What's so good about salsa, eh? [Archive]

MadamSamba

10-07-2003, 07:08 AM

Thought that might capture your attention! :bouncy:

I don't ask to be convinced (I'm suitably addicted), but was wondering what everybody else loves about it?

Having been introduced to dancing through ballroom and swing (as it seems many of you guys have too) I love the freedom and spontenaity of salsa and the music...well, that speaks for itself.

As a girl, you just follow. The challenge is to keep up, but to make it look fluid. The second I saw it, I was smitten and have never looked back. Just wondering what everybody else loves about salsa compared to other styles of dance they've seen or experienced.

pygmalion

10-07-2003, 07:16 AM

This is a great topic! I hope you're ready for the outpouring of sheer love and emotion you're going to get! :lol: :D

MadamSamba

10-07-2003, 07:17 AM

Ha, ha, pygmalion. It's called setting the cat amongst the pigeons! :)

SalsaGeek

10-07-2003, 01:35 PM

The music and the girls in their sexy outfits. :wink:

Spitfire

10-07-2003, 02:29 PM

Salsa may be the one I'm the least proficient at of the dances I enjoy, but I love it. I think I need to learn and have more variety in moves and patterns since Salsa music tends to be the most lengthy.

The studio I attend is suppose to do another Salsathon next month. At least they are going to try; the instructor who organized it the last two years is no longer with the studio, but I think they can and will succeed in the endeavor. :D

Danish Guy

10-07-2003, 02:57 PM

I like the way you rotate partners at the classes.

The way you lead the lady’s and dance together like its
something rehearsed and planned for hours.

I like the dance can be used outside the studio.

I like the atmosphere, the dancers,
and that you don’t need to drink to dance.

Most of all, it’s FUN, and you dance together.
(Not like the discothèques solo dance trips).

borikensalsero

10-07-2003, 07:12 PM

My loving for salsa is outside the scope of physical pleasure. It goes somewhat beyond the realms of the material and into the spiritual.

The percussion salsa uses was used and is still used today in santeria. It is used to invoke the saints, speaking in english, percussion instruments are used to speak to the soul.

I love salsa because it takes me away from the world that is physically real and sends me into a soul soothing journey. The feeling is only increased by the sense that my partner has been able to take the journey with me and exprecience what very few have come to understand as two souls becoming an infinte one during a dance. Touch doesn't feel like touch, sweat doesn't feel like sweat, the only way to know that my body is still here is when the music ends and my soul sighs in sorrow.

While my presence on the dancefloor is physical the love salsa and I share can only be attained in a world where form becomes the form-less and music to the ears the heartbeat of soul. I love because salsa never gave me a choice to feel physical pleasure, it instead gifted me with the love of knowing my soul before my time in this phsyical world passes. :mrgreen:

salsachinita

11-25-2003, 09:16 AM

pygmalion

11-25-2003, 09:21 AM

Just reading an older thread & found yet another beautiful one by Boriken :D !

I love the way how all my senses become 'awake' the second salsa music is played. My soul gets to come out and play......

I miss my days in NY. I was staying in Brooklyn in a Puerto Rican neibourhood. There was salsa music oooozing out of every window, 24/7. I heard it in my sleep, in my dreams. I was so completely SEDUCED, and those days I floated, danced & breathed in a hightened state of trance. (so much so I did not do any of the visitor thingies one must do in NY :oops: )

Oooooh....

Two things: one -- Boriken is a poet.

Two. The other day, I was at the post office, and there was a gentleman sitting outside in his car, listneing to salsa. I came SO CLOSE to asking for a dance. 9 oclock in the morning, outside of the post office! Salsa is a seductive thing! The only reason I didn't ask was because his girlfriend, for whom he was waiting, might not understand. and she looked pretty mean! :oops: :lol:

salsachinita

11-25-2003, 09:39 AM

Two things: one -- Boriken is a poet.

So right, Jenn. :D

salsachinita

11-25-2003, 09:43 AM

Two. The other day, I was at the post office, and there was a gentleman sitting outside in his car, listneing to salsa. I came SO CLOSE to asking for a dance. 9 oclock in the morning, outside of the post office! Salsa is a seductive thing! The only reason I didn't ask was because his girlfriend, for whom he was waiting, might not understand. and she looked pretty mean! :oops: :lol:

I know EXCACTLY what you mean :lol: Urges like that happens to me all the time.....! :wink:

.........salsa, anyone.....?

borikensalsero

11-25-2003, 10:38 AM

Two things: one -- Boriken is a poet.

So right, Jenn. :D

pygmalion, salsachinita, thank you so very much for the kind words. It is truly an honor to read you guys write beautiful words about my writting. There is just so much red I can turn. Soon, I will expolde from the heat radiated by my face caused by your words. :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Thank you

Vin

11-25-2003, 10:58 AM

I should start playing my headphones louder so that random salsera's will start asking me to dance :D

I can not fully explain what it is about Salsa that has captured me. I did not start out addicted, I started out wanting to learn but it was under control. Then I started having a few of those dances, the ones where you feel a perfect connection with a partner and the music. Where every move you make is perfectly followed and perfectly follows the music. At this point I started feeling the addiction and could not get enough. Since then my goal has been to learn how to create that high on the dance floor again.

youngsta

11-25-2003, 08:09 PM

I can't flow like boriken, but I'll say my piece :lol: For me salsa represents all the things I love in life: Music, dancing, playfullness, sexuality, unity. It's something that no matter how much you don't have in common with another, when you find they are a salsero/a there's an instant connection. It's a magical journey I get to make multiple times a night with various traveling partners.

danceguy

11-25-2003, 08:32 PM

While I'm still a beginner to Salsa and struggling with lead, frame and how to move...I must say its my favorite style of dance. I listen to the music everyday...on my MP3 player...streaming Salsa at work in the background...I just love to hear it. Whenever I hear that rhythm...my body just starts to feel it...I want to learn and hear more...to actually become good enough to dance it well.

I look forward to more Salsa journeys... :)

SG

salsachinita

11-25-2003, 08:55 PM

pygmalion, salsachinita, thank you so very much for the kind words. It is truly an honor to read you guys write beautiful words about my writting. There is just so much red I can turn. Soon, I will expolde from the heat radiated by my face caused by your words. :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Thank you

You are welcome :D ! It's an honor for us to read your writing (AND have our common feelings confirmed in words!) :notworth:

Plz refrain from exploding until we've at least had a dance :wink: !

borikensalsero

11-26-2003, 08:29 AM

pygmalion

11-26-2003, 11:46 AM

Warning: Totally off topic.

I love DF. :D So many wonderful people. Thanks, guys (and gals!) :D

salsachinita

11-26-2003, 06:41 PM

Warning: Totally off topic.

:notworth: You got it, Royal Guard! :notworth:

........now what was the topic again.....? :? :lol:

pygmalion

11-26-2003, 06:43 PM

Thanks, sweetie. :D

And the topic is salsa, what else? :lol:

MadamSamba

11-29-2003, 05:50 PM

Oh, such wonderful answers (especially the lovely words from borikensalsero) and I'm in full agreeance: the movement is graceful and fluid, the music inspiring and heart-felt and the people, well, aside from being incredibly sexy, are like mose dancers, kind-hearted and welcoming, just like the DF population! :D

mhgroove

02-22-2004, 09:36 PM

What so good for salsa is one of few dances(along merengue, cha-cha, bachata, danzon, bolero..etc) that it's about dancing between a man and woman. Coming from a R&B/Jazz Background and it's great music to listen but dancing to it is totally individualistic. Salsa and the majority of the Latin dances are about a man and woman dancing with each other. That's what has seduced and entranced me and kept me wanting to dance salsa. I believe more American men & women who love to dance should learn to dance salsa or any other the latin dances. These dances will teach us a skill of how to communicate non-verbally between the sexes.

MacMoto

02-23-2004, 01:57 AM

Hi, mhgroove! Welcome, and thanks for resurrecting this thread, which I haven't noticed until now.

Salsa and the majority of the Latin dances are about a man and woman dancing with each other. That's what has seduced and entranced me and kept me wanting to dance salsa.
I know what you mean as I also love the partner dance aspect of salsa. Although I think the initial attraction of salsa for me when I started taking group lessons was the music, it was the sense of connection you get with your partner, the feeling of sharing the music and the emotions it brings out with another person, that got me addicted to salsa dancing. I discovered it only when I started to dance socially after many months of just going to classes, and I was totally hooked! And every time you dance with a new person, it's a whole different rollercoaster ride full of surprises (I think this is especially true for followers -- aren't we the lucky ones :wink: ).

Another thing about salsa -- it seems to bring out a totally new personality I didn't know I had in me. When I'm dancing, I'm all smiles, full of energy, outgoing, playful, flirtatious and happy with my sexuality as a woman. I wouldn't dream of being like that in my "real life", yet I think I like my salsera alter ego rather a lot. :shock:

MapleLeaf Salsero

02-23-2004, 06:54 AM

Wellcome mhgroove!!!

Another thing about salsa -- it seems to bring out a totally new personality I didn't know I had in me. When I'm dancing, I'm all smiles, full of energy, outgoing, playful, flirtatious and happy with my sexuality as a woman. I wouldn't dream of being like that in my "real life", yet I think I like my salsera alter ego rather a lot. :shock:

MacMoto, why not bring these things into your "real life"? :shock: At least things like smiles, energy and playfulness. You´d be surprised how people would react positively to it.

peachexploration

02-23-2004, 08:39 AM

.......men & women who love to dance should learn to dance salsa or any other the latin dances. These dances will teach us a skill of how to communicate non-verbally between the sexes.

:D :banana:

Welcome to the DF MHgroove!

TemptressToo

02-23-2004, 09:37 AM

Um, shall we say beautiful Latin men on the dance floor that oh so KNOW how to move. Or how about the different variations of holds and closeness. I went from arms length to gasping for air (I was that close). Since it was my first time Salsa dancing...my friend, a pro...was telling me what I was supposed to do. She said, "dance like you are trying to get into his pants." ;) She also pointed out it really isn't a dance of steps (get the very easy basic and go with it)...it is more a dance of "natural rhythmn." I had a LOT of fun and am looking forward to next time.

Sagitta

02-23-2004, 10:42 AM

TemptressToo getting into salsa? Are we? That's great!! And don't just go for looks! You'll be suprised! I dance with some ladies and even though they look just okay dancing with them is like being transported into another dimension. These are amazing, knee melting dances! :)

TemptressToo

02-23-2004, 10:59 AM

Actually, I've ALWAYS loved all kinds of dance. In high school I had training in jazz, ballet, and hip hop. Swing dancing is my latest love...but it seems along with swing dancing comes ballroom and latin. My latest lessons have been in West Coast Swing (which I don't really like). Also, I've started going to ballroom dance parties on Thursday nights where I've gotten impromptu lessons in many types of ballroom. So far, I like the Foxtrot. Last week, I went dancing Thursday (ballroom), Friday (swing), and Saturday (Salsa). Tonight I have a dance lesson. I'm hoping they can teach me the Lindy Hop.

Salsa and meringue are both fun though. Those two were what I was up to Saturday night. My last Latin partner got pretty um, dirty with our dancing. By the time, I was a little drunk and it kind of felt like sex on the dance floor. ;)

MacMoto

02-23-2004, 05:39 PM

MacMoto, why not bring these things into your "real life"? :shock: At least things like smiles, energy and playfulness. You´d be surprised how people would react positively to it.
People would be shocked -- they are so used to me being shy and reserved. Having said that, I think the alter ego is already beginning to transpose onto the "real life" me... It may be to do with the fact that more and more of my social life is taken up by salsa, and as I spend more time with people who know the other me, it's becoming easier to be the happy salsera without the music or dancing.

mhgroove

02-23-2004, 06:51 PM

Thank You to Peachexploration, Macmoto, & Maple Leaf Salsero for welcoming me. It's great to have a forum like this..especially for salsa and all the dances underneath its umbrella. The more we can exchange ideas, thoughts, concerns, and help each other with our dancing the better these forums will be. All you have a great week! Thanks again for welcoming me!

cocodrilo

02-27-2004, 01:52 AM

For me, there's no way I can just sit down and listen to salsa music! You HAVE TO dance! I learned salsa in Japan, where women are, generally speaking, kind of on the meek side, but not when they start to learn latin dance! I produce latin dance parties and the atmosphere, the rythm and the influence of wild latino residents of this city are truly conducive to even making the stuffiest of people let his or her hair down.

MapleLeaf Salsero

02-27-2004, 06:16 AM

I learned salsa in Japan, where women are, generally speaking, kind of on the meek side, but not when they start to learn latin dance! I produce latin dance parties and the atmosphere, the rythm and the influence of wild latino residents of this city are truly conducive to even making the stuffiest of people let his or her hair down.

WELLCOME Cocodrilo!!

I think you´ve focused on an extremely important aspect of salsa. It reveals the dynamic and spirited side of normally shy and introspective people. MacMoto also touched this in her post.

By the way, I was amazed when I found out that Orchestra de la Luz was a Japanese band. They have really energetic and vigorous music! "Descarga de la Luz" is a good example of this.

cocodrilo

02-27-2004, 06:31 AM

Greetings MapleLeaf!
I believe Orquesta de la Luz has disbanded(although they were fantastic!). I was trying to get their new band, with some of the original members, to play at one of our gigs. The new band is called Orquesta del Sol.

MapleLeaf Salsero

02-27-2004, 06:50 AM

The new band is called Orquesta del Sol.

I´m going to google to find more information. Thanks!!

MacMoto

03-02-2004, 07:45 AM

I believe Orquesta de la Luz has disbanded(although they were fantastic!).
Good news -- it seems they've decided to get back together! There was a concert in Tokyo last week, and I hear they are planning to tour Mexico and LA, including an appearance at the West Coast Salsa Congress in May.
See http://alberttorresevents.com/congress/2004/