Getting better at salsa BETWEEN dance outings

Charles Perry

Charles Perry

Changui
I've always liked to dance, but typically alone and typically badly. And I'm trying to overcome my fear of having the worst rhythm in the room by taking some salsa lessons this summer.

I went for the first time last week and did a-okay. Some of the people I partnered with were patient and some of them weren't, but overall it was a really good time.

Do you think it's possible to continue to improve between the times I actually go out dancing? I'd like to accelerate the process if I can.

Even though grabbing a partner and getting out on the floor is really the only way to get better, did anybody else practice between outings when you were first starting out?
 
Sure. There are some things you can practice at home that will be essential during partner dancing. You can get some slow salsa music and practice the basic step to the rhythm. Every single week I see beginners doing the basic step with music in the background but not actually dancing on the beat of the music. This is huge. Along with this you should be able to identify the 1 beat in the music. Google Don Baarns The Unlikely Salsero for some advice about the structure of music and finding the beat.

Any experienced follower is going to start off with a good impression if they see that you know when to start dancing and can follow the beat.

After that you could possibly learn proper contra body motion while your are dancing. You should be able to find some YouTube videos about body movement in salsa.

You could arrange for some private lessons to get used to partner dancing. This could be expensive but believe me, it can really be worth it if you get a good teacher.

After this you just have to get out there and brave beginners hell.

Perseverance and some practice at home and on the dance floor will ultimately be rewarding.

Also, be polite, nice, friendly, etc with everyone you meet. You can get a lot of slack from more experienced dancers if they like you personally.
 
Charles Perry said:
Do you think it's possible to continue to improve between the times I actually go out dancing? I'd like to accelerate the process if I can.
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Certainly.

- Listen to salsa music as much as you can - at home - when travelling - during breaks at work - immerse yourself in the music. You may not be physically practising dancing, but getting familiar with the rhythm really helps in the long run and gives you a head start when you dance to the music.

- Practise the basic step to the music, using slow, medium-tempo and fast songs. Practise right, left and hook turns, and shine steps.

- Practise the moves you learned in the class with an imaginary partner if you can't get hold of a real partner. When I started learning to lead, I often used my husband as my practice dummy :D
 
Hi Charles,

Welcome to the forum! It sounds like you've got a great attitude that will stand you in good stead as you progress. I do have some advice for you but I guess you're not ready for that yet... but your kids are gonna love it!

Luke
 
Charles Perry said:
Do you think it's possible to continue to improve between the times I actually go out dancing? I'd like to accelerate the process if I can.
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Yes! Practice practice practice! Go social dancing as soon and as often as possible and between the classes and parties do what other suggested there. And ask the ladies in the class if they would like to practice the stuff you learned in the class together. Then get together and practice. Eager followers will jump to the opportunity.
 
Yes to the suggestion that you just practice your basic. The more that comes naturally, the better. If getting the beat is a challenge, this is the first thing you should be doing, rather than trying to learn to lead anything. You can also practice other simple steps (turns, etc.) once you have the basic down.

And yes to the suggestion to just immerse yourself in the music. I am still in a very extended period of time when I have not been able to dance nearly as often as I would like, but I think that listening to the music regularly has meant that when I do jump back into it dancing, my dancing has more connection to the music. We often talk here about the advantage of those who grew up in the culture in which this music developed. Well, I'm not Latino and I didn't grow up in a cultural where expressive movement is emphasized much, but I can at least choose to live with the music.
 
Another point . . . if you are in a class, try to find other classmates to ask during social dance or practice time. The first few songs are fair game to continue the lesson. Otherwise, watch the other dancers on the dance floor and pick someone who looks friendly and is closer to your level.
 
First, what Mac Said.

Second, there's no motivation like going down to a REAL Salsa club that has good dancers. It's gunna be scary but the rewards are worth it! You can't learn to swim without getting wet. Going to Salsa classes is like learning to swim on dry land. It's a tame, safe environment to learn for sure, but not much like the real thing. Go to a club, just get up on the dance floor, ask someone who's bopping on the edge and go for it. I say "just", but obviously you will need some perseverance. You will find those who will dance with beginners and those who won't until they know you a little better. It's getting your face known to other dancers that's also an added benefit here. You're building multiple skills outside the class environment that will make it easier for you next time you come to the club and when you go back to classes.

A Salsa club immerses you in the skills that are required for real dancing when you and your partner don't know what's coming. So it will test your leading, your timing, your basic steps, what we call "connection", your ability to recognise Salsa music and dance on time and so many other things. You will have a much better idea of what Salsa dancers look like and feel like.

You will inevitable find you forget most of what you thought you knew when you get on a real dance floor. It's a lot more challenging. This will give you an awareness of areas to work on during classes. Also it's a lot more fun than classes if you stick with it! Which builds a lot more motivation for wanting to improve and go back again.
 
All the advices here are really helpful charles.

You HAVE to listen to salsa music as much as you can. I even listen to it in the car, the shower, when I go jogging, shopping. Try to learn the songs, the breaks, identify the instruments, get to learn the artists, really get to love the music, make it your favorite music in the entire world. I hated latin music and any music in spanish before I learned to dance and I always told myself I would only listen to it at parties, but now its the only thing I listen to. I know some people here wont agree with me, but I like to dance certain songs with cuban style and other songs with cross body new york, certain songs on 1 and certain songs on 2.

Learn the difference between dancing cuban style and cross body, dancing on 1 vs dancing on 2. Go out as much as you can, as long as you have free time and money, get to build a circle of people that can teach you and contribute to your dancing process.Dont marry your instructor, in fact change teachers every couple of months, to learn the best of everyone.

Dance with everybody in the beginning, get to know whos a regular, their style and whos actually there because of the dancing. Most people who start out dancing do it for various reasons: excersise, to get over a break up, psycotherapy (most psycologists insists their patients get into a musical activity), to meet people, to not be a wallflower at a party, etc; however once you have establish that you are there because you love dancing, you have to also identify whos there because of the same reasons.

Dance with all the follows; the good dancers, the bad dancers, the girl who can follow, the girl who doesnt allow herself to be lead, the tall girl, the short girl, the older lady who only knows senior citizen tango, the hot girl and her fat friend as well. Practice makes perfect and each follow is a stepping stone to a better dancer

Go to every authentic latin party, latin socials, workshops and when you are more experienced, salsa congress. Dont be embarrassed to dance at a party. The first time I went out I danced with my purse hanging over my shoulder and some flip flops caused I didnt have proper ballroom shoes and I actually hit my lead with my heavy purse that to this day he constantly teases me about my debut party. Dont be afraid to make a fool out of yourself.
 
MacMoto said:
Getting familiar with the rhythm really helps in the long run and gives you a head start when you dance to the music.
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That makes sense too. Since most popular dance music just goes 1 2, 1 2, 1 2, the transition to the quick, quick, slow rhythm of salsa takes some work. It's like I can't quite even find a beat in the music, but once the instructor and the rest of the class start dancing I'm like, ooooh that's where it is.
 
azzey said:
You'll find you forget most of what you thought you knew when you get on a real dance floor.
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Yep. It's clear having the fundamentals down is key, so that when I get lost I can at least transition back into the basic steps instead of having to stop completely.

I folks who show up just to dance after the lesson are so good it hurts. I gotta keep reminding myself that nobody becomes a pro overnight!
 
Tina said:
Dance with all the follows; the good dancers, the bad dancers, the girl who can follow, the girl who doesnt allow herself to be lead, the tall girl, the short girl, the older lady who only knows senior citizen tango, the hot girl and her fat friend as well...Don't be afraid to make a fool out of yourself.
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You're a salsa philosopher. I feel like I should print this out and tap it every time I walk out the door to a lesson or a salsa club. I hope I can get to this level of confidence sooner rather than later!
 
Charles Perry said:
That makes sense too. Since most popular dance music just goes 1 2, 1 2, 1 2, the transition to the quick, quick, slow rhythm of salsa takes some work. It's like I can't quite even find a beat in the music, but once the instructor and the rest of the class start dancing I'm like, ooooh that's where it is.
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If you haven't found it already, we have a thread about learning to hear the beat from an absolute beginners perspective. Lots and lots of info there:
http://www.salsaforums.com/threads/cant-hear-the-beat-help-please.17138/
 
You are entering into a great time in your dancing where you will grow fast because there is so much to learn. You are far from any sort of plateau as a result. You have no where to go but up. You just have to commit to getting in there and so much is going to happen for you in the coming months.
 
I've been looking at the videos azzey suggested to get used to the rhythm of salsa music. This week I'm going to try and go out at least twice, maybe more, to get over the hump from brand-new beginner to regular beginner ASAP!
 
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