Salsa fever?

[danceguy]

I'm curious to ask the experienced Salsa folks what the signs of real Salsa fever are. I think I may be coming down with it! After my more than dissapointing Ballroom dance this weekend, I realized that I needed a Salsa fix, and I was going to get one by any means necessary! :shock:

I had just heard of a new Sunday night Salsa event at my usual spot, and I was looking forward to it all day. I show up ready to dance...but somethings wrong...there's no one there...but me, one other guy and about six ladies. Might sound like heaven, but all of them had never done Salsa before and were absolutely horrid to dance with (and one wasn't even a real woman - eek!). It was the worst dance I have ever been to in my life! I wanted to run...and for a moment I thought that maybe Salsa dancing just wasn't for me...

I then realized that I had heard of another Sunday Salsa spot way across town...but it started in about 15 minutes! Leaving this place without a second thought, I put the pedal to the medal and rushed through backroads and freeway exits...and got there just in time. Holy moly, its a hot spot! Its full of people and its obvious this is where I need to be! :P

I had a blast, although I only was able to dance for another hour and a half (car accident thing again)...but I danced more Salsa tonight than I ever have...more than 3 hours, which is a lot for me!

Ahhh...but I finally I got my fix...I'm tired, my feet hurt...but my soul is very happy... :)

Best,

SG

[SDsalsaguy]

I'm curious to ask the experienced Salsa folks what the signs of real Salsa fever are. I think I may be coming down with it!

Now doubt about it SG, you've got it and got it bad . . . congratulations! :D :D :D

[danceguy]

I think you're right! I'm bummed out that I have to wait until Tuesday to go dancing again! :cry:

(398 by the way)

[borikensalsero]

:cheers: Cheers, my friend. You've got what my family says, salsitis aguga (acute). You are in for a bunch of fun.

I knew I was addicted when I began spening all my money on clothes, shoes, CDs, to salsa in. I don't need to eat or sleep, what I need to do is dance salsa, if not dancing then listening to it, or reading about it. :shock: :D

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: You've got it bad, borikensalsero my friend. You've got it bad! But you didnt mention anything about practicing shines in front of the bathroom mirror, so I guess there's hope for you yet. :wink: :lol:

[borikensalsero]

:lol: :lol: You've got it bad, borikensalsero my friend. You've got it bad! But you didnt mention anything about practicing shines in front of the bathroom mirror, so I guess there's hope for you yet. :wink: :lol:

I don't do the mirror thing. :) If I look like a fool at the club I guess someone will tell me then. If not, OH Boy, I've been looking like one all this time. :shock:

[youngsta]

:twisted: MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

[danceguy]

Its true I'm afraid! :D

Pygmalion - I practice in front of my bathroom mirror all the time...matter of fact I practiced some steps in the shower the other day...worked on my rib cage movements in the car...do yoga with Salsa music playing...well, I think you get the idea.... :P

Only 20 more hours until the next club dance! Why don't they have them every night? :(

Yikes, I've got it bad...for you advanced Salseros...does it get better or worse after time? :shock: :P :shock:

[SDsalsaguy]

...does it get better or worse after time? :shock: :P :shock:
Yes! :lol: :wink:

[danceguy]

Did you mean better or worse? Or both? :shock: :oops: :shock:

Ah, its ok either way actually...I'm just having a good time. :P

[borikensalsero]

SG, it gets worse, much worse. But it gets so bad that it is a good thing. :D :D :D

[Vin]

I find as time passes it becomes harder to satisfy my salsalust. Before a salsa with anyone would do,even if we danced badly. Now I can dance well with 90% of the women on the dance floor, but it is much harder to meet a woman that I can really satisfy my salsa fever with.
On the other hand my need for salsa has settled into a once a week is enough addiction(that's all I can get around here anyways).
So I would say that with time you learn to function as a normal productive human being again.

[pygmalion]

LOL. Then, Vin, I would say you haven't been logging into DF often enough. Most of the salsa addicts around here would NOT be satisfied with once a week salsa. Heck, my impression is that once a DAY isn't enough. True? :lol:

[peachexploration]

LOL. Then, Vin, I would say you haven't been logging into DF often enough. Most of the salsa addicts around here would NOT be satisfied with once a week salsa. Heck, my impression is that once a DAY isn't enough. True? :lol:

Very True! I'm going through withdrawals as I'm typing this! :D :bouncy: :banana:

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

LOL. Then, Vin, I would say you haven't been logging into DF often enough. Most of the salsa addicts around here would NOT be satisfied with once a week salsa. Heck, my impression is that once a DAY isn't enough. True? :lol:

I´m actually considering going straight to my favorite salsa club now. Hmm. I don´t think there´s anyone there at this hour... I don´t care, I´ll go anyways. I´ll wait...

[borikensalsero]

LOL. Then, Vin, I would say you haven't been logging into DF often enough. Most of the salsa addicts around here would NOT be satisfied with once a week salsa. Heck, my impression is that once a DAY isn't enough. True? :lol:

I´m actually considering going straight to my favorite salsa club now. Hmm. I don´t think there´s anyone there at this hour... I don´t care, I´ll go anyways. I´ll wait...

Where is that club, I'll go wait with you. :D

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

LOL. Then, Vin, I would say you haven't been logging into DF often enough. Most of the salsa addicts around here would NOT be satisfied with once a week salsa. Heck, my impression is that once a DAY isn't enough. True? :lol:

I´m actually considering going straight to my favorite salsa club now. Hmm. I don´t think there´s anyone there at this hour... I don´t care, I´ll go anyways. I´ll wait...

Where is that club, I'll go wait with you. :D

I have an idea. Since there are a growing number of salsa clubs around the world and 24 time zones, I could probably make a list of a suficient number of clubs to guarantee non-stop salsa during an entire month. No more "waiting for the club to open" thing... It could be always in different clubs (why repeat?). One could start in the States, pass through Africa, Europe, and Asia. Of course, you would need to do this daily and at some point probably get tired, but you could always sleep in the middle of the dancefloor. Salseros will certainly be kind and not step on you realising you´re on your resting period...

[Vin]

LOL. Then, Vin, I would say you haven't been logging into DF often enough. Most of the salsa addicts around here would NOT be satisfied with once a week salsa. Heck, my impression is that once a DAY isn't enough. True? :lol:

Believe me if there was more salsa available to me I would definitely be there. As it is I have 100+ songs on my computer (from my own store-bought cd's of course) all salsa that I listen to at work. I have had to learn to control my addiction in order to get work done.

[danceguy]

Aho my friends...I'm sitting here on my lunch hour just streaming some Salsa music...and I'm doing fine until one song comes on that just makes me feel the need to dance...the club opens at 7 pm tonight and that feels so far away right now.... :oops: :? :oops:

MapleLeaf - I love your idea...Salsa around the world...hmm how about figuring a way all of the international members could all be dancing together in our different time zones....one big wild Salsa party. :)

7 more hours....patience grasshopper, patience.... :cry:

[Sagitta]

Yours starts at 7:00p.m.?!! Mine starts at ten, but I do have salsa classes starting at 6:00p.m., so that's not bad. :) Salsa rueda, then beginner's salsa, followed by intermediate salsa...then an hour hanging since I still cannot do intermediate rueda :( Oh, when will that day come? :headwall:

[danceguy]

Hi Sagitta,

That sounds like a full night! I hope it went well! I just got back from the best night ever...good music, lots of ladies to dance with (I'm not so shy about asking anymore)...yikes that was the most time I've spent on the floor at any dance I think... :P

Thankfully the Tuesday night event is 7-11 pm on a weekday, because I have to be at work at 8 pm tomorrow! I have never done rudea...or cumbia, or bachata...those are all on my to do list eventually. :D

Ok...hmm...my Salsa class isn't until Thursday...that leaves exactly 45 hours until more dancing... :roll:

SG

[Sagitta]

I probably could split my night experiences into a couple threads and thsi will be one reallly loong post, but I already make too many posts so here goes:

I had a fantastic night SG, and anyone else who is interested!! I too must be at work at 8:00 tomorrow, but I cannot be kept away from salsa!!

SG your club never plays bachata? If they do it is a snap to learn and have fun with. There is nothing to learn, as such. Like the merengue!!Tonight I was dancing with someone from an intermediate rueda class and though she seemed to had much bachata before she quickly caught on to some fancy moves!! :D

I'm very glad that you had a good time SG. I'm especially happy to hear that you aren't as shy to ask people to dance. :D Let me share with you a couple tales. There is this girl standing watching the dance floor. She has all her layers on and has been that way. There is no one else around (follows) as the academic semester hasn't started. And I am on a roll. I cannot bear sitting down. I go over and I ask her to dance and she says sure, peels it all off and comes on the floor with me. She was a beginner, and really didn't know salsa, BUT I will ask anyone.

Then I see this lady with her husband. (I only find out later that this guy is her husband!!! But it was kind of obvious that they were together!!) She is kind of moving to the music. She hasn't really danced tonight. I met and had a very short conversation with her husband one night, late last year. So I say to myself, what the heck, I want to dance. I go up and ask for a salsa dance. And I get it. :) Same lady whom I talk of doing bachata with earlier.

Then I ask someone to do bachata. She says okay, then just as we get started she sees some of her friends coming in and asks if she can stop and says she will get me someone!! I agreed and she did too!! :)

Tonight I had the night of my life!! :D :bouncy: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: It started in the beginner salsa class where I taught some followers some moves, then from 9:00-10:00 I taught someone else left turn, right turn, cross-body lead, a shine or two, sombrero, another combination or two...while the intermediate rueda class was on the dance floor. (Actually I must confess that the follower could not do all the moves like a follower is supposed to do. She learnt enough to recognize what I was doing and follow through somehow. I'm talking of intermediate level combinations here.) Then from 10:00 to 12:15 I spent 5 minutes, or maybe 6 sitting down!! My last song of the night I asked the follow to bear with me and went crazy for two minutes putting myself and her through rapid swing like turns/combinations. And I still could not get rid of that excess energy!!

Then I danced with some people tonight and suddenly realized that my dancing has made a quantum leap from a couple months ago. I'm not saying that I am a great dancer, but I have made good progress!! I'm a salsa addict now!! No need to ask for verification.

However, I still spent a lot of time dancing with beginners!! I did so tonight and will continue doing so. I'm staying true to my love of salsa and introducing other people to it. I just wish I could have spread myself around as I felt really sad to see so many people earlier on tonight just sitting waiting to be asked!! :(

[MacMoto]

Then I danced with some people tonight and suddenly realized that my dancing has made a quantum leap from a couple months ago. I'm not saying that I am a great dancer, but I have made good progress!!

That's exactly how I felt last Friday!! :D For weeks I had been complaining to salsa friends that I was frustrated with my lack of progress, and all of a sudden, after a 10 day break, everything started coming together... Saturday was another good night (although I wasn't too happy with one of the DJs choice of music), and I even found myself doing repeated double turns without losing balance! That felt so good! :D

However, I still spent a lot of time dancing with beginners!! I did so tonight and will continue doing so.

I actually don't mind dancing with beginning leaders at all even when it means 4 minutes of doing nothing but basic steps. We always need more leaders in the scene, and everyone has to start as a beginner. I don't want to be put through complicated turn patterns, get spun around and dipped this way and that all the time anyway, and dancing with a beginner gives me a chance to relax, immerse myself in the joy of simply feeling and moving with the music and share the fun of it with someone else.

I can't get my next salsa fix until Saturday... :(
I'm desperate to go to a club on Friday, but I may run the risk of a marriage break-up if I do. :( :( :(
Any fellow salsa addict with a non-dancing, salsa-hating spouse around here?

[pygmalion]

I can't get my next salsa fix until Saturday... :(
I'm desperate to go to a club on Friday, but I may run the risk of a marriage break-up if I do. :( :( :(
Any fellow salsa addict with a non-dancing, salsa-hating spouse around here?

Dance was a relationship breaker for me and my former significant other. It got to the point where he got angry whenever I went dancing. When it first became an issue, I was willing to compromise. I had been taking private lessons five days a week, plus group classes and parties five evenings a week. I cut back on the evening dancing to three days a week, then two, then one. When I realized that only none would be good enough, I had to draw the line. It looked to me like the only thing that would make him happy was me giving up the one thing that made me happy. :( Really sad. So now I'm looking for a dancer, or a dance-supportive person.

I hope things work out much, much better for you. But stay home Friday night, just in case. There's always dancing in the car, bathroom, livingroom, etc. That should hold you until Saturday. I hope.

[pygmalion]

I don't want to be too discouraging, MacMoto. Truth be told, my former S.O. and I had many other issues. Dance just became a surrogate for them all, and I guess the straw that broke the camel's back.

I'm sure things will be fine. He may even come around and start dancing with you. Stranger things have happened -- and salsa can be a very seductive thing.

[danceguy]

Hi Sagitta!
I had a fantastic night SG, and anyone else who is interested!! I too must be at work at 8:00 tomorrow, but I cannot be kept away from salsa!!
That makes two of us! Last night was hands down, the best night dancing I've had ever! I stayed for 3 hours but didn't fall asleep until past 2 am...I never can sleep after I go dancing. :P
SG your club never plays bachata? If they do it is a snap to learn and have fun with.
I'm sure they do...but I honestly don't know what it sounds like...I've never even tried a Merengue yet. :D
I'm very glad that you had a good time SG. I'm especially happy to hear that you aren't as shy to ask people to dance.
The shyness is fading fast! There were simply too many lovely ladies sitting down last night, I had to do something...the only cure for shyness is to be a man and ASK EM'! :P

Then from 10:00 to 12:15 I spent 5 minutes, or maybe 6 sitting down!!
You know, if your dance started at 10pm and you're 3 hours ahead...since I started at 7pm I think we were both out dancing at the same time! 8)
Then I danced with some people tonight and suddenly realized that my dancing has made a quantum leap from a couple months ago. I'm not saying that I am a great dancer, but I have made good progress!! I'm a salsa addict now!! No need to ask for verification.
That's awesome Sagitta! I really need to start learning some more techniques, but I have never felt so confident in my basics and sense of rhythm, all of my practice has really paid off. A really fast Salsa came on last night and I was able to flow so freely with it...man I was sweatin' rain when that was over! :shock:
However, I still spent a lot of time dancing with beginners!! I did so tonight and will continue doing so. I'm staying true to my love of salsa and introducing other people to it.
I've been dancing with a lot of beginners too...I've noticed the good Salseras are in high demand...so a lot of times the beginners don't dance a lot. However, I also tried the "get the good Salsera as she's coming off the floor" trick that someone mentioned...and it worked great. Man, could that lady DANCE...and she was beautiful too. :)

All the best,

SG

[MacMoto]

Pygmalion,

Thank you very much for your advice and also for sharing your experience with me. I've also read Edie's article (http://www.dancefreak.com/edie/edie20.htm) about her experience, and it's not exactly encouraging... :(
I must say it's been hard going -- he hates both dancing and salsa music. At least he sees my passion for dancing and is trying to be understanding even though he doesn't share it... Oh well, I just have to wait and see how things will turn out.

Thanks again.

[pygmalion]

Oh MacMoto! I just read Edie's story, and it brought tears to my eyes. It could have been my own story I was reading.

I honestly think it's possible to make it work. It just depends on the two people involved. Hang in there. It sounds like your spouse is trying to be supportive, and that's what counts. :)

[Vin]

I am dating a wonderful girl and she "doesn't mind" going dancing, but she is definitely not an addict(I definitely am). The problem is I generally have more fun going dancing without her than with her. Anyone else ever deal with a similar situation?
On a brighter note, had an excellent weekend of dancing, friday danced and yesterday at a great concert.
At the concert I danced with one of my favorite partners and people kept coming up to us afterwards saying we were their favorite couple dancing. Oh no, if my head gets any bigger it will weigh me down.

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

I am dating a wonderful girl and she "doesn't mind" going dancing, but she is definitely not an addict(I definitely am). The problem is I generally have more fun going dancing without her than with her.

Vin, I´m not sure what the exact situation is, therefore I will portray various situations:

She isn´t taking classes:
I would suugest convincing her to take some classes. She will learn the basics, become more confident and eventually have more fun going out dancing with you.

She´s taking classes but is at a lower level than you:
I would suggest helping her with her dance on a private level. Praticing new moves with her, giving her some tips on following, spending time more time dancing with her, etc. I believe she will enjoy this time with you and feel like clubbing more.

She´s at your level but just doesn´t like dancing as much as you:
Well, if this is the case, I don´t really know what to say. Maybe you can dance with her more passionately when you´re at a club than in private.

Regards,

[Vin]

Thanks for the suggestions mapleleaf, It's kind of a bit of all three,
She isn't taking classes but has taken one before(it was kind of a bad class). She isn't on my level and I don't think she will get there unless she starts to enjoy it more.
I tried the convincing her to take classes route but she felt like I was forcing her into doing it, lately I have been teaching her with the aid of videos and that seems to be going alot better.

[passion]

Here's a thought...

I was posed a question about salsa and the addiction to it.

Do you think you'll ever burn out on salsa? :shock: :shock: Who could think of such a thing??? :shock:

I know that I'll never get burned out on salsa! I've gone through the entire addiction process and it's still with me.

There are two types of dancers, in my opinion. Those who are the true dancers and those who are dancing more for the social aspect. The latter of the two, I think, are the people that will probably burn out. True dancers can have a social side to their dancing, however that's not the sole reason of their dancing.

True dancers can never burn out of something that is part of their being.

[SDsalsaguy]

I think I could get burnt out on a given dance scene, but never on dancing.

[MacMoto]

I think I could get burnt out on a given dance scene, but never on dancing.
I totally agree, SD.

I dance salsa because
1. I love salsa music, and
2. I find it really difficult to listen to salsa music and stay still. I hear those percussions and I've got to move!

When I "discovered" salsa, it just felt so natural. I have always had a love of all forms of music and dance, but when I had my first taste of salsa, it was like coming home... I knew it was right for me. I can't imagine getting burnt out on my instinctive urge to move my body to salsa music -- I will still have it when I'm old and creaky.

Besides, I'm not getting anywhere near enough dancing hours to worry about burning out at the moment. The frustration of not being able to feed my addiction adequately is driving me crazy! :evil:

[passion]

I think I could get burnt out on a given dance scene, but never on dancing.

I guess it's possible to get burned out on a particular scene. If the scene is relatively small, then it's possible.

What I've found, for the most part, regarding salsa scenes is that they are always changing. People are moving away and new people moving in. Sometime less often than not.

If you're in a scene that's particularly small without variety, it can become tiresome. But have you noticed how many people that dance salsa travel? I run into new faces at my scene, every once in a while, of people just travel through and visiting friends or family and had to get out to salsa. I travel a lot, and every where I go, I try to find some salsa.

Burning out on the dance!!! Never!!! :P

I agree with you MM, I can't sit still when I hear the music! It flows right through my body, and my body just can't help responding to it.