Singapore Salsa Festival Rolecall!! *now with program

[smiling28]

Ok, I know its early but MAN I AM EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such an incredible location/lineup and experience

woohoo!!!!!!!

So who is going.

I know:

myself
Jayzen

who else?


(October 22nd in Singapore)

 

[sac]

Re: Singapore International Salsa Festival Rolecall!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I know its early but MAN I AM EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such an incredible location/lineup and experience

woohoo!!!!!!!

So who is going.

I know:

myself
Jayzen

who else?


(October 22nd in Singapore)

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[smiling28]

Re: Singapore International Salsa Festival Rolecall!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I know its early but MAN I AM EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such an incredible location/lineup and experience

woohoo!!!!!!!

So who is going.

I know:

myself
Jayzen

who else?


(October 22nd in Singapore)

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Awesome!!!!!!

Looking forward to meeting you in person

 

[smiling28]

woohoo, the program is up on

sisf.com.sg

website

My quick look of the program has me choosing these workshops. Your thoughts and suggestions are VERY appreciated especially if you think I should choose different options for workshops (and why).

I guess the hard thing is the levels. The big name instructors seem to teach the advanced levels. I would be happy to do advanced shines and body movement but definitely not partnerwork yet. Your thoughts? ( i know someone posted adv = 4 years plus dancing. Whoa

(even though I have done many years worth of dancing crammed into my one year I am not silly enough to think I am near that level.............YET )

I still though int/adv would be challenging yet great

Also, I have tried to pick instructors far away as well (eg. even though some great local ones I prefer the farther instructors as I am more likely to have workshops with locals locally )


Saturday


9-10 partnerwork on 1 (int/adv) - super mario and Susana D'Tent
10.15-11:15 mens styling (int/adv) - Leon Rose D'Tent
11.30-12.30 "Lifts and tricks (int) - richard and sneha (who are they, not on website)
or fundamentals of shines footwork (dance en motion) Love the basics " Terrace or D'Marquee
12.30-1pm lunch cassia rooms
1-2 Latin Jazz (basic) with musumi or Rhuma - andre Mintz D'tent or terrace
2.15-3.15 "Musicality and turn patterns emphasis (atttitude dance stuido)
or street cha cha cha shines with Joseph Enin (hong kong)" D'Marquee or Terrace
3.30-4.30 Body Movement - hacha y machete D'Marquee
4.45-5.45 Shines on 1 - Junior and Emily D'Marquee




Sunday 1
9.30-10.30 men's tecnique, styling and shine - bobby dickerson
10.45-11:45 "partnerwork on 1 (adv) - super mario and susana
OR
Shines on 1(int/adv) with Jamie and Liz
OR
Shines on 2 (adv) with Gavin
**** toughest choice as not advanced…"
12-1 "mens styling (int) by alex diaz
OR spinning for men and ladies by Sharon Pakir"
1 to 2.30pm workshop by Albert Torres

2.30-3.30 partnerwork on 1(int/adv) - leon and Susana

3.45-4.45 leading and following techniques - super mario
5-6 Street cha cha cha partnerwork - joseph enin


notables: no bachata (puts on brave face)

swimwear and pool party workshop .....hmmmmmmmm, wonder what I will learn there.


*Doubles gym workout and puts down donut

 

[chrisk]

I've just looked at the schedule and it's quite interesting. I'll hope you report back how it was. But now to your schedule:

Mario's workshops have always been interesting and a lot fun for me. But I suppose the level is going to be rather advanced then intermediate. I was at his intermediate/advanced workshop in berlin and he told us there would be an intermediate and an advanced part. And after the first easy part of the pattern, he told us that this had been the intermediate part and now we'll do the advanced stuff. So don't be surprised if his intermediate/advanced partnerwork is going to be more advanced.

Altough I don't know "Dance en motion", I guess I would take a look at the fundamentals of shines footwork class. It sounds for me more interesting, since lifts are something that you can't really use when going out to dance.

Also I would go for the musicalty class, since I've now started going down that road and appreciate every new perspective and every chance to learn abit more. And I think you're going to love body movement. Burju (who's in my experience is going to mostly teach the class) has an incredible body movement.

And since you wonder about which workshop to take as second on sunday, keep your options open. If you enjoyed the workshop with Mario on saturday and it wasn't too advanced for you, I would suggest you can try his advanced one. But if not, then better pick the one with Jamie and Liz. And about the workshop with Albert. While it's not a workshop with some action going on, but instead Albert talking, I found it to be interesting.

And I don't think you are going to miss bachata on that weekend. Whenever I'm at a congress, I completely forget about bachata and just have salsa on my mind.

 

[narcosis]

Gosh smiling, I wish I could be back at home to go for it.. Unfortunately I can't, and will have to settle for the UK Congress instead. Of course, not that it's a bad substitute lol!

 

[MacMoto]

11.30-12.30 "Lifts and tricks (int) - richard and sneha (who are they, not on website)
or fundamentals of shines footwork (dance en motion) Love the basics " Terrace or D'Marquee

Agree with chrisk here - lifts and tricks are not for social dancing. You can only use them with a partner who has also learned how to do them (i.e., you need your partner to take the same workshop with you), and only where there's enough space around you so it's safe.

10.45-11:45 "partnerwork on 1 (adv) - super mario and susana
OR
Shines on 1(int/adv) with Jamie and Liz
OR
Shines on 2 (adv) with Gavin
**** toughest choice as not advanced…"

Some of my friends did Jamie and Liz's workshop at Brit SalsaFest and told me theirs was one of the best. I'd advise you against advanced on2 shines unless you have already started dancing on2 and are comfortable with the timing.


Are you still thinking about taking a private lesson at the congress?

 

[azzey]

I actually think you would get more from the lower-level classes. i.e. improver/intermediate as they often teach more fundamental technique in those.

In the int/adv and advanced classes it is assumed that you already know the technique of leading/following, connection, roles etc for that style and they move at a much faster pace. Also you do tend to get beginners in advanced classes at congresses just as much as the lower-level classes, trying to be something they're not, so it's no guarantee of great partners to practice with.

Also the higher in level you go the less similarity there is between Cuban and CBL styles.

Are you dancing CBL style regularly and for how long?

 

[smiling28]

I actually think you would get more from the lower-level classes. i.e. improver/intermediate as they often teach more fundamental technique in those.

In the int/adv and advanced classes it is assumed that you already know the technique of leading/following, connection, roles etc for that style and they move at a much faster pace. Also you do tend to get beginners in advanced classes at congresses just as much as the lower-level classes, trying to be something they're not, so it's no guarantee of great partners to practice with.

Also the higher in level you go the less similarity there is between Cuban and CBL styles.

Are you dancing CBL style regularly and for how long?

Great points!

4 months of Linear style salsa classes doing beginners and intermediate classes ever since I started (do both classes as easy for me to keep up. I find learning one style to have helped understand universal principles)

However, no social dancing practice dancing linear styles really (always just love to go into cuban as I find it more fun at this stage )

so you are right, beginner city

 

[smiling28]

my hesitation about beginner classes is not so much my level or the syllabus, I LOVE learning the basics.

The key for me is:

a) who is teaching the class; and

I KNOW every instructor here will be brilliant but I am paying a lot of money (for me) and putting a lot of time and effort into going to the congress. I could just travel another time to do workshops with the local instructors (definitely worthwhile and I will do it again soon). Thus I wanted to do workshops with some of the people travelling the furthest yet they seem to be doing the advanced workshops.


b) who is in the class.

I have come to terms that dancing has been infused through my veins and thoroughly enjoy meeting other committed individuals (before we are committed for our salsa insanity )

I dislike getting partners/classmates who immediately surrender. Eg. instructor demonstrates something hard to do and they are like man thats hard or cannot do that (either with a look or saying it).

Man, I feel like a universal bucket of cold water should be poured on all of us. We go to the workshops to LEARN to be TAKEN OUT of our comfort zone. If it was easy or we knew it then why would we do the workshops. TO show off. yeah nice one.................no

Just do your best and absorb it. For me, I feel classes like this are EXPOSURE. If you do not incorporate everything immediately, the things you do not are at least absorbed somewhere in you so that later when you do it again, it is a little easier or you can recognise others doing it or anything. Just adding to you!!!

 

[azzey]

my hesitation about beginner classes is not so much my level or the syllabus, I LOVE learning the basics.

The key for me is:

a) who is teaching the class; and

I just looked at the workshop programme and it appears there aren't any beginner/improver classes anyway so you're s*** out of luck there mate. hehe.

The majority of the programme looks fine for someone of your level so just pick what you want (At the UK congress there is a beginner/improver track and there are usually a lot more straight advanced on-1 or on-2 classes). If it says int/adv then that's like saying "beginners welcome but be prepared to work". If a class does not have a level attached it means it's open for all.

I was just saying before that you might learn more in the intermediate classes that's all. Also if you're doing shines/body movement your level doesn't matter so much (as long as you're not in peoples way) so go for adv if you want and you have to try at least one advanced partnerwork class just to see what it's like.

You can always drop out if it's not working and switch to another class while it's going. Sometimes I would turn up to a class and the level was too low for me or the content was not as expected so I'd just run to another interesting class and join that.

b) who is in the class.

In my experience at UK congresses the majority of the people whatever level are enthusiastic and committed. Completely different from regular classes.

 

[MacMoto]

and you have to try at least one advanced partnerwork class just to see what it's like.

Yeah but be fully prepared that it may be really tough, depending on who's teaching. I went to one advanced class at a congress and as soon as I walked in I noticed that half the class were performers and teachers - including my own teacher (Carol Ann Stephenson).

 

[azzey]

and you have to try at least one advanced partnerwork class just to see what it's like.

Yeah but be fully prepared that it may be really tough, depending on who's teaching. I went to one advanced class at a congress and as soon as I walked in I noticed that half the class were performers and teachers - including my own teacher (Carol Ann Stephenson).

Who was teaching the class?

Also: In an advanced class it is usually expected that you should be able to lead double spins cleanly, be able to cope with complicated partner work on-time with changes of direction mid flow etc while still doing your basics well and be able to do double spins yourself as a leader.

 

[chrisk]

a) who is teaching the class; and

I KNOW every instructor here will be brilliant but I am paying a lot of money (for me) and putting a lot of time and effort into going to the congress. I could just travel another time to do workshops with the local instructors (definitely worthwhile and I will do it again soon). Thus I wanted to do workshops with some of the people travelling the furthest yet they seem to be doing the advanced workshops.

It's understandable that when travelling to a congress and investing money and time, you want to get the best out of it. And it's also reasonable that you want to take workshops with instructors, that are from far away. But you also need to respect your current experience and knowledge about CBL-style dancing.

I know from personal experience that the instructors have expectations about the dance level and experience of the people in class. When I went to my first congress, I had basically been dancing about a year. I was so interested in learning, that I also picked some advanced classes. The instructors had expecations about the level of dancing and knowledge of people, so that I had a hard time getting everything right. (Thankfully my follower had quite some patience and was kind enough to help me understand the pattern.) So my advice is not based on hearsay or assumptions, but on personal experience of having been there.

So, as I've written before, I would be careful about taking advanced workshops. So try the "Int/Adv" workshop of Mario, but be prepared to have to work a lot. If you were able to follow it and had a good time, then you can also try and "Adv" workshop with Mario. But otherwise take rather another "int" workshop. If you also go the partys (as I guess you will and dance with unknown followers, the congress will be a great experience. While you certainly learn something new in the workshops, you are also consciously and unconsciously learning at the partys.

b) who is in the class.

I have come to terms that dancing has been infused through my veins and thoroughly enjoy meeting other committed individuals (before we are committed for our salsa insanity )

As azzey already wrote, people who travel to a congress are comitted individuals. Who else would be "crazy" enough to spend their money to take workshops in the morning and still go dancing in the evening? I've yet so either experience or see somebody give up in a workshop at a congress.

 

[azzey]

Personally I find I actually learn more from the parties. Not that I don't learn something new in the workshops that I can then practice at night but when I watch/dance with the performers and see other great dancers dance I learn a lot more than just new moves.

Also don't expect very slow detailed instruction from the workshops and get disappointed if it is not there. Bear in mind that the class size and wide array of ability in a class would be one of the factors that drive the teachers to keep a fast pace. I found I got much better instruction from my local classes but a wider exposure to different styles at the congress.

 

[jayzen]

piece of advice, if u r attempting a workshop that maybe above your level, pls do so with a partner who's willing to stay with you throughout and pls don't rotate or be willing to step out of the rotation or class and follow the class by the side.

this is to respect the follows who actually would like to learn the steps and not be frustrated with a lead who's clearly out of their depth.


jayzen

 

[smiling28]

piece of advice, if u r attempting a workshop that maybe above your level, pls do so with a partner who's willing to stay with you throughout and pls don't rotate or be willing to step out of the rotation or class and follow the class by the side.

this is to respect the follows who actually would like to learn the steps and not be frustrated with a lead who's clearly out of their depth.


jayzen

Thanks mate!

I will have a great time which means that I shall treat my partner well always and respect them. That is part of dancing of course!!!

 

[{WuMing}78]

Ok, I know its early but MAN I AM EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such an incredible location/lineup and experience

woohoo!!!!!!!

So who is going.

I know:

myself
Jayzen

who else?


(October 22nd in Singapore)

Well, the location is only a couple of train station away from my place, so I am going. Unfortunately, I have school during the morning and afternoon at those time, so I guess I can only settle myself with the night parties instead. So on that day, how am I suppose to recongise all of you? Is there any salsera from Salsa forum coming down to Singapore this month ?

 

[smiling28]

Ok, I know its early but MAN I AM EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such an incredible location/lineup and experience

woohoo!!!!!!!

So who is going.

I know:

myself
Jayzen

who else?


(October 22nd in Singapore)

Well, the location is only a couple of train station away from my place, so I am going. Unfortunately, I have school during the morning and afternoon at those time, so I guess I can only settle myself with the night parties instead. So on that day, how am I suppose to recongise all of you? Is there any salsera from Salsa forum coming down to Singapore this month ?

Pleased to meet you

 

[{WuMing}78]

Ok, I know its early but MAN I AM EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such an incredible location/lineup and experience

woohoo!!!!!!!

So who is going.

I know:

myself
Jayzen

who else?


(October 22nd in Singapore)

Well, the location is only a couple of train station away from my place, so I am going. Unfortunately, I have school during the morning and afternoon at those time, so I guess I can only settle myself with the night parties instead. So on that day, how am I suppose to recongise all of you? Is there any salsera from Salsa forum coming down to Singapore this month ?

Pleased to meet you

Sorry, haven't been to the forum for a long time.... I hope I am still in time to post my picture to you just in case you are still where you are and not in Singapore yet