If you can dance slow, you can dance fast...

Groove On said:
Dancing fast can just as easily hide weaknesses technique. I’d even propose that dancing fast or slow may require different techniques - just like walking has a different technique from running.
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That's how I understand original post. That fast dance requires technique/skill/capability that slow dance doesn't give.
 
DJ Yuca said:
I've danced with quite a few good followers in the UK and in Cali who can dance well to medium or fast songs but once the song is slow (or very slow) they just cannot stop themselves from speeding up to beyond the tempo of the music.
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Ok, so then it's not just me. Every video I've watched of Cali dancers are fast. Not a single slow theatrical dance or social dance even. I do believe what Cali dancers can do at speed is truly remarkable, but you're right that without the ability to dance slow, then it's limiting especially when dancing other styles, but I guess that's not their main concern?

It seems to be a trend around here to play slower tempo songs at the beginning of the evening to not scare off the beginners, then as the night progresses, introduce faster paced songs.

Then you have the concept of slow tempo dance parties which cater to... umm.. who exactly? I think the idea is that slow tempo music is more accessible to the general public as dancing fast requires more energy and thus the implication is that only advanced/pro dancers can keep up.

I just like the idea of mixing it up. I am seeing a bit too much of the slow stuff. Even though I like slowing down, dancing to it all night will put me to sleep.
 
Chris_Yannick said:
I just like the idea of mixing it up. I am seeing a bit too much of the slow stuff. Even though I like slowing down, dancing to it all night will put me to sleep.
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In the words of Joe Tex: Too much of anything ain't good for nobody. You better believe it baby.
 
Chris_Yannick said:
Ok, so then it's not just me. Every video I've watched of Cali dancers are fast. Not a single slow theatrical dance or social dance even.
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The vast majority of people in Cali don't do the stuff they teach at academies and are ok dancing to medium tempo salsa as well as the fast stuff. The slower stuff though doesn't get many plays. On the radio sure but if people are dancing it's rare. I think those who do all the tricks they teach at academies don't even like to dance to medium tempo tunes. (In fact a girl here told me once that slow songs are just for beginners.)
 
What is considered a slow song? I think the slowest one they used to play in my scene was Leonie Torres - Entre Sabanas Blancas


But then 95 % started dancing BS to it
 
I can also see how a salsa step would require more "control" for a slow song but with a more son-like step it's no problem.
 
Ironically the basic step in Cali salsa (which seems to have been taken directly from cumbia) also exists in son. (Although I don't think they use it in son as much as it is used in Cali style.)
 
I think they are quite different (cumbia step, son step, salsa caleña basic). Tried to post some videos but it didnt work
 
TikiTaka said:
I think they are quite different (cumbia step, son step, salsa caleña basic). Tried to post some videos but it didnt work
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I saw the Instagram vid although I had to follow the link. They were doing the cumbia side step. Whether that is more common in cumbia than the back step I don't know but in my limited experience both are common. I don't know much about cumbia or son but as I understand it that back step is also used in son, although as I said earlier I don't think it's used as much in son as it is in Cali salsa or in cumbia. Of course a good son dancer will do that step on 2, and on 2 doesn't exist in cumbia or Cali salsa.
 
This video isn't from Cali it's from the Pacific Coast (and unfortunately I've never heard this artist played in Cali), nor do I have any reason to believe the couple dancing are from Cali however it shows the way most caleños dance salsa. (Although even by Cali standards the lady would be considered a little underdressed in a house party or a salsa venue.) They use the back step that I believe comes from cumbia quite a lot and don't have any problems dancing to a medium tempo tune.

 
DJ Yuca said:
I saw the Instagram vid although I had to follow the link. They were doing the cumbia side step. Whether that is more common in cumbia than the back step I don't know but in my limited experience both are common. I don't know much about cumbia or son but as I understand it that back step is also used in son, although as I said earlier I don't think it's used as much in son as it is in Cali salsa or in cumbia. Of course a good son dancer will do that step on 2, and on 2 doesn't exist in cumbia or Cali salsa.
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What i mean is the weight shift. Even if direction is similar, the rhythm and weight shift is different. I can do a slow son step but not a slow cumbia or cali salsa step
 
Groove On said:
I’d even propose that dancing fast or slow may require different techniques - just like walking has a different technique from running.
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Agree. When I watched someone give a tutorial on how to dance faster, his solution was 'just step out your basic faster'. So he put on music, then gradually increased the tempo. His form NEVER changed. It was just him maintaining the same form throughout. But dancing is never that static.

When I do fast shines, my form changes. My stepping changes. I utilize more taps and quick ball changes and take less full steps. My arm movements also have to change to match the increased speed, and that means I have to change my form so that my arms look sharper.
 
TikiTaka said:
What is considered a slow song? I think the slowest one they used to play in my scene was Leonie Torres - Entre Sabanas Blancas


But then 95 % started dancing BS to it
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Wait.. what is this exactly? I have never seen anybody dance Salsa to this song, ever.
 
TikiTaka said:
I think they are quite different (cumbia step, son step, salsa caleña basic). Tried to post some videos but it didnt work
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Both Son and Cumbia are the same identical basic, difference being one is syncopated the other is not, both in a modified 5th position break .
 
Chris_Yannick said:
Wait.. what is this exactly? I have never seen anybody dance Salsa to this song, ever.
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I don't know. Me personally danced improvised "son-ish" dance (not that i am trained to do it the proper way), but would not dance bachata sensual. The bassline is similar to bachata though.

Actually I would have made a better point if I had posted the "Toda una vida" song instead, it's not as slow but still, I saw maybe 50 % dancing BS
DJ Yuca said:
What's different about the rhythm and weight shift?
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Difficult to explain, it just feels different. I will try to dance a a bit later and come up with an explanation.
 
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