intensive classes ?

[dan_gines]

Hi everyone,

Still enjoying everything that the salsa world has to throw at me !

On Saturday, i'm going to an intensive workshop for beginners (approx. 6/7 hours). I'm looking forward to a lot of fun, but also some hard work !

Does anyone have any experience of these intensive courses ?

It's apparently something like a 10 week course rolled into one day and after which i should be able to go out and dance that evening.


Dan

[Sagitta]

How much you get from the weekend depends on your learning style. How much you can absorb and retain, your stamina, your concentration. I personally find 6/7 hours of lessons of one style a little too much to absorb and retain effectively at present. I have learnt a lot, but miss a lot too, and usually will retain more if the lessons are spread out a little more.

[MacMoto]

As Sagitta says, an intensive course can overload you with too much information to digest in one go -- when you take 10 classes over 10 weeks, you have a whole week in which to practise what you have been taught and get comfortable with it before facing the next step, which you won't have in a 1-day intensive. Also, you get very tired towards the end of the day. I've just come back from 2 full days of workshops (total of 11 classes :shock:), and I could barely move in the last class. There was a 12th class, but I had to give it a miss.

Having said that, it can be exciting and fun especially if the workshops are held in an environment different from your usual classes. You can learn a lot by going to different teachers and working with different people. Don't worry if you can't remember everything -- just enjoy the experience.

Don't forget to report back -- enquiring minds would like to know!

[dan_gines]

Will definately let you know how it goes.

Looking forward to it, but i will be prepared for a long day !

But hey, it's salsa....all day ! Can't be bad...


Dan

[squirrel]

Well, even if you don't learn or retain much, you'll be in a salsa-friendly environment... :)

I suggest you go... and good luck!

[templeria]

I'm gussing as you're in London you're going to go to one of Alastair's workshops (Salsa Rapido). I did one of their courses about a year ago and did find it helpful - and the team there are also very friendly. On the plus side they also book the same number of girls as guys so you don't have either sex standing around for most of the time as is so often the case in classes.

The only problem was retaining the information and a whole day of salsa is hard work. Having said that we did go out dancing that night, which I did find helpful - gives you a chance to consolidate what you have learnt on the dance floor before you forget it!

The one thing I would suggest is don't do what I did and go out drinking the night before, only to suffer with a hangover the whole day! :oops:

Anyway, enjoy the day - let us know how it went. :D

[Lofland]

It might be good to schedule a private lesson some time after this intensive class, so an instructor can correct any bad technique before it becomes ingrained as a habit.

[Sakura]

Kudos, Lofland -- great insights! After my Salsa Workshop (I'm soooo jealous of you, dan_gines! You get 6/7 hours and mine was only an hour class! :wink: So, dance some for me, okay?), I was (am) thoroughly convinced that I was (am) going to take a private lesson on it for two reasons:

1. I can correct anything I screwed up on (as Lofland stated)

2. I can solidify my steps/technique and learn more steps!

Ahhhh, Salsa is a wonderful Master. :roll: :twisted: :wink:

Also, as MacMoto said, fill us in on what happened once you go! Remember, we're all rooting for you!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[JohnK]

Sounds a lot like some of the dance weekends offered around here. As everyone has said, you will be "drinking from a firehose", so get plenty of rest the night before. Also, what helped me a LOT was stuff a pencil and a couple sheets of paper in your pocket, and when you get a break, sketch out what you learned. It will help solidify, and be an excellent reference after the short term memory peters out.

[pygmalion]

That's a great idea, JohnK. 8)

[Sakura]

:D If I could remember to *bring* that notepad and paper, I'd agree too! *sweatdrops* Eh, heh... :oops: :roll:

Sakura Kitty :kitty: