Getting back into Salsa dancing after many years...

scorpionguy

scorpionguy

Changui
Greetings,

I was happily surprised to find that this website is still around...wow its been a really long time.

Has anyone here even taken a very long break from Salsa dancing (or any dancing, for that matter) and then found it again many years later? I was an avid Salsa dancer (3-5 nights a week at my peak) 10+ years ago and then walked away from it all as life took me in other directions. I've gone out a handful of times since then and never once actually went on the dance floor...just attended the before dance lesson and then would watch for a while and leave. The few times I went out I felt like I had forgotten everything and was starting back at square one...which I guess I am to be honest.

I found a small Salsa community in the new state I live in now and for reasons that escape me I signed up for lessons. I partially blame a particular individual from the old days at dance-forums who sent me several mix CDs of some of his favorite Salsa classics back in my dancing days. I pulled them out the other day and started listening to these songs again...so many memories...I had told myself 10 years ago that someday I might dust of my dancing shoes again...and I guess that time is now. :)

So for now I'm just practicing my basic steps in the kitchen and trying not to be too nervous about heading out to a dance this evening...not sure if this will become a thing again or just a pleasant trip down memory lane...but it should be fun regardless.

BorinkenSalsero - this is all your fault!!!

-SG
 
I had a 3-4 year drought, and just went to socials, but now focusing on taking lessons.
Took Salsa for half a year, but ultimately, Bachata is where i feel most comfortable and passionate.
This is the first month where i am devoting to Kizomba, and i am loving the experience.
I realized, Salsa just is not for me, after giving it a try off and on for 2 years.
P.S. guess that is what happens when you start in Ballroom, you want something similar, and only thing i can see translating is jive, but i did not like that dance anyways, and was more about Cha Cha, Rumba and Samba.
 
scorpionguy said:
Greetings,

I was happily surprised to find that this website is still around...wow its been a really long time.

Has anyone here even taken a very long break from Salsa dancing (or any dancing, for that matter) and then found it again many years later? I was an avid Salsa dancer (3-5 nights a week at my peak) 10+ years ago and then walked away from it all as life took me in other directions. I've gone out a handful of times since then and never once actually went on the dance floor...just attended the before dance lesson and then would watch for a while and leave. The few times I went out I felt like I had forgotten everything and was starting back at square one...which I guess I am to be honest.

I found a small Salsa community in the new state I live in now and for reasons that escape me I signed up for lessons. I partially blame a particular individual from the old days at dance-forums who sent me several mix CDs of some of his favorite Salsa classics back in my dancing days. I pulled them out the other day and started listening to these songs again...so many memories...I had told myself 10 years ago that someday I might dust of my dancing shoes again...and I guess that time is now. :)

So for now I'm just practicing my basic steps in the kitchen and trying not to be too nervous about heading out to a dance this evening...not sure if this will become a thing again or just a pleasant trip down memory lane...but it should be fun regardless.

BorinkenSalsero - this is all your fault!!!

-SG
Click to expand...

Your case sounds almost exactly the same as mine. It felt a bit nervous on the first night in a salsa event but it got better and better as the weeks were passing by. So just go for it and good luck because not only you have to restart but perhaps (as in my case) also adapt to a new dancing environment/style.

The only frustration I get is that sometimes, during a dance I do a move that I used to do and I can't remember how I do it and when I try to repeat it, it does not work. But other than that I hope that you will also find that its a joy to be dancing again.
 
scorpionguy said:
Greetings,

I was happily surprised to find that this website is still around...wow its been a really long time.

Has anyone here even taken a very long break from Salsa dancing (or any dancing, for that matter) and then found it again many years later? I was an avid Salsa dancer (3-5 nights a week at my peak) 10+ years ago and then walked away from it all as life took me in other directions. I've gone out a handful of times since then and never once actually went on the dance floor...just attended the before dance lesson and then would watch for a while and leave. The few times I went out I felt like I had forgotten everything and was starting back at square one...which I guess I am to be honest.

I found a small Salsa community in the new state I live in now and for reasons that escape me I signed up for lessons. I partially blame a particular individual from the old days at dance-forums who sent me several mix CDs of some of his favorite Salsa classics back in my dancing days. I pulled them out the other day and started listening to these songs again...so many memories...I had told myself 10 years ago that someday I might dust of my dancing shoes again...and I guess that time is now. :)

So for now I'm just practicing my basic steps in the kitchen and trying not to be too nervous about heading out to a dance this evening...not sure if this will become a thing again or just a pleasant trip down memory lane...but it should be fun regardless.

BorinkenSalsero - this is all your fault!!!

-SG
Click to expand...

great enjoy. Scenes change which is what makes it interesting so like visiting a country you knew a while ago, you may have been there but you may not recognise it all this time. Try to be a tourist and do beginner classes to meet new people and understand different points of emphasis. Eg. is your scene focused on pretzel moves or spins etc.

The best part is that you re-inject some sabor that only gets better like fine wine.

Have fun.
 
Thank you for the words of encouragement everyone! I forgot to mention that I have started Basic Salsa lessons to help jog my memory...and spending lots of time working on my basic footwork. More is starting to come back but at least I'm able to keep up with the faster songs. Funny how I'm remembering things like guanguanco movements I used to do...then again getting out of the closed position was always my favorite part of the dance. :)

Well the dance last Friday was interesting. I had not planned to do any dancing...I just wanted to watch and get a feel for this new community and see if I felt any calling to pursue this idea any further. Talk about night and day compared to where I used to live...there were ladies sitting down (what?)...in fact several of them asked me to dance...I thought I was going to faint! I have never, ever danced Salsa anywhere and had so many ladies ask me to dance. It was usually random, once in a blue moon. I had to keep to the basic step and a few simple turns...but it was fun. I saw some great dancing, met some nice people and didn't see a single neck drop the entire evening. This is a very small Salsa community but so far a very friendly one...so perhaps I will decide to stick around after all. Part of me still wants to run for the hills...especially since my career path may lead to another out of state move in the future, but for now I think this is just what I needed.

MacMoto...great to see that you are still here and thank you for the welcome back! Is Cocodrillo still around?

-SG
 
Well one thing that caught my attention as different was the rampant use of smartphones during the dance. I remember a few people texting on their old flip phones in the past...but now it seems having a big glowing iPhone 6S is the real way to show that you want to sit this one out. I left mine in the car.... :rolleyes:
 
Jag75 said:
Neck drops etc are so early 2000's. The focus on salsa has moved away from big fancy moves and has become a lot more refined. Even the T- stance is outdated :)
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Actually I noticed that as well and I miss T-stance. It was never my favorite move, but there are special times, when it's the beast!
 
Jag75 said:
I'm not a fan of people using their phones overtime in a social.
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I agree with you there. Most of the people looked to be checking in with family/children etc...but there was one girl who looked to be texting/FBing all night with her screen facing the dancefloor...I had to wonder what she was doing there. I saw her turn down leads all night and only dance once (and not well)...hence my reason for reconnaissance at this new venue...I was definitely not be asking her to dance in the future! I was sitting most of the time too...but I was busy tapping out conga and clave rhythms and watching people dance...:)
 
scorpionguy said:
Well one thing that caught my attention as different was the rampant use of smartphones during the dance. I remember a few people texting on their old flip phones in the past...but now it seems having a big glowing iPhone 6S is the real way to show that you want to sit this one out. I left mine in the car.... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
I like you. Where can I get a dance? :)
 
Smejmoon said:
Actually I noticed that as well and I miss T-stance. It was never my favorite move, but there are special times, when it's the beast!
Click to expand...

Funny...I was watching this one amazing follower the other night and I said to myself "if I ever get good enough to ask her to dance, I bet she'd tear up the dance floor if I put her in a T Stance!"...then again if this move has really fallen out of favor, then perhaps someone will think it is strange and exotic? LOL!
 
azana said:
I like you. Where can I get a dance? :)
Click to expand...

Azana - I don't think you'd have a lot of fun dancing with me...I'm afraid I'm pretty much back at a complete beginner level..and I'm not sure if my past experience with Salsa is helping or hindering me to be honest. Still getting used to doing CBLs in class...then again when I was a regular I rarely did them in closed position unless with a beginner...it was all about the shoulders and waist. :D

Melbourne, eh? In the early days of this group (and on the original site) we had many discussions about the Salsa scene there. One of the members who lived there told us that the followers usually outnumbered the men 3 to 1, and as much as 10 to 1 during live band nights. This lead to something referred to as "The Plan" where we all dreamed of making the trip to enter such a dream inducing Salsa environment...but alas it wasn't a financial possibility for most of us. This was circa 2003 or so...maybe some of the guys made it eventually...but the real question is...is it still like this today..? :D
 
MacMoto said:
I'm afraid not... very few people from that far back are around anymore... :(
Click to expand...

Understandable...so much can change in the time I've been away...I'm sure she's having fun and drinking sake somewhere. :)

I hope SDSalsaguy is still around...and it looks like Boriken hasn't posted in a while...man do I miss the the discussions we used to have. Do you remember youngsta? I saw him dance once at a club in San Francisco...he was amazing at Bachata. :)
 
I don't know if dancing is like biking or a language. You retain your balance on a bike even if you haven't rode one in years. The language on the other hand you forget if you haven't used it. My personal opinion is that dancing is perhaps more like biking. If you were going out 4/5 nights a week, I don't think you need to be nervous at all.

P.S. - Ditch the T-stance :) I am glad to hear it is losing popularity.
 
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