Gee, you're good -> the art and science of compliments

[brujo]

"Girlfriend, the way you style made me poop my pants".

Sometimes you go into a club, find a complete stranger, and then completely connect with each other on the dance floor. The song(s) finish, you're both sweaty and huffing, and the first words that come out of your mouth, "Wow, you're a pretty good dancer". "Hey, that was fun!". "You rock!".

The next week, the same out-of-body experience on the dance floor. You both come down from cloud 9 and, "Gee, thanks". "Wow, we got to do that again".

Remember third grade? You need to show, not tell. Next time, explain why they rock. "Wow, that triple flip up in the air in the middle of the crowded dance floor really took my breath away, I thought I was going to die!". "Holy crap, someone actually knows about eye contact in salsa, you are da' man!". Point out things that other people might have noticed but never expressed out loud.

Or tell them how the dance made you feel. One of the best compliments for me, "Wow, if I close my eyes during this bachata, I can imagine myself back in the Dominican Republic". "You put so much feeling into your dancing, I can feel every beat of the music when I dance with you!"

Don't settle for mediocrity. Guess what, by pointing out what other people do well, you get to start to slowly incorporate these elements into your own dancing. But please, in moderation only, a brown nose is as big a turnoff as body odour....

And yes, neoDevin, this works for vengeful putdowns too.

[Vince A]

brujo,
You had me in stitches . . . very well written, and the point is made!!!

[pygmalion]

Yup, brujo. I loved your post, and you're so right. A compliment is nice to get, but it's so much better if it's specific. And oh yeah, if it's given infrequently enough so that you know it's sincere. To me, too many compliments are bad because I start to discount all of them. Sparing, but positive feedback. That works for me. :D

[Sagitta]

Enjoyed that Brujo! Thanks.

A big "Thank You" with a big :D always, then sometimes the compliments when they are sincere!!

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

Hi Brujo,

My best compliment:

It happened severalmonths ago. After the dance she wouldn´t let go of my hand, grasping it unconsciously for a long time. She never said a word...

[Vince A]

My best compliment:

It happened severalmonths ago. After the dance she wouldn´t let go of my hand, grasping it unconsciously for a long time. She never said a word...
Yeow . . . you must have felt like the King of Salsa!

[HothouseSalsero]

This is maybe just slightly OT, but I remember once asking a stranger to dance. She looked like she really wanted to dance, but wasn't sure about me. After the first few basics, she spoke to the friends she had been standing with and said, "He can dance!" with a big smile on her face. Judging by her rather buxom figure, I think she might have had bad experiences with guys just wanting to grope her or rub up against her or something. But that "He can dance" made me happier than many compliments I've received.

[HothouseSalsero]

(That reminds me of a certain woman I've seen in clubs who, to me, looks kind of hard and unapproachable, but there is something very girlish and innocent about her dancing, when I've seen her dance.)

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

My best compliment:

It happened severalmonths ago. After the dance she wouldn´t let go of my hand, grasping it unconsciously for a long time. She never said a word...
Yeow . . . you must have felt like the King of Salsa!

Not really because she wasn´t the good of a dancer.

[youngsta]

Ok I just got two of the best compliments EVER in the last 2 days.

#1 A woman I've danced with a few times told me she dances her worst with me because she is intimidated by my confidence! I was like :shock: I told her I used to be the same way when I danced with women I knew were very good. I just don't see myself that way so I couldn't believe she said it.

#2 I asked a young lady that's on the local salsa dance team (Salsa Caliente) to dance the other night. She was the 'ish and the dance was amazing! Every dude in the joint was asking her to dance. A hot song came on and she ran over and grabbed me without saying a word!! I was like :D :D :D

[SDsalsaguy]

I asked a young lady that's on the local salsa dance team (Salsa Caliente) to dance the other night. She was the 'ish and the dance was amazing! Every dude in the joint was asking her to dance. A hot song came on and she ran over and grabbed me without saying a word!! I was like :D :D :D
That's the bomb youngsta...especially since actions, as the saying goes, speak louder than words! :D

[etchuck]

Impressive... most of my compliments have to be short because I'm listening to the next piece of music that comes on and I want to look for my next follower. ;)

If there is more time, I'll usually say, "Hey, you dance very well." The follower will generally reply, "Well, you lead really well."

Of course, the ultimate compliment I suppose is when my follower decides to throw in a very subtle set of body rolls (during my west-coast swing anyway). Or the one time this woman I was dancing with decided she'd spoon me or hip grind in very close position (she's married... to someone else) because we were communicating so well with our dancing [and I wasn't a creep who'd take it the wrong way]).

[Genesius Redux]

:mrgreen: "Huh huh huh. You dance real good. Huh huh. And you're pretty, too. Huh huh huh. Can I touch your feet? Huh huh huh." :mrgreen:

:twisted: :wink:

[Danish Guy]

:mrgreen: "Huh huh huh. You dance real good. Huh huh. And you're pretty, too. Huh huh huh. Can I touch your feet? Huh huh huh." :mrgreen:

:twisted: :wink:

GR, now I know why you got that Bart avatar :tongue:

[Genesius Redux]

:lol: If you were dealing with me on a daily basis, you'd know even more. I like to have just a little bit of chaos and uncertainty around me! :lol:

[mellody43]

Compliments on my dancing -- hmm -- yes, but usually they're not specific -- however I've had a few leads ask me if I was Columbian (!) and a few say that I didn't dance like an American. Must be the hips.

=)
Melissa

[Genesius Redux]

Compliments on my dancing -- hmm -- yes, but usually they're not specific -- however I've had a few leads ask me if I was Columbian (!) and a few say that I didn't dance like an American.

That's a nice compliment. Every now and then I dance socially with someone who teaches at another studio and who doesn't know me--and I sometimes get asked if I teach.

[mellody43]

That's a great compliment! A few guys have asked me that but they were beginning dancers so I took the comment with a grain of salt!

As a woman, I find the best compliments to be from other women because you know there isn't an, ahem, ulterior motive there. Depends on the guy, too -- some you just get a feeling are buttering you up! LOL! Others you know don't give out compliments lightly so it means more.

Getting OT here. =)
Melissa

[Sakura]

*waves* Yay, I'm back again! (But I'm forgetting my Samba count -- forgot it, rather. It's been over a month since I've danced. Anybody who can PM me with the Samba count, I would be *very* appreciative!)

Getting compliments while dancing is definitely a good thing. Since I'm a beginner, I get quite a few compliments from my teacher on how fast I'm progressing, so I look at what I think I'm definitely not doing well at, in my opinion, and when I get a compliment on that, then I really know that it's a progress marker. (I don't know anyone else's experience as beginners -- did your teachers give you lots of complements too?) But, it's not all complements all the time, so, Pygmalion's right; when complements are given sparingly, then you know you've earned them! :wink: :D

*grins* Yup, Genesius does deserve that Bart avatar! And, hey, we *all* love a little chaos surrounding us, right? =^__^= :banana: :twisted:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[salsachinita]

As a woman, I find the best compliments to be from other women

That's so true, Melissa! Especially when most of us (more often than we like to :roll: ) fight over the good leads out there (my town is always leader-short :x ), it's sooooooo nice to have positive feedbacks from fellow salseras!

Last night, this lady I've never met said to me: 'Are you Shelley....? All the boys are always asking for you.' I went ':shock: ?'

She explained: 'Whenever we are out, the boys are always going: "Where's Shelley...? Gotta get a dance with her...!' It's great to finally meet you.'

I went " :oops: :oops: !" but :D !

[SDsalsaguy]

That's a great one Shelley! :D ...and I actually got the counterpart last weekend. A dude I'd never met walked up to me and goes "You're Jonathan, right?" I say that yes, I am, and he says "Yeah, I keep hearing from a bunch of women about how great you lead." All I said was thank you, that that was nbice to hear, especially as I have really prioritized leading in the style I have developed... but inside, I was going :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[goldfish]

yup as a beginner i get compliments. and i take that with a barrel of salt cause i can tell there's a very, very big difference between me and the advanced dancers, so things like "you're good!" "you can really follow" are probably just general things that people tell a beginner to keep 'em psyched about dancing

(and of course, it works... :bouncy: )

generally i like a specific compliment that gives me something to work on. one of the advanced leads always reminds me to connect ("a little more frame") because we both know he's going to lead things that are borrowed from other dance genres, and unless my frame is better it won't happen. and when i give it he'll be like YES! that's IT! that's GREAT! can you feel that! so you feel happy but at the same time there's something really constructive about that compliment. it's a great way of making a beginner feel good about being a work in progress :friend:

[salsachinita]

Welcome aboard, Goldfish :D !

[goldfish]

thanks salsachinita! must be awesome to get penultimate compliment, to be complimented all over the place behind your back!

follows discuss leads a lot, it never occured to me that leads discuss follows too (although it seems kind of duh when i think about it) :lol: so that was enlightening

[squirrel]

:)) interesting topic!

Since I recently returned from Paris, France, the compliments I remember come from there!
One guy told me I have style, another that I surprised him with some reaction to the pattern he was leading (actually, he didn't know the way I ended the pattern... it is something my partner and I usually do, so it seems he enjoyed it, although he was kind of taken aback).
But the compliment I liked most came from the Salsa teacher in one club. He said he liked the way I danced and that anything lacking in style or technique is compensated by my passion and the way I seem to enjoy dancing and the music! And I think I made some mistakes since I am not used to Cuban style... :))

[borikensalsero]

Brujo, you always manage to posts some really great stuff.

:arrow: I was dancing with one of NY City best female dancers. After we were done, she look at me and said, You are one of the smoothest leaders I've ever danced with. :shock: :shock: :shock: I'm still happy about that.

:arrow: This guy comes up to me, out of nowhere, and says, "Every time I look at you dance, I can only wonder how in hell you move the way you do"

:arrow: I was at cache on a thursday night, and I this girl stops me on the way out, and says, there isn't anyone in NY City who can dance like you can. You just look different than everyone. I can watch you dance all night long, I've never seen a man move like that. I'm still feeling her words.

:arrow: I was dancing with this girl, who was absolutely unbelievable, smooth, crisp, she just poored soul out on her dance, after the dance I told her. I love dancing with you, you are an absolutely amazing dancer. She turn around, and said, I can only be as good as my leader. She smiled and kept on walking.

I don't handle compliments very well, but those and a few others have always stood out in my mind.

I don't take compliments from my instructors, unless it comes in the spur of the moment, when we are at a club dancing. I usualy feel like they are only trying to boost my ego.

[vey]

I don't handle compliments very well

Me neither, in fact I was recently complaining to a friend that I'm tired of leaders telling me that I'm a very good dancer. My friend asked "what's wrong with you?":shock:
I guess it's that I know that I'm not a good dancer, not yet anyway. If a leader enjoyeddancing with me, I'd prefer for him to say that he liked dancing with me rather than calling me a great dancer :twisted:

On other hand, "specific" compliments said with feeling stay in mind, one of my favourite leaders told me after our first dance " You're SOOOO smooth". I still feel flattered and remember this compliment...

[Sakura]

:D You guys have some awesome stories! =^_^= I can't wait until I'm old enough to hit the clubs! Boriken, when I'm up in the NYC area, after *finally* learning Salsa, I shall have to make it a point to seek you out! :wink: 8) (Whether that's your cue to run and hide... I'm not really sure about that yet! :twisted: :lol: )

Btw, welcome to DF, Goldfish! I definitely understand what you're saying. I know that someday, the complements from my teacher will become fewer and fewer as I hopefully get better and better, so it's my goal to do the best that I can so that I can be a good follow, and maybe get some comments like those that have come salsachinita's way! :D

Keep up the stories!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

follows discuss leads a lot, it never occured to me that leads discuss follows too (although it seems kind of duh when i think about it) :lol: so that was enlightening

Wellcome GoldFish! :lol:

Believe me, us leads discuss follows a lot!!! Sometimes we even rank them, you know my top 10 is....

[meagalita]

wow, reading all of these compliments makes me wish you leaders were in san francisco :notworth: :notworth:
although i am lucky in that there are plenty of amazing leaders out of my league (but i'll catch up eventually :))
cheers to all of you!

[Sakura]

Megalita, welcome to the DF! I *think* SD might be in your area... But, then again, it might be San Diego... I shall have to check...

I love your avatar! =^__^= :banana:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Sakura]

Ah, my bad. :oops: He's in San Diego. Sorry ML!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

Yesterday afternoon I went out dancing. I was only there for 2 hours. During this time 4 girls asked me to dance. This in itself is a great compliment. One of them asked me for the first time ever :shock: . She was with her boyfriend, left him, crossed the entire dance floor and asked me for a dance. :shock: I can still see her smile. Hmm... Hope her boyfriend didn´t mind... 8)

I love it when I dance with a lady for the first in a club and the next time we meet she asks me for a dance. This can only mean she enjoyed the dance a lot. :D

[goldfish]

thanks for the welcome people :mrgreen:



Believe me, us leads discuss follows a lot!!! Sometimes we even rank them, you know my top 10 is....

woah. :P should have known. what gets a follow into the top 10 then? other than following everything perfectly and being hot-to-trot... :wink:

what's the biggest compliment you guys have ever given? mine was telling my favourite lead that he was my favourite lead and telling a newbie friend of mine (in front of him) that he was awesome to dance with. he immediately asked her to dance teehee :uplaugh:

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

Believe me, us leads discuss follows a lot!!! Sometimes we even rank them, you know my top 10 is....

woah. :P should have known. what gets a follow into the top 10 then? other than following everything perfectly and being hot-to-trot... :wink:


Well, it depends on the list we´re talking about. I personally have two top 10 lists. The first includes the ladies I really enjoy dancing with for some reason or other. There´re either nice to dance with, fun, playful, smiling all the time, etc. It has little or nothing to do with their skills as a dancer.

The second list has to do with their proficiency level. These are the "great" follows (technically speaking). The type of lady with whom you feel there´s correct frame, balance, posture... They can follow almost anything you dish out with ease and there´re smooth and comfortable to lead.

I have girls who belong to both lists. These are the ones who I most enjoy dancing with (very rare breed). 8)

[MacMoto]

yup as a beginner i get compliments. and i take that with a barrel of salt cause i can tell there's a very, very big difference between me and the advanced dancers, so things like "you're good!" "you can really follow" are probably just general things that people tell a beginner to keep 'em psyched about dancing
Not necessarily, goldfish.
Of course an advanced dancer telling a beginner "you're good!" may not (usually) mean he thinks you dance like an advanced salsera who has been dancing for years, but it can mean that you have really surprised him by how good you are considering the lack of experience.
I don't think "you can really follow" is a compliment beginners hear very often. Inexperienced followers often feel very heavy ("like dancing with a tractor" :lol: as MapleLeaf Salsero put it in another thread), and advanced leaders are always pleased to find a beginner who feels light, i.e., sensitive to the lead. Then there are experienced follows who prefer doing their own things rather than following the lead ("Tasmanian Devils" :lol:)...

In other words, I think you must be doing really well. Don't underrate yourself! :D

[Sabor]

i'm a compliment machiiiiiiine! :mrgreen:

[tj]

Here's another way to pass compliments...

There's this one guy, who's a pretty cool dude - he's always been friendly to me, and will go out of his way to mention to me the ladies, who he thinks are friendly and approachable. And like most of us guys, there are women who like to dance with him, and those who are rude to him. But he treats me well, so I wanna pass on whatever good will that I can.

So, the other day, a gal that I was dancing with mentioned how she liked dancing with him, so I made sure to let him know that ladies are complimenting his dancing. He seemed quite pleased with that!

[mellody43]

Aw. I'm feeling a little veklempt reading that. :lol:

Melissa

[tj]

Aw. I'm feeling a little veklempt reading that. :lol:

Melissa

http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/coffeetalk/coffee.jpg
"Honey, your dancin' is like butta."

[mellody43]

*BWAAA* hhehehe.

Okay, funny story. Hopefully not funny to just me. =)

I am from Long Island, NY. Those "Kawfee Tawk" ladies are the stereotypical epitome of some NY women (probably now a dying breed, but still memorable...)

One New Year's eve, I went to see the film "Shine" with some friends. Not the crazies NYE, you might say. Behind us sat 3-4 "Kawfee Tawk" women -- the whole shebang: big glasses, big hair, big fur coats, long hails, lots of gold jewelry. When the film ended, one of them said to the others: (lay on a THICK THICK NY accent here, please) "Oh honey, he was RETAWDED, yes, RETAWDED."

:shock:

We could barely contain ourselves.

[tj]

*BWAAA* hhehehe.

Okay, funny story. Hopefully not funny to just me. =)

I am from Long Island, NY. Those "Kawfee Tawk" ladies are the stereotypical epitome of some NY women (probably now a dying breed, but still memorable...)

One New Year's eve, I went to see the film "Shine" with some friends. Not the crazies NYE, you might say. Behind us sat 3-4 "Kawfee Tawk" women -- the whole shebang: big glasses, big hair, big fur coats, long hails, lots of gold jewelry. When the film ended, one of them said to the others: (lay on a THICK THICK NY accent here, please) "Oh honey, he was RETAWDED, yes, RETAWDED."

:shock:

We could barely contain ourselves.

Lol!

So yoh-wa from Lon Guy Land? I'm from Joisey - grew up dere befoh-wa movin to Denvuh in '93.

Actually, I never "acquired" the NY/NJ accent, luckily! When I go back to see my folks, I'll usually call up some old high school friends and catch up with them. I can catch the occasional accent here and there and usually tease them about it.

[delamusica]

That's funny tj - I moved from Jersey to Denver in '93, too! Where in Jersey were you from?

[salsachinita]

Well, it depends on the list we´re talking about. I personally have two top 10 lists. The first includes the ladies I really enjoy dancing with for some reason or other. There´re either nice to dance with, fun, playful, smiling all the time, etc. It has little or nothing to do with their skills as a dancer.

The second list has to do with their proficiency level. These are the "great" follows (technically speaking). The type of lady with whom you feel there´s correct frame, balance, posture... They can follow almost anything you dish out with ease and there´re smooth and comfortable to lead.

I have girls who belong to both lists. These are the ones who I most enjoy dancing with (very rare breed). 8)

Well, the EXACT science of 'making it' into one or both of these lists is what I've been working on......which prompts me to ask most of my questions here at DF 8) .

*am I any closer to where I wanna be...? Hmmmmm, need to ask the guys for their lists :roll: *

[sbsalsera]

I am from Long Island, NY. Those "Kawfee Tawk" ladies are the stereotypical epitome of some NY women (probably now a dying breed, but still memorable...)

Hey, girlfriend! I'm originally from Long Island too! (Grew up in Commack, went to college in "the city")

I've been living in Souther California for about 7 years, so by now I've lost most of the accent. But I still get strange looks from the occasional Yiddish expression (shlep, shebang, schmaltz, shmeer - yes, many of the best ones begin with the letter s...)

[borikensalsero]

wow! Bunch of long islanders... I'm from long island... My accent is spanish though. Well, what english I speak, it comes out with a spanish accent.

[mellody43]

Hey, girlfriend! I'm originally from Long Island too! (Grew up in Commack, went to college in "the city")



I grew up in Great Neck. Lots of funny puns to be made from that one.

So yoh-wa from Lon Guy Land? I'm from Joisey - grew up dere befoh-wa movin to Denvuh in '93.

Wow! Here I go, hijacking a thread AGAIN. Sorry, Salsachinita! =)

I don't have the accent either. How I escaped, I have no idea. I came to Seattle in '93.

It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all...

[mellody43]

Boriken, where do you live on LI?

[borikensalsero]

Boriken, where did you live on LI?

I live in Long Beach, and check this out, I work in Manhasset. lol, I was just in great neck having lunch. :shock:

[mellody43]

Holy guacamole! I was born in Manhasset! LOL! North Shore hospital. Ah, a blessed day. hehe.

Where do you work?

During summers/holidays in college, I worked at the Lord & Taylor in Manhasset.

Melissa

[salsachinita]

I still get strange looks from the occasional Yiddish expression (shlep, shebang, schmaltz, shmeer - yes, many of the best ones begin with the letter s...)

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: What would we do without those colourful expressions?! I've worked for this Jewish family business for so many years, I started running around with these gems rolling off my tongue!

When people go :shock: my boss would just casually tell them: "Oh, she's an Yiddish girl......just doesn't look it!"

:P

[borikensalsero]

Holy guacamole! I was born in Manhasset! LOL! North Shore hospital. Ah, a blessed day. hehe.

Where do you work?

During summers/holidays in college, I worked at the Lord & Taylor in Manhasset.

Melissa

Gee, we are practically related. I work at CMP Media. Community drive, the 2nd building coming down the hill ont the right. A couple steps from North Shore.

[mellody43]

Schlep is one of my favorite words, but I don't get to use it very often!

I do say "oy" often though!

[mellody43]

Boriken: HAHA! I attended Great Neck South HS -- right off the service Rd at exit 33 of the LIE. Lived right next to Lake Success -- so close to where you are. Literally aboug 2 miles. *twilight zone music*

[tj]

That's funny tj - I moved from Jersey to Denver in '93, too! Where in Jersey were you from?

Basking Ridge, NJ - one of the few places that doesn't have an exit on either the Turnpike or the Parkway!

(for those of you not familiar - it's a typical NJ saying to ask, "What exit are you from?" referring to an exit on one of the two aforementioned highways which pass thru practically the entire state)

[youngsta]

Exit 5A bro!!

[Sakura]

*am I any closer to where I wanna be...?*

:D If you've got a Visa Card, you should be there! =^__^=;;; *massive sweatdropping* Sorry! I just couldn't help myself! ... I'm a sucker for bad jokes and puns! :roll:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

(PS-Somehow, now I'm wishing I lived in Jersey... =^_~=)

[Genesius Redux]

(PS-Somehow, now I'm wishing I lived in Jersey... =^_~=)

It's nice that somebody wishes that.... :wink:

[salsachinita]

Exit 5A bro!!

Exit Forster Rd, one after Chadstone :P

*as if it means anything to most of you :wink: *

[MacMoto]

Exit Forster Rd, one after Chadstone :P
I'll keep note of this when I descend on you! :lol: :P
Okay, now, to funding for the reunion down-under -- which bank are we going for? :car: :lol: :roll:

[salsachinita]

:lol: Hijack Alert!

Exit Forster Rd, one after Chadstone :P
I'll keep note of this when I descend on you! :lol: :P
Okay, now, to funding for the reunion down-under -- which bank are we going for? :car: :lol: :roll:

We have a very well known advertising catch-phrase: "Which bank...? The Commonwealth Bank!"

:wink: :P

[Sakura]

(PS-Somehow, now I'm wishing I lived in Jersey... =^_~=)

It's nice that somebody wishes that.... :wink:

Hey! Well, you know that I'd rather be back in Tennessee or on the gulf side of Florida where my Nana and Granddaddy live! (They look out on part of the Gulf of Mexico from their condo! They're soooooooooo lucky! The sunsets are absolutely *amazing,* and we've barely seen some manatees in that area! :D :D )

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Genesius Redux]

(PS-Somehow, now I'm wishing I lived in Jersey... =^_~=)

It's nice that somebody wishes that.... :wink:

Hey! Well, you know that I'd rather be back in Tennessee or on the gulf side of Florida where my Nana and Granddaddy live! (They look out on part of the Gulf of Mexico from their condo! They're soooooooooo lucky! The sunsets are absolutely *amazing,* and we've barely seen some manatees in that area! :D :D )

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

Those pesky manatees. We have a lot of them in Nashville, you know. Always getting in the trash, leaving slime marks on the driveway. Stray dogs breed with them. They make their way up from the Gulf through the Mississippi and into the Tennessee and finally the Cumberland, although there's some evidence that there's a thriving manatee population living in the sewers off rats and discarded gators. If you keep your eye out as you're driving along I-40, you can sometimes see a flock of them gathered on a ridge, watching the sunset, probably remembering the Gulf of Mexico. 8)

[Sakura]

(PS-Somehow, now I'm wishing I lived in Jersey... =^_~=)

It's nice that somebody wishes that.... :wink:

Hey! Well, you know that I'd rather be back in Tennessee or on the gulf side of Florida where my Nana and Granddaddy live! (They look out on part of the Gulf of Mexico from their condo! They're soooooooooo lucky! The sunsets are absolutely *amazing,* and we've barely seen some manatees in that area! :D :D )

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

Those pesky manatees. We have a lot of them in Nashville, you know. Always getting in the trash, leaving slime marks on the driveway. Stray dogs breed with them. They make their way up from the Gulf through the Mississippi and into the Tennessee and finally the Cumberland, although there's some evidence that there's a thriving manatee population living in the sewers off rats and discarded gators. If you keep your eye out as you're driving along I-40, you can sometimes see a flock of them gathered on a ridge, watching the sunset, probably remembering the Gulf of Mexico. 8)

*shakes her head and sighs* =-_-=;;; You're *awful* you know that? *cracks a grin* Can't help but think it's funny though! You're probably the *only* person I know who could come up with something like that! :D :lol: :lol: :D ...You know... When I was in kindergarten, before I was skipped up, someone in my class had a pet crocodile... It was only a baby at the time, but I hope he turned out okay. I think reptiles are cute ('specially snakes! They're so cute, and soft, and ooooooh, I *love* 'em! =^___^=;;), so I'd feel awful if they just threw him out.

Yeah, I'm sure they know *right* where I'm talking about! I shall see them there again someday when they decide to become migra'ory, and I shall send them, bearing ripe coconuts, to you with my greetings! *giggles* :twisted: See ya, Genesius!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Genesius Redux]

Yeah, I'm sure they know *right* where I'm talking about! I shall see them there again someday when they decide to become migra'ory, and I shall send them, bearing ripe coconuts, to you with my greetings! *giggles* :twisted: See ya, Genesius!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

But then again, the Tennessee manatee is non-migratory.... :wink:

[Sakura]

Yeah, I'm sure they know *right* where I'm talking about! I shall see them there again someday when they decide to become migra'ory, and I shall send them, bearing ripe coconuts, to you with my greetings! *giggles* :twisted: See ya, Genesius!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

But then again, the Tennessee manatee is non-migratory.... :wink:

:( Aw, right... Supposing two manatees carried it together! :D

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[salsachinita]

:oops: :oops: :oops: ...........just got off the phone with one of my local entertaiment agents.

I've just been told that I'm in the top 5% of salsa dancers he'd ever seen :shock: !!!!

Me, right now :arrow: :bouncy: :banana: :banana: :banana:

* :oops: but Melbourne is such a small place. I am still :notworth:*

[borikensalsero]

:oops: :oops: :oops: ...........just got off the phone with one of my local entertaiment agents.

I've just been told that I'm in the top 5% of salsa dancers he'd ever seen :shock: !!!!

Me, right now :arrow: :bouncy: :banana: :banana: :banana:

* :oops: but Melbourne is such a small place. I am still :notworth:*

WEPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

I MUST DEFINITELY TAKE A TRIP DOWN UNDER :!:

[Sabor]

30 minutes ago.. i got a phone call.. she asked me if i was going to the coming salsa night.. i barely know her.. so i asked "why the question".. she said 'because she usually goes to watch me'.. :!: i was :shock: u mean for all this time that was mainly why?.. she said 'well. yes! .. i was even more :shock: :shock: .. mostly because i hardly know her :oops: .. :P

further more.. i got that kind of thing from another few salseras over the past couple of weeks ..that i know and regularly dance with.. but they never told me so directly!.. they told my friend and her told me.. :P .. wow.. that makes me feel gogogogogooooooooood!! :D .. gotta thank them all again .. thank you beautiful salseras!! i'm nada without you! :kissme:

[salsachinita]

Man, I can't wait til the day we can actually meet & salsa the nights away.....!
:together: :together: :together: :together: :together: :together: :together:

[Genesius Redux]

:oops: :oops: :oops: ...........just got off the phone with one of my local entertaiment agents.

I've just been told that I'm in the top 5% of salsa dancers he'd ever seen :shock: !!!!

Me, right now :arrow: :bouncy: :banana: :banana: :banana:

* :oops: but Melbourne is such a small place. I am still :notworth:*

You're definitely one of the tops in my book, SC. I've never had the pleasure of dancing with you, so don't ask me how I know. I just do.

[Sakura]

:oops: :oops: :oops: ...........just got off the phone with one of my local entertaiment agents.

I've just been told that I'm in the top 5% of salsa dancers he'd ever seen :shock: !!!!

Me, right now :arrow: :bouncy: :banana: :banana: :banana:

* :oops: but Melbourne is such a small place. I am still :notworth:*

You're definitely one of the tops in my book, SC. I've never had the pleasure of dancing with you, so don't ask me how I know. I just do.

:D :D Check you *out* SC! Not only have you been put into the top 5% of the Salseras in your area; but you've got Genesius' vote of confidence as well! You can't *beat* that!!!!!

I dance for you! : :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

I can't wait until I can *see* you guys dancing!
(Maybe when you all have tired yourselves out, then I can sneak in a warmdown dance for you all! :oops: :shock: :roll: Somehow, I feel in this total awe; that even though I've never seen you guys, it should be my goal to even begin to *touch* the level you guys are at in your Salsa skills! :notworth: :notworth: :notworth: :notworth:

My hats off to you, Salseras and Salseros of DF (and other places!)! You guys make the Dancin' world go round! :D :D 8) )

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

(PS- To Sabor, congrats on your complement! Heh, heh; you'll have to tell us where you're hiding at so you can dance with us too!!! :wink: )

[Sabor]

(PS- To Sabor, congrats on your complement! Heh, heh; you'll have to tell us where you're hiding at so you can dance with us too!!! )

Thanks sweetheart :P .. but hey i gotta warn u.. i'm 6'3 ft and quite ageing relative to u little one :wink:

LOL.. no not hiding at all.. just didnt come up b4.. unfortunately i'm quite far away from most i'm afraid.. i live in Cairo-Egypt .. homeland of the Pharoahs of old :D .. salsa has been going on here since 1998 or so.. nice place for a holday, especially on the Red Sea Coast (where i also go many times to meet alot of foreigners and tourists from all over and meet/dance with'em).. so, if any of u ever plan on swinging by .. give me a salsa holler! :D

[Genesius Redux]

LOL.. no not hiding at all.. just didnt come up b4.. unfortunately i'm quite far away from most i'm afraid.. i live in Cairo-Egypt .. homeland of the Pharoahs of old :D .. salsa has been going on here since 1998 or so.. nice place for a holday, especially on the Red Sea Coast (where i also go many times to meet alot of foreigners and tourists from all over and meet/dance with'em).. so, if any of u ever plan on swinging by .. give me a salsa holler! :D

Egypt--have you gotten your mummy and undead army problem under control yet? :wink:

Seriously, it would be so wicked cool to see the pyramids and the Sphinx and the Cairo Museum....

[SDsalsaguy]

Seriously, it would be so wicked cool to see the pyramids and the Sphinx and the Cairo Museum....
The Pryramids and the Sphinx are cool but, personally, I found the Temple of Luxor much more impressive.

[Sakura]

(PS- To Sabor, congrats on your complement! Heh, heh; you'll have to tell us where you're hiding at so you can dance with us too!!! )

Thanks sweetheart :P .. but hey i gotta warn u.. i'm 6'3 ft and quite ageing relative to u little one :wink:

MOUUUUUUU!!!!!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: You're whole *foot* taller than I am with my shoes on!!!!! *faint* ... *grins* I suppose that just means that I must be *much* lighter on my toes to dance with you!

(*thinks* I wonder, how *everyone* seems to know that I'm tiny! *grins* Or at least, why "little one" seems to be such a common, affection-name for me! :D :wink: Not that I take offence or anything; it makes me feel cute! *grins as people groan* )

LOL.. no not hiding at all.. just didnt come up b4.. unfortunately i'm quite far away from most i'm afraid.. i live in Cairo-Egypt .. homeland of the Pharoahs of old :D .. salsa has been going on here since 1998 or so.. nice place for a holday, especially on the Red Sea Coast (where i also go many times to meet alot of foreigners and tourists from all over and meet/dance with'em).. so, if any of u ever plan on swinging by .. give me a salsa holler! :D

Ahh, you're so lucky! Living near the Pharaohs... :D My Nana went there many years ago; she brought me back some *very* nice things. My favorite of which happens to be my name inside of a cartouche; it's all in gold and silver! :shock: I was so surprised when she gave it to me! ('Cause I was only about 7, if not younger, I believe; and I'd never owned anything nicer!) I plan on going to Egypt *at least* once in my life, so I'll let you know when that comes about! :D :wink: I look forward to being able to salsa with you! (Hopefully, I won't trip you up though! :oops: :wink: Being tiny can do that to tall people... :x 8) )

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Sakura]

LOL.. no not hiding at all.. just didnt come up b4.. unfortunately i'm quite far away from most i'm afraid.. i live in Cairo-Egypt .. homeland of the Pharoahs of old :D .. salsa has been going on here since 1998 or so.. nice place for a holday, especially on the Red Sea Coast (where i also go many times to meet alot of foreigners and tourists from all over and meet/dance with'em).. so, if any of u ever plan on swinging by .. give me a salsa holler! :D

Egypt--have you gotten your mummy and undead army problem under control yet? :wink:

Seriously, it would be so wicked cool to see the pyramids and the Sphinx and the Cairo Museum....


Ahhh! :x Genesius, you're *awful!* :wink: (And, hey! What's wrong with having an unstoppable undead army who'll follow your every command?! :twisted: )

I can't wait until I can go! (My friend Sarah told me just recently there there's actually a chamber under the Sphynx's paws! I hadn't known that before! :oops: I hope not many people did either, and then I won't feel so unintelligent! :D )

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Genesius Redux]

MOUUUUUUU!!!!!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: You're whole *foot* taller than I am with my shoes on!!!!! *faint* ... *grins* I suppose that just means that I must be *much* lighter on my toes to dance with you!

Holy cow! You're only 5' 3" with your shoes on??? :shock: How small are you in bare feet???? :lol:

Of course, you're not even 16 yet, so you probably have a little growing to do. Make sure you drink your milk--since you have such a "kitty" soul, I'm sure that won't be too much to ask.... :lol:

[Sakura]

MOUUUUUUU!!!!!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: You're whole *foot* taller than I am with my shoes on!!!!! *faint* ... *grins* I suppose that just means that I must be *much* lighter on my toes to dance with you!

Holy cow! You're only 5' 3" with your shoes on??? :shock: How small are you in bare feet???? :lol:

Well... It's *almost* 5'3" with my shoes off, actually. With my shoes *on* I probably hit around 5'4" to 5' 4 1/2". Of course... If I'm wearing my Rocky Horror Picture Show boots, then *that's* another story! :twisted: (I *love* that movie! The Time Warp will rule forever among my favorite "dances!!" :wink: )

Of course, you're not even 16 yet, so you probably have a little growing to do. Make sure you drink your milk--since you have such a "kitty" soul, I'm sure that won't be too much to ask.... :lol:

*purrs* Heh, heh. Choc'ate milk is the best! =^__^= ...But, alas, we believe that my growing days are over... I had a bad set of genes as far as the tallness department goes... But *everyone* seems to comment on the nice set of legs that I have... =O_o= Of course, then there's the church choir (keep in mind that all of them except for two are old enough to be my mother or grandmother; the other two are old enough to be my older, out of college, sisters), who all seem to comment on my butt! But I guess that's another story! :oops: :wink: (Heh, heh; the Sweedish genes are strong in me! That's all I've got to say. :twisted: )

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Sabor]

Thats great Sakura :D .. dont worry about the height cause i can adjust to anything : :lol: .. but first.. concentrate on getting older faster :wink:

Yes Genesius.. as far as monuments.. the pyramids, sphinx and museum are cool.. also as SD mentions the Temple of Luxor buit by Ramses II is really a site to behold especially that its straight on the bank of the Nile..

Also there are other stuff like taking a cruise up and down the Nile and see the ruins and country life on both sides of the Nile which runs all through Egypt top to bottom..

But personally my favorite is going to coast cities on the Red Sea.. (specially Sharm el Sheikh) its gorgeous beaches and lovely people.. the sea and desert excursions one can do.. diving in one of the best spots.. beach fun.. clubs ..restaurants.. tourists from all over the world (but mostly European) .. u name it its there.. thats where i'd go :wink:

so yeah.. it'd be great if i meet some of u guys over here.. get to mix some belly dancing w/ that salsa eh 8) :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Also there are other stuff like taking a cruise up and down the Nile and see the ruins and country life on both sides of the Nile which runs all through Egypt top to bottom...
I actually prefered the falukah* ride up the nile. I took one from Aswan for a couple of days, up past the temple of Kom Umbo I think, before taking a taxi the rest of the way to Luxor. Actually sailing along with the banks of the Nile passing by on either side was really quite memborable... especially at sunsets.

Aside from the Temple of Luxor the Valley of Kings and the Valley of Queens were also impressive...I just wish it hadn't been during a heat wave and that I hadn't had the laziest donkey on the face of the planet! :(

But personally my favorite is going to coast cities on the Red Sea.. (specially Sharm el Sheikh) its gorgeous beaches and lovely people.. the sea and desert excursions one can do.. diving in one of the best spots.. beach fun.. clubs ..restaurants.. tourists from all over the world (but mostly European) .. u name it its there.. thats where i'd go :wink:
I only spent a couple of nights in Dahab, but the snorkelling in Blue Hole lived up to its reputation as world class. So utterly awesome... :!:


* A falukah is a traditional, broad-beamed sail boat.

[Sakura]

Thats great Sakura :D .. dont worry about the height cause i can adjust to anything : :lol: .. but first.. concentrate on getting older faster :wink:

:oops: :twisted: :wink: Heh, heh. One wonders how to take a comment like that, but awful jokes aside, I shall do my best, mon capitan! =^_~= Unfortunately, I don't think Father Time is going to listen to me... But, high school is going fast, so I'll be out there soon!

But personally my favorite is going to coast cities on the Red Sea.. (specially Sharm el Sheikh) its gorgeous beaches and lovely people.. the sea and desert excursions one can do.. diving in one of the best spots.. beach fun.. clubs ..restaurants.. tourists from all over the world (but mostly European) .. u name it its there.. thats where i'd go :wink:

Ooh, beaches! :D :D I'm soooo there! This Cat happens to *love* water and beaches with a firey passion... (Wait a second... Fire and Water don't mix well, do they?? :oops: :twisted: )

so yeah.. it'd be great if i meet some of u guys over here.. get to mix some belly dancing w/ that salsa eh 8) :D

Heh heh.. Belly dancing and Salsa! I can't wait! :D :wink:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Sabor]

man.. :shock: SD knows this place better than i do :wink: glad u enjoyed bro.. but yeah.. its definitely a better idea not to visit in the harsh summer months (June - September) because the heat is just incredible.. i sympathize SD :lol:

Sakura.. u are just too cute :D and u are gona grow up to be one major heart-breaker 8) ..i'm feeling sorry for the poor guys already :wink: :P

[SDsalsaguy]

man.. :shock: SD knows this place better than i do :wink: glad u enjoyed bro.. but yeah.. its definitely a better idea not to visit in the harsh summer months (June - September) because the heat is just incredible.. i sympathize SD :lol:
LOL, I seriously doubt it bro... I just enjoyed my couple of weeks there way back when! :lol:

Why couldn't you have warned me about the summer thing back in the day though? :( Seriously it reached 150 degrees when I was in Luxor!!! :shock: ...and, while everyone else was riding their donkeys tot he Valleys of the Kings and Queens I was litterally having to pull mine along behind me...and over sand dunes! :shock: :evil:

Sakura.. u are just too cute :D and u are gona grow up to be one major heart-breaker 8) ..i'm feeling sorry for the poor guys already :wink: :P
Don't you know it! :wink:

[Sabor]

Why couldn't you have warned me about the summer thing back in the day though? :( Seriously it reached 150 degrees when I was in Luxor!!! :shock: ...and, while everyone else was riding their donkeys to the Valleys of the Kings and Queens I was litterally having to pull mine along behind me...and over sand dunes! :shock: :evil:

LMAO! at the donkey experience :lol: .. i bet he smelled like a fresh showered baby tho huh :shock: :lol: .. lol well there u go.. live and learn :wink: .. next time u go anywhere near the equator .. dont do it dead of SUMMER! :doh: .. unless there's a beach u can soak into :lol:

ahh the valley of the kings and queens .. hmm .. so did u manage to squeeze in a salsa with Cleopatra and Hatsepshut? 8) :lol:

[SDsalsaguy]

ahh the valley of the kings and queens .. hmm .. so did u manage to squeeze in a salsa with Cleopatra and Hatsepshut? 8) :lol:
Truth be told all of this was still several years before I even discovered salsa... :shock: :oops:

[Sakura]

Why couldn't you have warned me about the summer thing back in the day though? :( Seriously it reached 150 degrees when I was in Luxor!!! :shock: ...and, while everyone else was riding their donkeys to the Valleys of the Kings and Queens I was litterally having to pull mine along behind me...and over sand dunes! :shock: :evil:

:twisted: :lol: :lol: :twisted: *LMAO*!!! Oh, you poor thing! *laughs* Bet the donkey was havning fun! :wink: I hope things go better for you when you get there next, SD; otherwise, we'll just have more stories to laugh with (read: at) you at!!! :twisted: :D (I'm so mean... I'm sorry! *hugs* But you know it's 'cause I love ya, right?! :roll: )

Sakura.. u are just too cute :D and u are gona grow up to be one major heart-breaker 8) ..i'm feeling sorry for the poor guys already :wink: :P
Don't you know it! :wink:

Phweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *flames coming off of the cheeks* You guys are just to much! :shock: :shock:

...Actually; apparently, I've broken about 3 hearts already; BUT I DIDN'T MEAN TOO!!!!!! Really! :shock:

See, all three of these guys were my friends, and they all asked me out; long stories for all three of them; but in the end, either by saying no, or "breaking up" ('cause we weren't technically "going out")... Well, the results are obvious. Two of them, I still eventually salvaged good friendships with, but another one, I haven't been "friends" with since... :evil: :cry:

It really makes me feel bad... But you DF guys will forgive me 'cause I'm so cute, right?! :D :wink:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Genesius Redux]

...Actually; apparently, I've broken about 3 hearts already; BUT I DIDN'T MEAN TOO!!!!!! Really! :shock:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

The real heartbreakers never do....

Sakura--you remind me of my first dance teacher in many, many ways. :lol:

[Sakura]

...Actually; apparently, I've broken about 3 hearts already; BUT I DIDN'T MEAN TOO!!!!!! Really! :shock:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

The real heartbreakers never do....

Sakura--you remind me of my first dance teacher in many, many ways. :lol:

*grins* I was waiting for you to put your two bits in! :lol: Always there with a good quip, aren't you? :wink:

If you're being sarcastic about the real heartbreakers never meaning to, I'm going to be very angry with you; 'cause I *really* do feel *awful* about it! :? :cry: ...But, mostly it's okay now, so I try not to worry about it... :D (Actually, I get quite a kick out of the fact that the most recent one's mother now thinks that I'm a "hussie" among other things! :lol: :lol: :lol: :D )

Well, I can't wait to meet her! *taps her fingers together* I'm "gently" prodding my parents along to take a trip down to Nashville... I don't think I'm getting very far yet... :( :D Ah well, someday soon, my plans will be complete! :twisted: :wink:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Genesius Redux]

If you're being sarcastic about the real heartbreakers never meaning to, I'm going to be very angry with you; 'cause I *really* do feel *awful* about it! :? :cry: ...But, mostly it's okay now, so I try not to worry about it... :D (Actually, I get quite a kick out of the fact that the most recent one's mother now thinks that I'm a "hussie" among other things! :lol: :lol: :lol: :D )

Ah, to be 16! Caught in the grip of passions that shake like summer thunderstorms and as suddenly pass and open to the blue sky and the sound of birds.

[Sakura]

If you're being sarcastic about the real heartbreakers never meaning to, I'm going to be very angry with you; 'cause I *really* do feel *awful* about it! :? :cry: ...But, mostly it's okay now, so I try not to worry about it... :D (Actually, I get quite a kick out of the fact that the most recent one's mother now thinks that I'm a "hussie" among other things! :lol: :lol: :lol: :D )

Ah, to be 16! Caught in the grip of passions that shake like summer thunderstorms and as suddenly pass and open to the blue sky and the sound of birds.

:shock: =O_o= Ha! As if, my "Actoire" friend! My one and only beloved is the Dance; my Lord and Master, and yet, my constant Companion and Equal! I have no "passions" with anyone else of which to speak! I'm quite happy being single and loving it! (Of course, there's Band too, and it's quite the demanding Master; but since this is DF and all! :roll: )

...I love thunderstorms! 'Specialy the lightning that comes with them! So much fun to watch, and yet to know how awesome and destructive something as beautiful as it is... :shock: Alas, I shouldst but stop myself know before I come to embrace the flowry writing style! :wink:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

(PS- Thinking about it now, we also happen to have a robin's nest at about waist's heighth along the walkway by our house! She has two little baby birds; both of whom I haven't seen recently, thanks to her being on the nest all the time! But we're careful to give her a wide birth when we walk by her so that we don't scare her into abandoning her nest... In our front yard, we have a Morning Dove's nest, but since mum's said that they're *very* flighty, I've stayed away from it. It's also at about waist heighth... Hmm! It seems we're going to the birds this year! :wink: :D :lol: )

[Sakura]

Hmm... I was just thinking today; I acutally happen to sit by the boy whose heart I "broke" first in my Honors Chemistry class... :D Now there's some food for though! (And well, a few bad romance puns which could be made with the "Chemistry" aspect of it all... :roll: )

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Pacion]

And? Enquiring minds would like to know :wink:

[Pacion]

so yeah.. it'd be great if i meet some of u guys over here.. get to mix some belly dancing w/ that salsa eh 8) :D


ooooh! There is something very wrong with THAT statement! It should read:

"it'd be great if I meet some of u guys over there" :twisted: :lol:

So, in other words my dearest Saborito, you travel to us and not the other way round :wink:

[Sabor]

ok .. so long as u take care of the expenses.. i'll go anywhere u want me to 8) :wink:

[jamaicanspice]

I'm not exalty sure how to take compliments anymore....the 'thank you' with a smile seems so inadequate especially when they go on and on...I mean I'm good but I aint THAT good! lol lol.

Two of the BIGGEST compliments for me though came when (1) my teacher introduced me to some of his potential investors in our latin club here in Jamaica, as one of his 'best female' dancers and (2) info came back to me that some people were discussing how they love to watch me on the floor because my steps seemed so smooth. I was like 'really??? wow! thanks!' :oops: :)

[pygmalion]

That's fantastci, jamaicanspice! I bet you ARE that good. Humility often hides people's greatness from them, but other people see it. And, unless they're trying to sell you something, they rarely go on and on, unless they mean it. 8)

[jamaicanspice]

well I hope they aint selling me anything!! :lol:

[Sakura]

well I hope they aint selling me anything!! :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Great one, JS!!!!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

thanks Sakura...I thought so myself 8) :D :wink:

[dancin_feet]

This has been a new experience for me, receiving compliments for my dancing. Over the last couple of months, it has been unbelievable with exam marks and my presentation this last weekend. I have never received so many compliments and fanatastic feedback in my life!! I'm still not sure how to take it, I just answer with a simple "Thank you" and if they did a routine as well I back it up with something great about theirs as well. So far it has been very generalised, but we have an official "critique" of all the routines this weekend, and I know I can rely on the Dance Director of the studio to give me specifics.

I have always known that I can hold my own on the dancefloor, but the last few days have just blown me away! I'm still coming to terms with it. I guess the biggest thing is to not let it inflate my ego, but to use it to increase my confidence in what I can do. At the same time I am very critical of myself, so I guess showing that side too much isn't ideal either. I'm just doing what I love to do. If that shows through in the way I do it, so much the better. If my confidence increases, then I can help others with more ease as well.

[Sakura]

T'was very nice, JS! :wink:

I have always known that I can hold my own on the dancefloor, but the last few days have just blown me away! I'm still coming to terms with it. I guess the biggest thing is to not let it inflate my ego, but to use it to increase my confidence in what I can do. At the same time I am very critical of myself, so I guess showing that side too much isn't ideal either. I'm just doing what I love to do. If that shows through in the way I do it, so much the better. If my confidence increases, then I can help others with more ease as well.

It's definitely awesome that you've gotten such a great influx of compliments! This must mean that you're really doing great! :D

Though I must say: let your ego inflate at least a little bit! =^_~= Every ego needs to be stroked once in a while! (...Maybe mine is so big because I pet it every day... *evil laughter* :twisted: )

More confidence in doing what one loves is always probably one of the best things that can happen [in doing what one loves]! Congrats again, D_F!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

(PS- How did your competition go?? I'm curious to know!)

[jamaicanspice]

THURSDAY NIGHT IS SALSA NIGHT AT THE HILTON, KINGSTON IN JAMAICA!!!!!!! YEH!!! *starts thinking of what to wear* hmmmm :lol: WAAHOOO!!! GOSH! wish you guys could be here!!

[dancin_feet]

(PS- How did your competition go?? I'm curious to know!)

Have a look at the "Well, I did it!" thread in General section, Sakura.

** Gently pets ego ** :twisted: :lol:

[jamaicanspice]

(PS- How did your competition go?? I'm curious to know!)

Have a look at the "Well, I did it!" thread in General section, Sakura.

** Gently pets ego ** :twisted: :lol:

:lol: :lol:

[Sakura]

(PS- How did your competition go?? I'm curious to know!)

Have a look at the "Well, I did it!" thread in General section, Sakura.

** Gently pets ego ** :twisted: :lol:

:lol: :lol:

*nods and grins* I must go see that!!! :D Ah, ha!! I see you are petting your Ego! See, isn't it great?! *pets hers and smiles as it purrs* Ahhh, instant gratification! :lol: 8)

Actually, this wasn't by dance, but I had a snake pay me a *lovely* compliment tonight! And before any of you go, " :shock: :shock: :shock: WHAT?!!" I'll explain: I was over at my friend Zack's house for an end of the year bonfire with a bunch of friends, and towards the end, near about 9:30, we went inside. Well, his little sister and brother have snakes, and they let me hold them!!

Point: I. LOVE. Snakes!!!! :D :D :D :D :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: They're so soft and smooth, and cuddly, and cute!!!!! :D

Well, anyway, I asked his sister to let me hold her snake, Charlotte, again, and after a little bit, she asked to take her back to her cage; so, begrudingly, I complied.... The funny thing is, is that after we finally got Charlotte all the way on to her hands, she turned around and zoomed right back onto mine!! *beaming* I felt sooooo happy! She also wouldn't leave my hands the first time I had her; cause my friends Alex (girl) and John wanted to hold her, but she wouldn't go onto their hands! :twisted: :D :D :D :banana: :banana: :banana: I'm sooo happy!!!!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

(PS-I'm also rather happy 'cause my 'niichan (older brother) just bought me some Coca-Cola in the bottles! =^____^=

PPS-Have fun on your Salsa Night, JS! I wish I could be there too! :cry: :D )

[dancin_feet]

Animal compliments are the best, aren't they? You know they are always genuine. Though snakes are one of those creatures I would be happy to never come across in my lifetime *shudder*.

[Sakura]

Animal compliments are the best, aren't they? You know they are always genuine. Though snakes are one of those creatures I would be happy to never come across in my lifetime *shudder*.

*nod nod* Definitely! :D 8)

:shock: :shock: :shock: Awwwww! Why not?!?! Reptiles, *ESPECIALLY* Snakes, are the best! :D :D

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[dancin_feet]

Animal compliments are the best, aren't they? You know they are always genuine. Though snakes are one of those creatures I would be happy to never come across in my lifetime *shudder*.

*nod nod* Definitely! :D 8)

:shock: :shock: :shock: Awwwww! Why not?!?! Reptiles, *ESPECIALLY* Snakes, are the best! :D :D

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

I much prefer cute and fluffy ...... :wink:

[Sakura]

I much prefer cute and fluffy ...... :wink:

:cry: :cry: Snakes are cute....!!!!!!!! *sniffle* You're gonna make them feel bad! :wink:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[squirrel]

Snakes are ok... at least you know what to expect of them ! :roll:

I don't like octopus... all those arms around me while I dance... grrr... :x :evil:

[Sakura]

I don't like octopus... all those arms around me while I dance... grrr... :x :evil:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

I don't like octopus... all those arms around me while I dance... grrr... :x :evil:

:shock: hmmmmmmmmmm :roll: sounds like a couple guys I've seen at the club :?

[Sakura]

:lol: , JS! Btw, awesome new avatar! :wink: I love it! :twisted: 8)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

:lol: , JS! Btw, awesome new avatar! :wink: I love it! :twisted: 8)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

8) *with an Audrey Hepburn drawl* thank you dahlin'...I picked it up on the way in the other day...thought it looked rather smashing on me 8) :wink: :D

[Sakura]

*is suddenly reminded of the Carol Burnett Show's take on Gone With The Wind* Like the Curtains, eh? :lol: :lol: :wink:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

*is suddenly reminded of the Carol Burnett Show's take on Gone With The Wind* Like the Curtains, eh?

exactly dahlin! 8) :lol:

[Sakura]

*laughs -- then continues with a light southern drawl* There are those days when I find myself wantin' to be back home in the South; my beloved Tennessee, I know She misses me! *draws out a fan and sighs while fanning* :roll: :roll: 8)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

(PS- "I wish I was in the land of cotton; old times there are not forgotten: look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!"

Funny that this was actually written by a New Yorker either just before or right at the start of the Civil War. When the South adopted the tune, this man reportedly said, "...I'll be damned if I wrote it..."

:D This Non-sensible, Tid-bit of the day was brought to you by my mass of Civil War knowledge! Back to Dance topics now...)

[jamaicanspice]

*image comes to mind of salsa being danced back in the days of the Civil War*

oh my 8) *continues with Audrey Hepburn voice* what a simply splendid idea my dear!! Can you imagine the absolute shock of it all!! :lol: :wink:

[Sakura]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: That's a *GREAT* image! *slight southern drawl* I do believe that is a great idea, ma'am! But could you imagine tryin' to do Latin hip motion in those great, big dresses?!?!? :shock: :shock: :shock: I feel sorry for the leads who would be trampled to death by the skirts when doin' spins! :lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted:

However, I do declare that it might be fun to do at least once, when given a wide birth and a good Gentleman. *fans herself* :wink:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

I got a compliment the other day from a girl which I didn´t expect. After our last dance she said, "Wow, you´re a REALLY good lead!"

I wasn´t expecting it becuase we had already danced around 20 times together. Around 70% of the time it was her asking me for a dance. Therefore, supposedly she already knew how I danced. So why the shock? :shock:

Now, don´t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the compliment, but it was so unexpected... :shock:

[jamaicanspice]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: That's a *GREAT* image! *slight southern drawl* I do believe that is a great idea, ma'am! But could you imagine tryin' to do Latin hip motion in those great, big dresses?!?!? :shock: :shock: :shock: I feel sorry for the leads who would be trampled to death by the skirts when doin' spins! :lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted: However, I do declare that it might be fun to do at least once, when given a wide birth and a good Gentleman. *fans herself* :wink: Sakura Kitty :kitty:

*with southern drawl* oh not to worry dahlin' though our skirts may be wider than normal I do declare they might look asbolutely splendid in mid spins. I can quite picture it! and as for the gentlemen :lol: You needn't worry about them my dear...it is after all common knowledge in these pawts that the men are quite adept at taking care of themselves. After all, that IS why they're there :wink: :D what a simply splendid idea! :D

[Sakura]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: That's a *GREAT* image! *slight southern drawl* I do believe that is a great idea, ma'am! But could you imagine tryin' to do Latin hip motion in those great, big dresses?!?!? :shock: :shock: :shock: I feel sorry for the leads who would be trampled to death by the skirts when doin' spins! :lol: :twisted: :lol: :twisted: However, I do declare that it might be fun to do at least once, when given a wide birth and a good Gentleman. *fans herself* :wink: Sakura Kitty :kitty:

*with southern drawl* oh not to worry dahlin' though our skirts may be wider than normal I do declare they might look asbolutely splendid in mid spins. I can quite picture it! and as for the gentlemen :lol: You needn't worry about them my dear...it is after all common knowledge in these pawts that the men are quite adept at taking care of themselves. After all, that IS why they're there :wink: :D what a simply splendid idea! :D

*thinks about it* Oh, they probably would! It would be most wonderful! And I suppose that you are right, as these Gentlemen would be swamped by us women here if they could not fend for themselves! :D

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

:lol:

[Sakura]

:wink: La vie est bonne, oui? (Translation for "non-French speakers" :arrow: Life is good, yes?)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[tj]

I think this may have been said before, but since it happened last night I wanted to say it (again?)

Asked a gal to dance. She was hesitant (said that she needed to go talk to a friend), and so the gal that I had just danced with previously (who is a friend of hers) tells her, "Yes - you should dance with him, he's good!"

A very nice compliment!

[salsachinita]

Yep, TJ!

This is the kind of things I do for guys :D !

I recommend them to all the good dancers :wink: so if you ever come this way, you won't get to sit down!

[Sakura]

Do you recommend follows too, SC? :D I'd like to not sit down (except for maybe to get a drink) during a night of dancing! 8)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[MacMoto]

Do you recommend follows too, SC? :D I'd like to not sit down (except for maybe to get a drink) during a night of dancing! 8)

I suppose the problem of recommending follows is, as a fellow follower, you don't know what it's like to dance with them... I constantly talk about which leader is good to dance with, but I can only talk about followers based on the way they look on the dancefloor. And I've been told by a few leaders that followers who are technically advanced or who look great aren't necessarily good to dance with...

If (like me) you don't like to sit out songs during a night of dancing, the best thing to do is ask guys to dance! Ask leaders of all levels, and not just the ones you know.

[tj]

Re: Follows and getting asked

Let me apologize from the start here, as what I am about to say is hardly P.C. And perhaps inappropriate for the younger ones here.

But in my experience, most of us guys are shallow, and regardless of skill level of a follow, the more physically attractive (and sexier the dress) a Salsera is, the more likely she will be asked to dance (even if/when she is a beginner).

But if a follow is outside the "target demographic" of your "typical male", you can still get asked to dance a lot if you make yourself appear open to wanting to dance. One way to do this is to stand near the edges of the dancefloor rather than all the way in the back, hiding behind tables and chairs.

[mellody43]

Re: Follows and getting asked

Let me apologize from the start here, as what I am about to say is hardly P.C. And perhaps inappropriate for the younger ones here.

But in my experience, most of us guys are shallow, and regardless of skill level of a follow, the more physically attractive (and sexier the dress) a Salsera is, the more likely she will be asked to dance (even if/when she is a beginner).



Observed this just last night. Some well-known dancers were at the venue and asked a few pretty young things who were beginning dancers to dance -- that's not a problem, but what about a semi-intermediate gal like myself? *harumph* Okay, I'm not a beanpole wearing a tube top, but cmon.

:lol:

[tj]

Observed this just last night. Some well-known dancers were at the venue and asked a few pretty young things who were beginning dancers to dance -- that's not a problem, but what about a semi-intermediate gal like myself? *harumph* Okay, I'm not a beanpole wearing a tube top, but cmon.

:lol:

Well, hey, at least you're pretty.

There are some excellent follows who get completely ignored in our scene because they are not.

[jamaicanspice]

Let me apologize from the start here, as what I am about to say is hardly P.C. And perhaps inappropriate for the younger ones here.
But in my experience, most of us guys are shallow, and regardless of skill level of a follow, the more physically attractive (and sexier the dress) a Salsera is, the more likely she will be asked to dance (even if/when she is a beginner). But if a follow is outside the "target demographic" of your "typical male", you can still get asked to dance a lot if you make yourself appear open to wanting to dance. One way to do this is to stand near the edges of the dancefloor rather than all the way in the back, hiding behind tables and chairs.

This is SOOO true!!! I have experienced this myself and more than once too! I am a good enough dancer that I can hold my own on the floor and I have been told many times that I follow very well....(I've even overhead comments about it)....but let me dress up just ONCE!! and BOOM!!! I get more attention than ants on sugar!! or white on rice for that matter!! and let me just point out here that I am NOT all that and a bag a chips! I think that's probably one of the reasons I DON'T dress up when I go latin dancing.

Too many times I've seen really good leads go on the floor and look stupid!! because they are trying to dance with a follow who's wearing the skimpiest, sexiest, outrageous outfit in the club but can't dance to save her LIFE!! the same way they would dance with a follow who actually knows the steps and knows how to follow!! I'm so serious!! I see them scope out the room and when 'fresh blood' enters all the good salseras and upcoming ones are left in the wake. It's so embarrasing at times....not only for the lead but for the virgin follow as well!!

I want someone to dance with me because they think I am good enough and fun to dance with....not because I look 'sexy' :evil: (don't get me wrong...I like looking good!!). Do you get what I'm saying here??

[tj]

Let me apologize from the start here, as what I am about to say is hardly P.C. And perhaps inappropriate for the younger ones here.
But in my experience, most of us guys are shallow, and regardless of skill level of a follow, the more physically attractive (and sexier the dress) a Salsera is, the more likely she will be asked to dance (even if/when she is a beginner). But if a follow is outside the "target demographic" of your "typical male", you can still get asked to dance a lot if you make yourself appear open to wanting to dance. One way to do this is to stand near the edges of the dancefloor rather than all the way in the back, hiding behind tables and chairs.

This is SOOO true!!! I have experienced this myself and more than once too! I am a good enough dancer that hold my own on the floor and I have been told many times that I follow very well....(I've even overhead comments about it)....but let me dress up just ONCE!! and I get more attention than ants on sugar!! and let me just point out here that I am NOT all that and a bag a chips! I think that's probably a reason why I DON'T dress up. I want someone to dance with me because they think I am good enough and fun to dance with....not because I look 'sexy' :evil: (don't get me wrong...I like looking good!!). Do you get what I'm saying here??

Lol! Damned if you do (dress up), damned if you don't!


(you can admit to us here that you're all that a bag a chips, if you want - I don't mind, lol!)

[jamaicanspice]

@tj: DAMN SKIPPY!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

and why are you trying to make me blush here....I SO am not all that and a bag of chips....Seriously!! :oops: 8)

[SDsalsaguy]

You forget, we've seen the photos to the contrary... :!:

[jamaicanspice]

You forget, we've seen the photos to the contrary... :!:

:shock: pictures tell lies I tell you!! LIES!! besides I don't look like that anymore :lol: I've 'changed' somewhat since then 8) :wink: :D

[SDsalsaguy]

You have? Got and pictures? :wink:

[jamaicanspice]

You have? Got and pictures? :wink:

smart SD 8) .....reeeeeeeal smart! :lol: *ahem* as a matter of fact I just sent some film to be developed today and hopefully there will be at least four new pix of me taken two weeks ago by my dance partner while I was dancing with someone else. Whether or not I share it with you is another matter :twisted: 8) :D

[mellody43]

Well, hey, at least you're pretty.

There are some excellent follows who get completely ignored in our scene because they are not.

Aw -- thanks. But I know what you mean. It's too bad. Guess it happens everywhere.

[Sakura]

@JS-

SD *is* smart, isn't he?! :lol: :lol: But seriously, we'd love to see the new pics!

--Speaking of which, I saw the other ones, and am now prepped with a guess as to your age!!! *evil laughter* Which you fully challenged me to do! So, hmm... If you lived here in the states, I would definitely guess 21-22, because you couldn't get into most of the Salsa clubs and what-not here (from my understanding); but I don't know what rules are present down there in Jamaica... However, you definitely look about 20-22. (And hopefully, I'm not so far off, and you don't mind my guessing your age in public! :roll: :wink: But we're all friends here so it's okay, right?)

@tj-
No offence taken at being one of your aforementioned "younger ones." (I've never had a problem with strong or "less than decent" language, so to speak. I didn't think you're was especially bad.)

But I definitely see where you're coming from. It seems only natural that guys are going to ask the "fresh, sexy" girls to dance, and girls are going to go after the "hot, sexy" guys. *sighs* Makes me wonder how I'm gonna do when I reach the dance floors. :wink: I'm sure I'll find some good leads when I get out there. But that'll have to wait until I'm old enough. :P

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

(PS-AHHHH! *Another* day of, "I WAS ONLY AWAY FOR A MINUTE!!!! HOW COULD ALL THESE NEW POSTS HAPPEN!?!?!?!?!?" =^__^= ;; Ah, well, at least I jumped in before *too* many posts were made. :D )

[Sakura]

Well, hey, at least you're pretty.

There are some excellent follows who get completely ignored in our scene because they are not.

Aw -- thanks. But I know what you mean. It's too bad. Guess it happens everywhere.

It really is too bad. :? Actually, I was having a discussion with one of my friends' mom last night about body image, and how suddenly, it seems that someone decided, "Hmm, you know what? I don't care if your genes say that you should be curvaceous and less than skinny but still look okay. Everyone must be super skinny, nearly zero curves, and weigh 10 lbs less than you probably should!" It's not a good thing! Because it seems that no one is putting up with anybody going over say, a size 3 or something! (For girls, that is. =^_^=;; )

And it's not that I'm saying anything *against* people who are thin, or *very* thin, not because they don't eat, but because they have a good metabolism, becaue I'm one of those "good metabolism" people; but when someone who's taller than me should weigh less than I do by a good 5-9 lbs (depends on what my weight has decided to do with me on a certain day... :x :wink: ), I start to think *something* is just a *tiny* bit off....

Anybody else think along these lines? Or was it just the two of us? I'd be eager to hear!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

thanks for the compliment Sakura :lol: but it would surprise you to know that I am MUCH older than 21-22 8) :D hehehehe

[Sakura]

No; people look much younger when they're being happy -- and I can't see how anyone couldn't be happy when dancing! (Excluding all the things that can go wrong -- Nobody rain on my parade of theory here, please! :shock: :D )

So, how about 27-29? 8)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

It really is too bad. :? Actually, I was having a discussion with one of my friends' mom last night about body image, and how suddenly, it seems that someone decided, "Hmm, you know what? I don't care if your genes say that you should be curvaceous and less than skinny but still look okay. Everyone must be super skinny, nearly zero curves, and weigh 10 lbs less than you probably should!" It's not a good thing! Because it seems that no one is putting up with anybody going over say, a size 3 or something! (For girls, that is. =^_^=;; ) And it's not that I'm saying anything *against* people who are thin, or *very* thin, not because they don't eat, but because they have a good metabolism, becaue I'm one of those "good metabolism" people; but when someone who's taller than me should weigh less than I do by a good 5-9 lbs (depends on what my weight has decided to do with me on a certain day... :x :wink: ), I start to think *something* is just a *tiny* bit off.... Anybody else think along these lines? Or was it just the two of us? I'd be eager to hear! Sakura Kitty :kitty:

first of all Sakura I just happen to be one of those super skinny, nearly zero curves, *very* thin, not because they don't eat, but because they have a good metabolism, people you're referring to *ahem* :lol: no offense taken by the way....used to it now (the cussing on how I can eat anything and not put on weight but all my friends have to do is think and they become blimps) :lol: :lol: but yeh I would have to agree with you too....I would certainly frown on something like that/

[Sakura]

first of all Sakura I just happen to be one of those super skinny, nearly zero curves, *very* thin, not because they don't eat, but because they have a good metabolism, people you're referring to *ahem* :lol: no offense taken by the way....used to it now (the cussing on how I can eat anything and not put on weight but all my friends have to do is think and they become blimps) :lol: :lol: but yeh I would have to agree with you too....I would certainly frown on something like that/

HEY! I put a disclaimer in there! I'm one of those people too! (My friend S-chan complains about how I seem to have hollow legs or somthing like that, because, "You NEVER! STOP! EATING!!!!" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: It's sooooo funny! She gets upset 'cause I eat all her junk food! :wink: )

But, then again, as far as exercise goes, I exercise so I can eat, so I can keep dancing, and to play DDR! So, really, I'm all set! :D 8)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

@sakura: lol lol lol lol lol lol

[Sakura]

He, he, he! I'm funny looking! =O_o= No... Wait... That wasn't right... How about: I'm funny, look! Hmm, that's not right either... Look, I'm funny! Ahhh, much better! :mrgreen: :wink: Heh, heh. Knew I'd get it soon!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Sakura]

Sooooo! Since nobody's posted for quite some time; I got a compliment! :D *very excited*

I had my first WCS lesson on Sunday. I was in the beginner group lesson where we learned the Five Basics, and then I learned a Basket after class. ...Well, since the lead is VERY different compared to the Latin dances I normally do, I got off on a bad foot; at least in my opinion. :? :oops: :? I'm prepared to say that if I weren't as fast a learner/corrector as I am now, I would have been royally screwed... :x

But, anyway... Around the end of this "Lesson and Free Dance" thing the WCS group I dance with does, my dad had showed up, and one of the better leads I had danced with that night was leaving. (He was also one of the leads pulling all of these new steps on me! :shock: ) Well, he saw me sitting by my dad as I was saying good bye, and he asked me:

"Hey, is that your dad?"
I said, "Yes."
"It's nice to meet you sir! Your daughter was doing great tonight! She has a real sense of rhythm!"

And then he left! I was *really* happy about that! 'Cause I thought I'd been doing pretty bad when we first started. In truth, I was surprised he agreed to dance with me again that night... :? :oops: :? But the other times we danced later in the evening, he said that I'd improved quite a bit, which was nice for me. :D

Compliments make the world go 'round. =^__^= *purrs*

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[MacMoto]

Compliments make the world go 'round. =^__^=
You are right! :D And that's why when I have a good dance with someone, I now make a point of letting my partner know I've really enjoyed it.

I can see you are trying loads of new things, Sakura. How's your salsa coming along? :)

[cocodrilo]

You are only as old as you feel!!!!!!!!

[Sakura]

Compliments make the world go 'round. =^__^=
You are right! :D And that's why when I have a good dance with someone, I now make a point of letting my partner know I've really enjoyed it.

I can see you are trying loads of new things, Sakura. How's your salsa coming along? :)

Salsa's been great! I still remember everything (for the most part! There's one step I can't remember how to get into... I think it's the "Open Breaks" but I'm not sure... =^_^=;; I remember how to do it though! :roll: :oops: :roll:), and I've been trying to practice. I got a bunch of new Latin CDs at the WCS party, so I'm hoping that makes practicing a little easier.b 8)

I think we might do more in my lesson tonight: I never quite know what my teacher has in store for me! :D I think the only reason we did Salsa last time was because I specifically asked for it! :lol:

You are only as old as you feel!!!!!!!!

Exactly!!! :twisted: And this is why I shall stay eternally young forever! Unless of course, my joints have anything to say about it; and then I must be anywhere from 60-70... =O_O= :lol:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[mellody43]

Okay, I got some nice compliments I forgot to share earlier!

This one guy I danced with to some reggaeton (I have no idea what I'm doing to that unless the lead decides to salsa to it) and then some salsa (he does pretty basic stuff, but has a lot of fun doing it) told me that I had "FLAVA" -- LOL! YEAH! I have FLAVA!

I was talking to an instructor that I am friendly with and telling her how funny I thought that comment was, and she said told me she thought I was one of the few non-Latinas who actually did have "flava" around here. She said it's about feeling the music through your whole body, smiling, etc., rather than just properly executing steps.

:oops: :lol: :lol:

That made me really happy!

(BTW, Anyone know the song by Craig David - "What's your Flava?" -- very fun little hip-hop/R&B tune. Must go listen to it now.)

Melissa

[borikensalsero]

had "FLAVA" -- LOL! YEAH! I have FLAVA!

I was talking to an instructor that I am friendly with and telling her how funny I thought that comment was, and she said told me she thought I was one of the few non-Latinas who actually did have "flava" around here. She said it's about feeling the music through your whole body, smiling, etc., rather than just properly executing steps.


WEPA!!! Melissa!!! Wepa!!!

Flava... makes my feet itch just by thinking about it!

[vey]

Wow, Melissa, IMO it's one of the best compliments a salsera can get and one can multiply it by 10 if she is not a latina! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Personally I take it as a compliment when a partner starts speaking spanish to me after a dance (I do not look hispanic at all), then gets surprised that I come from a completely different part of the globe and says smth like "you dance like a latina" :wink:

[mellody43]

Wow, Melissa, IMO it's one of the best compliments a salsera can get and one can multiply it by 10 if she is not a latina! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Personally I take it as a compliment when a partner starts speaking spanish to me after a dance (I do not look hispanic at all), then gets surprised that I come from a completely different part of the globe and says smth like "you dance like a latina" :wink:

LOL

Well I think "flava" is subjective but I was still pleased as punch.

I've had a few guys ask me if I am Colombian. Hm. No, but thanks, I think? :-)

[mellody43]

WEPA!!! Melissa!!! Wepa!!!

Flava... makes my feet itch just by thinking about it!
Shoot, I should have known you'd read this! Now I will surely be flava-less when we dance!

:roll:

[borikensalsero]

WEPA!!! Melissa!!! Wepa!!!

Flava... makes my feet itch just by thinking about it!
Shoot, I should have known you'd read this! Now I will surely be flava-less when we dance!

:roll:[/quote]

lol... nah, once you have it, you can't loose it, well, I hope you and I both don't.

[Sakura]

Yay Melissa!!!!! :D :D Congrats on that compliment! I'm sure you'll still have your Flava when you dance with Boriken! If anything, it should get multiplied! :wink:

I think I know that song... I've heard a song with a sorta repeating line that goes, "What's your Flava? Tell me, what's your Flava?" on a doll commercial... Scary dolls, catchy song. =^__^=

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[mellody43]

Yay Melissa!!!!! :D :D Congrats on that compliment! I'm sure you'll still have your Flava when you dance with Boriken! If anything, it should get multiplied! :wink:

I think I know that song... I've heard a song with a sorta repeating line that goes, "What's your Flava? Tell me, what's your Flava?" on a doll commercial... Scary dolls, catchy song. =^__^=

Sakura Kitty :kitty:
That probably IS the song -- You can listen to it/watch the video on launch.com! Craig David. Check it out! hehe =)

Melissa

[Sakura]

I'll try! :D

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[salsalawyer]

Flava... makes my feet itch just by thinking about it!

hey they have creams to treat that...

[Kali Ma]

Hi, all! I'm so glad this board exists! You folks make me giggle!

Hmm, compliments...well, I tend to take these things with a few pinches of salt, but here goes...

"You're such a light dancer"
"Do you give lessons?"
"You are so sensual and sexy when you dance" (er, does that imply that, otherwise, I'm not?)
"You're the best female dancer in the city"

But that's all just so many words, anyway. I think the truest compliment is made by a man who dances with me every chance he gets. :)
Oh, and some guy hugged me after a dance, then bit me on the cheek...not sure how to interpret that! :shock:

Even though I tend not to take it very seriously when I'm complimented, I am the queen of compliment-giving! Can't seem to help myself --if I enjoyed any aspect of dancing with someone, I will certainly tell him!

[Sakura]

Oh, and some guy hugged me after a dance, then bit me on the cheek...not sure how to interpret that! :shock:

Even though I tend not to take it very seriously when I'm complimented, I am the queen of compliment-giving! Can't seem to help myself --if I enjoyed any aspect of dancing with someone, I will certainly tell him!

Hi Kali! Welcome to DF! :D We're always glad to be of some amusement to someone, so we're doing our job for you then! =^_~=

...Hmm... Maybe the man who bit you was raised by wild dogs, so it was a way of showing affection? :roll: :oops: 8)

Giving complements always seems to make one feel better! Why not give them out when they're due? :D Hooray for compliment givers! =^__^=

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[borikensalsero]

Flava... makes my feet itch just by thinking about it!

hey they have creams to treat that...

Darn it, all this time I thought it was that I liked dancing. :?

[Kali Ma]

Hi Kali! Welcome to DF! :D We're always glad to be of some amusement to someone, so we're doing our job for you then!

Thank you, Sakura! Glad to be here! :)

...Hmm... Maybe the man who bit you was raised by wild dogs, so it was a way of showing affection? :roll: :oops: 8)

Or perhaps he was delirious with hunger and thought my cheek was a tasty, little muffin? Anything's possible, innit? :roll: :lol:
Hooray for compliment givers!

Hooray for you, Sakura; you're a sweetie! :D

[Lita_rulez]

OK, Kids, back on topic here please !!!

I do not mean to be a killjoy here, god knows I do spin outa topic at least twice in every post, but you'll have to forgive me, very tuchy subject on my end here !

I have been dancing seriously for over a year now, and I am proud to say that I now do get a great deal of compliments.

The one I get the most is the simplest ever : girls asking me to dance, and saying "finally you are available !"


Then there are the worded-out ones (is that even a real word ? OK, let's say "articulated ones" to be sure every one is on the same page).

I'd probably be at a loss trying to translate them from french to english, or come out looking like the bragiest guy ever (wich I can never be. Eddie Murphy is :twisted: ) But I went to the seeside this week end for a litle salsa event, and several local girls I danced with held on to my hand at the end of the dance, and paid me a very nice compliment.



Now here is the tricky part : what the hell can I reply to that ?

I do not know how to compliment my dancer.

"You are a great follower" does not reflect what I want to express to many dancers.
"You are a great dancer" seems like the flatest and tasteless thing to say (like I had to say something didn't I ? Well ther, you have your compliment, now go away... shoooo !)

And other than that, well what comes naturaly is "thank you for this wonderfull dance", "loved it", "waoouu" and so on... But usualy, the one I'd pick is precisely the one my dancer just throws at me befor I even have the time to open my mouth...

What can I say then that is not "me too" ?

(in oder words : PLEASE LADIES, HELP ME OUT !!!!)

[salsachinita]

How about: "You've danced into my heart & soul with that song......will you save me another one later.....?"

*and no, this line has never been used on me, or anyone I know. I just made it up :wink: *

[MacMoto]

I'd probably be at a loss trying to translate them from french to english, or come out looking like the bragiest guy ever (wich I can never be. Eddie Murphy is :twisted: ) But I went to the seeside this week end for a litle salsa event, and several local girls I danced with held on to my hand at the end of the dance, and paid me a very nice compliment.



Now here is the tricky part : what the hell can I reply to that ?



(in oder words : PLEASE LADIES, HELP ME OUT !!!!)
A guy I danced with for the first time said something like: "I could dance with you all night", which I thought was very sweet. :)

And it's always pleasing to hear your partner ask: "will you dance with me again later?" :D

[Lita_rulez]

How about: "You've danced into my heart & soul with that song......will you save me another one later.....?"

*and no, this line has never been used on me, or anyone I know. I just made it up :wink: *

:shock:

Yep beautifull line... Probably goes straight up in my list of : "Top 10 ways to get beaten into a bloody pulp by your partner's boyfriend" ;)


No seriously, it does have a wonderfull ring to it, but when you dance with a partner for the first time and have a great time, you do want to express more than just "duh, you good, me liky" but not go all the way to "will you mary me ?"*


I know I'm a pain on this one, cause I do not really know what I am looking for...





Other way of saying the dance was wonderfull :
If there is no chance for a missinterpretation, how do you girls feel about a kiss ? Not a full 12 minuts of PG13 tong action of course, but sometimes, when the dance is charged with emotion and I really connect with my dancer, the first compliment that comes to mind is a kiss, light, on the forhead.
I have never goten any negative response to that, but I have only done it in the club I often go to.
It hapened this week end, on the beach, after one particular dance (on "Perdona me (en vivo)" - Gilberto Sentarosa) I lifted the girl back from the "neck-drop" (is that how you call it ?) she was in on the last break ever so slowly, our eyes locked the whole time, and instead of saying "thank you", gave her a kiss on the forehead.
No one jumped me, though it was on a litle stage in the street in broad daylight.

I had the feeling to do the same thing after one particular dance during the congress in LA but refrained from it, knowing that, well, a kiss might be interpreted diferently then here...
What are your feeling on that way of "complimenting" ?


*I acyually did use that line as a compliment once. That airhead said "yes" !!!
I'm still paying... :?

[borikensalsero]

Ok, not to be a pain, or try to correct, but the song Perdona me, is one word; Perdoname. As in Forgive me, but in spanish is one word.

BTW, I was dancing with this totaly great dancer one night, when we finished, she gave me one of those hugs that you give one of your friends you have't seen for a while, she then gave me a kiss on the cheek, squeezed my hand rather hard, and left with a huge smile and a thank you very much.

I was shocked, but thought it was a rather sweet way to demostrate how much she enjoyed the dance.

[Lita_rulez]

Ok, not to be a pain, or try to correct, but the song Perdona me, is one word; Perdoname. As in Forgive me, but in spanish is one word.

:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

My bad...

I do not know the first thing about spanish, sorry, it just seemed more natural to write it like that, should have looked it up. (I am willing to learn though, if I can find the time...)

BTW, I know I am bound to make a lot of mistakes in english as well (I do not use it as often as I used to, specially written) so if something looks terrible, please, feel free to say so, be it on the forum or via mp, I'll apreciate it, not ressent it. (and that is not only for you boriken, it is something I ask anyone who would have the patience to correct me :? )

[salsachinita]

Kiss on the cheek/forehead would be fine in my world. I've seen it done & had it done to me.

Long-lost friend hugs/sqeeze happens a bit also. I guess we are pretty affectionate here :wink: !

[Sagitta]

I have been dancing seriously for over a year now, and I am proud to say that I now do get a great deal of compliments.

The one I get the most is the simplest ever : girls asking me to dance, and saying "finally you are available !"


Then there are the worded-out ones (is that even a real word ? OK, let's say "articulated ones" to be sure every one is on the same page).

I'd probably be at a loss trying to translate them from french to english, or come out looking like the bragiest guy ever (wich I can never be. Eddie Murphy is :twisted: )

You know what why don't you share them in French, and give your best translations. I would love to build up on my French. I did quite a few years of it way back, before I was into dance, and would love to increase my vocabulary to include dance in French.

I don't think what you say is really that important. I feel that everything that you do at the end of the song contributes to how much a person feels complimented. Sometimes a smile from the heart, a gentle hand squeeze, and just "Thanks" works. As long as it is genuine it will be appreciated. People can tell fakes from a mile away. :)

[jamaicanspice]

How about: "You've danced into my heart & soul with that song......will you save me another one later.....?"[/size]

damn!!! a man say that to me I wouldn't CARE if he were a dancer or not :lol: :lol: !!! Girl!!! you have the heart and soul of a poet!!!! :D

[jamaicanspice]

*I acyually did use that line as a compliment once. That airhead said "yes" !!! I'm still paying... :?

:shock: you're STILL paying!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: oh my goodness!! pobrecito!!! :D *ahem* it can't be all that bad!! 8) :roll: then again...I've been in that situation once......it can be :?

so what are you doing about it??

[jamaicanspice]

Kiss on the cheek/forehead would be fine in my world. I've seen it done & had it done to me. Long-lost friend hugs/sqeeze happens a bit also. I guess we are pretty affectionate here :wink: !

I can identify with this as well. I get treated the same way PLUS guys seem to have a tendency to want to pick me up.....they claim it's my size :roll: you know I've been actually been thrown in the air too :shock:

Because of the spanish friends I had in school I got used to being kissed on the cheek and forehead alot and on the rare ocassion the hand so I'm immune!!! :)

[Lita_rulez]

so what are you doing about it??

Weighing down my options my dear, weighing down...

http://membres.lycos.fr/owk/FORUM/MINI-ICONES/SF/Ben17.gif

never rush to a decision, one should.

[jamaicanspice]

Weighing down my options my dear, weighing down...
http://membres.lycos.fr/owk/FORUM/MINI-ICONES/SF/Ben17.gifnever rush to a decision, one should.


:lol: I hear you my friend 8)

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

On Saturday night I went to this bar I´d never been to. It was built on the beach and you could see the Atlantic. It was the first time a salsa event was held there. There was only about 15 salseros(as).

I danced with this girl for the first time and it was only for about 10% of the song (I can explain...). My friend was dancing with her and invited me to "steal" her away from him. I don´t usually do this with girls I don´t know well but he insisted so much that towards the end of the song I decided to cut in. We stole her away from each each several times till the end of the song. Since I was the last to have her, I decided to do a small dip as the song came to an end. She then kissed me on the cheek :oops: which I thought was flattering.

Later on in the night she asked me to dance a salsa, then a Kizomba, then two more salsas. :shock: That made my night...

[salsachinita]

I know that feeling.......being THE girl being passed back & forth by two leads during a song (without missing a beat) itself IS a compliment :D !

BTW, just thought I'd share my little :banana: here: I got some treasure dances from Eric Turro, el maestro himself of Buena Vista Social Club. He complimented me in both words & actions (the sheer act of asking me to dance, repeatedly) :notworth: :notworth: :notworth: !!!!!!!

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

I know that feeling.......being THE girl being passed back & forth by two leads during a song (without missing a beat) itself IS a compliment :D !

BTW, just thought I'd share my little :banana: here: I got some treasure dances from Eric Turro, el maestro himself of Buena Vista Social Club. He complimented me in both words & actions (the sheer act of asking me to dance, repeatedly) :notworth: :notworth: :notworth: !!!!!!!

That´s great! You must be getting REALLY good. :) Would LOVE to dance with you someday. I think you´re better than me though... :oops:

Regarding passing the girl back and forth, I´ve also noticed that girls like that. Salsachinita, is it because they feel that the two guys are "fighting" over her?

[Sakura]

(=O_O=.... This is weird; I was supposed to be getting email updates for this topic, and I haven't gotten them for the last two pages full of stuff... *makes a face* Not cool... Although I had some serious deja vu, reading Maple's post... =O_o= Huh.)


Hi Kali! Welcome to DF! :D We're always glad to be of some amusement to someone, so we're doing our job for you then!

Thank you, Sakura! Glad to be here! :)

...Hmm... Maybe the man who bit you was raised by wild dogs, so it was a way of showing affection? :roll: :oops: 8)

Or perhaps he was delirious with hunger and thought my cheek was a tasty, little muffin? Anything's possible, innit? :roll: :lol:
Hooray for compliment givers!

Hooray for you, Sakura; you're a sweetie! :D

=^__^= It's good that you're glad to be here! And thanks for the compliment! :) :oops: :)

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Muffins! Great!

***

Back to topic now! Sorry 'bout that Lita! (Btw, I'm with Sagitta! Give us those compliments in French! I'm only third year, but speaking French here on DF is helping me greatly, I know it!)

Most of you guys, I think, saw my topic with me panicking about my new dance shoes, so when I actually got to the lesson, and was told I was doing okay for my first time, I was pretty happy! (Considering I thought I was going to fall flat on my face and break my ankles or somthing like that... *first time in heels -- I don't believe clunky heels count*)

Besides that, there was the fact that we finally started the Viennese Waltz; which seemed to surprise some of the members of DF [whom I converse with on IM]**. Apparently one doesn't normally start that until after quite some time, according to them. =O_o= It'll have been a year in September... Not sure how to take that or whether it's a compliment or not, but I love the dance, so I'm set with it! =^__^=

SK :kitty:

**It's REALLY hard phrasing that... =O_o= It's like I was referring to you guys as strangers in the highest degree! Or I was trying to verse it in Witness Protection Program terms! :? How weird! :roll:

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

(=O_O=.... This is weird; I was supposed to be getting email updates for this topic, and I haven't gotten them for the last two pages full of stuff...


Yeah I know what you mean. I haven´t gotten any e-mail updates either... :shock:

I was away for a while so maybe there´s a time-out? :shock:

[Sakura]

(=O_O=.... This is weird; I was supposed to be getting email updates for this topic, and I haven't gotten them for the last two pages full of stuff...


Yeah I know what you mean. I haven´t gotten any e-mail updates either... :shock:

I was away for a while so maybe there´s a time-out? :shock:

I would have hoped not! Makes me wonder if I missed updates on other old topics of mine! I only caught this because it was one of those five links at the top of the page!

SK :kitty:

[mellody43]

I know that feeling.......being THE girl being passed back & forth by two leads during a song (without missing a beat) itself IS a compliment :D !



LOL! Reminds me of something that happened to me on Friday. A friend of mine who teaches the basic lesson at my Friday club was dancing next to me and my partner on the dance floor -- all of a sudden we both did a freestyle turn and saw each other -- so she kept turning and grabbed me and started leading me around -- our partners were just like -- HEY! LOL! We salsa-ed around while the boys looked a little lost -- and after about 20 seconds she whirled me back to HER former partner and she toom MY former partner. hehe. Funnnnnn!

[jamaicanspice]

my co-worker and I started learning salsa at the same time so when the place used to be crowded with more females than males we learnt to dance together....we used to get some MAADDDD compliments cause people were like amazed!! she took the lead and we just did STUFF!!! (except dips!) :D

so I went to get my shoes fixed at a shoemaker down the road where I work and discovered that one of the shoemakers makes DANCE SHOES!! and he has been dying for an opportunity to try and make salsa dance shoes :D so guess what I'm gonna do *hint* *hint* that's right!! let him make dance shoes for me!! I just need to print samples from the internet and give him (YEH!! he's THAT good apparently cause I've seen his work!! he does ballet slippers as well) :D

[Sakura]

:lol: :lol: Guinea pig time for you, JS! Hope that goes well!

That passing back and forth move sounds *REALLY* fun! Hope I can do it someday! (Without falling on my face between the pass, that is! :wink: )

SK :kitty:

[salsachinita]

That´s great! You must be getting REALLY good. :) Would LOVE to dance with you someday. I think you´re better than me though... :oops:

:oops: :oops: :oops: I wouldn't really say that (read my humbling experience thread yet?)

I'd love to dance with you though. You know how I love to dance with salseros all over the world :D !

Regarding passing the girl back and forth, I´ve also noticed that girls like that. Salsachinita, is it because they feel that the two guys are "fighting" over her?

8) Absolutely 8) !

[Sakura]

:? Missed my email update again... =ToT= I think the DF has started holding a grudge against me! :lol: :lol: :lol:

SK :kitty:

[vey]

OK, I have to share this one with you, guy:

Yesterday, one of my partners told me "you dance as if it is a religious experience for you". I know it sounds a bit unconventional but I was flattered ... :oops:

[borikensalsero]

OK, I have to share this one with you, guy:

Yesterday, one of my partners told me "you dance as if it is a religious experience for you". I know it sounds a bit unconventional but I was flattered ... :oops:

:shock: .. you are in touch with something!! that is absolutely awesome!!!

Here is a thought, percussion had always been used to conjure orishas in Cuba, before that the religious equality in Africa. Anglo culture never has, it has instead been used as a social activity. Defferent means to do the same, when you are in touch with dancing for something, consciously or not, further than for social pleasure/joy, you become in contact with spirituality, that very essence that today salsa still hids in its beats.

[vey]

:shock: .. you are in touch with something!! that is absolutely awesome!!!
Thanks Boriken

Here is a thought, percussion had always been used to conjure orishas in Cuba, before that the religious equality in Africa. Anglo culture never has, it has instead been used as a social activity. Defferent means to do the same, when you are in touch with dancing for something, consciously or not, further than for social pleasure/joy, you become in contact with spirituality, that very essence that today salsa still hids in its beats.

I'll tell you a secret - when he said that, I immediately thought of you, Boriken, and some of your posts.
I wonder why? :wink:

[megaproto]

"Girlfriend, the way you style made me poop my pants".

Sometimes you go into a club, find a complete stranger, and then completely connect with each other on the dance floor. The song(s) finish, you're both sweaty and huffing, and the first words that come out of your mouth, "Wow, you're a pretty good dancer". "Hey, that was fun!". "You rock!".

The next week, the same out-of-body experience on the dance floor. You both come down from cloud 9 and, "Gee, thanks". "Wow, we got to do that again".

Remember third grade? You need to show, not tell. Next time, explain why they rock. "Wow, that triple flip up in the air in the middle of the crowded dance floor really took my breath away, I thought I was going to die!". "Holy crap, someone actually knows about eye contact in salsa, you are da' man!". Point out things that other people might have noticed but never expressed out loud.

Or tell them how the dance made you feel. One of the best compliments for me, "Wow, if I close my eyes during this bachata, I can imagine myself back in the Dominican Republic". "You put so much feeling into your dancing, I can feel every beat of the music when I dance with you!"

Don't settle for mediocrity. Guess what, by pointing out what other people do well, you get to start to slowly incorporate these elements into your own dancing. But please, in moderation only, a brown nose is as big a turnoff as body odour....

And yes, neoDevin, this works for vengeful putdowns too.

wow great, well im not good with flirting with stranger and wat you mean by brown nose??? :?

[salsachinita]

Got some really cool compliments tonight (very much needed after my humbling experience on Sunday :oops: ).

At our R&B/Salsa club, it was kinda dancers-short to start with; then some of my favourite (if not so attainable) leads turned up & ALL in the mood to dance :shock: !

This guy we nicknamed Zorro (of the 'Salsa Snob' t-shirt fame), who normally dances with me about twice a year (after being cornered) grabbed me out of the blue......and I actually followed him without stuffing up (which had NEVER happened before)!

Then Gangsta hogged me for an entire set (totally out of character, as he has always been a one-dance-thankyou-mam).......despite my rocky following during certain songs (this guy has been known to drop me in the middle of the dance if I didn't follow well)!

Finally, the best, Alejandro from Lady Salsa tracked me down all the way from the other side of a really crowded club, to get me up the front and do a number with him :shock: !

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy: I'm still pinching myself!

:oops: Sorry, guys. Just got home & still on a high :oops: .......

[Sakura]

WOW, SC! That's so great! :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: I'm so happy for you! :D

SK :kitty:

[SDsalsaguy]

Go SC, go SC, go SC!!! :D :D :D

[borikensalsero]

I'll tell you a secret - when he said that, I immediately thought of you, Boriken, and some of your posts.
I wonder why? :wink:

You are very welcome vey!

:oops: , and I thought I was a lonesome spec in universe...

:D :D :D , you've just given my day an up-lifting surprise vey!

[jamaicanspice]

boriken will I meet you when I come to New York :D

[borikensalsero]

boriken will I meet you when I come to New York :D

Indeed, dear JamaicanSpice, please remind me with a PM when you get here, and I'll send you my contact information. :D

[jamaicanspice]

:D I shall do indeed boriken :D

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

That´s great! You must be getting REALLY good. :) Would LOVE to dance with you someday. I think you´re better than me though... :oops:


:oops: :oops: :oops: I wouldn't really say that (read my humbling experience thread yet?)


OK, but no-one knows everything. You can usually tell how good you are by the number of advanced guys who ask you for a dance...


I'd love to dance with you though. You know how I love to dance with salseros all over the world :D !

Considering that Australia is on the other side of the globe, our first dance would probably be undermined by my jet lag... :wink:


Regarding passing the girl back and forth, I´ve also noticed that girls like that. Salsachinita, is it because they feel that the two guys are "fighting" over her?

8) Absolutely 8) !

Hmm... Just as I suspected... :wink:

[Lita_rulez]

OK, I have not danced a lot last week, and have not posted that much either. A huge load of work can sometimes have that funny side effect :?


But I did get a great compliment the week before last. Mostly, an unspoken one (though the words were there, it's not what stroke me the most)

Let's put things back in perspective shall we ?

Last year, summer time, my salsalife was still very young. I was becoming some sort of a dancer, I had just come back from my first congress, and every follow I knew would tell me how much progress I had made in just a weeks time, and so on...

So I did build a litle confidence capital, and started inviting folows I thought looked terific, but never would have dreamed of inviting before.
One of those was a very nice looking girl, rather small, very petite, and I really liked watching her dance. I invited her after a few evenings considering doing it. She smiled a beautifull smile, said yes, and folloed me to the dance floor. After less than a third of the song, she looked boared out of her mind. I could not manage a proper lead, the size diference was even more of a problem for me than I could have thought (only danced with "standardised" follows meaning somehow, all the girls I knew and dared dance with were of roughly the same build)... a very much "less than OK dance"

At the end of the song, she left without a thank you or a good buy or even a glance. Not that I expected much, I knew the dance was terrible. But she did avoid me for a while after that (I mean like, avoid making eye contact at the begining of a song avoid).

Well, given time, I forgot all about that episode (beginners days are filled with such experiences).

Last week, on the seine peer, that girl arrived and danced the first song that played with a friend of mine (a teacher) who I was talking to. He is a very, very good lead (many girls I know realy enjoy dancing with him, and will go looking for him for some particular songs), they both came back looking happy about the dances they just had.

I was in a good mood, the weather was beautifull, and a song I really like started playing. So I invited her. We had a very very nice dance. Connection, fun, smiles laughs and everything. Very good time, and a very good surprise too cause I didn't expect much (sometimes, even though you hold no gruge whatsoever, there is a small aprehension for dancing with someone you had a bad experience with nontheless)

At the end of the dance, she thanked me, with a wonderfull smile (you know, not just the regular lips smile, but the full one, lips, teeth and sparkling eyes !), and apologised for not following some of my leads (whereas I am fairly certain most of the mistakes were on my part !).

But the best compliment is that she actually invited me to dance twice that evening, and has been smiling at me, saying hello and coming to chat a bit every time we ended up in the same club since that dance.

Now that my friends, is a compliment that feels like a sweet candy melting under your tong!

[Sakura]

Wow! LR, that sounded like you must have been floating ABOVE cloud 9! :D Congratulations!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Ray]

nice youngsta.. thats the spirit.. give the ladies what ya have ;)

sometimes it goes even further.. don't have to say more ;)

[jamaicanspice]

Hi guys....its been a while since I've submitted a 'decent' post :D haven't really had the time since I use the computer when I'm work BUT I have some things to share with you all :D

Firstly!! there are only TWO MORE WEEKS LEFT before I hit New York and the anxiety is starting to build :lol: :lol: talk about hot flashes!! I'm having Salsa flashes!! :lol: :lol:

I've been going to my salsa club the last couple of weeks and having some amazing experiences!! I've been getting compliments left right and center to the point where I'm starting to feel embarassed :oops: I mean I know I'm not the WORST dancer in the world :lol: but these peeps make me feel like I'm a star!! my teacher is constantly telling people he introduces me to that I'm one of his best dancers.....when I dance with someone for the first time I get mad compliments about how great I am to dance with, etc.....last night for instance I met this guy from Haiti who, can I tell you dances like a dream!!! when the dance was over he asked me for another dance and then ANOTHER!! when we came off the floor he told me I was a very good dancer and he enjoyed dancing with me...I felt soo good but then he went on to say that he's been watching me for awhile!! (eeeeeeek!!!)...over a number of weeks actually and was very impressed with me.....can someone say BLUSH!!!.... :oops: I was like 'thank you' with smile! :lol: and then he proceeds to tell me that he has seen me dancing often enough to pinpoint who my dance partner is because even though I dance so well with a number of partners, with my partner there is a connection...like we know what the others' move is going to be and its amazing to watch (this is a quote!!) I was stunned!! (he actually described my dance partner so I KNOW he was telling the truth lol). There was a visitor to the club who approached me one other night and said he was amazed at how well my partner and I danced!! I mean I've been over the moon!! somebody wake up!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Sakura]

:banana: :cheers: :banana: :cheers: :banana: :cheers: :banana: :cheers: Awesome, JS! :D I hope those compliments keep coming! And try to hang onto your partner, you two sound absolutely AMAZING together!!!!!!!!! 8)

Have fun in New York!!!!!!!! Remember the two important S's!!!! Shoping and Salsa!!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

SK :kitty:

[MacMoto]

That's great Jamaicanspice! Have a great time in NY :D.

Remember the two important S's!!!! Shoping and Salsa!!!!
Forget shopping -- salsa, salsa and more salsa! :lol:

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

Well, I got a compliment on Sunday which really wasn’t a compliment. I can explain.

There’s this girl I dread dancing with. Why? Because she has a bad habit of backleading. I couldn’t take it any longer so, around 8 months ago, I decided to tell her. I wasn’t sure what her reaction would be, but I was determined to tell her anyway. Well, she didn’t take it too well, which didn’t bother me the least (I prefer not dancing with her than have her backlead). Anyway, I explained to her what she was doing wrong. For the following two months she would mumble and groan complaining that I didn’t like dancing with her. I’d explain that it wasn’t true, I just didn’t like it when she backleaded. After a while, it finally sunk in, or so I thought, and she stopped doing it. I then started to enjoy our dances more. Around a month ago I noticed she started up with her backleading skills again. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and asked for another dance on another night just to confirm it. After that I never asked her again. Unfortunately she has been asking me for dances on average 2-3 per night.

Yesterday, I went out for a beer with a salsero friend and he informed me that she told him that lately she’s really enjoyed our dances together. Now in this content, I wouldn’t consider this a compliment. My friend also avoids dancing with her – I wonder why…

[Sakura]

That's great Jamaicanspice! Have a great time in NY :D.

Remember the two important S's!!!! Shoping and Salsa!!!!
Forget shopping -- salsa, salsa and more salsa! :lol:

What if it's shopping for Salsa? :wink: 8)

SK :kitty:

[Lita_rulez]

That's great Jamaicanspice! Have a great time in NY :D.

Remember the two important S's!!!! Shoping and Salsa!!!!
Forget shopping -- salsa, salsa and more salsa! :lol:

What if it's shopping for Salsa? :wink: 8)

SK :kitty:

Then my friend, you are definitly addicted. Please stop what ever you were doing, go to the nearest phone and call (tall free) 1-800-SALS'ANONIMUS, they can help you. You are not alone !

[borikensalsero]

About a month ago I was at a social here in NY City, there was a swedish couple there. They came to NY to take salsa classes and dance as much as possible. The place was pretty empty, I danced with every Lady there but her until... towards the end of the night before leaving I decided to ask her for a dance. I forget the song, but she was a beautiful follow, very sensual touch, and it got me in one of those "HERE I GO" moments...

After we were done I was walking past them, when I over-heard her boyfriend ask, "Well, how was it? Tell me how he was?"

She responded with, "OMG, you would not believe it, but he was so F'ing smooth", "OMG, OMG, he was so smooth"

Happy little me, strolled out of there than night feeling quite good about my journey in salsa. :D

Chances of life, I ran into her last thursday at cache... when I headed over to ask her for a dance, she was all smiles, a smile so big I'm surprissed it fit the room. SALSA!!!

[Sakura]

Then my friend, you are definitly addicted. Please stop what ever you were doing, go to the nearest phone and call (tall free) 1-800-SALS'ANONIMUS, they can help you. You are not alone !

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: My friend, I am. I am indeed!! (Especially when I want to be dancing Salsa to one of the songs our band is doing for our state fair show!!!! :twisted: "Children of Sanchez" by Chuck Mangionne. Great song!)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

After we were done I was walking past them, when I over-heard her boyfriend ask, "Well, how was it? Tell me how he was?"

She responded with, "OMG, you would not believe it, but he was so F'ing smooth", "OMG, OMG, he was so smooth"

Wow! That must have felt really good!

[SDsalsaguy]

One word only boriken... sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet! :D

[Sagitta]

Leisurely dancer, relaxing, smooth. I've got all these compliments this past fortnight. :oops: I don't do much, but I try to do it right. :wink:

[Sakura]

Leisurely dancer, relaxing, smooth. I've got all these compliments this past fortnight. :oops: I don't do much, but I try to do it right. :wink:


And doing it right is what we strive for!!!!! Congratulations to both you and Boriken. =^__^= Sounds like you guys are doing quite well for yourselves!

SK :kitty:

[Lita_rulez]

Over ten days without dancing (sick as a dog) thought I was going to go nucking futz !!!

Anyway, yesterday I decided enough is enough and went dancing, even though I was still ill (couldnt talk for more then 30 seconds my throwt hurt so bad.

2 Great follows were there : one of them beeing one of the 4 girls I dreamed about dancing with when I began salsa. I now dare invite her once every so often, and the other one a girl several people have pointed out at me lately, asking me if I had ever danced with her before, and saying that I really ought to for she is "a dream to dance with"

I danced with a few follow I knew were leaving early, then invited the first great follow, and had a real blast (looked like she did as well).

Then, I juste went and invited that other great follow. Everyone was right. Absolute delight dancing with her. First time ever we danced together, and well, you know how it goes, often times on the first dance, a few things seem out of place... Well not this time. We only got "off track" once, and well, not really my fault nor hers : a couple cut our line while I was facking a CBL so we got cut-off...

Other rhen that, really great dance. So much so, that a guy actually came up to me at the end of the dance, and asked me (and I mean, I know I am sick and all, but I swear I did not dream this, it did happen):

"do you know where I could buy videos to learn all those moves you did just there ?"

.
..
...

Mode =Apollo 13= ON
Houston ? We have a problem... Lita just went up to cloud 8...
Mode =Apollo 13= OFF

Got back to my seat, grab my drink... next song comes up : Merecumbe.

Love that song. Fells like dancing. Still, I'm really tired, maybe I should go home, 45 minutes dancing while ill might be enough...

And there comes that first great follow I was talking about at the begining, she smiles at me and says : "comon, let's dance together"

Not "make me dance" (wich can sometimes feel a bit like "OK, I love that song, and all the good leads are unavailable, you're the closest thing to me having fun on the floor so move...") not any other phrasing, just the " dance together" on top of the fact that she invited me, well... You know...

Mode =Apollo 13= ON
Houston ? We have a problem... Lita just shot past cloud 9, we've lost visual contact...
Mode =Apollo 13= OFF

[Sagitta]

Wow!!

[Danish Guy]

Wepa! 8)

[salsachinita]

8) What can I say...? Lita :notworth:...........

Love your sense of humour too :lol: :lol: :lol: !

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

:shock: BTW Lita, do you dance better when you´re ill? :wink: :wink:

[Sagitta]

I guess he was so out of it he was dancing straight from the soul and not from the head. Am I right? Loosen up Lita. Loosen up Lita.

[jamaicanspice]

(humming LL Cool J's 'doing it and doing it and doing it well')

THREE MORE DAYS LEFT!!! :D :D :D can you tell I'm excited 8)

I'm looking forward to dancing with these smooth, relaxed men here....I feel like there is nothing to fear anymore......I wont be the fish out of the pond :lol:

[MacMoto]

(humming LL Cool J's 'doing it and doing it and doing it well')

THREE MORE DAYS LEFT!!! :D :D :D can you tell I'm excited 8)

I'm looking forward to dancing with these smooth, relaxed men here....I feel like there is nothing to fear anymore......I wont be the fish out of the pond :lol:
:banana: :banana: :banana:
Ooooooooh, I'm jealous! Have a blast, Jamaicanspice! You are right, there's nothing to fear.

[Lita_rulez]

I guess he was so out of it he was dancing straight from the soul and not from the head. Am I right?

I do believe you are partly right.

That, added to the fact that it was my first night dancing in a very long while. (well, actually, a ten days draught is not that big a deal you'll tell me, but hell, it sure felt like I had not been dancing for months.)

The sheer joy of dancing "again" just got me throwing in improvised moves left and right, and well, I must have done something right :lol:

But not to worry though, I'm back to my old normal self again. Went dancing yesterday night, and the crowd did not split for me to take the dancefloor; my glory day is over 8)

[Sakura]

Mode =Apollo 13= ON
Houston ? We have a problem... Lita just shot past cloud 9, we've lost visual contact...
Mode =Apollo 13= OFF

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: WEPA!!!!!!!! :banana: :banana: Kudos to you for dancing so well when sick! (And as to your comment about it feeling like months, not having danced for ten days, 3 months and counting is an eternity.... =^_~= Keep dancing when you can, and get better!)

Have fun JS!!!!! Tell us about NY!!!!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

:banana: I will Sakura! TRUST ME!! I will :banana: 8)

[Sakura]

I await thine tales of skyscrapers and salsa!!!! ( And Shopping!!!!! :wink: )

SK :kitty:

[salsachinita]

While not a compliment per se, I've had another :banana: moment on Sat night.

There was this visiting salsero from Perth whom I had watched in amazment :notworth: during his last visit, just a little over a year ago.

This time I was being my usual hosting-self & had a few dances with him. I simply couldn't believe how easy it was to dance with him :shock: , and how well the dances went (definitely 'treasure dances' :D )!

:bouncy: It was one of those moments when you realised how far you'd come :bouncy: !

[cocodrilo]

While not a compliment per se, I've had another :banana: moment on Sat night.

There was this visiting salsero from Perth whom I had watched in amazment :notworth: during his last visit, just a little over a year ago.

This time I was being my usual hosting-self & had a few dances with him. I simply couldn't believe how easy it was to dance with him :shock: , and how well the dances went (definitely 'treasure dances' :D )!

:bouncy: It was one of those moments when you realised how far you'd come :bouncy: !
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice, Salsachinita! :D & 8)

[SDsalsaguy]

Way to go SC!!! :D

[salsachinita]

:oops: :oops: :oops: Thanks.........

*I'm still in a small pond :oops: :oops: :oops: .......*

[Lucretia]

I guess he was so out of it he was dancing straight from the soul and not from the head. Am I right?
...

But not to worry though, I'm back to my old normal self again. Went dancing yesterday night, and the crowd did not split for me to take the dancefloor; my glory day is over 8)


Your glory days will come back again. I promise you. It was no ghost that took over your body and made you perform that well…it was you.

I have had the same kind of experience…not on the salsa floor…but when dancing freestyle disco and when I go out painting by the seaside. I’m totally out of reach for normal interactions. I loose the sense for where I am, what I do and for how long. I only do what’s I’m there to do and I don’t even care if I succeed. And it is in these moments that I perform extremely well.

So far it has happened once in my salsa carrier. My teacher took me out for a travel on the dancefloor. I don’t know what countries we went to I don’t even know what planets we visited and a surely don’t know what steps we made. I was almost unconscious.

I have read about this “mental state” and I guess it’s when you are leaving over the control to the right hemisphere of your brain – the part that takes care of feelings, spatial ability, motion, expressiveness, creativeness etc – you feel out of reach. You also leave the work to the expert hemisphere of your brain.

This is what happens on the motorway... when you wake up and founds out that you have been asleep for a while and that the "autopilot" have brought you 20 kilometers furter without any accident. Don't be scared, you have only given the control to that brain hemispehere who is an expert of driving. :wink:

Lita_rulez
You have to accept that THIS WAS YOU AND YOU STILL HAVE THE ABILITY INSIDE OF YOU. You just have to learn how to pull that winning feeling out again. Not learn in a boring training sense…but if you get the insight that you can do it again you will do it again.

By the way, if you find yourself a book in mental training for athletes … I guess you will recognize that winning feeling all sportsmen tries to recall whenever they compete.


/Lucretia

[Sakura]

:banana: Go SC!!!! :wink:

Lucretia, that was a great post! Interesting insights to be found there!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[jamaicanspice]

:D :D :D :D :D :banana: :banana: way to go SC!!! :banana: :banana: :D:D:D:D:D

[Sagitta]

Thanks Lucretia! An interesting way of putting things. I liked the mental imagery that it conjured up for me, but am not sure about the driving tale!. I just hope that wasn't for real!!

[Sakura]

...Speaking of the driving bit.... What'd be really bad is if a police officer was trying to pull you over!!! :shock:

SK :kitty:

[Lucretia]

Sagitta and Sakura,
the driving tale…of course it’s not for real…not exactly the way I’ve written it down.

But I guess you all have had the experience that you have moved yourself somewhere and you don’t know how you got there. It often happen when I do things I really know how to do …like brushing my teeth or driving the car exactly the same 55 kilometer I drive every morning.

Sometimes (before I read a book about it) I got scared when I had this feeling of "waking up" on the motorway. I actually believed I had been asleep … as short black out.

After a while I started to trust that autopilot in my right hemisphere running the car for me those moments. I found out that if the car in front pulled the brakes… I also pulled the breaks. It was just my controlling part of the brain that had taken a break (probably thinking of much more interesting things like Salsa)

When I say controlling part I mean the "conscious verbal controlling" left part of my brain. The right part also has a controlling mechanism but since that part of your brain has no language ... you are not aware of this control in the same way you are when left hemisphere is totally awake.

I have more examples…sorry I’m off the thread once again…
Once I was going to visit a friend I hadn’t seen for many years. When I was driving to her cottage I didn’t find the way. Last time I was there by bike but it was more than four years ago. Now I was lost in the countryside. I had that book in memory and decided to leave over the control to my body…to the spatial geographical expert in my right hemisphere. It was almost a ghostlike sensation to se my hands driving the car and turning left, right, left in the crossings. It was like that salsa trip my teacher took me out for...spooky. :shock:

You can train this mechanism...how to leave over the control.
The book I’ve read is written by Monica Edwards but I’m not sure of the title, not in English anyway (How to draw with your right hemisphere or something). There are some very interesting chapters about brain research suitable for all people, not only artists

The same theories are found in books about mental training for athletes, but I have no author or title to give you. Not in English anyhow.

/Lucretia

[Lucretia]

After reading my own text above I started to laugh when I saw my signature text.

Quite hitting ..isn't it!

/Lucretia

[Sabor]

Let your body decide where you want to go
high or low, fast or slow

hmmm.. how about 'and' instead of 'or'

[jamaicanspice]

:D :D :D :D :D :D Sabor!!!! :D :D :D

oh btw...read the report on the meeting of the DFers in NY....I need not say anymore :D

[Lucretia]

Let your body decide where you want to go
high or low, fast or slow

hmmm.. how about 'and' instead of 'or'

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

/Lucretia

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

I went out dancing on Wednesday. There was this couple who walked in and sat down at a table. I had never seen either of them before. I noticed that they weren´t dancing so I just assumed they were curious and walked in. Close to the end of the night, the girl came up to me and asked for a dance. :shock: After our dance, she sat out a song or two and then asked this other guy (who was a salsa instructor) for a dance. I beleive she only danced with two guys and I was one of them. :lol:

Now I consider this a big compliment. Having someone you don´t know choose you to dance with from 50 other guys. I believe she must have been checking out the guys out to see which style she liked the best. 8)

[Lucretia]

I believe she must have been checking out the guys out to see which style she liked the best. )

I agree, CONGRATULATIONS!


/Lucretia

ps.
I do the same...check out the boys in advance. But for me it's about finding someone I can manage to follow :wink: . But of course the style is important too.

[Lita_rulez]

First of all, I agree as well MapleLeaf, 2 thumbs up !


As far as I go, sunday, the weather was not really great, but still, we ended up organizing a BBQ at friends house.

Small garden (enough to fit 20-30 people to grab a byte) and a small tilled floor, roughly the same size (ie : danceable)
Of course, the owner of the house broke out the stereo, some records, and off we are dancing and eating the day away (got there around 3 PM, ended up leaving at 10 pm...)

Many people I didn't know, or I had never dance with, and a few people I had not seen in a long time.

I actually had a wonderfull time.

At one point, after 2 very nice dances with a follow I had met for the first time, I go back to the BBQ spot (OK, OK, I was looking for a drink), and someone points at me and says :
"it's him !"

So of course, I had to defend myself ! I went :

"No ! It wasn't me ! I swear ! It was the one-armed man !
Allright, it WAS me, I did it, and I'm glad you hear me, glad I did it ! If I had the choice, I'd do it again !!!"

We had a good laugh, and I proceeded to get my drink. A friends comes to get a drink with me, so I ask her :
"what did I just admit doing by the way ?"

She said :
"well B. (the girl I had just danced with) just comes to us and says "I'm in love. I just had 2 wonderfull dances, and I'm definitly in love"
So I asked her who the lead was, and she answered I don't remember his name, but I'm in love... there, IT'S HIM !" and that's when you walked in on us"

:shock:

Now believe me or not, at that point I felt like a million dollar !

[MacMoto]

She said :
"well B. (the girl I had just danced with) just comes to us and says "I'm in love. I just had 2 wonderfull dances, and I'm definitly in love"
So I asked her who the lead was, and she answered I don't remember his name, but I'm in love... there, IT'S HIM !" and that's when you walked in on us"

:shock:

Now believe me or not, at that point I felt like a million dollar !
Oh wow, I've definitely got to have a dance or two with you at the congress!

[youngsta]

Got a really great compliment last night. In the middle of a dance, my partner told me, "you're the kind of guy I would love to dance with in my kitchen. In the club I can't do the things I want to do when I dance with you." :shock:

[peachexploration]

Okay, Sassy Hips, what did you do to that poor woman to make her say that? :lol: :lol: :lol: Yeah, I'd say that was a compliment! :cheers:

[youngsta]

Okay, Sassy Hips, what did you do that poor woman to make her say that? :lol: :lol: :lol: Yeah, I'd say that was a compliment! :cheers:
I don't know, really! Kind of caught me off guard! :lol: