thinking about learning to dance !

[dan_gines]

Hi,

First time poster here :)

I live in London, UK and i'm considering taking some private salsa lessons and going to a regular salsa night.

It seems to me that there are several different styles of salsa, so i was hoping that someone could maybe recommend or suggest a style of dancing that i could start with.

If it helps, i'd like to learn a dance which will allow me to take control of the dance floor ! Hope this isn't too vague, but i'd appreciate any feedback - cheers !

Oh, i'm a guy by the way, if that makes any difference.

Dan

[squirrel]

what do you mean by 'take control of the dance floor'?

I highly recommend you take lessons of Salsa... it is a beautiful dance...

I know some dancers from London and that they are also teachers... I have seen tapes of them...

I know Susana Montero - she's a great lady, such a sensual and accomplished dancer!; Super Mario - great hands... great paterns, loved his tapes...; Leon Rose - haven't seen any tapes of him, but he's been praised by all those who saw him...

Hope this helps...

[Sagitta]

Welcoem to df dan_gines? Not sure what you mean by take control of the dance floor! :? Get the attention of others, perhaps? I would watch videos of the different styles, try different teachers out and then decide what sort of salsa you want to learn. I don't think it matters which style you learn, as long as it is a common one at the places you wish to frequent. Once you have the basics down you will find it easy to learn the other styles IMO.

[youngsta]

I wouldn't recommend any style. What I would say is check out lessons with several different instructors in the area and see which one you enjoy the most; then just go with it. You shouldn't really be concerning yourself with a specific style in the beginning unless you saw something you REALLY like and know you wanna do that.

[SDsalsaguy]

First of all, welcome to the DF dan_gines! :D

Overall I'd say I agree with youngsta. The only thing I'd add is that you might want to check out what style is prominent in the clubs you're likely to freequent... not because there's anything better about it, but just so that you'll find it easier to use what you're learning sooner rather then later.

Keep us posted and good luck!!!!

[MacMoto]

Welcome to DF, Dan!

As far as I know, the predominant dance style in London is LA style, so learning this style should give you the best chance of getting dances at clubs, I think.

You may also want to consider taking group classes (in addition to privates, if you like) to start with. Group classes are cheaper, and you get to meet other beginners to practise and go to clubs with. Going to a club on your own can be very daunting for a beginner, and it's worse for guys as they have to lead. Many clubs hold beginners classes early in the evening, and taking these classes and staying on with the group afterwards for some club experience is much easier than jumping straight in and dance next to experienced salseros.

[ShyDancer]

Welcome dan_gines :D

I agree with youngsta too.

Try anything and everything, You might find you enjoy one style over another (happened to me)
Im sure there are plenty of group classes around, Id try a few before comitting to expensive private lessons.

Good Luck and make sure you enjoy your dancing!

[dan_gines]

hi everyone,

thanks for everyone's posts - sure looks like a friendly forum here :)

I'll look at the local salsa clubs (there are quite a few) and take it from there.

I recently went to see a girlfriend over in Holland and she is a very good salsa dancer (she teaches and is also taking auditions). I, on the other hand have no salsa experience.

We went out one night to a salsa bar and i tell you, i have never felt so useless before !!! I was sitting my butt on a stool all night whilst she was being twirled and twisted like a pro. I don't have an issue with her dancing with other men at all, but i just felt rubbish because i couldn't dance myself.

Don't want to be in that position again, so i want to start to learn !


Dan

[Sagitta]

Whatever motivates you to start dancing, and salsa dancing, is great, IMO! :wink: :)

[Danish Guy]

Welcome dan_gines

Just get started.

You live in a place with a lot of opportunities for great salsa.

I had great fun being on a workshop with Robert Charlemagne.
He is very inspiring. Impressive how a man his size can move.

Got a folder telling he teaches on Fridays.

If when I get to London, I'll have to drop by this spot.

See more info here www.salsa.co.uk

[dan_gines]

Hi,

really enjoying this forum !

So i went to an absolute beginners class on Sunday (we all have to start somewhere) and it was excellent !

I was concerned with my motivation for learning salsa (ie. hurt pride) but i thought i'd at least give it a go and just see what it's like.

I have to be honest and say that for a full hour i had a constant toothy grin on my face ! I really enjoyed it...and that was just three steps that i learnt. And man, to dance with the music on made my skin tingle, haha !

I even had three girls tell me that i was a good leader, which was encouraging.

So, going again to another class on Wednesday and will keep up two nights a week. Will introduce a private lesson once a week, once i've done a few more beginner classes. And also ploughing through this site and a whole host of others, to read up on everything i can about salsa - i'm particularly interested in the history.

I have to admit, it's pretty daunting as there seem to be so much to learn - but if i just concentrate on one step at a time :lol:

sorry for the long email, just kinda excited right now !

Would like to buy some good salsa music - any recommodations ?


Dan

[squirrel]

Well, Dan, I'm so happy you loved it! And I understand your excitement oh so well... I've been dancing for more than 3 years now and still feel the same!

Good luck with the lessons! A new salsero is born! This calls for a celebration! Any suggestions?!

Music: I'll give you the first bands and any singers that pop up (my favorites, probably):
Victor Manuelle, Sonora Caruselles, Domingo Quinones, Tony Vega, PuertoRican Power, Frankie Ruiz, Oscar d'Leon, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz, La India, Joe Arroyo, Mark Anthony, Anthony Cruz, Africando, Jerry Rivera, Yuri Buenaventura, Fania All Stars, Buena Vista Social Club, Tito Nieves, David Pavon, Gilberto Santarosa, Johnny Polanco, Grupo Gale, Los Adolescentes, Jose Alberto El Canario, Justo Betancourt, Tito Rojas, Roberto Roena, Grupo Niche, Andy Montanez, Cheo Feliciano, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, El Gran Combo, Ismael Rivera, Cuco Valoy, Tito Puente... and I left so many out...

[salsachinita]

:banana: Welcome to the clan of Salsaholics, Dan! :banana:

[youngsta]

:twisted: MUAHAHAHHAHAHAAAAA

[MacMoto]

sorry for the long email, just kinda excited right now !
No need to apologise, Dan -- it's great to hear that you're enjoying your classes!

Would like to buy some good salsa music - any recommodations ?
Buying some salsa compilations containing medium tempo songs is a good way to start. High-street CD shops tend to stock only a limited selection of salsa music, so for better choice try Amazon (both UK and US). Your teacher should be able to recommend some starter CDs, and many salsa web sites also offer a list of recommended CDs, e.g.:
http://www.uksalsa.com/Store/starter_cds.html
http://www.salsafever.com/shopping/cds.htm
http://www.salsaholics.co.uk/frames.html (scroll down to "Salsa CD recommendations" section)
Also http://salsaholics.co.uk/cgi-bin/cdlist.cgi
http://www.academiadesalsa.co.uk/salsamusica.htm

And don't forget, there are also a few threads in this forum with salsa music recommendations.*

As you spend more time in classes and clubs, you will know what sort of salsa music you like. Ask the teachers/DJs for the title/artist when they play a song you like, and track it down in Amazon. With luck, it will give you audio clips of other songs in the same CD.

* This was the sort of question I had in mind when I started the "first salsa CD" thread (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3325)... any contributions, guys?