the beat, rhythm, and basic

[Jack]

I have got retuned by private lessons from a great teacher, not just a great dancer. She had me change my basic steps, a lot shorter, the length of my foot, quick, quick slow. We start dancing to different songs , then she makes me stop find the beat, and start again. Finding the beat with different instruments, and stop and restart, it has really helped.
I am now dancing with more rhythm, and most important ON TIME.
I know a lot of moves but if I'm not in time what good is it? So a return to infancy is good....Maybe this might help some others to get a good " teacher", and get the most basic aspects correct.

[youngsta]

Very, VERY good advice!

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

I am now dancing with more rhythm, and most important ON TIME.
I know a lot of moves but if I'm not in time what good is it? So a return to infancy is good....Maybe this might help some others to get a good " teacher", and get the most basic aspects correct.
Very good Jack. :D If you´re not dancing on beat you might just as well be sitting the dance out. I admire people who go back to the basics. These people are the ones who exceed further on down the line...

[Sagitta]

YEAH. I've managed to sneak in quite a few free lessons in the basics in Januray, Feb...helping out as an extra leader in beginner salsa classes. I help balance the ratio of followers and leaders and at the same time get to revisit the basics for free!! :D I've been on vacation and hope to get the chance to do this again in April. :D

[Sabor]

excellent idea! i support that perspective very much! hopefully it spreads :P

[Pacion]

It is a great idea! The only difficulty is, IMO, that many dancers feel they are "above" that.

[etchuck]

In general I expect our competitive team members (UNC team) to attend all the basic/beginner classes and help where needed, especially the leading dancers. I help out the beginning classes for both Duke and UNC's teams and aside from being the music person, I do wind up dancing when a leader is needed. I usually go to notice or help correct other people's mistakes so I can make sure I don't commit them either.

[youngsta]

Funny this would come up. At my Sunday night spot there's a lesson from 730-830. I get there early so if they are short on leads I'm more than happy to fill in. The funny part is the women I dance with are amazed I would 'stoop down' and take the lesson...like there is nothing else for me to learn! :lol: I always tell them, "When you get really good, don't be 'too good' to dance with me." :wink:

[danceguy]

I've spent most of my time in my Salsa practice just working on basics. I still take a beginners class once a week and I always show up to before dance lessons. And every time I find something new to learn or improve upon.

Its really paid off now that I am doing more social dancing, having a strong foundation in basics will serve you well out on the dance floor. :P

Now getting the women to actually say yes to a dance with you, well that's another story... :wink:

[youngsta]

No problems here SG 8) :lol:

[Jack]

I'm with that Scorpion, basics for me is an ongoing need

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

I love it when instructors ask me to fill in at a beginner/intermediate class. If it´s a beginner class, it gives me a chance to revisit the basics. This helps me a lot as a dancer (more than I´d like to admit... :oops: )

If it´s an intermediate class, I have the chance to do patterns that I´ve forgotten or haven´t done in ages. After the memory *******, I include them in my move repertoire. :wink:

I also like seeing the girls face after a well executed move. 8) Sometimes I get comments like:

"Wow, so that´s how it´s done"
"Are you from this class?" :shock:
"Hmm...No wonder I couldn´t follow this pattern..."

The downside is that you get the ocasional girl who says some strange thing like, "you´re doing it all wrong" :roll: . This happened to me about a year ago in a beginner class. At the time, I preferred not to reply and just left it at that. About a week later, I saw her at a club, grabbed an intermediate partner and lead a number of intricate moves smoothly and comfortably in front of her. I can still the expression on her face from the awe... The first time I danced with her after that was about 2 weeks ago at the salsa congress. She smiled thru the entire song. 8)