Best night out dancing ever for me!!! *now with video :)

S

smiling28

Moderator
ok,

Wish I could have seen you all for my birthday (yesterday) but not this time.

But you were all in my hearts as I danced all night!!!!!!!!!!!!

* check out my new basic step video. Really experimented with upper body movement to compensate/match the hips. Once again, all your constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement are welcomed and appreciated!!!

Video links Removed by Moderator: Please use Video Clips section.
or

http://www.salsaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=5117&start=15
(pg 2)



*oh and let me know if the music works, cannot test
song: el kilo by Orishas...



THANK YOU!!!





*see http://www.salsaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=48474#48474

for video




Hey lovely people,

Have to share!!!

OH WHAT A NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

* since returning from Singapore, I have improved a MILLION fold. That is how I feel. Hopefully my partners feel it too. I just feel so much better, smoother, more confident. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh thank you wonderful people of Singapore!!!


So last night,

Our salsa group changed venues :(. First impressions of the new venue were not the best but all about the music and the people so all good!!!!!!

random sidenote: a guy was punched in the face in the middle of a dance class though. Some bad blood between two guys and the fight spilled into the class (fighters were not IN the class but the fight ended up there)

Anyway, had SUCH a great night dancing. Danced with heaps of new people. One fantastic instructor and this other lovely dancer both gave me high 10s after our dances (i.e high 5 but with both hands). Had about 4 other girls say how fantastic the dances were. *beams with pride :) :) :)

even did some Rumba shines in the breaks :) :) :) *thanks project of the week ;)

Wow! SOOOO amazing. SO much more to improve and develop though!

ABSOLUTELY loving it!

Lots of AWESOME INCREDIBLE SENSATIONAL dips too. I LOVE THAT!!!
The girls look incredible after and seriously all look like they want to kiss and hug me to say thanks for that :) I LOVE that look and I hope it means I am doing the move well.

* My dips were inspired by watching this AWESOME dancer here in Perth. He has danced since he was 10 (in his forties now). SUPER smooth and my goodness he is awesome!!!

* need to check my technique and brush up on pointers though so currently searching the forums on dips/dipping. May make a thread it insufficient info...

Our nights on Tue, wed, thur are from 7 to midnight ( I dance non stop too :) ) So at midnight when my place closed, i went to another salsa club around the corner which is open till 2am.

Last time I was there for Salsa, they had it downstairs where the band plays and it was mosh pit salsa. IE NO ROOM TO EVEN BREATHE. Beautiful for slow close dances (eg. forro and Bachata) but Salsa, not so good :)

But last night it was upstairs. PLENTY OF SPACE!!! Good sound and some good dancers. Hardly anyone dancing but one really pretty girl grabbed me for a salsa then asked for another and we had a merengue then she asked for another *beams with pride AGAIN :) So we danced salsa. Then her legs fell off :) As long as there is music, I have life to dance no matter how tired which is brilliant!

There was one girl dancing whom was AMAZING THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!! I loved her musicality. I usually watch the leads a lot more as I like to learn and feel how they feel and interpret the dance and their partner. This has REALLY helped my development. But this girl was the best there and there were not many leads I noticed at that time. Watching and absorbing how the girl danced satisfied my senses though!

Eg. An awesome solo came up and you HAD to shine. Just had to. But her partner went in to hold her closed hold. She hijacked and broke free and shined her butt off in the music. LOVE THAT!!!

*I know guys lead girls follow. Girls backleading/hijacking is not so good UNLESS the girl feels the music and MUST. Then all good :) :) :)

She also had awesome style and flair. LOVE THAT!!!

See you all on the dancefloor soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: Best night out dancing ever for me!!!

TheBear_CanDanceToo said:
smiling28 said:
... There was one girl dancing whom was AMAZING THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!! I loved her musicality....
Click to expand...
So Smiling28, did YOU dance with her?
Click to expand...

Not yet. Stay tuned :) :) :)


She was LA Style but that no longer matters since I leant how to dance :) :) :)

All about fun!!!
 
Foloowed by one of my worst last night. Oh well, such is life :) :) :)

I guess the good thing is that although last night felt my worst, it was probably a BILLION times better than I could have ever dreamed that I would dance.

Not really sure why last night was so bad. The vibe. My mood. The funny thing though. Is that my 'bad' night has inspired more drive, introspection and self analysis then ever before................
 
There will always be brilliant and bad nights out dancing, all a matter of perspective really. But importantly, the music is always there, ready to take you on a ride up with the orishas. After all, la musica es la vida! :)
 
Re: Best night out dancing ever for me!!!

TheBear_CanDanceToo said:
smiling28 said:
... There was one girl dancing whom was AMAZING THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!! I loved her musicality....
Click to expand...
So Smiling28, did YOU dance with her?
Click to expand...


Ok, So had the GREATEST night dancing again!!!

Thursday nights are our biggest nights and so MUCH FUN!!!

Best dancers!!!

*biggest let down though the next night I go out (sunday) as my expectations are massive :)

Anyway, too much to tell. Girls were asking me to dance ALL night. I helped out an intermediate class and was asked to demonstrate the moves. REALLY flattering.

I brought my friend who LOVED it. And said he loved watching me dance. Massive compliment as my good friend is from Brazil where he danced before he walked :)

*the girls loved him too as per usual.

All the great girl instructors asked me to dance. The BEST!!!

danced with some beginners too to get them involved.

SUCH a great night

AND.................

that AMAZING dancer at a different venue I saw the week before. Well.....

Went there again and went to a corner to watch the dancers. Well the girl came and sat next to me but I was not sure if it was her. Then about 3 guys asked her to dance. Lined up.

I just grooved solo then a friend came up and grabbed me to dance. I WAS LOVING it. Just doing every body movement I knew and More :) :) :)

So much fun!!!

Anyway, after, the amazing girl was standing with three dudes around her. She then grabbed her bag and was obviously leaving with the three. I stopped her politely and said 'hi, I know you are leaving but I must dance with you next time ok *smile'

She put her bag down and said 'Lets go'. I was like 'sorry, did not mean to interrupt, we can dance next time' She said 'you never know when next time will be, lets dance'

THE BEST!!!

Anyway, so funny. She told me that she loved my style (i was just moving my body to the music the previous songs). The funny part was that I could NOT find the rhythm in the music. This happened in Singapore too sometimes. Some songs I could just not get the 1,2,3.

I just smiled and said, hey sorry but I just cannot find the beat. She smiled and just danced. SO LOVELY!!!

So we just grooved for about a quarter of a song and finished with a nice dip. Next time should be MUCH MUCH better.


WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


*oh, does anyone else ever have those mental blanks where you cannot find the beat? I really feel the music at my usual venues and that I listen to. Jayzen gave me some Singapore music which helped me find that rhythm. I try and listen to as much variety as possible.

Hints appreciated :)
 
I understand what you mean, because it is indeed difficult to try to grab the beats in certain genres and kinds of music. A striking example is when the timbales go on crazy solo jams - it takes me ages to try and find the 1, and even if I do find it, I lose it all over again very soon.

Sometimes I cheat a bit. In those riffs where I can't find the beat, I'll just break loose and shine. Saves me a lot of brainwork lol. If not, I just do usual partnerwork, except not to 8 beats, but to the music. It's a little difficult to describe this in words, but as a general guide, I let my moves flow with the accents in the uncountable parts, slow fast staccato etc..

That was a pretty bad description.. :?
 
Re: Best night out dancing ever for me!!!

smiling28 (The Laydees Lurve Smiling28) said:
... 'hi, I know you are leaving but I must dance with you next time ok *smile'

She put her bag down and said 'Lets go'....
Click to expand...
Nice one Smiling28! Way to go! 8)

Smiling28 (The Laydee's Man) said:
*oh, does anyone else ever have those mental blanks where you cannot find the beat?...
Click to expand...
Oh yes. Sometimes a poor sound quality won't help, but sometimes the music just seems undecipherable. Familiarity is the only way I know of improving this. Keep at it.
 
You know I had a the best time ever last night, as well. And it was because of the music. This guy knows how to dj and he plays a nice variety. Take salsa...he'll play different styles from different countries from different eras... Encourages improvisation/creativity/musicality. . I've founf my local salsa night spot. I would say best in the region.
 
Another wonderful night! * I LOVE Thursdays :) :) :)

wow, Such an INCREDIBLE night dancing!!!

Started at my usual place. My first dance, I asked a nice old lady just beginning. She was half my size literally. Very challenging as any overhead moves, I had to bend my knees A LOT!

A very good dancer whom I had not seen before, saw me I think as afterwards she asked me to dance. Very funny. Went like this:

Closed hold. Hi, my name is Rodney (I always introduce myself to new people……………….and sometimes people I have met already when I forget their face :( )

Her response: Wow, that is the best name ever!!!
Me: thanks :)
Her: Did your parents give you that?
Me: yeah, yeah they did…………….. (go into dancing mode) :) :) :)

Hmmmm, one of my weirder conversations but a nice dance!

Some nice dances at Varga but by the end, hardly anyone on the floor. So my main instructor and the best follow in Perth danced. AWESOME!!! So cool to watch. A blur of moves and incredible following. Wonderful to watch!

Then went to the other venue when mine closed. Had my first ‘intercept’ dance where a friend dancing with a great follow passed her mid song to me. LOL, I had no idea what to do but I laughed at least (poor follow maybe did not laugh as much. Looked way serious, but hey no one gets out of this place alive so we better have as much fun as we can :) )

Asked a couple of girls to dance that I had not seen before. *not my usual venue and they dance LA style/millenium/New York mainly.

Great dancers and we had SOOOOOOOO much fun. Really connected early and one I felt started to trust me SO much more the longer we danced. Each step we did seemed to make her smile wider and her trust larger. Wonderful to dance with.

* It is SOOOOO wonderful to be able to ask girls from different styles and just dance!!! It feels like EONS ago that I was in Singapore and could not dance with the girls because of my style and undeveloped leads. WOW, that experience saturated me in wonderful experiences, nice people and has improved my dancing A MILLION fold. Cannot wait to return in October and share my passion *wink

The Latin instructor who has been teaching Salsa the longest in Australia apparently (he taught my main instructor) saw me and chatted to me about why am I doing Cuban. Telling me how he is the best instructor around and that I should do his classes. Offered the salsa beginner 8 week course for half price as I think they need guys. Telling me that he has taught all the best dancers in Perth and it would suit my dedication and potential.

* from watching that main instructor dance, he and his partner are very serious. They are true Dancers, gliding across the floor. VERY serious faces though. They seem technical but not too anal. I loved how technical they were in Singapore and it would be nice to learn that.

But am happy with Cuban and my instructor. I am loyal. Way I was raised. I KNOW they are not loyal to me, but not the point. I would love to improve my technical dance skills which I believe the other instructor would help with.

*also learning a new style may confuse my Cuban. Think it may be best to just keep going and get more experience with my current situation for a while.

Hmmmmm. What do you recommend? What are your thoughts? Man, the other instructor talked himself up but in a nice friendly way :)

* I did not fall in love with this other instructors style. Would not like to dance like it in personality. Maybe in substance but the style, man, I do NOT stop shaking it or smiling :) :) :) Sometimes do both...........no spice or smiles in their dancing last night but technically flawless and faultless. I could easily take my eyes off them though. Whereas some of the dancers in Singapore and other places I have seen............mmmmmmmmmmm, feast for the eyes. Despite mistakes they had CHARACTER. Wonder if this is a personal thing though and not so much about your technique. I want dance to be SELF EXPRESSION not repression!



I then danced with a beautiful and sweet friend for what felt an hour at least. We danced reggaeton and salsa to reggaeton :) Very nice and lots of laughing. Even had some compliments and cheers from the people watching us.

• oh, I do not know reggaeton. I just do some afro Cuban rumba movements and smile a lot (matter of fact, do not know that much dancing to be honest, but smiling and making stuff up moving my body is just plain fun!!! :) :) :) )

Got home about 1.30am
Danced a Bachata in my living room as always before bed and had the sweetest of dreams……………………ahhhhhhhhhhhh, life is good!!!
 
Lol, smiling, it seems as if Singapore gave you a real boost in your salsa journey!

Never lose the spirit of a dance connection in pursuit of technical excellence.. But I know you won't :D
 
Hey smiling,

great posting. It's really a pleasure to read about your great dances that night.

Regarding passing the partner: This can be fun but it depends on the girl and the music. Some girls won't mind being passed to another partner or between two guys, but some not. But it's difficult to notice that before. So when you passed the girl and she looks serious, I would try to smile and show her that you can be as much as fun as your partner before. If she's really annoyed, pass her back and in case she's confused, you can try explaining that it's just fun.
 
Re: Another wonderful night! * I LOVE Thursdays :) :) :)

smiling28 said:
... I loved how technical they were in Singapore and it would be nice to learn that.

But am happy with Cuban and my instructor. I am loyal. Way I was raised. I KNOW they are not loyal to me, but not the point. I would love to improve my technical dance skills which I believe the other instructor would help with.

*also learning a new style may confuse my Cuban. Think it may be best to just keep going and get more experience with my current situation for a while.

Hmmmmm. What do you recommend? What are your thoughts?

* I did not fall in love with this other instructors style. Would not like to dance like it in personality. Maybe in substance but the style, man, I do NOT stop shaking it or smiling :) :) :) ...
Click to expand...
When I first started dancing, I outgrew my original teach in about four months but carried on going to his classes out of loyalty for another two or three months. I think your situation is different in that you've still got loads to learn from your current teachers. Which is nice.
Over the years years I've been to a lot of classes, some good ones, some not so good ones. I think the key is not to focus necessarily on what the teacher is giving, but more on what you can get out of it. ie a teacher that may come up with some really nice innovative moves, but be rubbish at actually teaching them, or a teacher who's brilliant on technique, but totally self obsessed.
You can always take something away with you; filter out the stuff you don't want and keep the stuff you do.

I think now you've got a good foundation in Cuban, learning slot style isn't going to confuse you as you already know and understand many of the differences. And some of what you learn in slot will be usefule in Cuban (and vice cersa).
Personally I think it's great to be able to do both, and from the impression I've got of you - it won't cause you any problems.
Go for it! :D
 
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