Urgent-Where should I go to learn a strong lead... as a woman?

What are the best places for women to learn to lead?

  • New York

    Votes: 2 100.0%

  • Puerto Rico

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Southwestern United States

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    2
F

freedomdance

Changui
I am looking to purchase plane tickets for Puerto Rico, but am now considering New York or southwestern USA. I need to book tickets within the next few weeks, and will be staying at my destination from January-March. I will likely take a similar trip in the years to come.

I enjoy leading, and want to be able to walk into a class or club and learn the lead role without having to try to defend myself or be partnerless. Does anyone have any experience with this (specifically in Puerto Rico)? Weather is a factor, which is why my main thoughts are to stay in Puerto Rico or the southwest. I do not wish to purchase a travel visa/passport at this time, so US territories are my limit.

I will be traveling alone, and am hoping to partner with local dancers and/or instructors.

Thank you!
 
IMO it doesn't really matter where you go, providing they dance the style you're going to be leading and there are more followers than leads in the class at the level you're learning at. Additional leaders are always welcome when there aren't enough to go around.

Choice of instructor is more important ; that they give feedback and technique on how to lead well. There will be a lot of choice in most large metro cities. Taking a couple of private lessons might be best and then LOTS and LOTS of practice.

Although I've seen many experienced followers learn to lead well just by incremental practice ; anything you do often gives you opportunity to improve.
 
azzey said:
IMO it doesn't really matter where you go, providing they dance the style you're going to be leading and there are more followers than leads in the class at the level you're learning at. Additional leaders are always welcome when there aren't enough to go around.

Choice of instructor is more important ; that they give feedback and technique on how to lead well. There will be a lot of choice in most large metro cities. Taking a couple of private lessons might be best and then LOTS and LOTS of practice.

Although I've seen many experienced followers learn to lead well just by incremental practice ; anything you do often gives you opportunity to improve.
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Thanks, azzey.. I'm just concerned that the Puerto Rican culture may be a little less inviting to the equal opportunity factor ;) My boyfriend and I take turns leading within songs when we go dancing. I'm hoping that when I travel I won't be socially outcast if I suggest it. That's why I'm nervous about the Carribeans.
 
freedomdance said:
Thanks, azzey.. I'm just concerned that the Puerto Rican culture may be a little less inviting to the equal opportunity factor ;) My boyfriend and I take turns leading within songs when we go dancing. I'm hoping that when I travel I won't be socially outcast if I suggest it. That's why I'm nervous about the Carribeans.
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There are some followers here who have travelled to Puerto Rico recently (e.g. @Sabrosura ) and several who live in NY here, so I'm sure you'll get some individual response soon.

@MacMoto also leads and travels extensively and can give you her view.
 
Although to be honest, I don't care what role or gender somebody has taken, I'd just like to hear from people with experience in these two places who can share any insight.
 
freedomdance said:
Although to be honest, I don't care what role or gender somebody has taken, I'd just like to hear from people with experience in these two places who can share any insight.
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Are you talking about taking classes? At what level? Beginner, improver, intermediate, advanced? Or are you talking about leading at socials or clubs? The two of these being a very different animal in NY for example.
 
Both. I'd like to take classes and practice what I'm developing in a social setting. Several clubs in PR have free dance lessons prior to live music. Even in those free classes I'd like to learn the lead. I live in Minnesota currently, and even here I get strange looks and questions, and I'm all right with that. I just am curious as to whether or not things would be more debilitating/aggressive there when it comes to preserving the tradition of "men lead, women follow". I really and truly enjoy leading and the challenge it presents. I don't want to be relegated to a follow role/gender role. I'd be happy to take private lessons, but will be on a tight budget. I would enjoy finding private and group classes in which the instructors and other students are somewhat open to my leading, and hopefully my being able to use that socially, although leading socially is also a struggle here. I'll never forgot the regret of the man who asked me to lead him, and I said no because I misunderstood. He apologized and seemed very distraught and then left. I still wish I hadn't misunderstood. But yep. That is an example of what I mean, though. I know it's not completely normal yet, but I'd like to see more people be able to choose what they'd like to do, not have that choice taken from them because of their reproductive systems. So I'm just hoping to hear from people who have either chosen roles or seen others choose roles that normally would be considered ...not normal for them ;) and how that went.
 
The reason I mention privates is because you can do what you want. The instructor is there to guide you to learn whatever it is you want to learn. Whether it be a man or a women instructor, so there are no gender barriers (or shouldn't be). Only the capabilities of the instructor to explain the role. In the beginning as a leader it's useful to have the feedback from experienced followers so you know what to work on during social dancing and classes.
 
W.r.t. South-Western USA - I've heard that the salsa scene in LA tends to be rather lead-heavy, so this might not be the best for you, if you were considering that as an option. I don't know what the wider scene in California is like though - there might be people who live there who can offer more up-to-date advice.
 
freedomdance said:
I'll never forgot the regret of the man who asked me to lead him, and I said no because I misunderstood. He apologized and seemed very distraught and then left. I still wish I hadn't misunderstood.
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In a large scene like NY I would think it will be a lot easier to find men who are excellent and willing followers. Something to bear in mind if you run out of female followers.
 
tallpaul said:
W.r.t. South-Western USA - I've heard that the salsa scene in LA tends to be rather lead-heavy, so this might not be the best for you, if you were considering that as an option. I don't know what the wider scene in California is like though - there might be people who live there who can offer more up-to-date advice.
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Like @calichris10 .
 
tallpaul said:
W.r.t. South-Western USA - I've heard that the salsa scene in LA tends to be rather lead-heavy, so this might not be the best for you, if you were considering that as an option. I don't know what the wider scene in California is like though - there might be people who live there who can offer more up-to-date advice.
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Hi there, I am new to this forum. Could you explain what W.R.T stands for? Hmm, yeah, I am thinking the Texas/Aizona area more specifically. Do you know anything of these areas? I can only find so much information online with club and class reviews, you know?
Thank you!
 
Azzy, Thank you so much for being so willing to help. I hadn't really been considering New York until now. I read that New York is home to some 15 glbtq friendly salsa joints, and my thoughts are that they may be a good place to seek help from other dancers while socially dancing. I don't know, as we don't have any glbtq salsa nights here in MN that I am aware of, but if I can gain enough experience this next year, maybe I can start something for that here in my state, or at least start a place that is known to be a haven for anybody who wants to pick their part based on preference. And, ah, yeah. The poor man. That happened years ago and I still wish I could change it. It's one of the very few regrets I have in life.
 
freedomdance said:
Both. I'd like to take classes and practice what I'm developing in a social setting. Several clubs in PR have free dance lessons prior to live music.
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Be aware that, depending on the instructor and location, generally free classes before a club will not give you as in depth teaching on leading technique as more dedicated classes. Free classes are usually tasters for pulling students into the paid classes.
 
Regarding social dancing, it really depends how comfortable you are in asking? And how experienced you are as a leader/follower? In large metro areas there tend to be a large number of leaders, but if you're confident in asking there are also a large number of followers as well. So you should have more opportunity to grab an experienced follower for a dance in NY than in MN, as there are higher numbers of experienced followers.
 
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Seattle is gender role tolerant, but it's also lead heavy. Our members from there can tell more.

Though I don't know if being in lead heavy place is disadvantage, since you can trade following for leading.
 
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