Is learning Salsa & Swing at the same a good idea?

[grandcentral]

Hi.

Does learning salsa and swing at the same time throw people off? I want to learn to lead well. Does learning these at the same time usually make one a better leader or does it hinder once progress?

Also, what is specifically a way to learn to lead? I been reading for days on here and the word is that you should first learn to lead, and then maybe learn to follow too, but you should not learn to follow and to lead at the same time by switching roles. Also, I find myself compensating unruly follows and in general when I dance I end up half leading and half following at the same time.

[nucat78]

Hi.

Does learning salsa and swing at the same time throw people off? I want to learn to lead well. Does learning these at the same time usually make one a better leader or does it hinder once progress?

That is a function of the individual's ability IME.

[...] you should not learn to follow and to lead at the same time by switching roles.

Learning lead and follow simultaneously would confuse me, even today. I compensate for "unruly" follows by letting them do what they want. No biggie.

[drejenpha]

As long as you don't switch from one to the other mid-dance (too much) you should be fine learning both.

The best way to learn to lead is to lead. A lot. Switching roles really shouldn't matter either, there's nothing quite like being lead through something to figure out how it should feel and what you need to do differently. If you're learning through lessons I'd suggest sticking to one role for the entire set during lessons but not worry about it as much during practice.

To your final point, the follow is not required to dance what you lead... it might be nice when they do but sometimes they don't want to. If you're just learning to lead it might be that you're not leading clearly so they have to guess at it and they don't guess what you were thinking. I don't dance too much of either dance but I've found plenty of opportunity for both partners to lead in both which can lead through fun improvisation.

[grandcentral]

ahh! so I disappear off the follows' radar and they have no idea what I am doing with my feet (aka not giving a clear lead), so that's why they do their own thing!

[kayak]

The leader starts the pattern, but then has to adjust for what the lady interprets. So there is always an element of following in leading.

I think you can absolutely learn to lead swing and salsa at the same time. Leading with the body is leading with the body.

[kayak]

ahh! so I disappear off the follows' radar and they have no idea what I am doing with my feet (aka not giving a clear lead), so that's why they do their own thing!

Your lead shouldn't come from your footwork but from the motion of your body. So she should not have to see your feet to feel your lead.

[tsb]

especially in swing and salsa, you should be taught the distinction between steps and other leg movement/stylings such as salsa taps on 4 & 8 (assuming that you are breaking on "1") or leg kicks in charleston or balboa/shag in the swing genre.

every time you take a *step*, your weight should end up over the foot that was previously free - whether your foot actually moves or not. the *weight shift* in your body movement is what lets your partner know when they should also shift weight with you. and in either basic, if you do not shift weight on each step of the basic, your partners will have problems following you - and it's a common enough problem where beginners will move their feet to where they are told, but will not shift weight onto that foot.

certain details are different between the two in terms of closed position, number of beats in the basic step, etc. but if you progress far enough, you will discover that some skills/figures overlap in between swing and salsa. body lead (communicating by shifting of body weight instead of pulling/pushing with the arms when in open position) is still a body lead. apache/texas tommy type moves, stop and go moves, pretzel (arm) moves are common to both dances. and WCS & salsa steal moves from each other all the time.

[Kipling]

I compensate for "unruly" follows by letting them do what they want. No biggie.

So even if they have no sense of timing at all you just go with it? And if they say that it is you that is messing up the timing, you grimace and bear it? This is the life I have to look forward to?

[samina]

Hi.

Does learning salsa and swing at the same time throw people off? I want to learn to lead well. Does learning these at the same time usually make one a better leader or does it hinder once progress?

Also, what is specifically a way to learn to lead? I been reading for days on here and the word is that you should first learn to lead, and then maybe learn to follow too, but you should not learn to follow and to lead at the same time by switching roles. Also, I find myself compensating unruly follows and in general when I dance I end up half leading and half following at the same time.

do you mean west coast swing?

i think it's a great idea to learn them both...if someone is drawn to that. if you are learning NY or LA-style salsa (as opposed to casino), then both move the lady back & forth along a "track", and they share some similar concepts.

half leading & half following isn't necessary a bad thing, lolz... if by that you mean half initiating and half responding.

[DerekWeb]

"So even if they have no sense of timing at all you just go with it? And if they say that it is you that is messing up the timing, you grimace and bear it? This is the life I have to look forward to?"

Yes. We will all make mistakes. Some more than others. Accept others as flawed and they may give you the same consideration.

[samina]

and an expert dancer can dance with all timing... even no timing... :)

make it your joy to learn that...and make it look gooood. :D

[kayak]

and an expert dancer can dance with all timing... even no timing... :)

make it your joy to learn that...and make it look gooood. :D

Plus, a decent leader so clearly suggests the time and place for the follower to step that her timing will no longer be off much.

[opendoor]

..Does learning salsa and swing at the same time throw people off? ...does it hinder once progress?

No, it complements each other, but it is a bit more demanding. Mind, if someone starts international ballroom, he has to learn a handful of dances, as well. But, salsa is an umbrella term for 3 different dances and swing is a bundle of styles, too. So, honestly, how many dances will you actually learn simultaneously? I would recommend for starting only Lindy Hop (as a swing dance) and Casino (as a Salsa dance).

[Ray Sison]

No, it complements each other, but it is a bit more demanding. Mind, if someone starts international ballroom, he has to learn a handful of dances, as well. But, salsa is an umbrella term for 3 different dances and swing is a bundle of styles, too. So, honestly, how many dances will you actually learn simultaneously? I would recommend for starting only Lindy Hop (as a swing dance) and Casino (as a Salsa dance).

opendoor, great points! And I concur wholeheartedly...

[tangotime]

.

But, salsa is an umbrella term for 3 different dances




"Rumba" is the "umbrella" term that covers all the Cuban latin dances , of which there are many , each having a distinct name .

" Styles" is kinda misleading when categorising the genre, and if one wished to do that, then there about 6 common ones that are rooted in Son.

[opendoor]

claro, only wanted to point to the fact, that salsa and swing are rather imprecise terms.

[pbdc]

I think learning two dances help support one another, at least when you're a beginner; it's like physical cross-training! ;-)