what is the difference if any in the lead? I went to the DC Congress spin class but had to quit shortly into it because she was doing her steps in the reverse order of what I'm learning and I was totally confused. I'm learning on 1, not on 2...It depends, although the leads or an instructor can tell you better than I. Any leads out there? Anyways, the way I know is depending on the move. If it's a double right turn, there is pressure in hands or signals the pulls me to right with movement accompanied by a circular motion above my head. (like a halo) If the is no slight pulling or traveling pressure for direction (left or right) then I stay put and it's a just a double spin. (again, like a halo above my head). I hope that makes sense. Leads? HELP! :lol:

5. any recommendations for DC/Baltimore instructors on 1? I'm looking for private lessons to add to the group lessons I'm taking. I have had some privates but they seem to focus more on styling and I need to learn the follow/lead, keeping my frame, timing before I start tossing my arms into the mix.... We have a couple of SFers in the house from DC. Any of you guys around? :)

thanks for any help/suggestions you have. I'm trying very hard to get better but it seems like there's soooooo many things to remember...You're welcome, muchacha. Again, welcome and keep us posted. :D

[funseeker321]

the beginners thread is very helpful and I appreciate your help, too! I'll be curious to hear from the leads on the double turn vs double spin cue...

I did look for the timing cd on Edie's webpage and only see the one you mention which does include salsa. guess that's the only one she has. I thought maybe she had one devoted entirely to salsa. I have salsa on the beat which is good for explaining the different roles of the instruments. also another from Barb Bernstein which I don't really use.


thanks again Peach!

[lucretia]

Welcome funseeker321!

My teacher (and a few other) says that before a double spin the leader must give a signal that says "beware" here come a double spin. Then you have time to prepare yourself.

One signal is a double tap on your shoulder. (Not very common)

The other is that the leader moves his hand left, right, left quite quickly at the beat 1,2,3 and then you start spinning. You prepare the spin at the same beats. The hands are placed central just above your waistline

(I may be wrong here it might be right,left,right...I will check it)

Very often I find myself doublespinning - or the guy wanting me to doublespin - without any signal :twisted: . As newbie it is very hard. It is not the same footwork and not everyone cannot convert a started double turn into a spin just like that.

/Luc

[pr]

Welcome to Salsa Forums Funseeker321! :banana:

[Miami Rueda dancer]

Welcome funseeker321 :)

[pr]

1. I can follow some people, not perfectly, but I have a clue as to what they're doing. others seem to do some shuffle from side to side type dancing where they aren't doing a basic step at all and I can't feel their lead to ever get on track with what they are doing. is this what people refer to as street salsa and if so how do I learn to follow them?
I don't know what street salsa is. I'm not shure what this side to side dancing could be, but it sounds to me like a cumbia step or something similar. Another option that comes to my mind is that it could be cuban style salsa.


2.rhythm and timing: I have read reviews somewhere on this site about Edie the Freak's timing cd but I'm not sure if people are referring to the one that covers other dances besides salsa and features Tito Puente's music or if she has a timing cd specifically for salsa. anyone? I keep reading to count as I dance but I guess I'm not very good at multi tasking...I start but then get distracted trying to stay with the lead and do my turns and whatnot without looking completely ridiculous.
I don't have the timing CD... but you could count for yourself: 1 2 3 .. 5 6 7 .. It is a quick, quick, slow rythm.


3. following: sometimes I'm guilty of leading without even realizing it. thankfully the guys have ,on occasion, mentioned it to me in a nice way. I guess I'm confused ,on a CBL for instance ,do I wait for his hand on my back to "guide" me or do I go on the 5? I feel like if I wait I'll be behind.
The key is to do as Peachexplorations suggested. That is to never guess any movement in advance. You have to wait for the signal...


4. how do I learn a double right turn vs. a double spin? what is the difference if any in the lead? I went to the DC Congress spin class but had to quit shortly into it because she was doing her steps in the reverse order of what I'm learning and I was totally confused. I'm learning on 1, not on 2...
I think it has to do with how fast the preparation is. Another clue that I have been taught is that the lady shall stop when the guy lowers his hand and not before. (Maybe this applies only for very many turns? I'm not shure.)


5. any recommendations for DC/Baltimore instructors on 1? I'm looking for private lessons to add to the group lessons I'm taking. I have had some privates but they seem to focus more on styling and I need to learn the follow/lead, keeping my frame, timing before I start tossing my arms into the mix....
Maybe someone close to you can answer this?

Again welcome to SF! :D

[Rosa]

I began salsa lessons, on1, in Feb...I need lots of help with the following:

1. I can follow some people, not perfectly, but I have a clue as to what they're doing. others seem to do some shuffle from side to side type dancing where they aren't doing a basic step at all and I can't feel their lead to ever get on track with what they are doing. is this what people refer to as street salsa and if so how do I learn to follow them?

2.rhythm and timing: I have read reviews somewhere on this site about Edie the Freak's timing cd but I'm not sure if people are referring to the one that covers other dances besides salsa and features Tito Puente's music or if she has a timing cd specifically for salsa. anyone? I keep reading to count as I dance but I guess I'm not very good at multi tasking...I start but then get distracted trying to stay with the lead and do my turns and whatnot without looking completely ridiculous.

3. following: sometimes I'm guilty of leading without even realizing it. thankfully the guys have ,on occasion, mentioned it to me in a nice way. I guess I'm confused ,on a CBL for instance ,do I wait for his hand on my back to "guide" me or do I go on the 5? I feel like if I wait I'll be behind.

4. how do I learn a double right turn vs. a double spin? what is the difference if any in the lead? I went to the DC Congress spin class but had to quit shortly into it because she was doing her steps in the reverse order of what I'm learning and I was totally confused. I'm learning on 1, not on 2...

5. any recommendations for DC/Baltimore instructors on 1? I'm looking for private lessons to add to the group lessons I'm taking. I have had some privates but they seem to focus more on styling and I need to learn the follow/lead, keeping my frame, timing before I start tossing my arms into the mix....

thanks for any help/suggestions you have. I'm trying very hard to get better but it seems like there's soooooo many things to remember...

I'm not sure what you mean by shuffling step. I've been dancing LA salsa for a few years and I've never been taught a shuffling step. I suggest you ask your teacher about this, because then you can show him/her what you mean, and he/she will be able to help you more easily. Maybe it's part of a shine?

Following is easy if you have the right teacher. I had a bad habit of leading myself (back-leading) as a beginner, simply because the first teacher I had, seeing I was picking it up quickly, used me (and ripped me off for a lot of money) to teach his beginners the basic steps... making sure I always danced the lead's part, of course.

When I finally went to another class with a reputable teacher, she cured me of back-leading within three weeks. That was two years ago and I've never done it since.

Double spins... I think it's too soon for you to be doing them at this stage. I'm not sure about double turns, either. If you've only been doing salsa classes since Feb.... take it easy. Depends how many classes you do a week, but you could be still at beginner stage or improvers. It depends how you feel about your dancing, and how much you dance outwith class. But where I am, double spins are definitely considered Intermediate/Advanced level.

What I'm saying is, don't lay guilt on yourself by trying to be too good, too soon. Wait, try different classes and most of all, enjoy your salsa! And always go to your teacher with any problems you have. Of course, come to SF, too, but remember, your teacher is the one who can actually demonstrate what you should do!

Best of luck and welcome to SF! :D

Rosa :)

[MacMoto]

... others seem to do some shuffle from side to side type dancing where they aren't doing a basic step at all and I can't feel their lead to ever get on track with what they are doing. is this what people refer to as street salsa
I think so -- though I can't be sure without actually seeing it... It sounds like you are still learning the basics of following the lead in general. Don't worry too much about it just now and concentrate on getting better at following the leaders who dance the same style of salsa as yours.

I keep reading to count as I dance but I guess I'm not very good at multi tasking...I start but then get distracted trying to stay with the lead and do my turns and whatnot without looking completely ridiculous.
My advice is to get salsa music CDs and listen to them... A LOT. Listen to salsa radio on the internet, like salsastream.com. Immerse yourself in the rhythm of salsa as much as possible. Eventually, the salsa rhythms become so natural to you that you will be able to stay on the beat without counting.

I guess I'm confused ,on a CBL for instance ,do I wait for his hand on my back to "guide" me or do I go on the 5? I feel like if I wait I'll be behind.

You have to wait for the lead. Many leaders say girls stepping forward in a CBL without waiting for the lead is one of their pet peeves. Sometimes the leader may want to keep you in the position for shines, timing switch, surprise move, whatever. It doesn't work if you step forward regardless. This does not mean that he has to push and physically move you; you just wait for the pressure on your back and *then* step forward. If that pressure doesn't come in time for the 5 beat, then that's the leader's fault, but the follower also has to learn to be able to respond to lead very quickly. For the CBL, my teacher advised me to lean back slightly into the leader's hand on the 4. This makes it easier for you to feel the lead for the step forward.

4. how do I learn a double right turn vs. a double spin? what is the difference if any in the lead? I went to the DC Congress spin class but had to quit shortly into it because she was doing her steps in the reverse order of what I'm learning and I was totally confused. I'm learning on 1, not on 2...

As Rosa says, you may want to concentrate on perfecting more basic turns (singles and CBL turns) and improving your lead-follow skills in general.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress!

[funseeker321]

thank you all for the warm welcome! not to mention the good advice and helpful hints.

I went to a club tonight and danced a bit and followed your suggestions and I only led once or twice! I caught myself stepping without the lead on the cbl....okay, so practice makes perfect! it's so much different when I'm not trying to anticipate the move and then acting without a lead... not to mention my dance partners being much happier, too!

in the group lesson I had on Tues one of the guys and I were really cracking up about me saying I was going to try and just follow him...maybe its because I'm in sales I hate to just wait for things, who knows!

Now , I am starting to practice much more before I hit the dance floor, duh! your suggestions have really pointed out to me that I will get better if I work hard at it!

thank you!

ps- big salsa weekend, Latinofest with live bands, followed by a new club with Stuck on Salsa promoting....I'll let you know how it goes....

[peachexploration]

:cheers: Absolutely great news, FS321! :D

[Rosa]

Glad to hear it, too! :D

You show a high level of awareness, FS321, which is great. If you don't know you're doing something wrong, then you can't fix it. But once you're aware that you're doing it, with a determined effort, a good teacher, and practice, you'll probably find it easy to correct it.

Like you, I find feedback from partners helps a lot.

Rosa :)