salsa school

Hi, I'm new to salsa forums and this is my first post. I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right place but anyway here's my query:

I've been learning salsa for four months now twice a week at a salsa school and then I go every saturday to the salsa club (there is only one salsa night in my town!!!). Anyway I absolutely love salsa and I never miss a class, have bought Edie dvds on styling and spins and I'm constantly thinking about salsa. However, recently (about the past month or so) I've started feeling really really uninspired by my class and salsa school. Because of my job hourse (I'm an evening school teacher) I'm not able to move up into the intermediate group and I'm having to stay in the beginner group. There are many people in that group still that miss lessons and basically things keep having to be taught over and over and over every lesson because people keep missing lessons and then others forget the moves because they don't go out to the club on saturdays so they don't practice. Anyway, I really want to move salsa school, but because I live in such a small town I feel like it's going to be really awkward if I do. As I'll have to see my instructor every time I go to the club. And this club is very small, only about 50 people maximum go there every week in the winter. It's a very small scene. I don't know what to do. How can I break away and join another school? Also our instructor is a nice man who treats the classes all to dinners and drinks and holds parties in the summer so I'll feel really guilty to abandon them. But it's just not inspiring me at all and today I felt like making an excuse to leave the lesson early as I was so frustrated by it all.

Sorry for the rant. If anyone has any advice on how to deal with this I'd very much appreciate it. Thanks!

Salsalona.

Welcome to the Forum and sorry to hear you are so frustrated. Have you talked to your instructors about how you feel and explored other options? Maybe privates?

it's only a problem if you make it a problem. Next time you see them, just give them a kiss and socialize normally. The salsa scene is more than just about those in your classes.

Btw, they aren't the ones that are making you feel guilty. You're doing that to yourself. You are taking a rational action to solve a real problem. There is no reason for you to feel any loyalty, outside of the loyalty you have to them as a friend. If they make any comments, it's due to their immaturity and you shouldn't allow people to have such free reign on your emotions. Guilt is a function of your own mind and is an emotion that cna be completely controlled using logic. In the end you need to do what's best for you and what makes you happy - afterall, that is why you dance salsa.

agarcia97 - Hi, yes I did talk to my instructors about this, it's not their fault as they did want to move me to the intermediate group but because of work I can't. I guess I will try to do some privates instead. But it's a shame because it's the whole social aspect of being in a group.

opm1s6 - yes you're right that I shouldn't feel guilty but I can't help it!

thanks both for the advice.

On another note, I was wondering, do people always have to learn both cuban style and LA style. Or is ok to learn just LA? We do a lot of rueda in our classes but I could easily do without it. But LA style I absolutely adore. Can you learn one without the other or do you need to know both in order to be able to follow properly.

Sorry for all the questions!

Well I think If you like the classes from the social aspect and like your instructors then consider mixing privates in with what you are already doing so that you can improve and have what you already enjoy without the frustration becuase you will have your privates to help you advance. Just a thought.

and no you dont have to know Rueda to improve your on1.

Welcome to SF Salsalona!

No you don't need to learn Cuban style as well as LA style. However depending on your scene you may find that you get less dances if you are perceived as being able to only dance one style.

I know many followers who specialised in one style for a year, two or sometimes many before getting bored and learning other styles. Certainly this is one way to get very good at the style you love before expanding your repertoire and range so to speak.

As a follower you should aim to be able to follow anyone of any style comfortably even though you do another style yourself. This does not mean that you are very familiar with the moves though (it is the leaders job to know them and lead them well), just that you have good basics (footwork, timing etc) and following skills.

To be adaptable to your partner is also a good skill, even in LA style.

Taking privates in any style is a good idea (since the teacher can explain some differences and how to overcome them), especially if you intend to dance with partners of varying styles and ability.

As a leader I myself studied and dance most styles out there, including LA and Cuban styles (which I learned from specialist teachers) but I dance them very differently from each other and usually with partners who specialise in those styles.

At the end of the day it's up to you. Your Salsa life begins right now and you decide how you want to live it. It's a never ending journey of learning, fun and adventure!

As others have said making pragmatic choices to further your dancing is your personal choice and let no-one say anything against it. At the same time you can also approach people in a friendly, direct and positive manner regardless of the style they teach or dance then it's up to them if they are judgemental or take offence. If you were learning two different languages from two different teachers would you think it crazy for them to take offence at your additional learning?

Lastly, if you love LA style, check out my YouTube account: uk.youtube.com/profile?user=azzey2&view=playlists
and clubmayan.com/salsa2008/

You could go to both... or move class, then come back to your original class from time to time to keep in touch. Your teacher knows about your schedule conflict, right? So why would you not be welcome? In my experience it's mosltly only females who worry about this kind of "loyalty" issue. The "loyalty" issue probably doesn't even get on the radar of this teacher.

If you get bored at beginners but still want to keep in touch, after a couple of months you could come back and ask to be a beginner leader. If your scene is follower-heavy then that would be a help for your teacher and could help enrich your dancing as you see things from the "other side"! IMO it's best to wait until you feel solid in a follower role before switching though.

Azzey - thanks for all your input and advice there. and especially for the links! yes, in our salsa scene they do mix cuban and LA. I've never seen any other style danced.

Sweavo - brilliant, I never thought to go to both classes but at different schools. ok yes I think I'll carry on with the beginner class for a while longer but find another school which does intermediate classes at a time that suits my work hours. And if I can't find one then i'll just do privates instead whilst still continuing with the beginners group.

Thanks everyone for all the input! great forum!