What key advice would you give a budding salsero/a?

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peachexploration

What is the one key piece of advice you would give to a budding salsero/salsera?

Mine would be to do research about the different styles of salsa before you actually start classes. In your research, talk to friends, join a few forums and talk to a few instructors about what they teach. Always good to have an idea about what you're learning before you start. :D
 
Excellent advice, PeachE 8) !

I would like to add music. Listen to salsa as much as possible, and get to know the various rhythms under the 'salsa umbrella'.

The more familiar you are with the music, AND the more you love it, the easier it will be for you dancewise.......being ON BEAT is one of the pre-requisite of being a good salsero/a.
 
:arrow: Be it as lead or as follow, make sure you pay attention to how to dance with your partner!
 
As soon as you have had your first lesson, grab a class mate, get on the floor and start enjoying yourself. Listen to the music and see how it makes you feel - let those feelings change your dancing. Don't be afraid to just dance. The moves will come in good time but for now, just dance. :)
 
My #1 rule is don't accept anyone telling you your style is wrong! If you are dancing what you are feeling then you are the real thing!
 
peachexploration said:
Mine would be to do research about the different styles of salsa before you actually start classes. In your research, talk to friends, join a few forums and talk to a few instructors about what they teach. Always good to have an idea about what you're learning before you start. :D
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or get someone to point out the different styles in case you cant spot the difference ;); i think it may have helped me if someone explained the differences in styles visually. then one a style is picked go to different teachers (espcecially once you've mastered the basics). what/how you learn as an improver/intermediate may well define you as a dancer for quite a while; bad technique/habits picked up from a cowboy are harder to get rid of the longer you go on dancing. you may have to kiss a few frogs before finding your prince/princess.
 
Flujo said:
As soon as you have had your first lesson, grab a class mate, get on the floor and start enjoying yourself.
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Yep - I'm 100% with you on this.

Flujo said:
Listen to the music and see how it makes you feel - let those feelings change your dancing. Don't be afraid to just dance. The moves will come in good time but for now, just dance. :)
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Gotta be honest. I think this is naive. For me, and I believe a lot of other folk too, if someone had said this to me when I first started, I'd have responded as follows.
"I can't. I. Don't. Know. How."
All this "feel the music" "dance with the music" stuff sounds well and good but you might as well take me to a Portugese language class for an hour, then put me in a room with lot's of Portugese people and expect me to start conversing. Until I know and understand a little of the vocabulary, I've NO IDEA!
But yeah - take it to the dancefloor - practice and play with whatever you covered in the lesson and if something else comes to mind, or you see someone doing something else, have a go.

In addition, to this - listen to as much music as you can. And practice moving to it, even just with basic steps.
 
tips

To always enjoy the process!!

And to consider that if you could learn EVERYTHING all in one day, it wouldn't be so fun.... to enjoy the challenges presented over time and to always appreciate that there is something new that you can learn!!

:bouncy:
 
TheBear_CanDanceToo said:
Gotta be honest. I think this is naive. For me, and I believe a lot of other folk too, if someone had said this to me when I first started, I'd have responded as follows.
"I can't. I. Don't. Know. How."
All this "feel the music" "dance with the music" stuff sounds well and good but you might as well take me to a Portugese language class for an hour, then put me in a room with lot's of Portugese people and expect me to start conversing. Until I know and understand a little of the vocabulary, I've NO IDEA!
But yeah - take it to the dancefloor - practice and play with whatever you covered in the lesson and if something else comes to mind, or you see someone doing something else, have a go.
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That's fair enough. Perhaps the feeling of music is a bias that people who have grown up in a culture where music has played a significant part have. They take it for granted that other people understand the whole feelings thing too.
I suppose you could compare it to sitting someone at a piano and telling them "play what you feel" with the obvious reaction being "Urr, how do I do that?" :shock:

Anyway even with all these cultural differences and we can still have a blast. That's what matters at the end of the day.
 
Flujo said:
I suppose you could compare it to sitting someone at a piano and telling them "play what you feel" with the obvious reaction being "Urr, how do I do that?" :shock:
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Flujo, that is EXACTLY what I meant (but you actually put it rather better than I did!). :)

Flujo said:
Anyway even with all these cultural differences and we can still have a blast. That's what matters at the end of the day.
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:D Totally agree. :D
 
The advice I would give to someone just starting salsa is to make sure that they go to a teacher with a track record of success with beginners.
If they don't feel comfortable with the first teacher they go to then change teacher.
 
nowhiteshoes said:
don't rush throught the levels ending up in the adv class after 8 months!
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Good advice. People often think that learning the mechanics of advanced moves will make them better dancers, when what really matters on the dancefloor is ability to lead and ability to follow.
 
Yeah, have patience. Start with the fundamentals. Go slow. Don't rush. Don't start learning anything remotely advanced until your fundamentals are sound. Learn proper balance, frame, connection, and control of your momentum.

Listen to... no, wait... fall in love with salsa music.

Find a good teacher.

Even though much of Salsa is a partner dance, solo work helps your partner work IMMENSELY because it improves your balance, gives you control of your momentum, connects you with the rhythm, and it teaches you to think the way a salsa dancer thinks.

Listen to and believe every dancer that tells you this: It's better to do 3 moves well, than 30 moves badly.
 
nowhiteshoes said:
don't rush throught the levels ending up in the adv class after 8 months!
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Advice taken.
Was considering going advanced but will be more patient and make sure all the intermediate (and beg/imp) bases are covered first. May even go back and take some improver lessons.

Thanks nowhiteshoes :)
 
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