The key to having a flavorful basic.. do you care?

[Chris_Yannick]

I'm curious to know how people approach their basic and whether they actively look to add more dynamics/flavor to it?

Something typical I see among highly skilled Cuban dancers doing their basic is something like this:

Linear dancers on the other hand, from what I see, tend not to add as much movement and are more toned down:

Then there's this way:

Or maybe this way:

How do you approach your basic step. Do you care about making it look a certain way? Or is it just about feeling the music?

Personally, I tend to step my basics differently depending on whether I dance Cuban or Linear. When dancing to Timba, I attempt to dance more like in the 1st video. With Linear, it gets interesting because there is so much variety and no universally agreed upon way for the basic to look. Do you have your own style? If so, what elements do you use to improve it... foot flourishes... arm movements... torso movements... enquiring minds want to know.

 

[TikiTaka]

I believe there is a trade-off between elegance and too much swagger.

I don't know if people used to dance like Yoandy back in the days or if it's a new thing. It looks good to me and appeals more to a younger crowd, i guess. I've seen a few people who are really good at this style, but many social dancers still seem to be at a "practising stage", so it looks kind of unnatural and forced when they do it on the dance floor. Oliver Pineda has very good movement in my opinion. I've seen some linear dancers just looking above the girls head at her hands while doing partnerwork though, and very little leg/body movement. Not a fan of that style. Johnny Vasquez style is too flamboyant for my taste.

I just like to step the way that makes me feel good, without forcing any movement. If i have a stiff back or something, there might not be a lot of movement, but if i'm loose it will naturally have more swagger.

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I just like to step the way that makes me feel good, without forcing any movement. If i have a stiff back or something, there might not be a lot of movement, but if i'm loose it will naturally have more swagger.

I guess I want to believe that flavor should naturaly flow out of the basic when dancing to music, but it just doesn't happen that way. Like everything else I'm doing at the moment, having a nice, fluid basic requires hours of practice in front of a mirror. That's what I'm noticing.

I also enjoy Yoandy's movement a lot. It has so much flavor to it. I think he could do it in his sleep. I am totally envious of that kind of movement.

I'm always looking to improve my basic or add something to it. I just learned this today. His footwork at 3:07-3:08. He turns to either side, then kicks out with his leg. I've seen this done in many variations. Also Mambo dancers do it.

 

[anonymous987]

I like the first one by Yoandy. It just looks really cool particularly the first 10 seconds and gives a strong impression. Tito & Pineda are ok, and probably what I resemble (just the basic step) since I don't really put much emphasis on this.

As for Mr Vasquez, he is too extrovert and flamboyant in all aspects for my taste. I don't want to look like that on the dance floor.

Fernando Sosa basic step is also very stylish.

Many salsa tracks have a short intro that is not particularly appropriate to go straight into a partner hold. So having a stylish basic step in those first few seconds, can be quite useful on the dance floor.

 

[TikiTaka]

I guess I want to believe that flavor should naturaly flow out of the basic when dancing to music, but it just doesn't happen that way. Like everything else I'm doing at the moment, having a nice, fluid basic requires hours of practice in front of a mirror. That's what I'm noticing

Definitely, with a lot of practise it will become natural. I think the key is to make movement look natural. I don't shimmie very often, but they're starting to look more natural since i shimmy like 15 seconds per day lol.

 

[DJ Yuca]

Many salsa tracks have a short intro that is not particularly appropriate to go straight into a partner hold.

Examples?

 

[TikiTaka]

Examples?

Not salsa but i've seen some dancers start the intro with some rumba

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I like the first one by Yoandy. It just looks really cool particularly the first 10 seconds and gives a strong impression. Tito & Pineda are ok, and probably what I resemble (just the basic step) since I don't really put much emphasis on this.

I agree. That thing he does when he pushes off and slides back with his leg as he steps is freaking cool!

I've seen Tito go crazy with his basic. The video I posted is really tame in comparison.

As for Mr Vasquez, he is too extrovert and flamboyant in all aspects for my taste. I don't want to look like that on the dance floor.

I also agree about Mr. Vasquez.

So having a stylish basic step in those first few seconds, can be quite useful on the dance floor.

How very true. This is what made me think about it since I spend a lot of time doing the basic step.

 

[timberamayor]

I think it's important to keep in mind how different the music was that each as dancing to in each sample.

Yoandy is dancing to timba while Oliver is dancing to something very close to son, if not son, so of course his choreography for the class is significantly different. I agree about Mr. Vazquez style being over-the-top for my tastes. In the end, I think one must consider the music when embellishing the basic.

And a lot of what they are doing is basically shines, throwing in Susie-Qs and some stuff from son. Yoandy is heavily drawing on rumba, especially columbia footwork. He looks good and natural because he has a command of rumba, whcih once again is why I always recommend columbia as a great way for men to improve their dancing. It teaches a lot of cool footwork and also improvisation. Get good at it and you can easily throw in bits and pieces in you basic and even when dancing with a partner as Yanek often does, spicing up his footwork even in closed position.

 

[crzyld]

I think only Johnny Vazquez shows a joy and passion for dancing in the videos and looks like he is having fun. For the others it's another day at the 9-5.
And La Gripe rules and is the best song for Covid-19 fears

 

[Chris_Yannick]

Yoandy is dancing to timba while Oliver is dancing to something very close to son, if not son, so of course his choreography for the class is significantly different. I agree about Mr. Vazquez style being over-the-top for my tastes. In the end, I think one must consider the music when embellishing the basic.

I agree in principle that you should first pay attention to the music before adding embellishments. Part of the reason I ask is to identify transferrable elements that can be used with the basic step regardless of style. For example, I think Yoandy's basic step would look really good in Linear dancing. I could see it fitting to a lot of music except maybe Romantica.

Get good at it and you can easily throw in bits and pieces in you basic and even when dancing with a partner as Yanek often does, spicing up his footwork even in closed position.

Funny. I don't find Yanek's dancing as appealing to look at. I find his footwork too fast and frenetic and much less fluid than Yoandy's.

 

[Groove On]

There are so many things in the different salsa styles that I like and dislike, so I try to pick the things “I like” and try to make them work together.

For example, I dislike the big/long steps in linear, so I use the tighter “stepping in the sand” style from Cuban. Or I don’t like the Gorilla arm moves from Rumba, so I skip those. Don’t get me started on Ballroom, but I do like their swivels, pivots and especially foot placement from B’room Rumba/Cha Cha. From WCS I like the crossover steps and diagonal twisting movement - plus the elastic connection.

and I do like cool footwork shines from all the styles ...

So my Kung Fu is more like a Monkey-Crane-Snake style

 

[vit]

In short, everybody has different idea about colorful basic ...

 

[Smiley79]

I try to avoid the basic. But when doing it, adding a little swag is enough. I tried the syncopation on the 4 &8 but that feels odd to me

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I try to avoid the basic.

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I tried the syncopation on the 4 &8 but that feels odd to me

Since I'm mainly dancing on2 I sometimes add a tap on the 1, or do a slide step. To me, it fits very well with the music.

 

[Smiley79]

Yea, I used to use it a lot so transitioning was very boring. I was always encouraged to stop doing the basic except for the very beginning to give the dance a nicer flow and more advanced feel

 

[TikiTaka]

I guess what @Chris_Yannick means by basic is the fundamental way you move/step, when not shining or adding in extra styling. Avoiding basic would be impossible to me if that's what meant. Is that right @Chris_Yannick?

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I was always encouraged to stop doing the basic except for the very beginning to give the dance a nicer flow and more advanced feel

Whoever says to stop doing the basic step (or limit it during a dance) needs to be shot.

I've also had teachers say this to me - but I think what they meant was to stop doing one-bar pattern, basic step, one-bar pattern, another basic step, repeat ad nauseum. The herky-jerky beginner way of dancing.

When I am apart from my partner, however, I'm doing a basic almost exclusively.

As @TikiTaka mentioned, i use the term basic as a fundamental way in which you move/step, which is done regardless of whether you dance apart or in partnerwork. My personal philosophy is that there should be no stoppage of doing the basic.

 

[Chris_Yannick]

I guess what @Chris_Yannick means by basic is the fundamental way you move/step, when not shining or adding in extra styling. Avoiding basic would be impossible to me if that's what meant. Is that right @Chris_Yannick?

Exactly.