How do you act when you meet salsa stars?
- Thread starter AguaDulce
- Start date
sweavo
Changui
I act like I don't know them, cos I don't.
I used to be in a band (many years ago) and I found it really weird the way people act like they're your fast friends when you've never seen them before in your life! You end up learning a weird superficial way of being instantly familiar with strangers...
I used to be in a band (many years ago) and I found it really weird the way people act like they're your fast friends when you've never seen them before in your life! You end up learning a weird superficial way of being instantly familiar with strangers...
azzey
Son Montuno
I just treat them like regular people. If I like their work, I tell them. Just as I would tell a local dancer I think they're a good dancer etc. I think the first time I met Super Mario I insulted him, playfully. So no pandering or pedestaling for me. Most (so called) salsa stars I've met have been very cool people, like Juan Matos. He's a cool dude.
That's one of the many things that drew me to salsa. The first night I went out to a spot that was really for salser@s, it just happened to be a night where sooooo many "salsa celebrities" were there. Gordon Niel, Juan Matos, Ismael Otero, Laura Geldys, and a few others I can't remember right now. I knew they were all waaaaaaaaaaaay above me in talent and skill, but yet, when I found the nerve to introduce myself, I found they were very cool and down to earth. I realized from that experience and from meeting many more afterwards that the majority of the "salsa stars" are very approachable and act like regular people. Fortunately, I haven't had any experiences w/ bad attitudes from any stars, but from what I hear, it's the "wanna-bes" that act stuck up and arrogant.
Same here.
I was introduced to a lovely, smiley young man last week and didn't quite catch the name (music was loud), so I said 'I'm sorry, what's your name again?', it was Victor from Hache y Machete (the special guests on the night)
.SnowDancer
Son Montuno
I ask them to dance. So far, I've only encountered female stars.
I'll second sweavo and SnowDancer. In fact, I apparently asked one of the guest performers, Nery, to dance at the SF congress. I only know this because I just saw clips of him on youtube from that congress wearing the suit that attracted my attention when I asked him to dance. *sigh* got to look more at faces and less at clothes...
opm1s6
Son
Well Tomas Guerrero generally makes me piss my pants, but he has that affect on most people and it has nothing to do with his skills. His skills make him even more intimidating. While I'm in awe of most of the Santo Rico people around me, they have been incredibly willing to mentor me through my problems and I'll forever be grateful for their attention and their humility to help anyone who asks. This is particularly true of some of their alumni that have branched out. I also have danced with enough of their girls to have a preference away from some and towards others. That innately drops the spectar that is normally put up. As for their leads, they're just insanely skilled, but strangely very approachable.
Ismael Otero I find is an awesome guy and I love taking his classes and generally socializing with him. While I'm self-conscious around better dancers, regardless of celebrity status, I've gotten very comfortable around him and Shani. Jimmy Anton I guess is the only other one I know personally and again he's super relaxed.
The more time I spend in salsa the more I'm able to differentiate between the perceived status that the salsa bubble gives you and how drastically skewed it is from the status the same people would have in the real world and thus I tend not to treat them any differently other than ask advise when appropriate. They're all great people who have dedicated themselves to gaining a certain skill, but other than that, they aren't necessarily made of pixy dust and sunshine
Ismael Otero I find is an awesome guy and I love taking his classes and generally socializing with him. While I'm self-conscious around better dancers, regardless of celebrity status, I've gotten very comfortable around him and Shani. Jimmy Anton I guess is the only other one I know personally and again he's super relaxed.
The more time I spend in salsa the more I'm able to differentiate between the perceived status that the salsa bubble gives you and how drastically skewed it is from the status the same people would have in the real world and thus I tend not to treat them any differently other than ask advise when appropriate. They're all great people who have dedicated themselves to gaining a certain skill, but other than that, they aren't necessarily made of pixy dust and sunshine
Salsamakossa
Changui
This is way too funny. Nery is an awesome dancer, and I hope he did not disappoint...lol. Now I have to see the suit...
Salsamakossa
Changui
Considering how good this guy is, it's a shame there arent more youtube videos of him lol..
They're all great people who have dedicated themselves to gaining a certain skill, but other than that, they aren't necessarily made of pixy dust and sunshine
How disappointing
I'm not that great with recognizing them from the poor quality videos so I usually end up chatting away with them and when I introduce myself I usually fine myself having to ASK their name. (kind of a 'don't you know who I am?' kind of look commences at this point).
Then I smile and say, 'Oh, I really enjoy your _____. Pleasure to meet you." and continue on my way.
They're just people with a passion, drive and skill.
Then I smile and say, 'Oh, I really enjoy your _____. Pleasure to meet you." and continue on my way.
They're just people with a passion, drive and skill.
They came to my instructor's studio in Missouri a while back. Absolutely awesome people. I think that I was a bit spoiled as having them as some of my first big names to meet. (Met Edie very first, but I was helping out at the studio so I never stopped to talk anyway). Very very kind people who seemed to actually look at you rather than through you. They offered constructive criticism and lots of support at their 2-days of workshop.
bailar y tocar
Son Montuno
I don't consider salsa stars to be any different from anyone else. Plus, they are not in the media and hounded by adoring fans and such. In regards to actual famous people that I have run into:
I once played golf with Willie Nelson in Hawaii. I didn't recognize him as I am not into that kind of music. He looked like your typical strung out, burned out, sunburned weedsmoker. I only realized I had played golf with him when I read an article about him in an airline magazine where he described his favorite past time: playing golf at this course preferred by Hawaiian locals.
I once sat next to Paul of pop group Peter, Paul and Mary on a coach (!) flight. As I don't like his music we didn't talk at all. If I had wanted to engage in conversation I might have faked it and been more deferential.
I just posted a review of my European trip where former Czech president Vaclav Havel, whom I admire a lot, popped in at a Jazz club I was at. I didn't have the nerve to talk to him though.
I guess I just haven't been able to get into this whole celebrity thing. It doesn't mean anything to me.
I once played golf with Willie Nelson in Hawaii. I didn't recognize him as I am not into that kind of music. He looked like your typical strung out, burned out, sunburned weedsmoker. I only realized I had played golf with him when I read an article about him in an airline magazine where he described his favorite past time: playing golf at this course preferred by Hawaiian locals.
I once sat next to Paul of pop group Peter, Paul and Mary on a coach (!) flight. As I don't like his music we didn't talk at all. If I had wanted to engage in conversation I might have faked it and been more deferential.
I just posted a review of my European trip where former Czech president Vaclav Havel, whom I admire a lot, popped in at a Jazz club I was at. I didn't have the nerve to talk to him though.
I guess I just haven't been able to get into this whole celebrity thing. It doesn't mean anything to me.
Great posts everyone, completely agree with you all (and you saved me typing).
What I like to do:
I like to act like a schoolgirl with a crush. Being a man, I feel this shows that I can be macho yet sensitive. Thus I squeal like a little girl, flap my hands and skip in a circle around the celebrity 'TC' until I get a glassy eyed look. Then I stop in front of TC, take their hand and get all teary eyed and quiet barely whispering 'I love you' before fainting from the experience.
Seems to work well........................................or not
Everyone summed it up so well, we are all people. People respond well to good sincere energy so its nice to treat people well no matter their status. One caveat though, I DO think it is important to give respect to their skills/craft/status in their FIELD. Now that does not mean you get out the gold toilet seat. It means in regards to dancing, you respect them as you would any other instructor but also I feel it is nice to learn about what made them 'a celebrity' even if you do not like it. Eg. there are certain dancers whose style is not to my taste (more gutter/crude sexual childish antics) yet are VERY popular in the scene and I do respect that they have inspired and are thought highly of by many so still respect their contribution to dancing if that makes sense.
If not, just faint he he
What I like to do:
I like to act like a schoolgirl with a crush. Being a man, I feel this shows that I can be macho yet sensitive. Thus I squeal like a little girl, flap my hands and skip in a circle around the celebrity 'TC' until I get a glassy eyed look. Then I stop in front of TC, take their hand and get all teary eyed and quiet barely whispering 'I love you' before fainting from the experience.
Seems to work well........................................or not
Everyone summed it up so well, we are all people. People respond well to good sincere energy so its nice to treat people well no matter their status. One caveat though, I DO think it is important to give respect to their skills/craft/status in their FIELD. Now that does not mean you get out the gold toilet seat. It means in regards to dancing, you respect them as you would any other instructor but also I feel it is nice to learn about what made them 'a celebrity' even if you do not like it. Eg. there are certain dancers whose style is not to my taste (more gutter/crude sexual childish antics) yet are VERY popular in the scene and I do respect that they have inspired and are thought highly of by many so still respect their contribution to dancing if that makes sense.
If not, just faint he he
Ditto. I've also asked female stars who I've seen leading.I ask them to dance. So far, I've only encountered female stars.
I always stay in the backgorund. I smile and say hello but do not chat or try to market myself. I wish I dared to ask them for a dance much more often than I do. But I do not like to line up for them. There are so many more talented dancers waiting for them.
However - I do dance with celebrities sometimes. Mostly with people I've connected to in some way in advance. By speaking to them, facebook etc.
My favorite now is Alexistyle. He is not known like Juan Matos ....but he will be that famous in time. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gy5uNBJxQs).
When every I meet him he says - "hi hello how are you....we must DANCE!". And I believe him. He is a great leader and dancer.
I've meet Louis Vasques this weekend. he invited all girls tpo dance with him at the classes. In a very very nice way. But I never found him at the dancefloor. He was somewhere else all the time
/luc
He
However - I do dance with celebrities sometimes. Mostly with people I've connected to in some way in advance. By speaking to them, facebook etc.
My favorite now is Alexistyle. He is not known like Juan Matos ....but he will be that famous in time. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gy5uNBJxQs).
When every I meet him he says - "hi hello how are you....we must DANCE!". And I believe him. He is a great leader and dancer.
I've meet Louis Vasques this weekend. he invited all girls tpo dance with him at the classes. In a very very nice way. But I never found him at the dancefloor. He was somewhere else all the time
/luc
He
SnowDancer
Son Montuno
Thinking about it again, I probably wouldn't even recognize most salsa stars. In Palm Springs, I went up to Sonja (of DanceSport, and one of the festival's promoters and instructors), and asked her if she did cha-cha.
