How do I get guys to dance with me? [Archive]

Sonia in Aalborg

07-30-2004, 05:03 AM

Hi! This is my first thread at dance-forums and I've got a question thats been bugging me ever since I starting with salsa which is about 2 months ago. Well, a girlfriend of mine and I started together-and quite frankly, even though she's good I think I have a better sense of rhythm and style. But whenever we end lessons and salsatek starts, the advanced dancers always ask her to dance with them-I don't think I've ever been asked to dance :( I could imagine a no of reasons-I'm brown skinned in a predominantly white skinned crowd, too chirripy, am on the chubby side, don't know enough steps, sweat too much...that factor had been bothering me a lot but I carry extra shirts now! And then one more, I dress more on the boyish side whereas my friend is really feminine....I've started dragging along my bf lately and he's really picking it up but I would like to dance with the other guys too! I had actually begun disliking salsatek and feeling depressive afterwards because of all this until my bf started coming along. So...all in all....I would be really grateful to all of you out there if you could help me! Thank! :)

squirrel

07-30-2004, 05:20 AM

Sonia, what I did when I started... I am not a model-like striking woman, I am normal and I used to dress boyish... well, guess what?! Guys were not inviting me! And I was eager to dance with them!
So what I did (I didn't have the guts to ask them, I was a beginner...) was to dress in skimpy outfits!
The first time I came wearing a black very tight top and a black very short skirt I got invited, trust me! They were fighting to invite me!
Maybe it'a a start... :)

cocodrilo

07-30-2004, 05:35 AM

Welcome Sonia!
It's true what Squirrel says. Try to "spice up" your wardrobe a bit- the guys really go for that! Personally, I don't like dresses or skirts much, but usually wear sexy, tight dance pants and a cute blouse. After all, salsa IS a SEXY dance! :wink:

MacMoto

07-30-2004, 06:06 AM

Because you are new to the scene, your face is not known. More experienced guys don't know if you can dance so don't ask you. Many beginners experience this. I did. In your case you are feeling worse because your friend is getting dances despite her being also a beginner, but you have to understand the way advanced leaders are thinking -- "well, if I ask this beginner girl and it turns out that she can't dance to save her life, at least I get to hold a pretty girl in a revealing outfit in my arms for 3 minutes." That's where the "dress sexy" advice from others come in. A sexy dress works on this male psyche and gives you a chance to be seen dancing. This is important, because once you are regularly seen dancing, people will recognise you and accept you as a dancer, and more guys will start asking you. You can ditch the sexy dress and go back to your tomboy clothes once this happens.

Also, you don't have to wait for men to ask you -- ask them. I know it's hard (it was for me at first, believe me), but as long as you stick to one dance per dancer, most men will say yes.

Going with your boyfriend and dance mostly with him is not necessarily a good idea if you want to dance with other guys too. When people see you dancing mostly with just one guy, they assume you don't want to dance with others. I'm not saying that you shouldn't go with your boyfriend, but when you do go, you need to make an extra effort and ask other guys to dance, in order to show that you are happy to dance with anyone, not just your boyfriend.

Sonia in Aalborg

07-30-2004, 06:06 AM

Sonia in Aalborg

07-30-2004, 06:14 AM

Hi again.
That was another piece of good advice about not dancing too much with my boyfriend. I'll tell him about it. We've also begun to realise that we get cranky after dancing too much with each other and trying the same steps again and again. Hah! I've got 2 things to work on now this weekend-shopping and then asking some guys to dance with me. I'm personally not afraid to ask them to dance but always thought they would discuss me afterwards and then get a rep for being too bold or something. But you're right-this IS the 21st century!!! Thanks a lot!

squirrel

07-30-2004, 06:38 AM

Your weight matters very much to you and you make it obvious to the others... I am not saying you should wear something that doesn't look good on you... just that boyish clothes are not the right choice!
Try something girlish... and wear makeup!
About sweating... in my country it's not really an issue... but you can always carry towels...

cocodrilo

07-30-2004, 07:15 AM

Thanks for the tips. Makes me feel so much better that it could actually be the clothes that I wear and not me, that keeps guys away. I must go out and shop for some dance pants and sexxy tops. Am quite conscious of my midriff and the double tiers :? but hope to find something suitable! :) Another question, I don't know if you girls sweat a lot but I really do and therefore would NEVER dream of wearing sleeveless or tank tops-wouldn't want my partner to end the dance with my sweat all over his palms. Yeech.... :shock: What do you'll do??

Sonia-
I'm sure you can find some sexy things that'll cover your midriff if you don't feel like showing it. I, too, sweat a lot. (Hey, it means we have DYNAMITE circulation & we're healthy!) I wear lots of sleeveless things or else I sweat MORE. I also recommend a strong deodorant and a dousing of a nice perfume when you visit the ladies room. I always keep towels in my dance bag and wipe off should I break into a sweat after a few consecutive dances. In Japan, where I live, a lot of people have fans, which is nice to help you cool off (and it looks cute, too!). A lot of the guys use them too!

youngsta

07-30-2004, 07:48 AM

Hey Sonia! All the ladies are giving some good tips, but I gotta say you must have some ignorant advanced salseros in your area. I see the 'wolfpack' mentality is alive and well around the salsa world. Best of luck, and if you come out to Denver hollar at me! :wink:

Sagitta

07-30-2004, 07:48 AM

Welcome to df Sonia in Aalborg! I'll be honest and tell you that I'm glad that I'm hearing that another person of the opposite sex sweats a lot. I do too...rivulets.... There are a few others out there that do the same. What can we do? It's just in the genes. :(

As for dances asking guys is fine. If anyone asked me I would be happy. Since guys usually do the asking it is a good feeling to be asked sometimes.

I would go along with cocodrilo and squirrel and say that if a top that reveals your mid-riff is going to make you feel uncomfortable due to your visible "rolls", don't wear one. It is important to feel good in what you are wearing and it shows when you don't. Do wear more feminine clothes, but you can be feminine without dressing in skimpy, 2/3 pieces of cloth! Your gfs or another lady whom you know well probably would be able to help you pick out something that is a reasonable compromise.

KiwiMambo

07-31-2004, 12:13 PM

Sonia, I answered your question at this related thread:

http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=4798&start=15

Lucretia

07-31-2004, 12:30 PM

Welcome Sonia!

I’m also new here and have a few problems in common with you

My legs are terrible. I cannot wear a short a skirt, and long ones mess up with the footwork. My solution is a pair of tight trousers (almost like jazz trousers/dance pants or stockings made by thick fabric) and a “Spanish” scarf made by lace and a 15 centimeter fringe. The scarf I hang over my hips concealing my bulky upper legs for everyone’s eye. The tight trousers also accent the lower part of the legs which is better than the upper part.

Recently I bought a wonderful pair of nice-looking-salsa-shoe only 2 centimeter high but very very feminine. I dance better and feel more sexy with these on my feet.

The effect of the shoes and the scarf is wonderful. The part of me which actually is hidden seems to steal all the glances from the men. The outfit also encourages a proper “hip work”. A few nights ago I was on a salsa event. One of the guys in the orchestra was almost hypnotized by my hips. The lead singer gave me an admiring smile when I tried to do a dance called bomba (I believe it’s called so) which is related to African dance and reminds of the hip/button movement you se in Arabic dance. I don't think the effct had been the same if I was half-naked.

You can both dress sexy and dance sexy without having to reveal more than you really want to.

Then to the sweat-problem …why don’t you dress like sportsman

The dance pants it best bought at an athletic/sport shop (or whatever you call it in English) or a dance shop. Ask for a fabric which let the sweat out. Then it will evaporate before you get wet. Here you also can buy nice (and sexy if you prefer that) tops with the same kind of marvelous fabric. If the top is too minimal you can “conceal” the arms and décolletage with a semitransparent blouse. With the sport top close to your body you will transpire much more efficient. You can even buy a sports bra. There are nice looking ones to find.

I recently bought a ordinary looking pair of trouser (not looking like dance pants or stockings) in a sport shop. I haven’t felt the sweat since that. I have also recommended some “good-sweating-guys” to buy their T-shirts in a sports shop.

Good luck!

/Lucretia

Lucretia

07-31-2004, 02:07 PM

(Sometimes I have to write post and wait an hour before I find out what I really want to say. )

The big thing about dressing is not to find out what parts you need to conceal. It is to find out what parts that are good and need to be accentuated.

The Spanish-scarf trick isn’t perhaps what you need. In my case the waist is good but the hips and upper part of the leg isn’t. The scarf accentuates my waist and conceals the hips. If I concealed it all it wouldn’t have worked.

It is what’s inside your head that really matters. If you feel beautiful and sexy you will appear beautiful and sexy. Right kind of clothes and shoes will probably help but you have to FEEL comfortable and sexy as well.

( I have played this game several times at my local gym. If I work out with a “feeling sexy-feeling” - the boys look at me. I get several smiles and I can also see that they are looking at me …secretly they believe…in the mirrors. If I work out feeling like a grey mouse – no one looks at me.

I guess the key is my movement and of course my expression and “aura”. Try it once …just for fun. I guess you’ll se the difference)

Then one more thing…
I believe you need to get an unofficial “OK-salsa-dancer-passport” by dancing to a lot of people and “advertise” yourself. Me myself is in the same painful period. I can dance much better than anyone has seen yet. I just need some more self-confidence.

The people I know who dance salsa (my salsa-class-mates) are much worse than I. I have to encourage them and rehearse the steps we’ve learnt. The dance get terrible and no one belive I can dance better than that. ( I really whant to help them...but not the whole evening)

When a good dancer happens to ask me to dance, he mostly drops me after one dance. Just when I’ve started to learn the new steps and patters I never had done before (where I live most guys don’t adjust the dance to the lady). Just when my nerves has cooled down and when I get a glimpse of a “flow”.

It’s like Catch 22.

/Lucretia

Vin

07-31-2004, 02:56 PM

Alot of times when a woman is unable to follow my lead what happens is that we both think it is our own fault.
A great way to get a second dance in this situation is to say, don't judge me after one dance, the first is always a warm-up.

Lucretia

07-31-2004, 04:09 PM

don't judge me after one dance, the first is always a warm-up.

That was a very good advice. I'll try it next time!

/Lucretia

Sabor

08-01-2004, 04:10 AM

Hi Sonia..
general advice.. in summary:

1. Dress hot and let your feminity shine and Smell wonderful

2. Adjust your follow to the guy's lead.. try to be as smooth and light as much as u can

3. Dont just dance .. but Enjoy the dance.. let the beauty in u shine naturally.. dont force it, just clear your being and let go. Express your passion with every centimeter in your body.

.. mind u, we are all not perfect.. and will never be.. but in time and good experience we sure can get closer than from where we were :D

cocodrilo

08-01-2004, 05:11 AM

MacMoto

08-01-2004, 06:50 AM

The big thing about dressing is not to find out what parts you need to conceal. It is to find out what parts that are good and need to be accentuated.

It is what’s inside your head that really matters. If you feel beautiful and sexy you will appear beautiful and sexy. Right kind of clothes and shoes will probably help but you have to FEEL comfortable and sexy as well.
Excellent advice, Lucretia.

Sasashay

08-01-2004, 10:23 PM

Hi Sonia,

I too was going to the local salsa club with a girlfriend. I had been taking lessons for two years, and could do a decent salsa, my friend had never danced before, and yet, all the men swarmed around her wanting to dance with her. I always wore dance clothes.... long and flowy skirts and tops,she wore tight jeans and tops.......I guess men like tight better than flowy :) One night I wore a sleeveless dress that showed some cleavage.....I didn't stop dancing all night :lol: :roll: Need I say more? :P :wink:

TemptressToo

08-01-2004, 10:26 PM

Paying them works. ;) Just kidding.

etchuck

08-01-2004, 10:27 PM

Lucretia gives some great advice! Accentuate what you HAVE!
As for fabric preferences, it is amazing that people dance in cotton stuff, which soaks up sweat but SHOWS it and takes half a day to dry! The dance pants I wear are made by Danskin(my favorite brand) and they neither show the sweat or keep it. They dry almost immediately! Most of the sexy tops have a lot of stretchy fabric which is synthetic, so dries quickly(and hides the sweat!).

GUYS, TOO- forget the T-shirts(I think those should be reserved for the beach, anyhow!) and the cotton button-down collars 'cause we can see you sweat, too! Go for something(a color, style) that accentuates YOUR bod, and in a fabric that lets you dry off!!!

Hmm... there's a problem with that. The local salsa club usually prohibits anyone from wearing any "sports"-related stuff for their formal events. I don't know what that means but they are really picky on what one should wear. Button-down shirts are acceptable, but athletic shirts (like the dryweave BodyArmour suit I wear for Latin dancing in ballroom) are NOT allowed. I almost had to go home when I went in with my favorite sports jersey (which as it is polyester doesn't soak sweat that much).

I admit, these little rules are pains. I have worn my BodyArmour gear at swing and ballroom dances, and I don't expect it to be a problem at contra dancing. Why it is apparently specific to salsa (at least in terms of a local aberration), I don't know.

Sonia in Aalborg

08-02-2004, 03:08 AM

My biggest mistake is that I've been wearing cotton tops all this time for salsa. :shock: Well, I've got a more quick-dry version on today and will see how that goes. I'm grateful we don't have any dress codes at our club but that's probably because there isn't much salsa happening in Aalborg (lack of people or lack of interest...dunno :( ). Folks though, tend to land up pretty 'decently' dressed. I still haven't tried dancing with heels which thereby means wearing a skirt or dress - use my comfy sneakers and jeans instead! Looking fwd to salsa tonight and will keep in mind all the tips you'll have so nicely posted up for me! :D
Thanks so much :)

MacMoto

08-02-2004, 03:32 AM

I still haven't tried dancing with heels which thereby means wearing a skirt or dress - use my comfy sneakers and jeans instead! Looking fwd to salsa tonight and will keep in mind all the tips you'll have so nicely posted up for me! :D
Thanks so much :)
Close-fitting trowsers (tight jeans can get very hot, heavy and uncomfortable though, so be warned -- see What I learned this weekend ... (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3761)) with a small, sexy top work too. I personally find it easier to dance in a pair of dance shoes with a bit of heels than in flat shoes -- I feel heels make you correctly poised and put you on the balls of your feet naturally. My dance shoes are not very high (2 - 2.5") and have chunky heels, which work best for me.

Have fun tonight, and keep us posted :D.

cocodrilo

08-02-2004, 06:03 AM

Yeah, I stay away from jeans(even when I'm NOT dancing!). Too hot, too heavy! ALWAYS wear slinky, clingy dance pants. Look great, feel great, never binding or sweat-retaining!

I LOVE my jazz flats, they are SOOOOOOO comfy, won't give you bunions or calluses, you can jump, leap, do plies and they feel great and don't catch on your pantleg when you do quick, fancy shines(sorry, I guess I'm a show-off :wink:).

Sabor

08-02-2004, 09:11 AM

(sorry, I guess I'm a show-off :wink:).

not necessarily.. since that would depend on how good those watching think u are :wink:

:lol:

Sonia in Aalborg

08-03-2004, 01:13 AM

Hi all! Just wanted to say I had a great time last evening. I ended up changing into trousers and am grateful to you'll for that tip coz it was like a little boiler in our club. Also took an extra blouse and a towel. There weren't that many people (good beach weather and all) but that made it nicer to get a chance and dance with everyone. We have intermediate class before beginner's class on Mondays and learnt a really cool step which I try everytime I go to the loo coz I definitely don't want to forget it. And the best part is that my boyfriend is actually beginning to enjoy salsa too :banana: :banana:! We tried switching partners a lot but I was a bit disappointed with this other chap coz I wanted to grab him for 1 dance (he's a wonderful lead) but he had his girl with him and they danced together all evening. Grrrr :x :x :x ! We tried dancing salsa to country music when we got home. :oops: :P Hehehe! Tonight it's beginner's salsa at the gym for 1½ hour. Yihaaaa :D

MacMoto

08-04-2004, 02:37 AM

Hi all! Just wanted to say I had a great time last evening.
Glad to hear it! :D

etchuck

08-04-2004, 08:41 AM

We tried dancing salsa to country music when we got home. :oops: :P Hehehe!

:shock: country music? Can you salsa to Danish country music? Damn I gotta get more music tips... ;)

I'm glad you had a better time this time out! Keep it going!

Sonia in Aalborg

08-04-2004, 08:51 AM

country music? Can you salsa to Danish country music?

I've got this habit of applying the basic 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 of salsa to just about anything I hear if that's possible! :oops: And it's really easy with solid coutry with a strong 4/4 beat! :) It wasn't Danish country btw-good ol' American music...don't think I have any Danish country come to think of it! Hmmmm :roll:

I had a great time at beginner's at the gym last night although we were about 10 girls and 3 guys incl the instructor. It was really cosy and good fun trying to lead the new girls-all 9 of them. :) I want to try to lead a xbl properly next time.

My bf didn't enjoy it too much though coz for one he felt really conscious dancing in front of all those mirrors. I do too but have got used to seeing akward me wiggling around trying to shake my hips like a salsera! :) And he didn't get this new step our instructor taught us but we're determined to get it right tomorrow! :D

etchuck

08-04-2004, 09:20 AM

This could be the start of another thread, but believe it or not, I am very self-conscious and don't like to see myself in a mirror when I'm dancing other than practicing my posture and hip motion. I just don't look.

Of course, if you think that's bad, try videotaping yourself... then you'd experience real self-conscious behavior. :)

You do get over it... as long as you don't think "Oh, my God, that's me, I look horrible!"

As for crossing over your salsa steps into country music... that's how it (the dancing addiction) starts. Would you dare do that at a dance??? Well, you could at some of the ones I run. :)

Sagitta

08-04-2004, 09:28 AM

Glad to hear how things are going well with the salsa Sonia!! Keep it up. I totally understand what you mean by doing salsa to 4/4/ music. I am shameless and will do what I want when I want. Depending on the mood I'll dance any dance. For instance, yesterday night I dance 3 cha chas to merengue (slower ones), plus a salsa to reggaeton music. This dj was playing song aftre song after song of reggaeton and I wasn't in the mood of it. By the 4th song I heard the beat and went for it. My friends said that they saw this smug expression on my face as if I had one up on the dj. I really felt that way!! :P That's for you dj! And they said that when they saw me doing it they realized how perfect it was for a salsa.

Now I have a question to ask you. I know someone from Sweden. Yesterday night he saw me taking the dance music and playing with it, recognizing elements that I could use to do other dances. He told me that the Europeans like that, that I would be a hit!! What has been your experience?

etchuck

08-04-2004, 09:36 AM

Glad to hear how things are going well with the salsa Sonia!! Keep it up. I totally understand what you mean by doing salsa to 4/4/ music. Depending on the mood I'll dance any dance. For instance, yesterday night I dance 3 cha chas to merengue (slower ones), plus a salsa to reggaeton music. This dj was playing song aftre song after song of reggaeton and I wasn't in the mood of it. By the 4th song I heard the beat and went for it. My friends said that they saw this smug expression on my face as if I had one up on the dj. I really felt that way!! :P That's for you dj! And they said that when they saw me doing it they realized how perfect it was for a salsa.

That's funny. "Whatever crap you play, you can't stop me!" has been my attitude whenever some odd music comes up (WCS to merengue). Believe me, the good ol' British-sounding strict tempo stuff has its place, but I don't go for it.

In my case, I play "non-standard music" to see how the dancers react and what they'd do to keep dancing. For me it's, "Show me you can dance to this!" rather than "I feel like playing a bunch of reggae." And so I can samba, WCS, or freestyle it...

Sagitta

08-04-2004, 10:54 AM

This could be the start of another thread, but believe it or not, I am very self-conscious and don't like to see myself in a mirror when I'm dancing other than practicing my posture and hip motion. I just don't look.

Of course, if you think that's bad, try videotaping yourself... then you'd experience real self-conscious behavior. :)

You do get over it... as long as you don't think "Oh, my God, that's me, I look horrible!"

I meant to respond to this earlier. I like looking at myself. I do moves and check how they look in the mirror. I might even like it a little too much! :wink: This is why I don't think that mirrors are good when I'm dancing. For lessons and practice they are fine, but I'd rather not have them when I'm dancing. That way I do not have the temptation. :oops: As for videotapes someone has been taping me doing moves with others. I got to check this out.

Sonia in Aalborg

08-06-2004, 08:50 AM

Yeah, dancing while looking at oneself in the mirror can be quite a frightening experience! :) And I don't bother looking....just shudder to think of how painful it would be if I had to videotape myself dancing!

As for Sagitta's question about the European way of life...I don't really know :oops: . I've been in the part of the world for about 2½ years now but it's only in the past 3 months that I've started going out dancing (salsa). :) I didn't really enjoy dancing that much before even though I love it because I was too conscious of myself but a friend of mine and I went out pub crawling a couple of weekends ago and I had a blast. :D :D :D I owe my confidence to all that I've learnt at salsa and feel less akward with my body now - the result is that I don't feel like a bumbous idiot any more and care even less even if my friend and I are the only ones on the dance floor. ... gives more room for movement anyway! :D

Danoo

08-06-2004, 09:03 AM

what i see followers do is they stand next to the dnce floor doing shines
and nearllt all of them get picked up by a leader..

so try that :)

Danish Guy

08-06-2004, 09:04 AM

Sagitta

08-06-2004, 09:10 AM

Now I have a question to ask you. I know someone from Sweden. Yesterday night he saw me taking the dance music and playing with it, recognizing elements that I could use to do other dances. He told me that the Europeans like that, that I would be a hit!! What has been your experience?

Generally we are able of mixing everything. Taking the best from different styles (or the worst, depending on the view). I’m not sure I completely understand your question though.

Let me give a simple example. A reggaeton song comes on. It has a nice strong beat. I feel that I should salsa to it and do so. People who see me comment on how they hadn't thought of that song as one that they can salsa to, but when seeing me they realize it fits really well. That me and my partner are one with the music, and that our interpretation magnifies the musical experience. So, the ability to not be restricted by what the song is, i.e. reggaeton, or cuban salsa, or forro, or waltz, or samba...but think outside the box. To understand the music sufficiently to do so. Just because it is a merengue song does not mean one necessarily has to merengue to it. :wink:

Danish Guy

08-06-2004, 09:40 AM

Yes, Sagitta, then we do that all the time.
If it got the rythm, everything goes.

Actually merengue to techno music can be a blast!

MacMoto

08-10-2004, 05:08 AM

So Sonia -- you've danced with Danish Guy? :D How did it go? Enquiring Minds want to know...

Sonia in Aalborg

08-10-2004, 05:43 AM

Hey MacMoto!
How in the world did you know that Danish Guy was over in Aalborg last night?! :o :o Yeah well, I did dance with him...and let me tell you .. I had the most enjoyable evening! :D I think it was the first time an advansero actually asked me to dance and I really really enjoyed being swished around the place by someone who knew what he was doing! :):):):):) Danish guy's a very good lead in my opinion! :)

I only wish I didn't have to leave that early :?

We had an intermediate class which was fun followed by beginner's where we learnt basic merengue! :) Danced a couple of dances after that and had to scoot off home! But a fab evening all in all! :)

Seeya
...Sonia

MacMoto

08-10-2004, 06:21 AM

Hey MacMoto!
How in the world did you know that Danish Guy was over in Aalborg last night?! :o :o
Because he wrote about it somewhere else :wink: (IRU I think).

Yeah well, I did dance with him...and let me tell you .. I had the most enjoyable evening! :D I think it was the first time an advansero actually asked me to dance and I really really enjoyed being swished around the place by someone who knew what he was doing! :):):):):) Danish guy's a very good lead in my opinion! :)
That's great! It makes a huge difference when the leader knows his craft well, doesn't it?
I remember the first time I danced with someone really advanced -- I was like :shock: then :D then :bouncy:

Note to self: Find an opportunity to dance with Danish Guy.

Danish Guy

08-11-2004, 05:23 PM

Thanks for the nice comments Sonia :oops: :oops: :oops:

Aalborg had a little, but friendly scene. But my guess is the fine summer weather kept some dancers away. The instructor knows what he’s doing, and not afraid to come with feedback. I haven’t expected to get much from the intermediate session, but I was in for a pleasant surprise.

Sonia is fun dancing with, and show she like to dance. She is easy to lead, so there should not be any problems being asked, as the salseros get to know her. I’m looking forward to the next time we dance.

It’s not my last visit to Aalborg. 8)

Danish Guy

08-11-2004, 05:27 PM

Note to self: Find an opportunity to dance with Danish Guy.

Oh Yeah, go go go. :car:
I’m looking forward to realising that opportunity. :banana:

Sonia in Aalborg

08-12-2004, 01:16 AM

Hey Danish Guy!
Thanks for the really nice complements! :oops: :) :P :D Very sweet of you. You know what really really irritates me the most?..... The fact that I don't understand Spanish and therefore have no clue what the songs are about! I really envy these Costa Ricans and Cubans who come sometimes and start to sing along! :x

You were right about the beach weather keeping the dancers away. But, you know, in a way I don't mind because it gives us newies a chance to get familiarized with the place and feel at home and try our moves without feeling displaced or anything.

Going to look for some 'spinning' topics on the forum now. If anyone could direct me to some that would be fab. :) We tried some steps on Tuesday and I think at the end of it, my partner, instructor and I were so frustrated we could have pulled each others hair out coz I wasn't spinning fast enough! :oops: :? :( :headwall: I know one prob was my shoes-really heavy sports shoes-but the biggest prob is that I either don't put enough distance in my spins or otherwise spin too far out and therefore don't make it to the right spot on time.

Anyway, Happy Thursday Dfers-it's almost weekend! :D

MacMoto

08-12-2004, 03:27 AM

You know what really really irritates me the most?..... The fact that I don't understand Spanish and therefore have no clue what the songs are about! I really envy these Costa Ricans and Cubans who come sometimes and start to sing along! :x

If there are songs you particularly like and you know the title/artist (if you don't, ask the teacher or DJ), you can often find lyrics by Googling. Then you can run them through one of those quick translation websites -- they won't retain the full flavour but will give you a rough idea of what the songs are about. Be warned though -- sometimes you wish you didn't know what they were about! :shock:
(And I do sing along to my favourite songs even though I don't understand Spanish -- yet :oops:)

Sagitta

08-12-2004, 03:33 AM

You know what really really irritates me the most?..... The fact that I don't understand Spanish and therefore have no clue what the songs are about! I really envy these Costa Ricans and Cubans who come sometimes and start to sing along! :x

I don't know a word of Spanish but hum along anyway. I'm probably going to learn it soon though.

Going to look for some 'spinning' topics on the forum now. If anyone could direct me to some that would be fab. :) We tried some steps on Tuesday and I think at the end of it, my partner, instructor and I were so frustrated we could have pulled each others hair out coz I wasn't spinning fast enough! :oops: :? :( :headwall: I know one prob was my shoes-really heavy sports shoes-but the biggest prob is that I either don't put enough distance in my spins or otherwise spin too far out and therefore don't make it to the right spot on time.

To start you out:

salsa turns (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=314&highlight=spins)

How many turns can you do on one foot? (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3258&start=30)

Too many turns? (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2829&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=spins&start=30)

Sonia in Aalborg

08-12-2004, 03:42 AM

Hey Sagitta, why did you quote my spinning frustrations and not say anything after that ? :o :shock: :cry:

Sonia in Aalborg

08-12-2004, 03:43 AM

Sorrrrie Sagitta.......read it all now! :oops: :)

Sagitta

08-12-2004, 03:47 AM

No problem. I actually posted by mistake, before putting in the links, while in the process of doing so. :)

cocodrilo

08-12-2004, 04:12 AM

Ditto Macmoto!
I know some young latinos who don't like salsa because of the lyrics- "Oh, woe is me my broken heart woman you are such a liar lies, lies, lies" etc. They say it gets pretty sappy, but what th' heck, it's their culture! :wink:

MacMoto

08-12-2004, 04:49 AM

Some more spinning related links...
Spotting (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=964)
Pivoting? (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=794)
Spins for the follower true or false (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3727)
double and triple turns!? (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=1425)

Also, some very good articles on this subject by Edie the SalsaFreak...
http://www.dancefreak.com/stories/posture.htm
http://www.dancefreak.com/stories/spins.htm

Happy reading :)

Sonia in Aalborg

08-19-2004, 05:43 AM

Hi Everyone-Who's-Been-Reading-This-Thread-And-Replying,
A very interesting discovery I made while dancing at the gym on Tuesday. As usual I had my thick rubber soled sneakers on (still have to invest in a decent pair of dance shoes :? ) and quickly realised that if I had to take them off if I had to do anything constructive that lesson :idea: .

And you know what.............I could actually spin without any moans and groans from my knees or without stopping half way!!!! Of course, I still lose my balance somewhat and spin 'too far out' but it's a definite improvement. And all your advice, and Eddie's comments too have helped. It definitely helps with that shoulder tip.

Yay yay yay :banana: my instructor even said that I was getting better. Maybe I won't be the worst spinner in our class anymore if I keep practising and get myself proper shoes. Yay yay yay anyway! :) :bouncy:

Thanks guys! :D
...Sonia

saludas

08-19-2004, 06:35 AM

This should be a basic heads up to all who are beginners in dance:

Rubber soled shoes and sneakers are not kind to your knees and ankles. Real dance sneakers contain a hard insert in the pball-of-the-foot area to facilitate spins.

You will wreck your knees if you use sneakers.

When you see dancers using sneakers (beyond groupclassers) they are using special sneakers (that only look like sneakers) OR they fake the spins and turns.

Lita_rulez

08-19-2004, 08:03 AM

When you see dancers using sneakers (beyond groupclassers) they are using special sneakers (that only look like sneakers) OR they fake the spins and turns.

Or they are so darn good at spinning that they dont require special shoes to spin like they do.

Don't get me wrong, no matter how good you get, you will allways need the proper shoes to push the envelope and give you best spin a litle extra twist (and maybe get that fourteenth spin in !)
But when you get to that level, you can just pass a double or triple spin with regular jump shoes like a breeze.
To a beginner, it will look astonishing, and you will get the feeling that proper shoes are not required to spin. Just remember, you don't come from the same place.

Take a pro tennis player for instance. His technique is uncomparable to regular joe's. Give him a plastic tennis raquette and a rubber ball, and he is going to do crazy things with it (speed, precision, spins...) that you never thought were possible to achieve without the proper gear.
Still, don't be fooled, it is milles below what that pro could show you with the proper gear.