Struggling with salsa

[Deltarain]

Last night I had my 4th Salsa lesson and I kept messing up big time. No matter how hard I tried I kept getting it wrong. I was just wondering how everyone here was when they first started salsa? How old were you when you started to learn?

[peachexploration]

Hi Deltarain. Very happy to have you here with us Salsa Forums! Welcome. It's not easy when you start Salsa. Sometimes you get a bit overwhelmed but don't worry, you have it before you know it. Here's a good thread if you haven't seen it already. :arrow: Beginner's Corner (http://www.salsaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=196) As for when I started? I've been dancing all my life but didn't start my Salsa life until in my thirties.

[lolita]

dont worry , just like peach said, u'll get it before u know it .. beside its ur 4TH CLASS which means u r in ur 4th class i mean thats pretty early
i was dancing all my life too, i started classes when i was 14

[Miami Rueda dancer]

I started 5 months ago.. and im 15, I had a bad class on Monday, don't worry happenes to the best of us :)

[DeeplyDippy]

I was a month just getting the basic footwork :D

My first party night I forgot everything and could only go forward and back :lol:

[Claire_Brummell]

What you have to remember is that everyone learns at their own pace if it take 4 lessons or 444 lessons doesn't matter - what matters is that you enjoy yourself and go at your own pace - don't worry about how fast or slow you're going - just enjoy yourself.

The trick is to practise all the time and listen to the music whenever you can - do your basic when you're doing the washing up, when you're doing the ironing, when you're doing your teeth...do it as often as you can until it becomes second nature - and don't worry - it will come!

Hugs

Claire xx

[Deltarain]

Thanks everyone. I get really frustrated with myself at times, I'm still really enjoying it so I won't give up trying. It just got me wondering about you professional lot, how long you'd all been doing it, whether you were dancers before etc... You all seem really friendly so I think i've come to the right place to get my questions answered, I will warn you that there is probably a hundred more silly questions just waiting to escape from my brain!!! :lol:

[Claire_Brummell]

There are no such things as silly questions.....I'm afraid I can't promise that you won't get some silly answers though!! :lol:

Welcome to the forums - anything we can do to help - just shout! :D

Hugs

Claire xx

[peachexploration]

There are no such things as silly questions.....I'm afraid I can't promise that you won't get some silly answers though!! :lol:

Welcome to the forums - anything we can do to help - just shout! :D

Hugs

Claire xx

Ditto! :D

[Rosa]

Welcome, Deltarain! :D

Like you, I found the Salsa rhythm complicated and it took me a while to get it. But right from the very start I loved the music, so I always had a feeling of "Oh, I really want to be able to do this!" That spurred me on.

I agree with Claire about practice - it will help a lot. It's all to do with what's known as 'muscle memory'. Basically, the more often you do something, the easier your muscles find remembering how to do it. And one of these great days :D you'll find you're doing it more or less automatically! 8) :D

But that won't be for a while yet if you're only at week 4. Don't push yourself too hard, learn at your own pace, keep practising at home - I think ten minutes a day is better than an hour once a week - and you're bound to see a steady improvement.

Keep us posted!

Rosa :)

[Deltarain]

Thanks for all the advice, I found myself dancing in the kitchen last night whilst cleaning out the cats tray!

[Claire_Brummell]

Thanks for all the advice, I found myself dancing in the kitchen last night whilst cleaning out the cats tray!

Good for you! (You never know, you might get the cat doing it too!!) ;) :lol:

[DeeplyDippy]

Thanks for all the advice, I found myself dancing in the kitchen last night whilst cleaning out the cats tray!

Good for you! (You never know, you might get the cat doing it too!!) ;) :lol:

Yeah, a little ***** never hurt anyone ...

[Claire_Brummell]

:doh: Tut, Tut, Tut... :roll:

[MacMoto]

When I had a cat, she hated my spin practice... but she hated it even more when I tried to lead her (yeah I know I'm a lousy leader :roll: ).

[Nickie p]

i'm 24 and started 5 weeks ago - been in the improvers class since week 3 but i've danced before.

We've got one lady in our beginners group who has been there for ages, but is just happy to not move to the next group.

There are all sorts of people at our salsa class - and everyone helps everyone else - unless you read my other post and hear about our gatecrasher this week!

Aside from that - its great - you will get it - just as our instructor always says count and make sure your feet are counting in time with your head! :lol:

Nic

PS - you'll be fine give your self time you will get it - promise

xx

[DeeplyDippy]

:doh: Tut, Tut, Tut... :roll:

Sorry, couldn't resist it

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Deltarain]

Thanks for all the advice, I found myself dancing in the kitchen last night whilst cleaning out the cats tray!

Good for you! (You never know, you might get the cat doing it too!!) ;) :lol:

Yeah, a little ***** never hurt anyone ...

:shock: :shock: :lol: :lol:

[Deltarain]

i'm 24 and started 5 weeks ago - been in the improvers class since week 3 but i've danced before.

We've got one lady in our beginners group who has been there for ages, but is just happy to not move to the next group.

There are all sorts of people at our salsa class - and everyone helps everyone else - unless you read my other post and hear about our gatecrasher this week!

Aside from that - its great - you will get it - just as our instructor always says count and make sure your feet are counting in time with your head! :lol:

Nic

PS - you'll be fine give your self time you will get it - promise

xx

I'm 25 and was beginning to think I was too old to begin but you lot have convinced me otherwise. I'm glad I found this site. I will get it cos I won't let myself off the hook until I do, when I just dance i'm ok but as soon as i've got to think about anything I go totally off track.

[Rosa]

When I had a cat, she hated my spin practice... but she hated it even more when I tried to lead her (yeah I know I'm a lousy leader :roll: ).

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Rosa :)

[radiolake]

I'm new to Salsa too and feel all the frustrations beginners here are expressing. Trying to learn steps, keep weight on right foot, remember styling, remember how to lead (I'm male), and remember what I know -- all at the same time.

But I see progress in all areas. Trying to move from "thinking" to "feeling the music."

Any other help for beginners or comments welcome. My two problems are coming to the end of a step and not remembering what I can or should do next. Also loose track of what foot my weight is on.

By the way, I'm almost a senior citizen and I KNOW I'm not too old for Salsa!!

[Deltarain]

Good for you Radiolake. I know what you mean about remembering what's next once you've finished a step. I did better in this weeks class but I still kept messing certain moves up but I felt like I was making progress at least.

[radiolake]

Deltarain -- Thanks for the comments. Glad to know others feel the same things.

I'm hoping more experienced salsa dancers can give some tips.

I'm getting better at "knowing what to do next," but still feel I have a lot to "think" about.

Good luck on your dancing!

[DeeplyDippy]

I'm hoping more experienced salsa dancers can give some tips.



As you're a leader / guy, my advice is :-

Make sure you learn to lead well. Every woman will appreciate it.

Try to get your timing rock solid as quickly as possible. Again, it'll be appreciated

Work out what you can take from the lessons. Do you want to learn whole routines / turn patterns, just a small fragment or do you want the practice.

[latindia]

I'm 25 and was beginning to think I was too old to begin but you lot have convinced me otherwise. I'm glad I found this site. I will get it cos I won't let myself off the hook until I do, when I just dance i'm ok but as soon as i've got to think about anything I go totally off track.

Well, I'm 26 close to 27 and I just started 4-5 months ago. Never danced before that. And I mean, NEVER. Just keep going...but don't hold yourself to overly high expectations. I mean, don't worry about winning Salsa competitions or anything. Not just yet :)

And when something gets you down, draw inspiration from our mascot, the dancing banana :banana:

--
Raj (almost attaining buddha nature --heh heh)

[salcero2005]

Last night I had my 4th Salsa lesson and I kept messing up big time. No matter how hard I tried I kept getting it wrong. I was just wondering how everyone here was when they first started salsa? How old were you when you started to learn?

4th class is too early to worry ... if they have Rueda there that is a good way to learn a lot fast. :D

[DeeplyDippy]

Struggling with salsa !

Over 5 years I've been dancing and last night was awful. Hated the class and was really naff in the freestyle.

Lost sight of dancing to the level of my partner(s) and got very fed up with the missed leads, dropped hands, poor timing.

Will have to work up my enthusiasm again.

[peachexploration]

DD, I'm sorry the you had an "off" night. :( Maybe a couple of days rest will help? I had to do that in that last couple of weeks. I know the feeling. Really frustrating when you have nights like that. Hang in there... :friend:

[DeeplyDippy]

Got my mojo working again tonight :D

Had some lovely dances as I concentrated on "being smooth" and "having passion". Well, it worked for me ! Ended by teaching bachata to a friend.

[peachexploration]

Yeah! Go DD! :banana:

[mambonewb]

I'm 25 and was beginning to think I was too old to begin but you lot have convinced me otherwise. I'm glad I found this site. I will get it cos I won't let myself off the hook until I do, when I just dance i'm ok but as soon as i've got to think about anything I go totally off track.

Well, I'm 26 close to 27 and I just started 4-5 months ago. Never danced before that. And I mean, NEVER. Just keep going...but don't hold yourself to overly high expectations. I mean, don't worry about winning Salsa competitions or anything. Not just yet :)

And when something gets you down, draw inspiration from our mascot, the dancing banana :banana:

--
Raj (almost attaining buddha nature --heh heh)

It's never too late to start. I caught the Salsa bug at the ripe 'ole age of....err, late 30's :lol: I did wish I had started earlier, though. The more I learn, it becomes apparent that there's so much more to learn. Technique, styling, musicality, etc. But hey, I'm having a wonderful time in the process.

[funseeker321]

hey I began learning salsa in Feb of this year at the age of 44...... I haven't done any prior social dance and I am absolutely hooked on salsa!!!! age is merely a number for me, doesn't represent my state of mind!

[Trinidad]

Hi Deltarain :)

Well, firstly: don't hurry and do enjoy the wonderful music and the movement 8)

If its your 4th class, its your 4th class. No more, no less. I am sure all the previous lessons have each already given you something valuable and its true that the learning process is faster for some and slower for the others - that still doesn't mean one persons way to learn is better than the others. Now is the time that you learn the basic stuff (rhythm and basic steps) which are the MOST important things to master. From there, everything is possible and you'll advance bit by bit (I personally keep on getting the feeling that the more I learn the less I know - and it really inspires me to do more).

I promise you - its a great feeling when you have a breakthrough, and complete something you haven't been able to execute before but that all comes with time - more salsamiles you have under your belt, the faster you'll learn.

Have fun! Let us know how its going!

Salsaludos,
Trinidad

[kdogg]

i'm 24 and started 5 weeks ago - been in the improvers class since week 3 but i've danced before.

We've got one lady in our beginners group who has been there for ages, but is just happy to not move to the next group.

There are all sorts of people at our salsa class - and everyone helps everyone else - unless you read my other post and hear about our gatecrasher this week!

Aside from that - its great - you will get it - just as our instructor always says count and make sure your feet are counting in time with your head! :lol:

Nic

PS - you'll be fine give your self time you will get it - promise

xx

I'm 25 and was beginning to think I was too old to begin but you lot have convinced me otherwise. I'm glad I found this site. I will get it cos I won't let myself off the hook until I do, when I just dance i'm ok but as soon as i've got to think about anything I go totally off track.
You can never be too old to learn salsa.

[Deltarain]

Thanks everyone. Sorry I haven't checked in for a while, my Dad has been unwell and I've been looking after him. I'm feeling a lot more confident with my dancing now and people keep noticing that i've lost weight so all in all Salsa has totally changed my life.

[peachexploration]

Thanks everyone. Sorry I haven't checked in for a while, my Dad has been unwell and I've been looking after him. I'm feeling a lot more confident with my dancing now and people keep noticing that i've lost weight so all in all Salsa has totally changed my life.Hi Deltarain. I'm so happy to hear from you and very glad you're doing well. I also hope your Dad recovers completely. Big hug to you my friend. :friend:

[memphis salsero]

hey Deltarain,
Just wanted to tell you I will pray for you dad for whatever its worth to you, hope he is doing better. So glad your sticking with so salsa cuz so many people fade out after only a couple months. I had been dancing like 8 months and thought I was pretty good until I took my first private with Edie the Salsa Freak and she had to break me back down to the basics and re-teach me how to lead a simple right turn. It just takes lots of practice, I dont think I even think I danced well at all until I finally got the courage to ask a girl to be my practice partner. Funny how much confidence salsa gives you on and off the dance floor

[Deltarain]

Thankyou both so much. My Dad is actually quite poorly and prayers are very much appreciated. It's lovely to be back Peach! :friend: