Salsa open diary

[Amun]

@Chris_Yannick @TikiTaka @Offbeat thanks a lot I felt like an anomaly in my tone deafness. Practically everyone in my class can more or less find 1 especially leads so I felt down that I'm the only person who really needs to rely on someone else. Will read through this again tomorrow and rewatch the videos and hopefully will progress. But really thanks for the encouragement (I admit I didn't expect that, more like "if you don't hear it naturally just switch to tennis ) I'm sure learning will go better when I know I'm not so hopeless case.

 

[Offbeat]

@Chris_Yannick @TikiTaka @Offbeat thanks a lot I felt like an anomaly in my tone deafness. Practically everyone in my class can more or less find 1 especially leads so I felt down that I'm the only person who really needs to rely on someone else. Will read through this again tomorrow and rewatch the videos and hopefully will progress. But really thanks for the encouragement (I admit I didn't expect that, more like "if you don't hear it naturally just switch to tennis ) I'm sure learning will go better when I know I'm not so hopeless case.

Don't be so sure you can usurp the crown

Here is @UnlikelySalsero explaining it in a video series (which is better than his blog which no longer exists). Click on his channel and find all the videos. I think they are progressive in nature

One among several threads we had on this topic:

Can't hear the beat ---- help please !

Can't Hear the Beat ! Ok here I am with my sad story:(. I started learning salsa dancing 7 months ago in a local studio run by very skilled and professional instructors. After almost two months when I started dancing our instructor annouced in the class that he is going to pick up 5 guys...

www.salsaforums.com

P.S. - if you switch to tennis make sure you hit the ball on 1

 

[Amun]

Don't be so sure you can usurp the crown

Here is @UnlikelySalsero explaining it in a video series (which is better than his blog which no longer exists). Click on his channel and find all the videos. I think they are progressive in nature

One among several threads we had on this topic:

Can't hear the beat ---- help please !

Can't Hear the Beat ! Ok here I am with my sad story:(. I started learning salsa dancing 7 months ago in a local studio run by very skilled and professional instructors. After almost two months when I started dancing our instructor annouced in the class that he is going to pick up 5 guys...

www.salsaforums.com

P.S. - if you switch to tennis make sure you hit the ball on 1

This comment made my day video added to my list, will travel for a few days with high hopes I'll come back an expert (or will claim my crown)

 

[wol]

Joking aside (and different topic) -- kizomba classes are much, much better at teaching technique, connection, musicality, etc. compared to salsa classes (most of whom teach none of these things and only "moves"), so it's no wonder that there are kizomba leads with only a few months of dancing/classes who dance at a level most salsa leads with *years* of experience are not anywhere close to.

My experience is different. Kizomba classes were worse than salsa, just teaching patterns. Yes, they talk a lot about musicality, but mostly it is "just be musical". No big deal, as I believe it is impossible to teach musicality It comes as a side effect of being proficient in movements and loving and knowing your music. On stepping, body movements, frame etc. it was similar to salsa schools (except one salsa school, which was way, way better than the rest ...).

Then there are the many really amazing kizomba leads who are an absolute dream to dance with and many of them reach that level after only 3-4 years of dancing, compared to salsa, where leads like this, even after 10+ years of dancing, are one in a million.

I will take your word for it What I see on the floor is mostly grinding or clumsy stepping (more or less in sync). But yes - few I love to watch. Their musicality (usually two females) are admirable and some of the moves (mostly with male leads) are really nice and fits the music.

Regarding easy switching and avoiding beginners hell. It is just a different hell for me. Once you are reasonably good in one dance, your criteria for "acceptable dance experience" rises. I am able to reach it in swing dances. With kizomba, even with quite many lessons, I can not reach the "acceptable" status for myself. So every dance feels like hell to me, even when follow is asking for repeat dance ...

 

[Bostontraitor]

I have one pair of jeans that I wear to dance often. Yesterday, I ran into a girl that wore the same jeans as mine. So I learned that I've been wearing the women jeans this whole time. lol, IMHO, I wear it better than her.

 

[Smiley79]

I have one pair of jeans that I wear to dance often. Yesterday, I ran into a girl that wore the same jeans as mine. So I learned that I've been wearing the women jeans this whole time. lol, IMHO, I wear it better than her.

Maybe she was copying you? Flattery? Or she wanted to experience wearing pants that have functional pockets

 

[Offbeat]

Maybe she was copying you? Flattery? Or she wanted to experience wearing pants that have functional pockets

I am wondering if it is unisex jeans or she is wearing men's jeans or he is really wearing women's. But how can you tell they are exactly same jeans. May be different versions with same name.

I got too much free time and no dancing, to indulge in speculating.

 

[Bostontraitor]

I am wondering if it is unisex jeans or she is wearing men's jeans or he is really wearing women's. But how can you tell they are exactly same jeans. May be different versions with same name.

I got too much free time and no dancing, to indulge in speculating.

I would like to think it's unisex jeans. lol, except now I search the product on their website it only appears under women section. It's possible the product had a men version of it before. Nevertheless, this won't stop me from wearing it.

 

[Chris_Yannick]

Went to a Salsa party last night. I can already see the differences between the Salsa and Bachata crowds which I didn’t notice before but I think the divide has become more visible since the restarting after the pandemic. Salsa people were on average more skilled, more experienced and older. But the Bachata crowd looked like a bunch of high school kids at prom. I was like “who are these people?!”.

 

[Smejmoon]

I've started to dance 2, 3 songs in a row with the same person. Quality improves, I'm satisfied. But socially dynamics change. I dance with less individuals. With some people I'd like to dance, but can't get to all night. Some take a notice, how many dances in a row I dance with her or other. Also I can't tell the cadence of songs dj will play, so it's a gamble. Bad first song is ok, last one - better not. Broke up after hearing the song multiple times.

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I've started to dance 2, 3 songs in a row with the same person. Quality improves, I'm satisfied. But socially dynamics change. I dance with less individuals. With some people I'd like to dance, but can't get to all night. Some take a notice, how many dances in a row I dance with her or other. Also I can't tell the cadence of songs dj will play, so it's a gamble. Bad first song is ok, last one - better not. Broke up after hearing the song multiple times.

I’m surprised you haven’t done this already. Yes, you dance with less people, but the result of dancing with the same person mutiple times in a row is more sensual, better calibration and better connection. I accept to dance before even knowing the next song. Will only break away if we both consent to it. In a scene where this is widespread, people stop caring about what other people are doing. Tango scene (and I guess Kizomba scene) got it right when it comes to social contract.

Had a couple of one-of dances yesterday with some girls I’ve never seen and it was strange to break off after a single dance. With new people, I feel it should be obligatory to dance multiple times.

 

[Offbeat]

With new people, I feel it should be obligatory to dance multiple times.

 

[1derpalm]

I get bored of my dancing quickly so I project that they must bored as well. I'm in the once in a row camp.

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I get bored of my dancing quickly so I project that they must bored as well. I'm in the once in a row camp.

I guess this is the key change that happens when you truly become confident in your dancing. You don’t even think about whether you are boring your dance partner. You just dance with everything you got. But then this is why I switched from ‘partner centric’ dancing to ‘music.centric’ dancing. If I’m having a good time and I genuinely enjoy what I’m doing, I’m likely going to project that onto my partner.

This is why I can not be a great sensual dance partner, because I would have to focus more on my partner rather than on the music (I do if I”m attracted to her, but then it’s not about dancing anymore). But in general, since I can not enjoy the music, my misery would be palpable to my partner. I can mitigate it to some extent with musicality, but again that is dependent on music.

 

[Offbeat]

I guess this is the key change that happens when you truly become confident in your dancing. You don’t even think about whether you are boring your dance partner. You just dance with everything you got. But then this is why I switched from ‘partner centric’ dancing to ‘music.centric’ dancing. If I’m having a good time and I genuinely enjoy what I’m doing, I’m likely going to project that onto my partner.

This is why I can not be a great sensual dance partner, because I would have to focus more on my partner rather than on the music (I do if I”m attracted to her, but then it’s not about dancing anymore). But in general, since I can not enjoy the music, my misery would be palpable to my partner. I can mitigate it to some extent with musicality, but again that is dependent on music.

I have always been consistent that my first focus is on connection with the partner ahead of connection to the music. Otherwise why dance with a partner. One can dance just to the music. Like those who dance to trans music and get lost into it.

Connecting with the partner doesn’t diminish connecting with the music. There are four scenarios:

- a good partner and good music = heavenly
- a good partner and bad music = kinda fun
- a bad partner and good music = serviceable
- a bad partner and bad music = irritating or torture.

Focusing on partner and focusing on music can be done simultaneously. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Where the focus takes precedence is that music may call me to throw it down, but I am not going to out dance my partner just because I am liking the music so much.

Another reason it is better to know the music before selecting a partner.

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I have always been consistent that my first focus is on connection with the partner ahead of connection to the music. Otherwise why dance with a partner. One can dance just to the music. Like those who dance to trans music and get lost into it.

Connecting with the partner doesn’t diminish connecting with the music. There are four scenarios:

- a good partner and good music = heavenly
- a good partner and bad music = kinda fun
- a bad partner and good music = serviceable
- a bad partner and bad music = irritating or torture.

Focusing on partner and focusing on music can be done simultaneously. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Where the focus takes precedence is that music may call me to throw it down, but I am not going to out dance my partner just because I am liking the music so much.

Another reason it is better to know the music before selecting a partner.

I dance to the music to alleviate boredom. If all I did was focus on my partner while zoning everything else out, I’d get bored pretty quick.

I put the music slightly above of my partner, which means I still consider focusing on my partner important.

Most of the time, I don’t need to know the song ahead of time before selecting a partner. The reason is that there is not a lot of truly bad Salsa music that gets rinsed at parties I go to and the parties with terrible Salsa music I don’t go to.

 

[1derpalm]

I have always been consistent that my first focus is on connection with the partner ahead of connection to the music. Otherwise why dance with a partner. One can dance just to the music. Like those who dance to trans music and get lost into it.

Connecting with the partner doesn’t diminish connecting with the music. There are four scenarios:

- a good partner and good music = heavenly
- a good partner and bad music = kinda fun
- a bad partner and good music = serviceable
- a bad partner and bad music = irritating or torture.

Focusing on partner and focusing on music can be done simultaneously. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Where the focus takes precedence is that music may call me to throw it down, but I am not going to out dance my partner just because I am liking the music so much.

Another reason it is better to know the music before selecting a partner.

I can't agree so much. If I think the song is pants, my partner is not gonna have a great dance regardless of my connection with her., Because my main motivation and inspiration is non-existent.

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I can't agree so much. If I think the song is pants, my partner is not gonna have a great dance regardless of my connection with her., Because my main motivation and inspiration is non-existent.

If the music is truly bad, I will focus more on my partner but to me it's sub-optimal. They won't be getting the best version of me.

 

[Sabrosura]

I’m surprised you haven’t done this already. Yes, you dance with less people, but the result of dancing with the same person mutiple times in a row is more sensual, better calibration and better connection

100%

Lol in kizomba people figured this out ages ago even though kizomba is much newer than salsa.
Seems salsa people are just not very good with this whole connection thing

 

[Smejmoon]

100%

Lol in kizomba people figured this out ages ago even though kizomba is much newer than salsa.
Seems salsa people are just not very good with this whole connection thing

Are you like 20% serious or this is just pure trolling?

Because I've seen you coming to salsa events on your will. Dancing without being forced. Smiling, sweating, and over all emitting more happiness than I've ever seen from kizomba dancer.