Salsa open diary
- Thread starter MacMoto
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Not usually a fan of romantica. But when it's three with a charmer of a French guy, yeah, I'll take it. And he signs off with "I'll see you next dance" 
Not quite sure what I was dancing with adorable German guy. I didn't really hear the music or remember any steps. We didn't know what we were doing. He couldn't dance on1 and I couldn't dance on2, so we just hugged, did, er, other stuff, and pissed ourselves laughing for the whole song (my ex is German; something about their sense of humor does it for me ) Seriously, who needs kizomba? 
Not quite sure what I was dancing with adorable German guy. I didn't really hear the music or remember any steps. We didn't know what we were doing. He couldn't dance on1 and I couldn't dance on2, so we just hugged, did, er, other stuff, and pissed ourselves laughing for the whole song (my ex is German; something about their sense of humor does it for me
) Seriously, who needs kizomba? 
Sabrosura
Son Montuno
I actually started reading it without looking at who wrote it and I also thought it was you
Sabrosura
Son Montuno
Not usually a fan of romantica. But when it's three with a charmer of a French guy, yeah, I'll take it. And he signs off with "I'll see you next dance"
Seriously, who needs kizomba?
1) Yes, French leads are the best
2) Get the Frenchie to dance kizomba with you and thank me later
He wasn't the best lead I danced with, but a lovely experience. Scored two in a row with a phenomenal lead (although I didn't know who he was he's surely well known in Europe!)1) Yes, French leads are the best
2) Get the Frenchie to dance kizomba with you and thank me later
I'll pass on the kizomba - not what I'm looking for, thanks! It's about the dancing and the salsa music for me
Not usually a fan of romantica. But when it's three with a charmer of a French guy, yeah, I'll take it. And he signs off with "I'll see you next dance"
Not quite sure what I was dancing with adorable German guy. I didn't really hear the music or remember any steps. We didn't know what we were doing. He couldn't dance on1 and I couldn't dance on2, so we just hugged, did, er, other stuff, and pissed ourselves laughing for the whole song (my ex is German; something about their sense of humor does it for me
Awesome experience! Love those ‘don’t kow what we’re doing’ dances but he/she’s adorable/cute/funny/hot moments.
It amazes me that some people only know me as a solo dancer. Not something I'd have expected to hear in my lifetime.
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1derpalm
Son Montuno
I just found out that in Hamilton my name is "Fun Jason" to differentiate me front the other Jason in the scene.
In Toronto I some people called me "Scarf Boy" for my penchant for dancing in my my pea coat, toque N scarf for the 1st 1/2 hour. Then my scarf stays on for either the night or for another hour. One night I don't wear it and a lady said "Are you scarf boy?". That is how I found out. Of course I'm 46 but I don't tell nobody...
Nope! I have very few social dancing videos of myself and of course I never get video'ed at events so there is little proof that I can actually social dance.
Bostontraitor
Son
Very sad night last night.
Bachata sensual is a cancer. That is all
I am sorry to hear that.
Maybe you can talk to a therapist about your imaginary dance partner. I did that. girls like to dance with me now.
Due to cold I have a bit chaffed lips, which was bothering me a little bit at the start of the afternoon social. I been making extra effort to smile rather than have solemn face. One lady I was dancing with says to me "you look angry" I replied, "no I am enjoying, but the music is really hard to hear". It was difficult to hear the best at the far side of the hall. Then I later realized I must have been pursing my lips to give her the impression I was angry!
I forgot how much people like to dance with those they know in EU. Most of the good dancers all know each other. Last night I decided to chill and dance with only random people. Until the last half hour. While I know most of the good followers, it is not at the level where I am meeting then 5-6 times in a year. I see guys still rushing to get dances and often asking better the song starts. Average EU leads have very bad floorcraft. They simple don't know your to dance on a crowded floor and don't realize they are pushing into other couple's space. I think at the festival instructors need to be told to spend 10 minutes of their workshop to teach house to dance in tight spaces. Afternoon social was too crowded and several ladies complained about the leaders not taking care of where they were leading that follower.
I was pleasantly surprised to see familiar contingent of followers from Moscow and SPB. I thought travel would be difficult and the entry to Russians is restricted in EU (I think oily Poland, Czech, and Baltics have restricted the entry). Most took flight to Turkey.
I replied, "no I am enjoying, but the music is really hard to hear". It was difficult to hear the best at the far side of the hall. Then I later realized I must have been pursing my lips to give her the impression I was angry!I forgot how much people like to dance with those they know in EU. Most of the good dancers all know each other. Last night I decided to chill and dance with only random people. Until the last half hour. While I know most of the good followers, it is not at the level where I am meeting then 5-6 times in a year. I see guys still rushing to get dances and often asking better the song starts. Average EU leads have very bad floorcraft. They simple don't know your to dance on a crowded floor and don't realize they are pushing into other couple's space. I think at the festival instructors need to be told to spend 10 minutes of their workshop to teach house to dance in tight spaces. Afternoon social was too crowded and several ladies complained about the leaders not taking care of where they were leading that follower.
I was pleasantly surprised to see familiar contingent of followers from Moscow and SPB. I thought travel would be difficult and the entry to Russians is restricted in EU (I think oily Poland, Czech, and Baltics have restricted the entry). Most took flight to Turkey.
That’s right. This is where the one-dance rule doesn’t work because the higher level dancers don’t care about that. They will dance with each other 5-10 times every day if they could.
This works in your favor though when you travel often to EU festivals and you start getting chummy with the ‘in-crowd’.
Most are nice enough and won’t reject but trying to chase them down when they have 5 of their friends waiting in the wings is usually not feasible and a waste of your time.
When you find someone you really like dancing with and vice versa, you must HOG them…lol. No time to feel bad for others. You go get yours especially since you’re coming from another continent.
Hopefully there were a lot of other good dancers that were available.
This would have been perfect for me since I know about 50 people who are currently there and if we see each other, will happily dance multiple times since we have built that familiarity and trust.
But my loss is your gain.
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I didn't see anyone dancing multiple dances (except for you know who). Nor do I have any desire to get chummy with the in-crowd. The dance friends I hangout with for dinner and breakfast are nobodies. In fact at the table the point of multiple dances came up. All the ladies at the table ( from London and France mostly) were unanimous that it feels odd to dance two consecutive dances.
I don't like to chase down anyone whether at home or at festivals. There isn't need to either. You can get dances with popular followers without having to do any chasing.
In my estimates most of the guys chasing their advanced follower friends are pedestrian to average at best. From frame to posture to technique, you can see big holes. May be only 20% of the leads are what I would call good dancers. And you see them often in the videos.
Even if the whole table agreed it feels odd, I would still respectfully disagree.
All I’m saying is that if you find someone who really likes dancing with you and you them, then asking them for another dance won’t kill you. Actually, this is the reason why I lost out on so many good dancing years because I wasn’t aggressive enough to ask my favorite follows for more dances.
I don’t care what the group think is on this issue. This is about your fun and getting the most out of your trip.
I agree - I had noticed the sound system is not very good. It's difficult to pick up the music at the far end of the room, but that's where I prefer to stay, away from the DJ booth! I'd also noticed that many people know each other; it's hard fitting in as an outsider, or getting many dances. However, everyone I've encountered has been very polite and friendly. I admire the European women for their outfits, or otherwise the confidence in going for them - they're not afraid to wear full sequin pants, lots of sparkle and risque dresses or jumpsuits. You'd never see that in Australia or Japan.Due to cold I have a bit chaffed lips, which was bothering me a little bit at the start of the afternoon social. I been making extra effort to smile rather than have solemn face. One lady I was dancing with says to me "you look angry"
I've had four double (consecutive) dances so far
. I wasn't complaining about any of them ... When he's behind you and you feel a smooch on your bare back, you're definitely dancing with an Italian
I've had four double (consecutive) dances so far
I'm happy you're getting good dances. There are scores of great dancers in that event, I you should bump into them just by accident. No need to stress out.
Yes, but those guys are having the most fun
I really don't care. To me music matters in deciding whether I am going to dance and with whom.
For most of the last night music sucked. Both in the Romantica and the main room. There would be a sequence of once in an hour two or three songs that were inspiring to dance. Only the last 45 minutes or so finally hand good music. I think Sergio was the DJ.
Compared to previous Magic, this is turning out to be a little disappointing festival for me.
BTW in the fast half of the room, if you were five steps away from a follower, you would get preempted by some other guy getting their first. I think many guys were crowding the upfront.
To me getting most fun is dancing with most varied lot and discovering new people to dance with. I will say about 60% of the (good) followers I regularly dance with aren't at this festival. I noticed a number of regular guys absent too.
Around the cool kids area I noticed something interesting last night more than a several times. The song ends and the couple is hugging or having a small talk. The next song hasn't yet started. And there is already a third guy right infront of their nose trying to ask the girl for a dance
talk about being aggressive! If there are a dozen good followers on your list to dance with, in my books I rather go through my list plus the other dancers you watch and think I should dance with her. Than ask the same follower for a second dance immd and find the song sucks. If I am going to dance with a good follower, I definitely want to know which is the song.
It takes more than one festival to build chemistry with other good dancers. Even if they like dancing with you, they too have their friends lining up for them.