simple dance lessons selection question

[srevzdance]

Hi everyone!
I am new to dancing, any kind of dancing that is and right now I want to take some classes and learn dancing (to feel more confident in nightclubs environment). So, I went searhing on the net trying to find out what kind of classes are available.
The problem is, I seem to have a problem selecting the classes that suit me. I like salsa dancing, but I don't really enjoy or have the passion for the music itself. My favorite music genre is trance/dance/pop.
What would be the best kind of dance lessons to take?

Thanks!

[Sagitta]

Welcome to df srevzdance!!

I would say go with salsa dancing and the music will grow on you, and I wish it did. But, I started with swing and the music never really grew on me and here I am doing salsa!!!!

It seems that you are mostly interested in freestyle dance. Hustle i.e. partner dancing to disco is the closest partner dance I could come up with. Hip hop classes perhaps? I would think the moves you learn would help you in what you danec too... Anyone else?

I would also suggest that you search our forums. Lots of useful information in our club dancing sticky in the general dance discussion forum, plus other help in general of learning how to get comfortable moving to music.

[srevzdance]

Welcome to df srevzdance!!

I would say go with salsa dancing and the music will grow on you, and I wish it did. But, I started with swing and the music never really grew on me and here I am doing salsa!!!!

It seems that you are mostly interested in freestyle dance. Hustle i.e. partner dancing to disco is the closest partner dance I could come up with. Hip hop classes perhaps? I would think the moves you learn would help you in what you danec too... Anyone else?



You may be right on salsa music, Sagitta. I tried some of the salsa moves I could find examples of on the net - I've grown to like them quite a bit when I got used to them a little. By the way, what do you call "shines" in salsa? Are they central to salsa dancing?

As for freestyle dancing, I could barely find *any* freestyle lessons offered out there. Does this make any sense?

[Sagitta]

Shines in salsa are exactly that, shines, so I'm not quite sure what you are referring to. These are times when one breaks apart from the partnership and each person does a little solo dancing. How much one does of that? Really should depend on the music. There are certain parts when the music goes off from the main theme when people often break into doing shines. Also useful if you are a beginner like myself and mess up a move. Just break into a shine rather then standing there looking stupid and join up again with your partner. However, to answer your question I would say of the two parts of partnership and solo dancing the partnership is the central part of salsa dancing. You make doing shines central part of your dancing and pretty soon no one will want to dance with you IMO.

As for not much being out there for freestyle lessons I can totally understand. I mean there are lessons for hip hop, break dance, but in general freestyle is exactly that, doing your own thing. You could watch music videos of music that you enjoy to see moves...

[delamusica]

there are moves that i use from cha-cha and rumba when i'm freestyling - things like body movement and arms and things, even some footwork can be really adaptable to solo dancing.

[Sagitta]

Yes I forgot that. Salsa shines can easily be used in freestyle dancing. Look up shines at df and learn those and you got a couple moves down, plus bustmove.com wizard dance... :)

[DancePoet]

Sounds like Salsa would be most helpful. But don't forget Cha-Cha! Maybe even Samba! And I don't know how often you will find a slow tune played in a club, but Rumba could be very helpful for those types of tunes. Imagine showing the guy of your dreams a little Rumba!

A lot can likely come into one's "freestyle" dancing by learning more then just a handful of the basic patterns from a handful of these dance styles. I can see taking some of the steps used in the latin/rythum styles and working them quite nicely, particularly if your "freestyle" involves "shines".

Perhaps along the way, you might discover the beauty of things like Tango, Foxtrot, and Waltz. Even though these won't likely be used in a club, they can be very helpful in other romantic situations!

[srevzdance]

Well, this is very helpful so far. Thanks a lot, guys!

Sounds like Salsa would be most helpful. But don't forget Cha-Cha! Maybe even Samba! And I don't know how often you will find a slow tune played in a club, but Rumba could be very helpful for those types of tunes. Imagine showing the guy of your dreams a little Rumba!

A lot can likely come into one's "freestyle" dancing by learning more then just a handful of the basic patterns from a handful of these dance styles. I can see taking some of the steps used in the latin/rythum styles and working them quite nicely, particularly if your "freestyle" involves "shines".

Perhaps along the way, you might discover the beauty of things like Tango, Foxtrot, and Waltz. Even though these won't likely be used in a club, they can be very helpful in other romantic situations!

In what ways can this be helpful in romantic situations, if you don't mind me asking? :P

[SalsaGeek]

If you like Hip Hop free style I would suggest getting Darian's Dance Groove on DVD. Pretty cool stuff. I think you should just call around and find a dance studio to check out different dance styles before commiting. There are just too many to list. I started out with Club Salsa then I ventured into Ballroom.

[Kitty]

Samba. Goes with a lot of pop music.

[KevinL]

Well, this is very helpful so far. Thanks a lot, guys!

In what ways can this be helpful in romantic situations, if you don't mind me asking? :P

I expect that DancePoet meant at weddings and in other non-club situations, but we'll have to wait for him to come back to know for certain..
Kevin

[DancePoet]

Thanks Kevin!

Yes, finally got back around to this one. Weddings are one example. Other social events and dances, too. Dancing in a restaurant could be another. There can be wonderful moments created at home for special occasions or just because.

I once was at an art museum and taught a women a basic box waltz while we had one gallery all to ourselves with music playing in the back round. Very romantic!

I wonder what the security folks behind their cameras thought of that one? Thankfully they let us be! And who in there right mind would have disturbed us!

Then again, imagine if we were doing a quick step. That might make them nervous. ;)

I suspect other folks could come up with some more examples and ideas. Perhaps a good topic for it's own thread even!

[Sagitta]

Perhaps dancepoet, perhaps!! :wink:

There is something about the mood and just moving with your partner to music, both real or imagined. Even more special if you have the ability to carry her through the motion without her realizing she does not know to dance. :)

[ShyDancer]

I would say go with salsa dancing and the music will grow on you, and I wish it did.


It can Sagitta! Im a good example! I had absolutely no interest in Salsa music for the first 2 months that I was learning the dance, however as I became more familiar with the steps I found myself wanting to dance it to the music.
Now a few months later I blast Salsa tunes at home and in my car...and I find it exteremly difficult not to dance along to the tunes in the car :lol:


srevzdance-- Maybe you shoudl try taking a few different styles of dance, Group classes are often free or cheap, so Id give them a try first, you never know, one style might catch your fancy and you will want to continue with it :D

[srevzdance]

I am taking latino classes once/twice a week now. It's not as easy for those with little dancing experience as it may seem :roll:

By the way, some people recommend to take classes with more than one instructor. Does anyone know what is the main reason for this?

[tj]

I am taking latino classes once/twice a week now. It's not as easy for those with little dancing experience as it may seem :roll:

By the way, some people recommend to take classes with more than one instructor. Does anyone know what is the main reason for this?

Lots of reasons, I can think of:

There are some bad :shock: instructors out there. There are tons of stories of people who, after 6 months of dancing, suddenly decide to become instructors.

Each instructor has their own strengths and weaknesses. By taking several you can (hopefully) pick up the best from each.

IMHO, every instructor has something to offer - even if it's just that you realize that not every instructor is for you! Lol!

[Sagitta]

As tj said there are a lot of reasons. The main thing is to figure out what works best for you. For instance, suppose you are learning salsa breaking on 1 and are trying to hear the rhythm of the music. Then if you are taking lesson from another who teaches by breaking on 2 you may have major problems. Each instructor has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and what you got to figure out is which instructor works best for you, and if you wish to capitalize on the different strengths of more then one instructor.

I was having problems with something and went to a different class yesterday night, and immediately those issues were resolved, so it can really help.