On ethnic dancing, ballet and muscle memory in salsa.

[vey]

I came up with an idea of this topic while reading the “Ever had this problem?” topic.

Many salsa dancers haven’t grew up with salsa music, moreover, sometimes they grew up dancing completely different ethnic dances (indian, oriental, slavic etc.) or different styles of dancing (ballet, modern, swing, etc). In doing so, they developed “muscle memory” that often tends to carry over into salsa dancing.

My personal subjective opinion is that sometimes this transfer of “muscle memory”(or even certain moves) works out beautifully, creating something new but harmonious, for example, I recently saw an indian women who was trained in traditional indian dance, dancing salsa and I enjoyed it immensely. Elements of belly dancing also often work beautifully.

But sometimes, in my opinion, this “muscle memory” doesn’t work, doesn’t do justice to salsa music, for example, swinging to salsa... I just do not like it AT ALL!

Sometimes it’s smth in between, like with ballet experience for me: occasionally it comes handy but often it creates a certain stiff look that I have to fight, it just doesn’t feel right or goes with the music.... :evil:

I know it’s a controversial topic to discuss since perception of one’s dancing is a subjective thing, but I was wondering what do you guys think about it, do you have any similar observations and if yes, why do you think sometimes it works and sometimes it’s a NO-NO? :?: :?: :?:

[dragon3085]

one thing my instructor always has to correct is my tendency to bring my foot in a crecent pattern toward the inside of my foot and out again. We call this a 'c' step in karate and it is basically how I have walked since I started my karate at age 13. Now this is good to keep someone from kicking you in the groin but in some dances it not only doesn't look that good, it also chews up time between beats and puts me off time. I don't know I am doing as its is a natural way of walking for me and hence part of muscle memory. In way that the kinda a fun challenge though. To train my body to step one way in karate and still yet another in dance without having to think about it. And as far as other muscle memory goes, we won't even get into what my body wants to do if someone catches me off guard or surprise me on the dance floor. :D

[peachexploration]

Well Vey, I'm not sure what area of dance this comes from or if it has anything to do with muscle memory but I've seen it quite a bit in my area. When at Salsa class (One on One or Casino), I see a few leaders keep in step with a modified bounce. (Think Charleston). I'm sure our Salseros here can tell you that thats not good. I've seen several instructors try to help the student fix it but for some reason it stays with them. I would say that type of movement doesn't work for Salsa. :oops: But........

[volleybgrl]

I agree vey, elements from other types of dance can be combined beautifully with salsa while others are just all wrong. I just started dancing salsa and I'm having serious trouble with my spinning. I'm just so used to standing up tall (from my days in ballet) rather than keeping my knees bent during all of my turns. However, I've found all of my toe touches and taps to be very easy since they're quick tendues. All dances can add a certain exciting flavor to salsa, it's just making sure you encorporate the ones that work with the timing and style. I suppose there are just like dragon said...it's all a fun challenge.

[borikensalsero]

I went to a swing class a couple of years back, after a couple of minutes the instructor looked at me and asked, you salsa don't you? She said, that is nice and all but when you swing you want to look like your are dancing swing, which means all the afro-cuban feel you dance with for the most part has to be absent if you want to look like you are dancing swing…

On the same token, my current afro-cuban instructor always tells me, Javier, If you are dancing Son, you want to look like you are dancing son. If you are dancing cha cha, you want to look like you are dancing cha cha. When you hustle, you want to look like you hustle. When you son montuno, you want to look like you dance son montuno, when you do bolero, you want to look like you do bolero. They are different dances and all use different techniques, however, when you salsa you incorporate all of those and put them into one dance.

Onto which I add, if the music doesn’t incorporate elements of one dance, then we shouldn’t use the elements of another dance, however, a little bit of everything in salsa when not over-done is simply different and a nice expression of who the person is. I too agree that there are just some things that really don’t look all that great, don’t feel all that good, nor fall into place with the music, when done to salsa. It is easy to say it, but to control muscle memory is a completely different token.

Example, I really think that a hustle-like style of salsa looks too stiff even when there is a lot of arm and feet movement, which takes away from the afro-cuban feel the music has, at least in my opinion.

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

I went to a swing class a couple of years back, after a couple of minutes the instructor looked at me and asked, you salsa don't you?

LOL!

Boriken, I took ballroom for several months. On my first day and on my first dance, my instructor looked at us and said, "So, you two are salseros."

My partner and I looked at each other in awe. :shock: :oops: I asked how she knew. She answered, "Please don´t insult my intelligence". :wink:

Later on during class our instructor would glimpse at us and start laughing. Afterwards, she apologized saying, "Sorry but you salseros all dance the same way" :wink:

Just felt I had to say this...

Thanks for the great topic Vey.

P.S. That reminds me I have to think about enrolling in ballroom again. Maybe in October...

[vey]

Thank you for all your replies, guys!!!

It helps to know that other people also have to fight their own muscle memory battles.

I still do not know why elements of some other dances do work in salsa and some do not. May be it has to do with the origin of particular genres of music, some common roots or may be the similarities are just seeming.... We need some expert opinion here...

I agree that salsa should be salsa and that’s the way I want to dance it, but I also like the idea that people, who came from completely different parts of the globe can dance it with each other, even if it implies expressing some other muscle memories (when music allows); at least that’s the way we have it here in chicago where I currently live (across miles and oceans from the place where I developed my muscle memories :wink: :wink: )