Am I the only beginner? & some more ???'s

M

manitasmonas

The more I read on this forum the more it looks like I'm the only beginner here. So my questions are :?:

#1 Am I the only beginner?
#2 What videos are best for the beginner?
#3 How can I make my husband hear a beat? He's always a half beat ahead of the music, and I can't get him to slow down.

Sorry to take so much from this forum, someday I hope to contribute to it as well.

TIA

:kissme:
 
You are not the only beginner here, read The beginners corner.

Video's for beginners, when I first started I really liked the video series
"Red Hot Salsa"

If your husband enjoys the music and listens to it when not dancing he will eventually grab the beat. Otherwise there are quite a few timing programs out there. I have a timing CD and it has really helped me to grasp the timing better, although I listen to salsa music alot anyways, and that has also helped.
 
manitasmonas said:
Sorry to take so much from this forum, someday I hope to contribute to it as well.

TIA

:kissme:
Click to expand...
Don't worry about that MM. That's why we're here as well. To share, to introduce and provide information for all Salser@s no matter what level. :D :friend: Oh, and like Vin stated above. Check out the Beginner's Corner thread. Vin just bumped it to the top for you. :)
 
manitasmonas said:
The more I read on this forum the more it looks like I'm the only beginner here. So my questions are :?:

#1 Am I the only beginner?
#2 What videos are best for the beginner?
#3 How can I make my husband hear a beat? He's always a half beat ahead of the music, and I can't get him to slow down.

Sorry to take so much from this forum, someday I hope to contribute to it as well.

TIA

:kissme:
Click to expand...

ManitasMonas:

We all are leraners. The important part is that after 40 years dancing Salsa, I am still leraning.

The beats can, at times, be very sneaky for those who are not familiar. But by listening over and over, your husband should be able to grasp.

I suggest that he listens to Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, there are a lot of beats that'll make his feet move.

Guarachero
 
Hello there manitasmonas, another beginner here!

I have to say that listening to salsa music we really like around the house, not just when trying to dance, has really helped both myself and especially my husband find the beat. The more familiar he gets with the complex rhythms the better!
 
Thanks for your suggestions. I did want to let you all know, that my husband is latino, we don't even play "white" music in our home. So as far as listening to salsa more often so he gets the beat...well that's probably not possible ;) It's on all the time. My 3 year old son is learning bachata right now. He even hears a beat. LOL. ...pretty soon I think my baby girl will know the beat before he does. My husband is just learning to dance and I'm terrified that he'll just learn the steps without the rythm. He's already started. :cry: The timing cd sounds good, any suggestions???

well thanks again. Ya know I should just change my sig to " thank you and forever greatful, Manitas. LOL.

Whatcha think? :)
 
With rhythm / timing, some people will never get it. They are in a tiny, tiny minority though. Most people can start to analyse and understand rhythms if they work at it.

Buy the man some bongos or bells and get him tapping along with the music! Even if he won't play with them, the 3-year-old will love them! Almost all kids love percussion!
 
Ms_Sunlight said:
Buy the man some bongos or bells and get him tapping along with the music! Even if he won't play with them, the 3-year-old will love them! Almost all kids love percussion!
Click to expand...

That's a really good idea. My son will love them. Maybe it's something they can do together. :banana:
 
New Salseros

ManitasMonas:

Some times for a Latino could be harsh not to speak Spanish. The same could be for not knowing how to dance to Latin music. I have a friend who grew up in my home town in Havana who can't dance, and he feels embarrassed to be at Salsa places. Give your husband time. My wife didn't know but move and slide. Now she's sharp as a Cuban.

Now about your kids, that's the age to learn Lating dance. It gets into your system through your heart.

Believe me, once someone in your home gets it, all get it. Salsa is extremely contagious.

Guarachero
 
manitasmonas said:
#3 How can I make my husband hear a beat? He's always a half beat ahead of the music, and I can't get him to slow down.
Click to expand...
Here are some advice from Edie "The salsa freak" about off beat leaders :arrow: w w w.dancefreak.com/stories/off-beat.htm
 
Hey

There is a version of Rudy B's lovely day which actually has the count over the beat of the music - my recommendation would be to get him a version of this and get him to keep listening to it - this should help his brain work out where the beat is in that track - once you have it on one track it's easier with others. Once he's mastered this one, get him to just listen to a lot of salsa so that the beat starts to become second nature - tell him to try and count the beat (like in that version of Lovely Day) over the track and if he's struggling, help him to find it. Get him to listen for the bass line, or the clave - show him the differences in the sounds of the beats that help you distinguish between them - listen to music together...hopefully this may help :D

Claire xx
 
We're all beginners, just that some of us have been beginners for longer than others.

The day that I've learned everything there is to know in salsa, is the day I will give it up and take up emroidery or something.

Seriously, the best dancers are always the ones constantly learning from everyone they dance with - always looking for something new, or a different angle on something they already know.

The sucky dancers are the ones that think they have seen everything there is to know.
 
JazzHands said:
....Seriously, the best dancers are always the ones constantly learning from everyone they dance with - always looking for something new, or a different angle on something they already know..
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:notworthy: Well said, Jazzhands, well said. :notworthy:
 
I am a beginner

I am a real beginner (4 months dancing now), but am trying to make up for lost time.

I really like the Mike Bello CD's on Salsa Music Rhythm and Phrasing. They helped me get "on clave" and figure out how all those funny percusive instruments work together in an arangement.

-****
 
JazzHands said:
We're all beginners, just that some of us have been beginners for longer than others.

The day that I've learned everything there is to know in salsa, is the day I will give it up and take up emroidery or something.

Seriously, the best dancers are always the ones constantly learning from everyone they dance with - always looking for something new, or a different angle on something they already know.

The sucky dancers are the ones that think they have seen everything there is to know.
Click to expand...

Amen to that!! :D
 
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