"How many strangers can you dance with" Day

[Pacion]

Anyone want to join me in a "Dance with a stranger" Day/Week?

Where we make concerted efforts to dance with at least one stranger (at the venue/studio, and not down the aisle in the supermarket as some Smarty Pants here has done or is likely to suggest? :roll: ) :lol:

Then we share our experiences :D

Amended for my friends who were 'taking the piss' that I had used the singular rather than the plural :P :lol:

We should make it how many strangers can you dance with day/weekend
Amended again :lol: Is that okay now? Will everyone just do it already instead of trying to ruffle my thread/find excuses as to why they can't restrict themselves to just one stranger :P :lol:

[peachexploration]

Sound like fun, Pacion. :)

Can we include car dances? I'm really good at those. :lol: :lol:

I'm only kidding. :P

[danceguy]

I try to dance with a stanger each time I go dancing. :)

[Purr]

Where we make concerted efforts to dance with a stranger (at the venue/studio, and not down the aisle in the supermarket as some Smarty Pants here has done or is likely to suggest? :roll: ) :lol:


:oops:

[Pacion]

:doh: sorry Purr, I wasn't suggesting you!

I can't mention their names :cry: TJ, Sabor, SD, SG, GR, Boriken, Sagitta, Vince, Pygmalion, Peach, Salsachinita, Sakura, [insert DF member's name] - do I need to go on :wink: :wink:

Car dances can work too Peach, but the stranger has to be in another car :wink: :lol:

[Sagitta]

Oh, so I'm being excluded from dancing with strangers? :? :cry:

Some of us just need to get our dancing fix a little more frequently than others. :wink: Aren't enough studios / venues when you want to do a dance or two mid-day or 6 in the morning. :( Lots of people in supermakets though. Haven't you heard about those who troll supermarkets looking from potential marriage mates or dates?

[Pacion]

Oh, so I'm being excluded from dancing with strangers? :? :cry:

:oops: No you are not being excluded! You were just named as one of those who would suggest dancing with a stranger in the aisles of the supermarket just to make my thread a bit more topsy turvey!

:lol:

[Sabor]

no.. eversince i was little ..and had little socksies.. i've been taught not to converse w/ strangers!

[Pacion]

Should you be in bed :twisted: :lol:

(only because of his time zone, not because I have 'special knowledge' :lol:)

[Sabor]

tuck me in! :P

[Pacion]

Only if you go to bed via this staircase => Insomniacs-R-Us (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=573&start=1950) :twisted:

[danceguy]

Will you two just meet already and alleviate all this tension? England isn't that far from Egypt...Sabor just fix up them ol' Pyramids so they can teleport people again...then *shazam* you'll be able to get there in a quick jiffy. :car:

Hey...that way we could get the *the plan* into effect as well...or have I been watching too many sci-fi movies? :D

SG

[peachexploration]

SG. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Danish Guy]

Hey...that way we could get the *the plan* into effect as well...or have I been watching too many sci-fi movies? :D


Nope, such a thing is not possible :nope:

[tj]

Since I've moved to somewhere new, almost everyone is a stranger - well, except for the friendly salsera that remembered me from two weeks ago.

[Danish Guy]

Anyone want to join me in a "Dance with a stranger" Day/Week?


a stranger = one stranger :?:

Hmmm, maybe I can cut down to one for this week. :nope:

[DancePoet]

Pacion:

Sounds like a cool idea! At my studio there is rarely anyone I don't know anymore, but if I make it to a different studio that week I'm sure I'll find someone. Relating the stories sounds super, too!

Let's set it up for one day or weekend per month! Weekend mikght make more sense to give folks more days/events to pick from.

[Purr]

:doh: sorry Purr, I wasn't suggesting you!

Well, I have been known to do rumba walks in the breakfast cereal aisle at the local Kroger. :oops:

The last time I tried to be nice to a stranger it backfired. It was with a brand new student to the studio. We danced a rumba, and the student proceeded to tell me everything that I was doing wrong - my frame, my steps, my timing, and my execution of patterns. I just smiled and didn't say too much, although some choice comments came to mind. At the end of the dance, he summarized all my errors, and I just smiled and said I'd discuss it with my dance teacher on our next lesson.

How should I have handled the situation?

[danceguy]

Hi Purr,

I say get in their face about it! :P

If someone makes a suggestion like that to me and its not warranted, I usually just ignore it, especially if they have no idea what they are talking about. But once when I was taking a class at a dance studio one of the assistant instructions made a couple of very rude suggestions, and since I was in a snappy mood, I just got in her face about it and said quite sharply "I really DO NOT appreciate you making these comments, you're making me uncomfortable and I really do not enjoy dancing with you. I'm going to stop now,"...and I did just that! :roll:

It wasn't that I didn't want some advice to improve my dancing..but the way in which she pointed them out was very disempowering. She had a bit of an attitude and I couldn't believe the look on her face when I confronted her...total shock. She was always nice after that...but I went to the teacher about it and he denied that one of his TA's would ever do that (when in fact, two of them had been really rude to me).

Last time I ever took a lesson from those folks! :D

SG

[Patapouf]

:shock: :shock:

"I really DO NOT appreciate you making these comments, you're making me uncomfortable and I really do not enjoy dancing with you. I'm going to stop now,"...and I did just that! :roll:



BRAVO! I wish I have the courage to do just that when being treated the same way! The last time that happened to me, I tried to just ignore him while keeping a smile on my face, I was so annoyed in the end but he apparently thought that I wanted more. :evil: :evil: I wish I could do just the same!

[peachexploration]

I hate when people do this.. :evil:
My line for people who do this:

Excuse me, you are a student. Leave the instruction to the instructors, please. :?

As for instructors, contructive criticism is one thing but if any instructor makes you feel awful, then it's time to move on. :?

No car dances with a stranger today. Still looking, the day is still young... :lol:

[DWise1]

Would dancing with my wife (ex--in-the-making) count? She's certainly been working hard at becoming a stranger.

Don't worry; ain't gonna happen. She would never allow it.


Actually, almost every single time I go out I dance with a few strangers. The problem is that I haven't been going out much lately.

[MacMoto]

Anyone want to join me in a "Dance with a stranger" Day/Week?


a stranger = one stranger :?:

Hmmm, maybe I can cut down to one for this week. :nope:
Last night I asked two strangers to dance and accepted invitations from three strangers... Sorry I don't think I'd be able to stick to just one stranger per night. :lol:

[Sagitta]

A problem that I too have Macmoto. We should make it how many strangers can you dance with day/weekend. That sounds more doable to me. What about it P?

[Pacion]

The very first post on this thread now reads: :wink:

Anyone want to join me in a "Dance with a stranger" Day/Week?

[edited]

Amended for my friends who were 'taking the piss' that I had used the singular rather than the plural :P :lol:

We should make it how many strangers can you dance with day/weekend
Amended again :lol: Is that okay now? Will everyone just do it already instead of trying to ruffle my thread/find excuses as to why they can't restrict themselves to just one stranger :P :lol:

And no! I can't change Day to Weekend as there isn't enough space for the characters and besides, a weekend makes up two days. (or three, if you are on a long weekend :wink: :lol: ) It also covers those who might go dancing just one day over the weekend (or during the week) and therefore pretend that I have excluded them :? :lol:

[pygmalion]

Would dancing with my wife (ex--in-the-making) count? She's certainly been working hard at becoming a stranger.

Don't worry; ain't gonna happen. She would never allow it.


Actually, almost every single time I go out I dance with a few strangers. The problem is that I haven't been going out much lately.

Two things, DWise 1.

One, you're entitled to vent. All you want. In fact, you can yell and break things, too, if you want. HER things. :twisted:

Two, go out. What's the sense of staying home just to think too much and feel bad? Go out and get flirted with by pretty young females. Guaranteed to make you feel better. And you're entitled. So go!

[Sagitta]

The very first post on this thread now reads: :wink:

Anyone want to join me in a "Dance with a stranger" Day/Week?

[edited]

Amended for my friends who were 'taking the piss' that I had used the singular rather than the plural :P :lol:

We should make it how many strangers can you dance with day/weekend
Amended again :lol: Is that okay now? Will everyone just do it already instead of trying to ruffle my thread/find excuses as to why they can't restrict themselves to just one stranger :P :lol:

And no! I can't change Day to Weekend as there isn't enough space for the characters and besides, a weekend makes up two days. (or three, if you are on a long weekend :wink: :lol: ) It also covers those who might go dancing just one day over the weekend (or during the week) and therefore pretend that I have excluded them :? :lol:

Awww!! You are no fun! :cry:

[SDsalsaguy]

Awww!! You are no fun! :cry:
...I beg to differ... :raisebro:

[danceguy]

:doh: :eyebrow: :doh:

[Pacion]

:doh: :eyebrow: :doh:

:eyebrow: SG?

:lol:

[danceguy]

:headwall:

[Pacion]

:headwall:

Am I spoiling your fun :roll: :lol:

[Purr]

"I really DO NOT appreciate you making these comments, you're making me uncomfortable and I really do not enjoy dancing with you. I'm going to stop now,"...and I did just that! :roll:


Thank you for the advice, next time I'll do that. That same guy was at the studio party last night, and I saw him doing the same thing he did with me with one of the new teachers in the training class. She just smiled and didn't say too much of anything, like I did. It was obvious she knew more about dancing (even being a trainee) than he did, but I think she couldn't say anything because it might make the guy (a student) feel bad.

[DWise1]

Would dancing with my wife (ex--in-the-making) count? She's certainly been working hard at becoming a stranger.

Don't worry; ain't gonna happen. She would never allow it.


Actually, almost every single time I go out I dance with a few strangers. The problem is that I haven't been going out much lately.

Two things, DWise 1.

One, you're entitled to vent. All you want. In fact, you can yell and break things, too, if you want. HER things. :twisted:
Yes, I know that I'm entitled to vent and that I should vent for health reasons, but I still feel that it would be inconsiderate of me to do it here. Just as I would not want to affect the mood of my dance classes by inappropriately bringing up my divorce situation nor the tragic event that had brought it about, but rather if someone asks me the right direct question then I would offer as appropriate an honest answer as I can. At least now the divorce is a more satisfying answer to the perennial question of why my wife refuses to dance with me.

I think that a divorce forum would be more appropriate. Does anyone know of one they could recommend before I go off Google'ing again? California, if they tend to be regional.

Go out and get flirted with by pretty young females. Guaranteed to make you feel better. And you're entitled. So go!
Actually, I meant that I haven't had much time for going out open dancing, but most of the week is tied up with dance classes:
Sunday: 4 hr Lindy, followed by a group of us going out to dinner (the only chance I have all week to not dine alone).
Monday: 3 hr WCS ending at 9:30.
Tuesday: 2 hr Salsa (out at 9:20) or a workshop elsewhere
Wed: 4 hr assembly programming (out at 10)
Thurs: 3 hr C2S, Hustle, WCS (out at 10)
Sat: 2hr Salsa make-up if I missed Tues

On Friday night, there are WCS/Hustle/NC2S/C2S, Lindy, and Salsa venues available. Also, there are Lindy venues on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, and on one Saturday a month. And a country night on one Saturday a month. Those are my main options for open dancing.

Now, besides losing one weekend a month to reserve duty, I've been getting these lists of things to do for preparing to sell the house and documentation to research for her lawyer. As well as taking care of all the usual stuff (laundry, bills, etc).

But I've decided to give her what she wants (to be independent of EVERYBODY) and let her start to balance her own checkbook. That used to take me at least three agonizing and frustrating evenings every month, but now with Quicken it only takes one frustrating evening (plus an evening or two worth of data entry, now made more difficult since she's taken to hiding her checkbook). So let her balance her own [deleted] checkbook and start enjoying her [deleted] independence right now.

I'm sorry ... did I just start venting again?


Go out and get flirted with by pretty young females. Guaranteed to make you feel better. And you're entitled. So go!
Unfortunately, I looked in the mirror this morning -- I've really got to learn to shave by the Braille method. I'd have to wonder about the young girls who would flirt with someone older than their father. But there are several women who are closer to my age; I just don't know which ones are married and which are not.

Anyway, I never figured out flirting before we married and while married it was part of my duty to be clueless about it (except with that one special woman), so needless to say I'm still clueless. This should prove interesting, once I'm put into play.

Damn, I'm scared.

[MacMoto]

Anyway, I never figured out flirting before we married and while married it was part of my duty to be clueless about it (except with that one special woman), so needless to say I'm still clueless. This should prove interesting, once I'm put into play.

Damn, I'm scared.
Join the club.

[youngsta]

I always dance with at least two strangers every night I go out. Last Sunday I probably danced with 5 or 6, seemed like there were an unusual amount of out of towners that night. They were all great though, especially one particular salsera from Philly. We had chemistry right off the bat!

[Pacion]

DWise1. I am sorry that this is happening. Maybe this challenge of 'Dance with at least one stranger' Day and reporting it back here might help put a smile on your face.

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/liebe/love-smiley-038.gif

[DWise1]

Sorry about pulling the thread so off-topic. Even though it's nowhere near as bad as I'm sure most of you have gone through yourselves, my spirit is in serious need of WD-40 -- dancing is where I get it applied.


But trying to pull back on-topic, I'll say explicitly what others have pointed out already. When teaching our Webelos the Boy Scout Slogan, "Do a Good Turn Daily", I would make a point that that doesn't mean to do only one, but rather to do one at the very least and to develop the attitude of doing a good turn whenever and wherever you can.

So in dancing with a stranger every day, that's not a quoto but rather developing the attitude and practice of being ready and willing to dance with a stranger whenever the opportunity arises. And the great side benefit to this practice is that eventually you will run out of strangers; you'll all know each other.


I've told this stranger story before in another thread. One night at Tia Juana's I saw this girl sitting off to the side kind of hunched over like she was feeling intimidated by all the fantastic dancers there (many of them have been dancing Lindy for years). So I asked her to dance and wowed her with a few simple ECS moves. She brightened up quite a bit and we danced a few more times that night and she also danced with a few others. After that, every time I was there so was she, dancing with everybody she could, and she always made sure to give me a dance. About six or seven months later, we danced to warm up before class. In swingouts I'm still way too sensitive to my partner's ability to follow -- and in my confidence's roller-coaster ride I'm in the middle of a long deep valley then and right now -- and her swingouts felt perfect. And later in class she whispered to me that I was one of the very few good dancers there -- hardly the way I've been viewing myself.

In my old-fool fantasies (yes, we have them too), I imagine that she was sitting there teetering at the turning point and my decision to ask this stranger to dance had helped her decide to stay with it.

So dance with strangera; you never know the effect that can have on their lives. And on your own.

[DancePoet]

Way to go DWise1!

Regarding flirting, just try smiling, saying hi, ask little questions like "What's your favorite dance style?", remain confident, compliment occasionally yet don't over do it, and use creative humor with your interpretations of what she says. Eventually try being romantic with your humor and describe how things make you feel.

Hope that's helpful.

[Pacion]

So in dancing with a stranger every day, that's not a quoto but rather developing the attitude and practice of being ready and willing to dance with a stranger whenever the opportunity arises.

:applause: Well said. I knew there had to be a reason why 'wise' was in your Alias :wink:

And later in class she whispered to me that I was one of the very few good dancers there -- hardly the way I've been viewing myself.

Well, she may have been speaking from a more rounded perspective rather than someone who has a million moves and can send the girl in to 32 multiple spins :? Still, do like me. Take the compliment and RUN! :lol:

I imagine that she was sitting there teetering at the turning point and my decision to ask this stranger to dance had helped her decide to stay with it.
You may have something there :banana: It is always nerve racking going somewhere new and not knowing anyone. How you leave that place feeling, could be the decider whether you continue that dance or pickup another one (if at all :( )

[Danish Guy]

When teaching our Webelos the Boy Scout Slogan, "Do a Good Turn Daily", I would make a point that that doesn't mean to do only one, but rather to do one at the very least and to develop the attitude of doing a good turn whenever and wherever you can.


Yes, but the great thin is you might end doing yourself a favour, ending up with a great dance experience you would have missed, if you where just playing it safe.


In my old-fool fantasies (yes, we have them too), I imagine that she was sitting there teetering at the turning point and my decision to ask this stranger to dance had helped her decide to stay with it.


Imagination or not, you might be right here. If we don’t get fresh blood to our local scene, then it will shrink and die. So we have to make potentional new danceaholics feel the are welcome as apart of the scene.

[MacMoto]

In my old-fool fantasies (yes, we have them too), I imagine that she was sitting there teetering at the turning point and my decision to ask this stranger to dance had helped her decide to stay with it.


Imagination or not, you might be right here. If we don’t get fresh blood to our local scene, then it will shrink and die. So we have to make potentional new danceaholics feel the are welcome as apart of the scene.
Exactly. Some of the beginners/strangers I asked to dance some months ago are now regulars and improving all the time. In a year or two, they may be among the best leaders in the scene.

[salsachinita]

Exactly. Some of the beginners/strangers I asked to dance some months ago are now regulars and improving all the time. In a year or two, they may be among the best leaders in the scene.

:D Absolutely, sista! This is the way to go 8) .

On the other hand, you may find that stranger to be an excellent visiting salsero from faraway place (I've proven this theory over & over again :wink: )!!!!!! Some of whom have become my closest friends :D !

Back to the topic. I think I'm running out of strangers until someone out there decides to pay us a little visit down here :HINT, HINT: :wink: .......

The *plan*, anyone 8) ?

[MacMoto]

On the other hand, you may find that stranger to be an excellent visiting salsero from faraway place (I've proven this theory over & over again :wink: )!!!!!!
That's why I like test-driving (as you put it SC :lol:) leaders I don't recognise -- I've found a few gems this way :D.

[MacMoto]

So... when is this "dance with a stranger/how many strangers can you dance with" day/weekend happening? :D

Oh, and can you define "stranger(s)" please -- do they have to be people you have never seen before (newcomers/out-of-towners), or do people you have seen around before but never danced with also count?

[ShyDancer]

Everyone I danced with tonight was a stranger :D


........Perhaps it could have been because I was attending a new studio :roll: :lol:

I usually stick to the places I know so I dont get much oppourtunity to dance with Strangers, but there is always one or 2 people who are new and I never say no to a dance from them.

[Sagitta]

So... when is this "dance with a stranger/how many strangers can you dance with" day/weekend happening? :D

Oh, and can you define "stranger(s)" please -- do they have to be people you have never seen before (newcomers/out-of-towners), or do people you have seen around before but never danced with also count?

The stranger the stranger the better it is! :wink:

[Pacion]

So... when is this "dance with a stranger/how many strangers can you dance with" day/weekend happening? :D

As soon as possible, with no end date :wink:

[danceguy]

Back to the topic. I think I'm running out of strangers until someone out there decides to pay us a little visit down here :HINT, HINT: .......

The *plan*, anyone

Isn't SD the organizer of *the plan*? Wait...doesn't Youngsta work for the Airforce...hmm...we'd get there real quick in an F-14... :D

When is that Barcardi festival? I'm kinda shy about the travelling thing...my Salsa still is very novice at best... :oops: :oops:

Funny how you mention someone who is from out of town or not commonplace in your scene who can really dance. Happened to me last Sunday...I saw this lady just sitting there tapping her feet and I said to myself "this woman can dance, I know it!"...and sure enough she was an amazing follower! Ended up being my best dance of night, actually. :P

SG

[Sagitta]

Two strangers tonight, and I'm suprised that I even did that!!! With the music played! :headwall: Again I got those comments...you seem so sad...

[MacMoto]

On Tuesday, when I was at the train station checking the timetable while listening to my salsa CD, a Latino guy started talking to me. We briefly chatted about dancing (because I was just back from a dance), and I was nearly overcome by this urge to grab him, stick one of the earpieces in his ear and dance. Maybe I should have done it? You couldn't get a stranger stranger than that, and it would have also fulfilled my dream of dancing in a weird place. :lol: Hmm, I have to learn to be more impulsive and shameless. :roll: :lol: (I think I would have done it if the song I was listening to was one of my favourites... )

[Danish Guy]

Danced with 5 "strangers" tonight and one I haven't seen the last ½ year or so.

2 beginners, 1 sportdancer having her second salsa fix, 1 Cuban styled & 1 salsera visiting Denmark.

I enjoyed dancing with them all. But dancing with a skilled salsera who don’t know any of the local stuff are always great fun, and a test if your lead is clear. She wasen’t used to the Cuban style I heard in the first song,., but she followed really well anyway, so I just continued. Then switched cross body style for the second song.

Wepa :D :D :D

[MacMoto]

Sportdancer?

[Danish Guy]

Sportdancer?

Maybe a danish word translated to directly.

Ballroom dancer, or ballroom compatition dancer.

[MacMoto]

A friend tells me of an AMAZING visiting salsero from NY turning up in Glasgow last night -- hope he will make an appearance again tonight, when I hit Glasgow. :)

[Sagitta]

And we'll see what happens tonight at Syracuse... :wink:

[Danish Guy]

Good Luck MacMoto

(Danced with 3 “strangers” last night).

[MacMoto]

A friend tells me of an AMAZING visiting salsero from NY turning up in Glasgow last night -- hope he will make an appearance again tonight, when I hit Glasgow. :)
He did -- and it was James Cobo! :!: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

His visit to Glasgow was unannounced, but someone eventually recognised him from a congress where he taught workshops.... I still cannot believe I've had a trophy/treasure dance with one of the CoboBrothers, in Glasgow of all places! (What the **** was he doing here!?? was my first reaction...)

I hope a stranger who turns out to be super-famous also counts as a stranger since he was the only stranger I danced with last night.

[Sagitta]

Two strangers last night!! The first didn't match my style, but the second was a delight. Sarah was her name and her cute serious face made me smile. :wink: :)

[DWise1]

Two strangers last night. Actually,it was more a case of me being the stranger, since I haven't been out on a Friday for a long time. WCS and I was definitely out-classed both times, but I think I did OK. I had to improvise my way through a few spots, where my ECS and Lindy background really helped.

[danceguy]

He did -- and it was James Cobo!

MacMoto - Wow that's awesome...I've seem him dancing in videos and I greatly admire his passionate style of dancing. Please tell us more about the dance!!!!! :D :raisebro: :D

I've been dancing with a lot of strangers lately...that's the way it should be! ;)

SG

[Pacion]

A friend tells me of an AMAZING visiting salsero from NY turning up in Glasgow last night -- hope he will make an appearance again tonight, when I hit Glasgow. :)
He did -- and it was James Cobo! :!: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

His visit to Glasgow was unannounced, but someone eventually recognised him from a congress where he taught workshops.... I still cannot believe I've had a trophy/treasure dance with one of the CoboBrothers, in Glasgow of all places! (What the **** was he doing here!?? was my first reaction...)

I hope a stranger who turns out to be super-famous also counts as a stranger since he was the only stranger I danced with last night.

Yes, even if the stranger is famous or in your words "super-famous" that still counts :wink: Because it is still someone you have never danced with before. That he might be 'famous' though does not get you extra points :lol: otherwise, everyone would want to dance with the 'famous' which is not the point of the exercise. (Now that Sabor is famous, I am actually trying to prevent the queues from forming :raisebro: )

By the way, who asked who to dance :wink: I haven't danced with any of the Cobo brothers as yet but I have heard very nice things about them :lol: I have seen one of them performing - I don't remember if it was Milton or James. I could Google for a photo/check their website I suppose :roll: :wink:

[MacMoto]

By the way, who asked who to dance :wink: I haven't danced with any of the Cobo brothers as yet but I have heard very nice things about them :lol: I have seen one of them performing - I don't remember if it was Milton or James. I could Google for a photo/check their website I suppose :roll: :wink:
I asked him, of course :lol: -- a good song came on, he was standing near me and was available, so I thought, why not! :D

He's such a smooth lead, you'll love dancing with him... I must say I didn't dance very well at all (despite opting for on1 for comfort) :oops:, but he was ever so nice and pleasant, and was happy to dance with anyone who asked him. Watcing him dance with advanced salseras was a treat!

[MacMoto]

This weekend's tally is 5 strangers (including James Cobo :D), I think. 4 of them I asked, and the last one I was going to ask but he beat me and asked me first :wink:. He was very good, by the way -- really fun to dance with.

[Pacion]

There was a rueda weekend this weekend gone and there were about 20 Norwegians who came over. Last night I went to a cuban club and they were there. I danced with three of them and two other guys I have never danced with before. :banana:

They were really nice/fun dances and it was fun being aware of the different leads. One of the Norwegians, whilst he didn't do a lot of moves it was a really good, smooth/fluid dance :D

All the other guys I danced with I had danced with previously :D

It was funny for me thinking about this thread last night whist at the club. :car: so I am off to find another venue to dance with more strangers :D

[Sagitta]

Got any ruedas in?

Tonight. Let's see how many strangers I can do so tonight. Must get those dances earlier on if possible as later on the regulars come, and then if a couple of my favorites come I'm a goner. :? :)

[etchuck]

One of these days, I know I have to take lessons from the Cobo Brothers since they do teach here in NC too. I don't ever seem to get "it" with them, maybe because of the on2 thing. More likely because of the connection I'm used to with other partner dances that I can't get comfortable with their version. Oh well... will eventually work on it.

[Pacion]

Got any ruedas in?

Tonight. Let's see how many strangers I can do so tonight. Must get those dances earlier on if possible as later on the regulars come, and then if a couple of my favorites come I'm a goner. :? :)

Did rueda on Sunday :banana: :lol: :banana: It was good, only one complaint :roll: the lessons were too short :( :lol:

[Danish Guy]

5 more :wink:

[Pacion]

Is that it? :roll: No further info on their levels or whether they were new/regulars to the venue :roll:


:lol:

[Danish Guy]

Can’t cheat here, and jump over where the fence is missing. :? :lol:

The 5 latest was beginners / newcomers to the salsateque.
Some with more salsa gifts then others.

It’s still interesting to see how much you can lead them through. Not going through the advanced stuff, but there’s a lot of ways to pep up an x-body and so on. Anyway, they accepted the offer to continue with the next song, so I don’t think I scared them by sometimes leading something they couldn’t follow. And I’m still having a good time dancing with them, and is challenged to make it look as good as possible, but still being fun.

Signing off now to see “Little Havana” Live :D

[Pacion]

Can’t cheat here, and jump over where the fence is missing. :? :lol:

:nope: :nope: :nope: Not with me around :lol:

Sounds great what you did with them! It suggests that you are/have the makings of a good lead. But I shall reserve my opinion until we actually dance :wink:

[youngsta]

This weekend's tally is 5 strangers (including James Cobo :D), I think. 4 of them I asked, and the last one I was going to ask but he beat me and asked me first :wink:. He was very good, by the way -- really fun to dance with.
You just love flashing your trophy dance huh?! :P :lol: I'm kidding!! Liz Lira is coming to Denver in a few weeks, need to make room on the trophy shelf!! :banana:

[Sagitta]

Oh...I danced with at least 5 yesterday night...I stopped counting...more beginners then anything else :wink:

[Pacion]

:lol: re stopping counting. How are you going to win the Award if you don't remember :wink:

A few days ago, I danced with three :( I lost count also :oops: :lol:

[Sagitta]

I don't ask for any awards. I don't ask for any recognition. All I want to be is inspiration. To love: to be passionate and share that passion. :D

[Pacion]

I don't ask for any awards. I don't ask for any recognition. All I want to be is inspiration. To love: to be passionate and share that passion. :D

:doh: :lol:

[MacMoto]

I also lost count on Friday... around 5? One beginner guy turned me down (he begged for mercy -- do I look that scary? :shock: :() and I didn't have time to go back and persuade him.
I managed to get a dance with a guy I've only danced with once many many months ago -- he's good but not around often so that dance made my night :D. How about 0.5 for him since he's almost a stranger? :lol: :roll:

It's tango tonight and I'm not sure how it will go... on one hand most people there will be strangers because I'm new; on the other hand I tend not to ask strangers because I'm so bad at this dance :( (I need lessons but can't get to any classes).

[Sabor]

I don't ask for any awards. I don't ask for any recognition. All I want to be is inspiration. To love: to be passionate and share that passion. :D

good for u! :wink:


i ask for money :twisted:

[DancePoet]

Went to a studio I rarely go to because they tend to cut the songs short almost all the time, but I figured there would be plenty of strangers.

And there were! Danced with 6 strangers. Had a very cool tango with one, enjoyed a hustle with another who really knew how to express herself through the dance, and another with a nice foxtrot as well.

Really enjoy finding new people who I can partner well with!

[MacMoto]

It's tango tonight and I'm not sure how it will go... on one hand most people there will be strangers because I'm new; on the other hand I tend not to ask strangers because I'm so bad at this dance :
Only 1 stranger... having said that, I had to leave early and only had time to dance with three leaders (12 songs... problem with the AT custom of multiple consecutive dances with the same partner is you don't go through as many partners as in salsa), so that's one third of all the dances I had :lol:.

[Danish Guy]

1 beginners and 3 intermediate Friday.

New café opened with a live band. It was to crowded inside, but there was space for some great dances outside on the street.

4 beginners 1 intermediate Saturday.

Then there was some salseras I haven’t seen for a long time, so that was almost like dancing with a stranger.

I think you got the picture now, so I think I will stop reporting in.
(Not stopping dancing with the “strangers”)

[Sabor]

"How many strangers can you dance with" Day

i think the average is twice a month roundabout.. so per day that would make like 2 toes , a nostril and one cheek :wink:

[Pacion]

I think you got the picture now, so I think I will stop reporting in.

:tongue:

:lol: Sabor!

[sanityhaven]

Does it count if the person isn't a stranger when the day is done?

[SDsalsaguy]

Does it count if the person isn't a stranger when the day is done?
I'd say so. I think the criteria would/should be if they are a stranger when you start dancing with them...

[youngsta]

So I'm at my Sunday spot taking a water break and I spy this woman dancing a few feet away. She is GOOD so I already have a plan to get my chance to dance with her. I go dance with a few other ladies and as I'm leaving the floor to get another bottle of water she is standing there waiting to be asked--water has gotta wait now!! I ask her and luckily it's a pretty hot song which completely fits her style. We instantly click and I open the full repertoire of salsa moves. Awesome, awesome dance! We just kind of said "WOW that was great" to each other and wandered off without asking names :lol: :lol:

[MacMoto]

Yeah youngsta, it's great when that happens :D. Then as I make my way home I start thinking "why didn't I ask for his name or ask where he dances?" and kick myself...

[Pacion]

:applause: Sassy Hips :lol: See DancePoet, those are the sort of stories you can share about your dances with strangers :D

Danced with two last night. It was a bit of a 'slow night' :? But (!) one of the guys I danced with was mixing cuban and On1 :banana: it was funny because out of the blue there would suddenly be all these hand patterns :lol: We also had three dances in a row several times :banana: it was great! :D

[youngsta]

Yeah youngsta, it's great when that happens :D. Then as I make my way home I start thinking "why didn't I ask for his name or ask where he dances?" and kick myself...
Is that why that footprint is on the back of my slacks today?! :lol:

[Pacion]

Last night, one :cry: but it was still good :banana: danced with a few of the 'strangers' from last week :banana: :lol:

[ratherbdancing]

Does dancing with someone that you see every week at your studio, but have never danced with before count?????

[Pacion]

Does dancing with someone that you see every week at your studio, but have never danced with before count?????

Yes ratherbdancing :wink: they have to be a stranger to you in the sense that you have never danced with them socially. :D Therefore, dancing with them in class does not count - it is 'artificial' (stopping and starting, rotating etc) and how often do you actually dance a whole song in class :D (Plus, it will help make this challenge easier :wink: )

Recap on the ground rules:
1 - you must not have danced with them socially (any dance) except where you have danced with them previously but haven't seen them for say two months or more (one week isn't long enough :wink: :lol: )

2 - it does not matter who asks who to dance, as long as you dance!

3 - any other suggestions? :wink:

[MacMoto]

they have to be a stranger to you in the sense that you have never danced with them socially. :D Therefore, dancing with them in class does not count - it is 'artificial' (stopping and starting, rotating etc) and how often do you actually dance a whole song in class :D (Plus, it will help make this challenge easier :wink: )
Oh, I didn't know that -- I've been excluding people I have danced in previous classes in my stranger count... :?

First dancing of the week tonight! See how it goes... :D

[Pacion]

MacMoto :oops: I didn't know it either until just now :oops: :lol:

I was thinking about it (not on purpose mind you!) a few days ago that there are some people in the class I go to that I don't dance with afterwards in the social :oops: Just the way things work out. So, it occurred to me as I was writing that we should include those that are in the class with us - the whole point is to dance with as many people as possible, that we may not ordinarily danced with socially. I am excluding classes as we usually have to rotate anyway.

The last thing I want is for anyone taking part is to be labelled in their dance community as someone who only dances with those who are from out of town :roll:

[MacMoto]

I feel I'm fast running out of strangers to dance with!

Anyway, 6 this weekend.
Sunday was the Scottish heats of the Tropicana Salsa Championships, and although I didn't compete, I danced with one of the judges (Osbanis -- this probably counts as a trophy dance :lol:. Boy that was fun 8)), and a contestant (one of the only few strangers among the contestants). :lol:

The last thing I want is for anyone taking part is to be labelled in their dance community as someone who only dances with those who are from out of town :roll:
I want to be labelled as someone who asks any man for a dance, and I think I may already have achieved that reputation (or is it "someone who is shameless enough to ask any man" :oops: :roll:)...

I won't bother counting next weekend since it's a congress and most of the people I dance with will be strangers. :wink:

[Pacion]

I won't bother counting next weekend since it's a congress and most of the people I dance with will be strangers. :wink:

Roughly how many were from outside the UK :wink:

I think I managed 10 over the weekend :banana: which was difficult but then easy at the same time - I was outside of London, which was the easy part :banana: the difficult part was 'getting noticed' and getting the dances. Once I was 'noticed' then the dances really started coming in. But more about that later :D

Oh, oh, oh! I also danced bachata and rumba! :banana: And saw some 'amazing' carryings on when certain hip hop songs played at one particular club :shock: Someone said to me - why don't you just "grab a guy and go and dance" :shock: I was like :nope: I am watching. It is amazing the stuff one can learn from just watching 8)

[MacMoto]

I won't bother counting next weekend since it's a congress and most of the people I dance with will be strangers. :wink:

Roughly how many were from outside the UK :wink:
Don't know -- I didn't bother asking leaders where they were from (except when they asked me first -- a couple of Americans, a couple of French men and a Dubliner).
The stranger count didn't go as high as it could have as I broke my normal rule and allowed myself to be hogged by one of the French men on Sunday :shock: :lol:.

[Pacion]

The stranger count didn't go as high as it could have as I broke my normal rule and allowed myself to be hogged by one of the French men on Sunday :shock: :lol:.

:shock: okay, as long as you were hogged and not hugged by one of the French men all Sunday, that's alright. Otherwise :!: your DF Family will bring out the dating application form and dating rules for him :wink:

Now you have a contact for France hopefully, so that if you do go to an event there, you can then meet other French 'strangers' to dance with :banana:

Always look on the bright side of life, da da, da da :lol:

[squirrel]

I danced with two strangers last night...
I've never danced with them before.
One invited me, he danced sort of a ballroom style Salsa, but I had fun 'cause he was nice... :)
The other one - I invited him myself, I was curious how he danced... he was ok... :)
Oh, and I just erased two of the best dancers in the club from my "dance-with" list... :(...
One of them was rude to me last time we danced (he was looking after a woman and didn't pay any attention to me - I felt like a rubber doll...) - I decided to give him another chance last night and invited him... he was dragging me all over the floor and got furious when he couldn't lead a quadruple spin - which I completely hated, as he almost pulled my arm out of its socket. He spins too darn much and uses too many patterns for my liking... he used to be different... oh well... besides, he insulted me again, as he was very angry (fight with the girlfriend) and looked pissed off and bored the entire song!
The other one - we go back a long time, we used to be close friends... but I changed instructors, he stayed with the former I had... :), still, I noticed that he's not dancing with me anymore... had the impression he was shy and used to invite him myself, but then he always gave me the impression he's dancing "to impress"... so I stopped inviting him... he developed an attitude if you ask me... last night I decided to give him a chance too... he had already invited another girl when I touched him... but he didn't even say "sorry, maybe alter" he just shrugged and went to dance with her...! I found that behaviour extremely insulting and I shall not invite him any more! And I shall refuse if he invites me and explain him why!

[MacMoto]

:shock: okay, as long as you were hogged and not hugged by one of the French men all Sunday, that's alright.
:wink:
Something for this (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=5635)thread? :lol:

[tj]

:shock: okay, as long as you were hogged and not hugged by one of the French men all Sunday, that's alright. Otherwise :!: your DF Family will bring out the dating application form and dating rules for him :wink:


And who in their right mind would want to fill out a 100 page application?
:wink:


(pssst... congrats MM!)

[MacMoto]

Over 10 strangers this weekend, and that's on my home turf! 8)
The new Saturday club yielded most of them -- it gave me a chance to dance with guys who seem to swim in different waters than me. Sadly, no French men :lol:.

Two of the strangers are now candidates for my list of favourite leaders (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=5123). Now that's what I call a good weekend.

[tj]

Oh, and I just erased two of the best dancers in the club from my "dance-with" list... :(...
(snip)

Sorry to hear you had a bad time, R., sometimes the best thing to do is to remove them from your dance list just like you did.

[Pacion]

Over 10 strangers this weekend, and that's on my home turf! 8)
The new Saturday club yielded most of them -- it gave me a chance to dance with guys who seem to swim in different waters than me. Sadly, no French men :lol:.

:banana: good for you MacMoto! Looks like I might have to lobby SD to do a 2004 DF Award for most strangers in one day :lol:

Last night, only manged one :oops: :lol:

[MacMoto]

I've already got over 10 this weekend, and this is with only 2 nights! 8) 7 on Friday, 7 more last night. I've got a reputation to keep up :lol:

Friday was my no. 1 favourite monthly, and because it started really slow this time, I decided to go around every table and ask all the guys. It picked up later but I kept going around all night, asking indescriminately. I still managed to miss a few strangers and a few more non-strangers :lol:, but this may well be a record night for the number of guys I dance with.

Last night was one of those clubs that attract a lot of drinking crowd, and 3 out of the 7 were unfortunately non-dancers who asked me to dance in order to chat me up. I just danced. One of the 7 was a woman (she led) -- I know her well enough but never danced with her before so I believe I can count this one too.

[Sagitta]

Over ten yesterday. :)

[Pacion]

:shock: MacMoto and Sagitta! Looks like I am going to go up a gear or three :twisted: :lol:

[danceguy]

Umm...I danced with one stranger this past Friday...or was it two? Does it count if they asked me to dance? :o :lol:

[Pacion]

One of the 7 was a woman (she led) -- I know her well enough but never danced with her before so I believe I can count this one too.

Yes you can MacMoto :lol: the point is to dance with people we have never danced with before. There is a tendency to stay within our comfort zones and only dance with a few "friends" which a) does not help our dancing and b) adds to the perception of cliques, even though it is just a case of shyness :?

Umm...I danced with one stranger this past Friday...or was it two? Does it count if they asked me to dance? :o :lol:

Yes SG, it counts whether they asked you do dance or you asked them :wink: As above, the whole point is to dance with a stranger or someone you have never danced with. Even if you speak to them all the time, you still don't know them at a dance level :wink: :banana:

[MacMoto]

Over ten yesterday. :)
That's impressive! :shock: How do you find a venue with so many strangers?

Not being able to lead is a handcap for me here... I occasionally dance with absolute beginner ladies who seem to be itching to dance, but since all I can do as a lead is very basic salsa/merengue, I don't ask women who can do more than that.

[tj]

I think I'm averaging about 5-10 strangers the past 4x I've been out.



Pssst. Does someone that remembers you but you forget count? :wink: :roll:

[Sagitta]

Over ten yesterday. :)
That's impressive! :shock: How do you find a venue with so many strangers?

Not being able to lead is a handcap for me here... I occasionally dance with absolute beginner ladies who seem to be itching to dance, but since all I can do as a lead is very basic salsa/merengue, I don't ask women who can do more than that.

Go somewhere where you have never been before?

[Pacion]

Pssst. Does someone that remembers you but you forget count? :wink: :roll:

No :evil: :tongue: :lol: A gentleman NEVER forgets :wink:

[MacMoto]

Go somewhere where you have never been before?
Geneva, for example? :roll: :lol:

[Sagitta]

Go somewhere where you have never been before?
Geneva, for example? :roll: :lol:

Me too shy? Too introverted. Might end up sitting in a corner all night. :( :cry:

[Pacion]

:doh: says he who is willing to experience almost everything and can even dance as a follower :wink: :lol:

[Vin]

I think I'm averaging about 5-10 strangers the past 4x I've been out.



Pssst. Does someone that remembers you but you forget count? :wink: :roll:

TJ, you and I have to be disqualified, otherwise it would be a competition for third place. Seriously on slow days we dance with about 5 new strangers a night and on busy nights I wouldn't be surprised if I dance with 10 strangers. It is biased because we are still breaking into a new scene.

By the way, I say count her, if you would have really danced with her before you would have remembered, she is way to pretty to have forgotten.

On another note I read online that the wednesday night thing has about 300 dancers or so, I wasn't going to go but think of how many strangers we can dance with, pulling away from the pack :twisted:

[Pacion]

It is biased because we are still breaking into a new scene.


Not that easy Mister! The first few may be strangers BUT you could easily settle into a comfort zone/clique/group :tongue: :lol:

[youngsta]

I had like 12 last night since I'm out of town! Every single one was amazing, but this one girl was WOW! :shock: It wasn't that she danced better than the others, she just looked :shock: One of those women you see across the room and just by the way she carries herself you KNOW she's the bomb.

Z I know ya feel me bro! :lol:

[tj]

Pssst. Does someone that remembers you but you forget count? :wink: :roll:

No :evil: :tongue: :lol: A gentleman NEVER forgets :wink:

Woops - I guess that confirms that I'm no gentleman! :wink: :tongue:

I think I'm averaging about 5-10 strangers the past 4x I've been out.
Pssst. Does someone that remembers you but you forget count? :wink: :roll:
TJ, you and I have to be disqualified, otherwise it would be a competition for third place. Seriously on slow days we dance with about 5 new strangers a night and on busy nights I wouldn't be surprised if I dance with 10 strangers. It is biased because we are still breaking into a new scene.

By the way, I say count her, if you would have really danced with her before you would have remembered, she is way to pretty to have forgotten.

Lol – more importantly, will I remember her next time we’re out? :oops:


On another note I read online that the wednesday night thing has about 300 dancers or so, I wasn't going to go but think of how many strangers we can dance with, pulling away from the pack :twisted:
That’s a lot! :shock:

Do you think that’s for real or is it similar to how one of the locals proclaims that this is the 3rd largest salsa scene in the US? :roll:

I had like 12 last night since I'm out of town! Every single one was amazing, but this one girl was WOW! :shock: It wasn't that she danced better than the others, she just looked :shock: One of those women you see across the room and just by the way she carries herself you KNOW she's the bomb.

You go, R!

The last two Mondays, I had the opposite occur. Danced with two Follows who weren’t particularly dressed up, etc. But, wow! When we started dancing, it was amazing!

[Vin]

TJ, I think it may actually be true because it was in an interview that I read. I think saturday will be a good upper bound to what the salsa scene here is really like. Although depending on tonight I may opt out of salsa on saturday, may just go and try and pick up chicks:), who am I kidding, must salsa, must salsa, must salsa.
Speaking of chicks, my (female)friends were raving later on about how wonderful you are to dance with and how you looked and made them feel so at ease while dancing.

Pacion, I must admit, last night I only danced with 1-2 strangers as there were alot of familiar faces and some friends came with us last night, going to a new venue tonight we'll see if TJ and I can pick up the pace.

[tj]

TJ, I think it may actually be true because it was in an interview that I read. I think saturday will be a good upper bound to what the salsa scene here is really like. Although depending on tonight I may opt out of salsa on saturday, may just go and try and pick up chicks:), who am I kidding, must salsa, must salsa, must salsa.

Lol - you know you're only proving what that one gal said to you at Yuca a few weeks ago...

Oh, I found some photos of the last StuckOnSalsa event.
(http://stuckonsalsa.com/sos_fall_festival) I'm even in a couple of them.


Speaking of chicks, my (female)friends were raving later on about how wonderful you are to dance with and how you looked and made them feel so at ease while dancing.

Lol, I enjoyed dancing with them, too. Remind me to thank them next time I see them. Just further proof that it's not the technical details that matter, but moreso just enjoying the dance.

[Vin]

I am at a loss, what did the gal say that I am proving?

TJ, you're going to have to point yourself out in the pictures to me because I can't find you. Sorry.

[tj]

I am at a loss, what did the gal say that I am proving?

Errr.... I'll tell you person... 8)


TJ, you're going to have to point yourself out in the pictures to me because I can't find you. Sorry.

Quite ok (better that way, lol!)

(btw, did you get my email to you? I'd prefer Club Habana tonight)

[Pacion]

TJ, you're going to have to point yourself out in the pictures to me because I can't find you. Sorry.

Quite ok (better that way, lol!)

(btw, did you get my email to you? I'd prefer Club Habana tonight)

How about a time and a place to meet - I hear that outside the ladies powder room is a popular place :wink:

[tj]

TJ, you're going to have to point yourself out in the pictures to me because I can't find you. Sorry.

Quite ok (better that way, lol!)

(btw, did you get my email to you? I'd prefer Club Habana tonight)

How about a time and a place to meet - I hear that outside the ladies powder room is a popular place :wink:

Nah... the line there is always really long! :shock:

A ridiculous thing - the Century Ballroom will get roughly 500 dancers on a typical Thursday night, but there's only one restroom for each sex!?!

[Pacion]

TJ, you're going to have to point yourself out in the pictures to me because I can't find you. Sorry.

Quite ok (better that way, lol!)

(btw, did you get my email to you? I'd prefer Club Habana tonight)

How about a time and a place to meet - I hear that outside the ladies powder room is a popular place :wink:

Nah... the line there is always really long! :shock:

:doh: I wasn't suggesting that you join the queue! But two men standing next to/close by/near/in line with all those women, you are sure to standout :wink: :tongue: :lol:

Anyway, whilst waiting for the other to turn up, you could be dancing with the ladies and therefore upping your strangers tally :roll: :lol:

[MacMoto]

Not many this time... 2 on Friday, only 1 on Saturday (I think), 4 on Sunday?

There was a guy on Saturday I didn't remember dancing with before but he remembered dancing with me once :oops:

And there was a guy I danced with on Sunday I think I danced with but am not sure :oops: :oops:

Had very satisfying dances with two of the strangers 8)

[tj]

:doh: I wasn't suggesting that you join the queue! But two men standing next to/close by/near/in line with all those women, you are sure to standout :wink: :tongue: :lol:

Anyway, whilst waiting for the other to turn up, you could be dancing with the ladies and therefore upping your strangers tally :roll: :lol:

Lol! Nah, I don't like dancing with someone with a full bladder. :wink: :roll:

After dancing with a small number of strangers on Thursday and Friday, I got to dance with quite a few new (to me) dancers on Saturday. What a great night! I think I must've danced with over 20 strangers.

[Vin]

TJ, 20+ is a very real possibility for saturday. Thinking back I can count 12(I am not counting people I know but had never danced with before, that'll bring me up to 15). As well I danced with several favorites 2,3 times as well. Glad you had a good time as well.

[tj]

TJ, 20+ is a very real possibility for saturday. Thinking back I can count 12(I am not counting people I know but had never danced with before, that'll bring me up to 15). As well I danced with several favorites 2,3 times as well. Glad you had a good time as well.

Yup! Definitely the funnest night I've had so far!

I think I ended up going to bed at 5AM...

[Pacion]

:doh: I wasn't suggesting that you join the queue! But two men standing next to/close by/near/in line with all those women, you are sure to standout :wink: :tongue: :lol:

Anyway, whilst waiting for the other to turn up, you could be dancing with the ladies and therefore upping your strangers tally :roll: :lol:

Lol! Nah, I don't like dancing with someone with a full bladder. :wink: :roll:

:nope: there goes man's theory that women go to powder rooms, in packs, for no apparent reason then :wink: :lol:

[tj]

Lol! Nah, I don't like dancing with someone with a full bladder. :wink: :roll:

:nope: there goes man's theory that women go to powder rooms, in packs, for no apparent reason then :wink: :lol:

I always assumed you used the facilities in between the chatting/gossip.

[Pacion]

Lol! Nah, I don't like dancing with someone with a full bladder. :wink: :roll:

:nope: there goes man's theory that women go to powder rooms, in packs, for no apparent reason then :wink: :lol:

I always assumed you used the facilities in between the chatting/gossip.

:eyebrow: No. We go in groups to make the guys wonder why, we go in groups :P :lol:

[tj]

Lol! Nah, I don't like dancing with someone with a full bladder. :wink: :roll:

:nope: there goes man's theory that women go to powder rooms, in packs, for no apparent reason then :wink: :lol:

I always assumed you used the facilities in between the chatting/gossip.

:eyebrow: No. We go in groups to make the guys wonder why, we go in groups :P :lol:

Makes me wonder why....

[MacMoto]

After dancing with a small number of strangers on Thursday and Friday, I got to dance with quite a few new (to me) dancers on Saturday. What a great night! I think I must've danced with over 20 strangers.
Hmm, I have to work harder on this... I don't think 20 in one night is feasible within my scene though. Not sure how much dancing I will get done this weekend. And I have to be really disciplined about not getting hogged at the Geneva Congress :roll: :lol:

[tj]

After dancing with a small number of strangers on Thursday and Friday, I got to dance with quite a few new (to me) dancers on Saturday. What a great night! I think I must've danced with over 20 strangers.
Hmm, I have to work harder on this... I don't think 20 in one night is feasible within my scene though. Not sure how much dancing I will get done this weekend. And I have to be really disciplined about not getting hogged at the Geneva Congress :roll: :lol:

Speaking from personal experience, it's rather fun to be "hogged"! Lol!

Hope you have a wonderful time, M^2!

[Sagitta]

After dancing with a small number of strangers on Thursday and Friday, I got to dance with quite a few new (to me) dancers on Saturday. What a great night! I think I must've danced with over 20 strangers.
Hmm, I have to work harder on this... I don't think 20 in one night is feasible within my scene though. Not sure how much dancing I will get done this weekend. And I have to be really disciplined about not getting hogged at the Geneva Congress :roll: :lol:

Speaking from personal experience, it's rather fun to be "hogged"! Lol!

Hope you have a wonderful time, M^2!

I agree, with the right people. And same here M, from me. :)

[MacMoto]

Speaking from personal experience, it's rather fun to be "hogged"! Lol!

I agree, with the right people.
I know, hence the need to be disciplined :wink:

[Sagitta]

Okay, Tuesday night I danced with 7 strangers. Two were newbies that I just did basics and a few turns with, but they were really smooth. They have been added to my list of people whom I will look for dance one dane with every night. There was one person who knew some salsa but she had two strikes against her. She kept on looking down and she had this worried expression on her face. I just couldn't shake that of, even if I just did the basic. I tried talking with her, any and all tricks that I have developed over the past year. Nothing worked!! I ended up torturing myself the entire dance as I couldn't believe I was that bad that she couldn't relax. Too much for me to handle. :? I'm staying away from her. I would rather dance with her friend who tries and tries to enjoy herself even though she is all over the place.

[tj]

Okay, Tuesday night I danced with 7 strangers. Two were newbies that I just did basics and a few turns with, but they were really smooth. They have been added to my list of people whom I will look for dance one dane with every night. There was one person who knew some salsa but she had two strikes against her. She kept on looking down and she had this worried expression on her face. I just couldn't shake that of, even if I just did the basic. I tried talking with her, any and all tricks that I have developed over the past year. Nothing worked!! I ended up torturing myself the entire dance as I couldn't believe I was that bad that she couldn't relax. Too much for me to handle. :? I'm staying away from her. I would rather dance with her friend who tries and tries to enjoy herself even though she is all over the place.

To me, it sounds like she was scared of you!

C'mon, give her another chance! Maybe she's just deathly shy of you!

[MacMoto]

C'mon, give her another chance!
I second tj! Maybe it was her first ever experience of partner dancing and she was petrified? Perhaps next time you see her you can talk to her for a while before dancing.

[squirrel]

I danced with this stranger on Wednesday... he had no clue about Salsa dancing and was just moving to the music... so I thought "What it would be like to dance this Cumbia with someone who has no idea about it?"... so I asked him and it was all rigth!

I mean, he didn't break my arms or step on my feet, he was nice (even though clueless about signals, steps and partner dancing) and he kept on smiling... so I think it was worth it!

[Sagitta]

You know squirrel, that is why I sometimes dance with people who have no clue. It can be fun!

C'mon, give her another chance!
I second tj! Maybe it was her first ever experience of partner dancing and she was petrified? Perhaps next time you see her you can talk to her for a while before dancing.
Okay. Just for you guys I will ask her again. :)

[tj]

You know squirrel, that is why I sometimes dance with people who have no clue. It can be fun!

C'mon, give her another chance!
I second tj! Maybe it was her first ever experience of partner dancing and she was petrified? Perhaps next time you see her you can talk to her for a while before dancing.
Okay. Just for you guys I will ask her again. :)


:applause: Yay! :applause:


(Sagitta, you salsa snob, you!) :wink:

[Pacion]

You know squirrel, that is why I sometimes dance with people who have no clue. It can be fun!

C'mon, give her another chance!
I second tj! Maybe it was her first ever experience of partner dancing and she was petrified? Perhaps next time you see her you can talk to her for a while before dancing.
Okay. Just for you guys I will ask her again. :)


:applause: Yay! :applause:


(Sagitta, you salsa snob, you!) :wink:

Do I need to add Enquiring minds are waiting for you to report back :roll: :wink: :lol:

[Sagitta]

You know squirrel, that is why I sometimes dance with people who have no clue. It can be fun!

C'mon, give her another chance!
I second tj! Maybe it was her first ever experience of partner dancing and she was petrified? Perhaps next time you see her you can talk to her for a while before dancing.
Okay. Just for you guys I will ask her again. :)


:applause: Yay! :applause:


(Sagitta, you salsa snob, you!) :wink:

Hey! No fair!! :shock: You want to dance with someone who acts as if she is being put through the torture chamber dancing with you?

[tj]

Hey! No fair!! :shock: You want to dance with someone who acts as if she is being put through the torture chamber dancing with you?

Lol! (Twas just teasin' :wink: )



Ok - for a more informative answer, how does she act when she dances with most people? Usually someone who acts like how you described tends to be that way with most people she doesn't know.

(in my experience, at least.)

[MacMoto]

I think this weekend's tally is 8 -- 4 on Friday, 4 more on Sunday. No strangers on Saturday, although two of Friday's strangers turned up again on Saturday so I had more dances with them. On Sunday I also danced with a man I hadn't seen for ages -- I danced with him a couple of times about a year ago, at the first social dancing occasions I ventured out to. I was a beginner at the time and knew very little about how to follow the lead :oops:, so dancing with him now felt like dancing with a stranger. Four strangers turned me down on Sunday :shock: -- I must have looked REALLY scary :(.

[Sabor]

I must have looked REALLY scary :(.

so post a pic.. :wink: .. if its bad.. you'll know as i run away screaming :lol: :lol: (j/k)

[Sagitta]

One yesterday night.

[tj]

About 5-6 on Friday. Maybe 2-3 on Saturday.

[Vin]

3 on friday; 4 on saturday. It was a rough weekend salsa wise as well. Good luck tonight TJ.

[tj]

3 on friday; 4 on saturday. It was a rough weekend salsa wise as well. Good luck tonight TJ.

Lol! No "luck" needed for either one of us! :wink:

I think it's a good thing that between the two of us, we're getting to know most of the crowd.

[Vin]

I am going to hold us up some this week, feeling a little burned out on salsa.
By the way, there is a studio party friday as well as the one on saturday.
I hope I am feeling back into it by this weekend.

[Pacion]

I think it's a good thing that between the two of us, we're getting to know most of the crowd.

Okay! Enquiring minds want to know :lol: would you be putting in as much effort if it were not for this thread :wink: :lol:

[tj]

I am going to hold us up some this week, feeling a little burned out on salsa.
By the way, there is a studio party friday as well as the one on saturday.
I hope I am feeling back into it by this weekend.

Understandable, being as it wasn't as fun this past weekend as the prior week.


I think it's a good thing that between the two of us, we're getting to know most of the crowd.

Okay! Enquiring minds want to know :lol: would you be putting in as much effort if it were not for this thread :wink: :lol:

Oh sure! I just wouldn't be keeping track, I think.

[Pacion]

I think it's a good thing that between the two of us, we're getting to know most of the crowd.

Okay! Enquiring minds want to know :lol: would you be putting in as much effort if it were not for this thread :wink: :lol:

Oh sure! I just wouldn't be keeping track, I think.

:eyebrow: Oh reaaallly :eyebrow:


:lol:

[Vin]

I don't know about TJ but I am not putting forth any extra effort to dance with strangers. I am just putting forth an effort to dance. Even if I am dating someone I like to only dance about half the time with them. The only time when I don't dance with strangers is when there are not that many people at the club that I don't know.

[tj]

I don't know about TJ but I am not putting forth any extra effort to dance with strangers. I am just putting forth an effort to dance. Even if I am dating someone I like to only dance about half the time with them. The only time when I don't dance with strangers is when there are not that many people at the club that I don't know.

Hmm, that's right, actually. I'm not having to put much effort into dancing with strangers mostly because I'm not familiar with most of the scene.

What will eventually happen to (both of) us is that we'll start finding favs, and then one will have to check up on us then.

But knowing myself, I make a point of dancing with strangers even when I'm familiar with a scene and my favs are around.

[Pacion]

Okay Vin and TJ :applause: I am convinced, for now :wink:

[MacMoto]

About 5-6 on Friday. Maybe 2-3 on Saturday.
3 on friday; 4 on saturday.
Running out of steam are you two? :roll: :lol: :wink:

[tj]

About 5-6 on Friday. Maybe 2-3 on Saturday.
3 on friday; 4 on saturday.
Running out of steam are you two? :roll: :lol: :wink:

Lol - more like - there weren't that many new/unknown dancers on Friday and Saturday most of the dancing crowd was somewhere else.

[youngsta]

I danced with a stranger named LIZ LIRA!!! MUAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! :twisted:

[Vin]

I danced with a stranger named LIZ LIRA!!! MUAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! :twisted:

Do salsa celebrities count?

[Vin]

About 5-6 on Friday. Maybe 2-3 on Saturday.
3 on friday; 4 on saturday.
Running out of steam are you two? :roll: :lol: :wink:

Lol - more like - there weren't that many new/unknown dancers on Friday and Saturday most of the dancing crowd was somewhere else.

Too many suggles out. Last night was slow again for me, only three strangers on my count.

[youngsta]

I'd hope they count if we don't know them Vin! :D

[Sagitta]

Two strangers yesterday night!! :?

[Pacion]

I danced with a stranger named LIZ LIRA!!! MUAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! :twisted:

Do salsa celebrities count?

I'd hope they count if we don't know them Vin! :D

:doh: You guys like to make me work don't you :lol: ! Short answer, Yes!

Long answer. Even if they are "celebrities" in the salsa, dance, football (!), film, politics (!) world or any other world you can think off, as long as the two of you have never danced THAT particular dance, then that person counts as a stranger. Therefore, you may have clubbed danced or danced the waltz or even danced together in a class. However, if you are dancing a new dance together, then that counts. Why? Because the dance is different and you wouldn't have developed any secret signals to lead/follow, already.

Now Youngsta. Enquiring minds would like to know :lol: did you ask her to dance or did she ask you :wink:

Oh, and another reason why a "celebrity" counts is because it can be a bit more daunting to ask them to dance - they won't want to dance with me, I am a nobody, they are mafia and only dance with other mafioso etc etc. The challenge is to spread oneself about and not take the easy option of dancing only with the people you know (ie the clique you are attached to :? ). I hope this helps clarify things a bit :lol:

We went through this when MacMoto wrote that she had danced with one of the Cobo brothers (Milton or James). I think she said Milton? From recollection, she didn't know who he was or his celebrity status until after ones :lol:

[youngsta]

I asked her, actually I pounced on her because every decent salsero in the house was positioning to get to her :lol: What I found out...I couldn't imagine she was THAT good and THAT amazing. I've seen her dance plenty of times out in LA but she was dancing with only me this time and she makes sure that's how it feels. It was a slower tempo song so we played with it a lot. At one point she actually cupped my face with her hand as we were doing a cross body lead. It was so sweet, and romantic, and fun. Nothing at all like the stuff you see in the Mayan videos. Any dude that gets the chance MUST dance with her!!

[Pacion]

...she was dancing with only me this time and she makes sure that's how it feels.

:applause: I don't care how long someone has been dancing or who they are. If they make you feel as if "you are THE one" then that is brilliant. I have danced with some "stars" and they were clearing dancing for themselves, others made me feel as if I was the best thing since sliced bread :lol:

I have also danced with some beginners and their enthusiasm and heart & soul made up for the "stars" who thought they were the bees knees (except no one had the heart to tell them that bees do not have knees :wink: :lol: )

[youngsta]

That's definitely what it's all about in my opinion Pacion! She made me feel like we were the only two in the entire place...and it was PACKED!! Those are the dances I replay in my mind over and over again! http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/contrib/corky/corkysm60.gif

[tj]

I asked her, actually I pounced on her because every decent salsero in the house was positioning to get to her :lol: What I found out...I couldn't imagine she was THAT good and THAT amazing. I've seen her dance plenty of times out in LA but she was dancing with only me this time and she makes sure that's how it feels. It was a slower tempo song so we played with it a lot. At one point she actually cupped my face with her hand as we were doing a cross body lead. It was so sweet, and romantic, and fun. Nothing at all like the stuff you see in the Mayan videos. Any dude that gets the chance MUST dance with her!!

Lol! Way to go, R!

I've gotten to dance with her twice - once in Vancouver, the other time in Seattle. What's great is how down to earth she is, even though she's a big name. I also love it how she can modify her style depending on song and partner, too.

Did she teach mostly LA Style when she was out there in Denver? I ask because she taught some Cuban style moves when she was teaching in Vancouver.

She's a very nice person, and she sets a good example for the other salsa celebrities out there.

Actually, in my experience, a lot of the most famous salser@s are pretty nice people. It's the wannabes that tend to be the snobby ones.

Anyway, again - congrats! (so much fun!)

[youngsta]

You're right on point tj! She is the most humble salsera I have ever met...period. Totally blew my mind.

[MacMoto]

I danced with a stranger named LIZ LIRA!!! MUAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! :twisted:
I danced with a stranger named FERNANDO SOSA (from Tropical Gem -- an amazing dancer and devilishly handsome to boot :lol:) -- woo hoo!!!

Tons of strangers this weekend -- of course it was a congress, and there was only one person there I've danced with before. Lita_Rulez, Preko and Jamie were among the strangers :D.

[Pacion]

I danced with a stranger named FERNANDO SOSA (from Tropical Gem -- an amazing dancer and devilishly handsome to boot :lol:) -- woo hoo!!!

Is this supposed to cheer me up? :roll: :roll: :lol: Jealousy is a pretty strong emotion :lol:

Now. Enquiring minds would like to KNOW, :lol: who asked who! :wink: Details please, starting from the moment your eyes caught each other :lol:

[MacMoto]

Is this supposed to cheer me up? :roll: :roll: :lol: Jealousy is a pretty strong emotion :lol:
You had your dance with Frankie, I had mine with Fernando. Seems pretty fair to me :lol:

Now. Enquiring minds would like to KNOW, :lol: who asked who! :wink: Details please, starting from the moment your eyes caught each other :lol:
I asked, of course. That's the only way I get to dance with great dancers -- by being bold and shameless! :lol: I was part of the circle of people watching performers dance (needless to say I was there to watch him), the song finished, he came off the dancefloor and stood just a couple of feet away from me, then one of my favourite songs came on, and in a moment of madness I tapped his shoulder and asked for a dance. He was amazing (if I wasn't :oops:) and ever so nice. What can I say -- if you think he's gorgeous on stage, he's even more so up close and smiling at you (now you should be REALLY jealous :lol:)!

[Sagitta]

Okay...9 strangers tonight - and the floor was half empty most of the night!! :D

[Pacion]

What can I say -- if you think he's gorgeous on stage, he's even more so up close and smiling at you (now you should be REALLY jealous :lol:)!

:nope: I might get my own opportunity in a few weeks time :wink: :lol:

[MacMoto]

What can I say -- if you think he's gorgeous on stage, he's even more so up close and smiling at you (now you should be REALLY jealous :lol:)!

:nope: I might get my own opportunity in a few weeks time :wink: :lol:
Great! :D EM are waiting for your report!

[tj]

What can I say -- if you think he's gorgeous on stage, he's even more so up close and smiling at you (now you should be REALLY jealous :lol:)!

:nope: I might get my own opportunity in a few weeks time :wink: :lol:
Great! :D EM are waiting for your report!


Lol! You two have it backwards! :nope:

We guys here on DF should be jealous that FS gets to dance with both of you!

Lol! :wink:

[MacMoto]

We guys here on DF should be jealous that FS gets to dance with both of you!
You are very kind TJ, but as far as dancing with me is concerned, you haven't missed much (there are enough DFers who can tell you how bad I can be) :oops:

This weekend:
None on Friday (there weren't any strangers, and not many non-strangers either :evil:).
Six on Saturday, I think. Or was it seven?
Four on Sunday.

No "WOW!" strangers (either famous or Joe public) this time, but one of the "wow!" stangers from a fortnight ago turned up again on Saturday. He's on my fave list now :D.

[tj]

We guys here on DF should be jealous that FS gets to dance with both of you!
You are very kind TJ, but as far as dancing with me is concerned, you haven't missed much (there are enough DFers who can tell you how bad I can be) :oops:

Lol - but hey, in my book, enthusiasm is so much more important than technical skill. And reading you rave about your salsa experience is a clear enough sign that you're enthusiastic when it's right.


This weekend:
None on Friday (there weren't any strangers, and not many non-strangers either :evil:).
Six on Saturday, I think. Or was it seven?
Four on Sunday.

No "WOW!" strangers (either famous or Joe public) this time, but one of the "wow!" stangers from a fortnight ago turned up again on Saturday. He's on my fave list now :D.

I think I danced with 3 or 4 strangers on Saturday night. One of them totally had me fooled. She pretended to be a raw beginner - and I was quite surprised when she was onbeat and had her steps down. I was teasing her most of the night about being a big faker!

[Sagitta]

Strangers.... Friday night over 5..stopped counting
Sunday...the same!! :)

[Pacion]

We guys here on DF should be jealous that FS gets to dance with both of you!
You are very kind TJ

:roll: Nay! MacMoto, TJ winked at the end of his post ( :wink: ) so I am going to take it with a pinch of salt :roll: :wink: :lol:

Thanks TJ. You are sweet :D and no, you still can't jump the queue to dance with MacMoto and I :twisted: :lol:

[tj]

We guys here on DF should be jealous that FS gets to dance with both of you!
You are very kind TJ

:roll: Nay! MacMoto, TJ winked at the end of his post ( :wink: ) so I am going to take it with a pinch of salt :roll: :wink: :lol:

Thanks TJ. You are sweet :D and no, you still can't jump the queue to dance with MacMoto and I :twisted: :lol:

Ooo - an even better idea:

Salsa triples with the two of you, lol!
:raisebro:

[Pacion]

Ooo - an even better idea:

Salsa triples with the two of you, lol!
:raisebro:

Yes please! :banana: :lol:

[tj]

Ooo - an even better idea:

Salsa triples with the two of you, lol!
:raisebro:

Yes please! :banana: :lol:

If either of you are ever in the NY/NJ area, check out Juan of Cultural Explosion. (http://www.culturalexplosion.com/noIntro.htm) He dances a very nice Salsa Triple. He had a performance at the Philly Salsa Congress where it was himself and 3 Follows, in fact! :shock:



Back on topic: danced with 3-5 strangers last night. One of whom I saw last Saturday and was like :shock: when I saw her dance. She was dressed down a bit (since it was a Monday), and wasn't dancing with all the instructors this time. So I asked her and had a nice relaxed dance with her. Sure, it lacked the flash that I saw on Saturday, but hey, it was fun.

[youngsta]

Danced with 3 strangers tonight and one of them happened to be a DFer! So delamusica thanks for the dance, it was a blast!! :D

[MacMoto]

I have no idea how many strangers I danced with this weekend. I was busy having fun and forgot to keep count :oops:. Not many anyway -- maybe about seven?

[Pacion]

I was busy having fun and forgot to keep count :oops:. Not many anyway -- maybe about seven?

:eyebrow: I guess after dancing with Milton Cobo and Fernando Sosa, in what the space of a month or two, it isn't an easy high to come down from :wink: :lol:

[MacMoto]

I was busy having fun and forgot to keep count :oops:. Not many anyway -- maybe about seven?

:eyebrow: I guess after dancing with Milton Cobo and Fernando Sosa, in what the space of a month or two, it isn't an easy high to come down from :wink: :lol:
It was James Cobo (see here (http://www.salsaholics.co.uk/pics/200409/index.html)), not Milton :nope: :lol:
Yes Fernando Sosa is difficult to top :wink:, but it's more a case of being torn between chasing strangers, stalking all my favourites and enjoying my latest dance crush -- a weekend is not long enough to do all three! :roll: :lol:

[Sagitta]

Well with a live band the danec tonight should have plenty of strangers to sample....

[delamusica]

I got four this weekend. Thanks youngsta! :) (ok, so the weekend was over awhile ago . . . but I don't have a computer at home, so forgive my tardy posting. :oops:) And hey - four was big for me! There aren't a lot of strangers around where I usually dance . . . guess I've been there too long.

[tj]

6 strangers last night. Fun, fun, fun!

:banana: :bouncy: :banana:


What's funny/odd is that Vin and I were totally out of sync for a few weeks there. Nights he was having fun were mediocre for me, while nights I was having a blast weren't great for him.

Happy to report that it hasn't been the case for a while now!
:D

[Pacion]

I was busy having fun and forgot to keep count :oops:. Not many anyway -- maybe about seven?

:eyebrow: I guess after dancing with Milton Cobo and Fernando Sosa, in what the space of a month or two, it isn't an easy high to come down from :wink: :lol:
It was James Cobo (see here (http://www.salsaholics.co.uk/pics/200409/index.html)), not Milton :nope: :lol:
Yes Fernando Sosa is difficult to top :wink:, but it's more a case of being torn between chasing strangers, stalking all my favourites and enjoying my latest dance crush -- a weekend is not long enough to do all three! :roll: :lol:

One of the Cobo brothers is called James? :roll: :twisted: :lol:

Five here :D One in particular was quite funny in how it happened :lol: I saw this guy dancing a bachata r e a l s l o w with his dance partner. Not sure if it was his girlfriend/a girlfriend but it looked as if she was nozzling his neck. He was "looking around" and he saw me looking/observing them. He proceed to dance even more slowly, as if that were possible! I just smiled and Mister proceeded to hold my gaze and smile :lol: I think I may have shook my head slightly, still smiling. :lol: A few songs later, guess who came over to ask me to dance :shock: :lol: it was fun! :banana: :lol: The dancing was very playful :lol:

[MacMoto]

You have been practising your come-hither look, haven't you? Obviously it's paying off now :wink: :lol:

[Sagitta]

Two strangers last night, and three people whom I hadn't seen in a while. Plus, I didn't remember two of their names. :oops: :)

[Pacion]

You have been practising your come-hither look, haven't you? Obviously it's paying off now :wink: :lol:

:lol: Not quite. I was just very amused by the way the girl was into him and he was just looking around him, which is how our eyes connected :lol: I had also never seen bachata danced THAT slowly before which is why I was observing them :lol:

[MacMoto]

I feel really bad. I think I have done serious damage to my "stranger dance" street cred last night.

A stranger who was obviously very good (I have been told later that he was a salsa teacher from France -- funny I thought the way he danced reminded me of some French salseros I knew) was at the "club with a tree", and I DIDN'T dance with him! :shock: :shock: :cry: Even a male friend of mine danced with him (the stranger wanted to follow), but I didn't!! :shock:
It didn't help that every time I lined myself up near him for the next song a merengue came on :evil:, but the main cause of my failure was that I let my new dance crush hog me too much... :oops: :roll: I definitely have to be more disciplined from now on :roll: :lol:.

(For Pacion -- last night's DJ played an awful lot of bachatas -- not a bad thing when your dance crush loves bachata :lol:. Some really nice songs... I'd better track them down.)

[Pacion]

(For Pacion -- last night's DJ played an awful lot of bachatas -- not a bad thing when your dance crush loves bachata :lol:. Some really nice songs... I'd better track them down.)

:lol: What do you think are the chances of bachata rivalling salsa in 2005! :lol: (As much as I love the dance, I am not sure I will be thrilled to hear of promoters organising bachata congresses/festivals/weekenders or bachata dance companies formed though :roll: )

[DancePoet]

MacMoto wrote: "You have been practising your come-hither look, haven't you? Obviously it's paying off now :wink: :lol:"

So, do you have one of those, too. ;)

[MacMoto]

MacMoto wrote: "You have been practising your come-hither look, haven't you? Obviously it's paying off now :wink: :lol:"

So, do you have one of those, too. ;)
Come visit me and find out for yourself :wink:

[tj]

5-6 on Saturday, although I must admit it's getting harder and harder to find them!

[Flat Shoes]

Last tuesday I went to beginners class. So that was somewhere between 10 and 15 beginners and strangers.

[Vin]

5-6 on Saturday, although I must admit it's getting harder and harder to find them!

Saturday was a difficult night to dance with strangers. Almost all of my favorite dance partners were there. Only 3 strangers for me. I agree, now that we are "in" the scene dancing with strangers becomes more difficult. Oh taking a trip home this weekend, time to dance with some new strangers.

[tj]

5-6 on Saturday, although I must admit it's getting harder and harder to find them!

Saturday was a difficult night to dance with strangers. Almost all of my favorite dance partners were there. Only 3 strangers for me. I agree, now that we are "in" the scene dancing with strangers becomes more difficult. Oh taking a trip home this weekend, time to dance with some new strangers.

There were several really good Follows who didn't get asked much because they were unknown. It's a shame, but hey, I got to benefit at least!

[MacMoto]

Last tuesday I went to beginners class. So that was somewhere between 10 and 15 beginners and strangers.
Did you get a full-song dance with every one of those 10-15 people at the class? :shock: I can usually manage only 5-6 dances at most during the free dancing slots before and after my classes... and many guys use the after-class slot to practise the pattern taught in the class, so some of those dances don't feel very "free" :?

[Pacion]

Yesterday, I think I had 3 dances :? Hadn't danced with one of my favourite dancers in a while so I got quite a few dances in with him :banana: He does this wonderful walk (almost like a tango walk?) and :banana: I can't get enough! :lol: He knows so he obliges me :applause: :lol: It is such a simple and effective move and it is different to being spun/hand patterns and oooohhhhh, I love it! :banana: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Sounds like salsa love ... :roll: :wink:

[Pacion]

:doh: :lol: You just want a wedding to attend :lol:

[pygmalion]

Uh. Yes... yours. :wink: :lol:

[Pacion]

:lol: don't worry. The invitation is in the post :wink:

[pygmalion]

Sure. That's what they all say. :lol: :lol:

[Pacion]

:lol: Well, Sabor is still yet to give me his lime green socksies as a declaration... :wink: :lol:

[pygmalion]

A declaration of what? (You never can tell with these lime green sockie-wearing guys, you know. :roll: :lol: )

[squirrel]

A declaration of war! Or love... ;)... or both!

[Sabor]

:lol: Well, Sabor is still yet to give me his lime green socksies as a declaration... :wink: :lol:

:shock: see.. i knew it!.. all u want from me are my clothes! :evil:

[Sagitta]

Danced with a couple strangers yesterday night. Should do it more.

[Pacion]

A declaration of war! Or love... ;)... or both!

:lol: Pygmalion and Squirrel. Notice I used lower case "d" :wink: What ever he wants to give me his socksies as a declaration of, that's okay, as long as I get the socks :twisted: :lol:

:lol: Well, Sabor is still yet to give me his lime green socksies as a declaration... :wink: :lol:

:shock: see.. i knew it!.. all u want from me are my clothes! :evil:

:eyebrow: what else could I possibly want :roll: :wink: :lol:

[Sagitta]

:lol: Well, Sabor is still yet to give me his lime green socksies as a declaration... :wink: :lol:

:shock: see.. i knew it!.. all u want from me are my clothes! :evil:

:eyebrow: what else could I possibly want :roll: :wink: :lol:

Perhaps u too shy to ask for what u want directly? :twisted: :)

[Pacion]

:tongue: Sagitta :lol: How much more direct does a girl have to be, other than saying "I like your lime green socksies. Will you give them to me please?" :roll:


:lol:

[Sagitta]

:tongue: Sagitta :lol: How much more direct does a girl have to be, other than saying "I like your lime green socksies. Will you give them to me please?" :roll:


:lol:

Shouldn't u be asking sabor that? See, I knew there were some underlying issues. :twisted:

[MacMoto]

Getting back on topic... :roll:

No strangers on Friday (it was a private party).
6 or 7 on Saturday, I think.
3 on Sunday (including one who used to go to the beginners class I went to -- hadn't seen him for over a year and never had a full dance with him until yesterday :shock:).

[Vin]

Danced outside my scene saturday at least 8 strangers that I can think of.

[tj]

Getting back on topic... :roll:

No strangers on Friday (it was a private party).
6 or 7 on Saturday, I think.
3 on Sunday (including one who used to go to the beginners class I went to -- hadn't seen him for over a year and never had a full dance with him until yesterday :shock:).

...and...

Danced outside my scene saturday at least 8 strangers that I can think of.

Ya big teases! EM want more info!

[MacMoto]

Ya big teases! EM want more info!
That's what the "So ... how was your dance weekend? (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?p=101884#101884)" thread is for! :wink:

[Sagitta]

Ya big teases! EM want more info!
That's what the "So ... how was your dance weekend? (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?p=101884#101884)" thread is for! :wink: Still not enought info. :(

[MacMoto]

What do you want to know?

[Vin]

Getting back on topic... :roll:

No strangers on Friday (it was a private party).
6 or 7 on Saturday, I think.
3 on Sunday (including one who used to go to the beginners class I went to -- hadn't seen him for over a year and never had a full dance with him until yesterday :shock:).

...and...

Danced outside my scene saturday at least 8 strangers that I can think of.

Ya big teases! EM want more info!

In my case it was my first time visiting that scene(where I grew up) since moving to a larger salsa scene. As I expected the scene was very different from our normal scene. As well I think many of the local salsa mafia(that I used to see when I visited in the past) were out of town. I was never a local to that scene but I have visited maybe every 6 months for the last couple of years.

It was a very friendly scene in this case(I didn't sit out a single salsa). The music was a bit more varied than I like, 3 salsa's followed by 3 reggeattons, then 3 merengues and then back to salsa. The selections of each were good though, even the reggeattons were not the same old same old..
The style had more influence from cuban style and was definitely less slotted than I have gotten used to. Also many of the moves that have become standard in my repertoire were unknown to the scene.

[tj]

In my case it was my first time visiting that scene(where I grew up) since moving to a larger salsa scene. As I expected the scene was very different from our normal scene. As well I think many of the local salsa mafia(that I used to see when I visited in the past) were out of town. I was never a local to that scene but I have visited maybe every 6 months for the last couple of years.

It was a very friendly scene in this case(I didn't sit out a single salsa). The music was a bit more varied than I like, 3 salsa's followed by 3 reggeattons, then 3 merengues and then back to salsa. The selections of each were good though, even the reggeattons were not the same old same old..
The style had more influence from cuban style and was definitely less slotted than I have gotten used to. Also many of the moves that have become standard in my repertoire were unknown to the scene.

Now *that* :applause: :tongue: is a good description of "Fresh Meat Syndrome."

(the Plan, anyone?) 8)


And McM, EM want more details than what you put in the "How Was Your Dance Weekend". :wink:

[MacMoto]

I'm getting very sloppy with my counting :oops:, even though I am still dancing with strangers! Over the 3 nights I think I may have got 10, or maybe a bit less? There was one good dancer among the strangers (that was a fun dance!), and hopefully I'll get more oppotunities to dance with him. :)

And McM, EM want more details than what you put in the "How Was Your Dance Weekend". :wink:
Not a lot of details to add, I'm afraid. I just scan the room, look for unfamilar faces (or familiar faces from classes I haven't had a full dance with), walk up to them and ask for a dance. That's in between running around trying to dance with all the non-strangers. A friend of mine was laughing about it last night, describing it as my "ticking off the list of leaders" :lol:. It actually is like that :roll: (except for odd ocassions when I get carried away with dancefloor crushes :lol:).

[Sagitta]

What do you want to know? :o Everything?

I get carried away too, but I clearly remember dancing with 3 strangers last night. One person did not know waltz and so we just did the basic box/steps. I'm not good enough to do more and still am suffering from hurting feet! :cry: Another one I tried doing AT instead of American tango and that was hilarious. She refused to do AT, so I ended up racking my brains for American tango steps. Yuck!! Third I did a merengue with.

[tj]

I'm getting very sloppy with my counting :oops:, even though I am still dancing with strangers! Over the 3 nights I think I may have got 10, or maybe a bit less? There was one good dancer among the strangers (that was a fun dance!), and hopefully I'll get more oppotunities to dance with him. :)


Ouch! That's great that you got a good dance with that one dancer, but overall only 1 in 10?


And McM, EM want more details than what you put in the "How Was Your Dance Weekend". :wink:
Not a lot of details to add, I'm afraid. I just scan the room, look for unfamilar faces (or familiar faces from classes I haven't had a full dance with), walk up to them and ask for a dance. That's in between running around trying to dance with all the non-strangers. A friend of mine was laughing about it last night, describing it as my "ticking off the list of leaders" :lol:. It actually is like that :roll: (except for odd ocassions when I get carried away with dancefloor crushes :lol:).

Lol - sounds like friends of mine.

I think I danced with about 10 strangers over the weekend, too. I may even have a new fav.

[MacMoto]

Ouch! That's great that you got a good dance with that one dancer, but overall only 1 in 10?
I don't usually expect to get a really good dance with a stranger, so getting one is good. I do my round :lol: with all my favourite leaders to make up for it and get my fix. :wink: Had some lovely dances last night!

[tj]

I do my round :lol: with all my favourite leaders to make up for it and get my fix. :wink: Had some lovely dances last night!

Cool! :applause: It's the same for me with my favs, too.


I don't usually expect to get a really good dance with a stranger, so getting one is good.

I'll do a little 'scouting in advance' most of the time. This way I'll know what to expect.

There have been more than a few of times where I didn't watch her dance first, and was pleasantly surprised. Most of the time, I'm the one surprising her (as I'm not recognizable to a lot of the scene).

[Sagitta]

At least 4 last night. :wink:

[pygmalion]

Do I get any special awards for moving to a new area (where, technically speaking ALL of my dance partners will be strangers ... for a while, at least :wink: :lol: )

[tj]

Do I get any special awards for moving to a new area (where, technically speaking ALL of my dance partners will be strangers ... for a while, at least :wink: :lol: )

Sure!

(and what, pray tell, should we name this award?)

[Pacion]

Do I get any special awards for moving to a new area (where, technically speaking ALL of my dance partners will be strangers ... for a while, at least :wink: :lol: )

:nope: they won't be your dance partners until you actually dance with them :twisted: :lol: You might decide to become a wallflower :wink:

[Pacion]

I think six this weekend? I went to the wedding reception for one of the London salsa teachers and of course, it was mainly salsa music with a couple of bachata songs thrown in.

Whilst I treasure all my dances from last night, there were a couple that really stand out :shock: the floor was nice and towards the end of the evening there was quite a bit of room. One guy took me on a big circle! :shock: :lol: we just covered a lot of the floorspace in a few bars :banana: He told me that it is a very cuban thing. What ever it was, I want more! :lol: It was so simple (and thankfully we had the space to do it) but so effective and made such a change from staying within a small area.

The other dance had some simple "couple" moves, again, just using the floor. :banana:

(Would anyone mind if I say: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers :wink: :lol: )

[Sagitta]

Okay there were 6/7/8....went zydeco dancing, you see... :)

[MacMoto]

Danced with a stranger from Washington DC on Friday, who gave me the best dance of the night! :D A lot of fun. I think I danced with a couple more strangers on Friday but can't remember... :oops: Buses (:roll:), favourites and other regulars kept me busy all night (I believe I missed two songs over 3 1/2 hours).

Some more strangers on Saturday and Sunday too, but not many -- even though I danced non-stop, literally. Probably around 5-6 strangers altogether over the 3 nights.

[tj]

Danced with a stranger from Washington DC on Friday, who gave me the best dance of the night! :D A lot of fun.

Here we go with that six degrees of separation thing again! Only in the salsa world it's more like 3 degrees of separation...


I danced with a bunch of strangers on Sunday night. So much fun!

Hey, does it count if you haven't danced with someone in more than a year? :wink:

[MacMoto]

Danced with a stranger from Washington DC on Friday, who gave me the best dance of the night! :D A lot of fun.

Here we go with that six degrees of separation thing again! Only in the salsa world it's more like 3 degrees of separation...
I wondered if someone here might know the guy... it would be funny! :)

[tj]

Here we go with that six degrees of separation thing again! Only in the salsa world it's more like 3 degrees of separation...
I wondered if someone here might know the guy... it would be funny! :)

It's possible except that I'm still relatively new to the DC scene plus I'm bad with names and faces...

Vin might?

[Vin]

It's possible, I am also new to the scene though(but i am slightly better with names and faces than TJ) although I would bet that both of us have danced with someone that he has danced with him before :D .

That would make us like best friends, right?

[MacMoto]

It's possible, I am also new to the scene though(but i am slightly better with names and faces than TJ) although I would bet that both of us have danced with someone that he has danced with him before :D .

That would make us like best friends, right?
Yeah of course :lol:. All we have to do now is meet up and dance! :wink:

[MacMoto]

i didn't do well this weekend... :oops: went out only two nights, and on Saturday I didn't dance much. No strangers. And only two strangers on Sunday -- but one of them was a fantastic dancer! I really enjoyed the dances I had with him.