Those who have a dance partner, how did you approach it?

[tdh_dude]

I have been dancing salsa for ~ 2 years. I am a male lead.

In my city I connect really well with this follower lady. Our dances are always great - the strength of our connection is really good, she can read me quite well and I can read her quite well, and our dances are a blast . Others have commented on this and have been encouraging us to post videos online - It's not really our thing and we don't intend to generate some kind of online presence, although we have been filmed and posted a few times at our last festival together.

We're also each others "dance fallbacks" - we end up looking for each other on songs that we know or just from time to time.

So we've been thinking how to take this a notch up to learn more about Salsa. Things we've thought about:

1) Some 1 on 1 time where we look at dance instruction videos and learn some new/interesting moves.

I feel that this can become tedious quick - has anyone tried this before?

2) Some private classes - where we are both instructed by an instructor. At this point i feel very bored with group classes and I don't enjoy them anymore. She still likes the lady styling ones.

In the back of our minds are all these "dance pairs" who have been together for a while - if you are one of them what kind of tips and ideas can you give us?


(and before you ask, this is just a dance connection, nothing more and we don't intend to change that)

 

[Offbeat]

1) Some 1 on 1 time where we look at dance instruction videos and learn some new/interesting moves.

That will be a waste of time.

2) Some private classes - where we are both instructed by an instructor. At this point i feel very bored with group classes and I don't enjoy them anymore. She still likes the lady styling ones.

This will work. But you need to find a good instructor who can teach both follower and leader part. Better to take private from an instructor pair. Either you both should know what you want to learn in private lesson. Or the instructors should be good enough to know what you need. You said you have been dancing for about two years. A good instructor can see you dance and break down privates into a list of things that you need to work on.

If you post a video on here asking for feedback, some here will be able to tell you want you need to work on too. But video has limitations.

In the back of our minds are all these "dance pairs" who have been together for a while - if you are one of them what kind of tips and ideas can you give us?

The best dancers can make a dance great with any equivalent good partner. They don’t need regular partners. Regular partners is usually more for teaching or performance purpose. If you don’t intend to perform then it is more as a fallback option when social dancing or romantic interest. If you are not romantically interested in each other the partnership will grow distant as your goals diverge. In general such doesn’t last more than 12 to 18 months.

 

[sunsoul]

I like the idea of both options. I don’t think it is a waste of time even if only for 3/6/12 months. Who really cares about that. You may move to another city or get a new job. Practising together can be helpful. Less talk and try it out to see if things fall into place.

 

[Groove On]

It's not really our thing and we don't intend to generate some kind of online presence, although we have been filmed and posted a few times at our last festival together ... We're also each others "dance fallbacks" - we end up looking for each other on songs that we know or just from time to time.

Right now it sounds like casual fun, but if it progresses - you should have a very honest talk about what each of you wants out of this. You need to make sure you're on the same page, and both committed to the same clearly defined goals.

A serious dance partner is like having a 2nd husband/wife or girl/boy friend. You both have to be willing to set aside the time and energy needed for a successful "partnership". Even without romantic feelings, strong emotions will get involved.

 

[Bostontraitor]

Take her out to dinner, ask her about her life, spend time together, and surprise her with flowers. Share a moment of intimacy, then ask her: "Would you be my dance partner?" If not, I might need to find someone else.

It works. I am speaking with experience.

Wait, you meant approach the dance itself??