Any tips for a new Salsa dancer?

[dancergal]

This WCS and Country girl is going to take my first Salsa lesson tomorrow. :shock: Reading the forums have inspired me to try it, so here goes. Any tips or suggestions? btw-it will be a one-on-one lesson with a dance Pro to start out.

[youngsta]

All I can say is enjoy it! Since you already dance WCS and country you shouldn't have a problem with keeping a connection so you're way ahead of the game. I'll add you to my DF dancecard! :lol:

[SDsalsaguy]

I've never seen you dance so this might not be applicable but, in general, there's probably more of a forward poise in salsa then in swing. There are, of course, a lot of differences in “flavor” but, for a first lesson, I don’t think these are significant.

Also, as youngsta says, enjoy it! And please tell us how it goes! Enquiring minds (well, at least the DF variety) want to know!

[dancergal]

Thanks guys! I'm really excited. Can't wait to start. You realize of course that being a new salsa dancer, I won't know a lot to be able to dance with you pros. You'll have to be gentle with me. No throwing me over your head, and tricky flashy spinning like a top moves, promise? :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Thanks guys! I'm really excited. Can't wait to start. You realize of course that being a new salsa dancer, I won't know a lot to be able to dance with you pros. You'll have to be gentle with me. No throwing me over your head, and tricky flashy spinning like a top moves, promise? :D

No sweat, especially as I actually like to dance with my partners rather then treating them like a piece of dance equipment. :wink:

[dancergal]

Whew! Thanks SD, I feel so better now. :) Now can this day just hurry up a little faster so I can get to class???? :wink:

[DanceMentor]

I think it is important to recognize where the pauses are in the music. If you are dancing 1,2,3, you should be sure to hold the 4 beat. It is easy to move your feet too much on the pause, so I recommend you get in the habit of remembering to pause.

Also, I can't emphasize this enough: get some salsa music and start listening to it and dancing to it at home.

[salsarhythms]

Dancementor really gave a great peice of advice...get some music
and just listen to it all the time. You will start to get the feel for it
very quickly.

[dancergal]

Also, I can't emphasize this enough: get some salsa music and start listening to it and dancing to it at home.

Thanks Dance Mentor. That's a very good idea. It helped me in both my country and WCS to start listening to the particular music that I was dancing.
You know, I don't know any salsa music. Does anyone have some names for me to look for?? There's a music store right across the street from the dance studio. I can pop right over there after the lesson.

[youngsta]

Thanks guys! I'm really excited. Can't wait to start. You realize of course that being a new salsa dancer, I won't know a lot to be able to dance with you pros. You'll have to be gentle with me. No throwing me over your head, and tricky flashy spinning like a top moves, promise? :D
That's not my style :wink: I'm all about making my partner look good so you'll be fine!

[SDsalsaguy]

So...?

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Out with it already! :wink:

[dancergal]

:D :D :D :D Ok, ok, I'm reporting!!!!!!! Woweeeee! It was so much fun. Gosh there's a lot to know. Ok, first thing, I had trouble with the hip movement with the basic back and forth (especially the back). Then he put on some music, and it was better. :D I can see lots of practice will help!

Then the pauses when I do a turn. I kept wanting to turn too fast like swing, but then again, once he put on the music, and counted for me, I could see what he wanted me to do. I followed a couple of cross body leads and did some turns. The cucuracha (sp?) steps were a little difficult, again the hip movement I'm not used to. He did some more moves and just let me follow after that. All and all I had a great time and I think I'm going to like this dance!!!!!! I get another lesson next week!

Just to take a break from Salsa, we did some Hustle since I only know basic Hustle moves and he really helped me on that too. I was doing a few things wrong. Wow, what a difference individual instruction makes. I like it, I like it!!!! :D :D :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Glad to hear you had such a good time! :D Yay!!! A new salsaholic in the making! :D

Regarding hip motion, try to keep in mind that it doesn't come from the hips but, rather, from a developing pressure, through your feet, into the floor. Similarly, the "holds" aren't really holds but, rather, "oozes." Yes, your feet hold but your body oozes your weight transfer over the two beats. Does that make sense?

[dancergal]

Oh yes, oozes. I like that. I see that makes sense. I think he was trying to get me to get used to a pause so I won't move too quickly. My little swing feet wants to go, go, go. :lol:

We didn't touch on transferring weight. I'll have to try that. Yes, he showed me how to move my feet into the floor to get the hip movement. I need some practice on that for sure. I tried it in front of a mirror last night. It helps to see what I'm doing. I can't wait to be able to start dancing. It feels so fun!!

[SDsalsaguy]

Glad you like the "oozes." :D

Had to learn that one myuself actually. When I was starting out with quick-quick-slow I'd just take three quick steps and the be standing there, like a bump on the log, for an entire beat. Talk about mechanical looking! :lol:
So, for a while there, my mental count became quick-quick-ooze... 8)

But it's also important not to step ahead of the beat, so I get what your instructor was talking about. Don't want your little swing feet running ahead, now would we? :lol:

[dancergal]

Now I just need to get some Salsa music so I can pratice these moves at home. I can't wait for my next lesson. I'm really excited about this dance. Is this how it starts??

[youngsta]

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Come into the fold my dear! :twisted: :wink:

[SDsalsaguy]

Yep...definately how it starts. :D

[dancergal]

As an update, I had my second lesson last night. Oh, boy what fun....and I have sooooo much to learn still. :D . My instructor turned on the music this time and we danced to it and he showed me a few more moves. Oh my gosh!! Where's the beat??? I couldn't hear a beat to start counting. Eventually after we danced a while I think I could hear the beat, but it wasn't easy to pick up. I still have a problem with the pauses especially when the music is on, it's so fast, it makes me go faster with my feet. Oh and there was this one move, that allowed my free hand to brush down my hair in a sexy way. My instructor said guys like that. Is that true? :wink: Anyway, he said I was picking it up fast and he said I followed well, I guess from my west coast swing background. Now I need more practice. I like it, I like it!!! :D :D :D :D

[Danish Guy]

Yes, that’s how it starts.
Welcome to the club.

For the different music, try the net radios.
You will be able to listen to a lot of different free salsa music.

I have posted a link under websites.

[youngsta]

WooHoo Dancergal! Haircombs are tight if the woman styles them. It's all about attitude! I make sure to give my ladies plenty of time to work with their hands on the dancefloor :D