Starting the dance?

[Sagitta]

You get on the dance floor with a person, the song starts, so how do you start dancing?

Me? I like to walk with my partner to the music and just flow into the non-progressive salsa step.

I'm curious what others do out there and why you do what you do...

[africana]

sometimes the song is soooo possessing that I dance my way to the dancefloor :D
sometimes we just start off with basic
sometimes with shines/freestlying, especially if the song has a rumba intro I might actually do the guaguanco/yambu first (if the lead is okay with it) to loosen up, get the juices flowing ;)
sometimes the lead will do a spin out and then begin the basic or crossbody

it all depends on the mood right? also depends on the person I'm dancing with

[borikensalsero]

As africana has mentioned, when I dance the beggining to songs is dependant on the song's style.

Nonetheless, the very first thing I establish is eye contact.

[youngsta]

I tend to do some form of CBL although like africana and boriken said the music really does dictate what I think to lead.

[Sagitta]

Interesting. Yesterday night I was dancing with quite a few beginners and I noticed that walking and then transitioning to the non progressive step made them a little more at ease then any other way of starting for them with me. These people start smiling when we just walk and by the time we transition they don't even notice it until we are already well into our 2nd or 3rd musical phrase of the non-progressive stepping

I do start differently depending on the song as others mentioned, and actually was curious as to how people would respond.... I'm always looking for little tricks to make dances better for beginners.

[SurfSalsa]

I once had a private lesson with Fire (teacher/dj from London) where 1hr private turned into 2+ hrs discussion on the music - breaks, patterns, etc - where my eyes were opened to the magic of salsa music.

Anyway, out of that came that every salsa song has that one place where the intro transitions into the dance. That's your 1 (OK we do on1)... that's where you start! Then you start the dance in tune with the music already!

Problem is in a club situation, by the time you've recognised the song that you want to dance it, asked someone and then scurried them off to a little open hole somewhere on the floor, you've often missed that moment!

I've been taught, and it makes sense, so I do it: start slow - or rather use the word easy, and as borikensalsero said make eye contact, make frame connection, hand connection (mind connection?), settle in a rhythm for a basic or three, then start with easy stuff (where it fits the music). Then build up the salsera's level (maybe plus a little bit...)

Hey, but some songs (like Dame Cinco) start with a bang! High energy from the first real dance note. For such a dance it's great to dance with someone you know very well, who likes spinning and turning and high-energy stuff and start with a race-track double-spin-loaded routine from hell immediately on that first real beat. (i wouldn't do that with someone I don't know, even if I have seen her dance very well and very energetically...)

[HF]

A very good question.

I like to mirror the structure of the song in the dance. Not all but many of the songs have a step-like structure with increasing intensity. At the beginning of a new phrase there will be added a singer or a chorus or more percussion or more orchestration or whatever.

It is really delightful to change the dance mood exactly at these points and many ladies like it very much. Therefore I begin most dances in easy mood, sometimes just moving the upper body.

Like the musicians say: Crescendo means piano.

[Claire_Brummell]

I'm in absolute agreement totally depends on music / partner / style of dancing - the key is to make a connection - however that may be...

Whether its through eye contact, smile, slow sway into basic or drop straight to a CBL - it doesn't matter - what matters is that the connection is made and each dance is often different in this respect :)

[DeeplyDippy]

At a simpler level, forgetting about eye contact etc., I like to whip the lady into a spin.

I throw her hand, she spins, I move in for a cbl.

If it works you know you have a good dancer. If she stands there like a lemon, I adjust my level of dance :D

Very stagey but the ladies do seem to like it and I've had complements on how well it starts the dance.

[Big10]

Me? I like to walk with my partner to the music and just flow into the non-progressive salsa step.
:?: What do you mean by "non-progressive salsa step"?

My typical way of starting the dance is pretty boring. I walk the woman to a good spot on the floor, get into a dance frame, wait until I hear when the next "1" will come up, and then start dancing on it. I will occasionally vary that based on the music and my partner, but that's how I start about 80% of the time.

[Sagitta]

Me? I like to walk with my partner to the music and just flow into the non-progressive salsa step.
:?: What do you mean by "non-progressive salsa step"?

My typical way of starting the dance is pretty boring. I walk the woman to a good spot on the floor, get into a dance frame, wait until I hear when the next "1" will come up, and then start dancing on it. I will occasionally vary that based on the music and my partner, but that's how I start about 80% of the time.

I can do the salsa step in place - non-progressive. I can also do the salsa step of quick quick slow, alternating feet while moving around the floor - progressive.

I used to start most of my dances by staying in place...but I noticed that my body was already slightly moving and I didn't like staying still. From that, listening to the music etc it has evolved so that it is my preference not to start dancing to a song from a stand still.

[cookie]

nost guys who ask me start off waiting for the next 1, although some are able to start on 5, too. Generally, I am already salsa wiggling, as I can't wait to get started - and with beginners, I hope it helps them find the 1.

then the first move is usually a basic with eye contact, a right turn and basic, a CBL and THEN it starts. That seems to be the case in 90% of strangers I dance with.

last week my first dance with someone did not start so gentle. Immediately thrown into multiple spins from the get go and every spin thereafter was multiple and fast and no basics in between to recover if I had wobbled.

What annoyed me was that
a) it did not fit the music
b) they were not lead particularly well
c) us girlies are not BORN able to spin - I'm an intermediate who hasn't done much spinning. I need recovery time between them.
d) he was still throwing LOADS of these moves at me after it was apparent it's above my level - didn't seem to care what I was going through. So much for trying to connect with your partner!

But I have a question, why do so many of you guys look to my feet when I do that first turn, are you checking my footwork to gauge my level, inspecting my footwear?

[Sagitta]

nost guys who ask me start off waiting for the next 1, although some are able to start on 5, too. Generally, I am already salsa wiggling, as I can't wait to get started - and with beginners, I hope it helps them find the 1.

then the first move is usually a basic with eye contact, a right turn and basic, a CBL and THEN it starts. That seems to be the case in 90% of strangers I dance with.

last week my first dance with someone did not start so gentle. Immediately thrown into multiple spins from the get go and every spin thereafter was multiple and fast and no basics in between to recover if I had wobbled.

What annoyed me was that
a) it did not fit the music
b) they were not lead particularly well
c) us girlies are not BORN able to spin - I'm an intermediate who hasn't done much spinning. I need recovery time between them.
d) he was still throwing LOADS of these moves at me after it was apparent it's above my level - didn't seem to care what I was going through. So much for trying to connect with your partner!

But I have a question, why do so many of you guys look to my feet when I do that first turn, are you checking my footwork to gauge my level, inspecting my footwear? UK dancers different then at other pkaces then? I prefer starting with a left turn myself...I personally think that the right turn is over-used and am still working on cutting that down in my dancing....

Why look down? I don't undersatnd that either. I prefer looking at the other parts of my partner more so then the feet. I would look down at her feet perhaps...if I was bending to lead an inside turn via the knee or something....though even then I think I would look up at my partner or straight ahead..... hmmmmm... :?

[SurfSalsa]

But I have a question, why do so many of you guys look to my feet when I do that first turn, are you checking my footwork to gauge my level, inspecting my footwear?

I can't imagine why you would want to do that? Especially with someone I don't know, the first few moves I would concentrate on her eyes and facial expression:
smile - that is OK
hungry grin - give me more :lol:
confusion/phwew, made that - keep the level down
pain/frown - I'm doing something very wrong
Something like that...

Come to think of it, with followers I don't know at all, if the music doesn't dictate otherwise, after basic and eye/frame contact I usually do a simple CBL, with/without turn, then straight into right-to-right hold normal single right turn. It's easy enough for a beginner to follow, but you can already gauge how they're doing... I find people who have just started show some surprise with the changed hand-hold but they still make it comfortably. After the turn, if she takes my left hand offered under the right hand, you know you can go for more. Silly little approach, but works for me...

[hopelessly_addicted]

But I have a question, why do so many of you guys look to my feet when I do that first turn, are you checking my footwork to gauge my level, inspecting my footwear?

Well, I know this guy who's ALWAYS looking down. The reason why he does that according to him is to make sure that enough floor space is there so that followers don't get stepped on, bump into other dancers, etc...

But if leads look at your feet only when you do your first turn, I have no idea why they'd ot it.. if you know them, perhaps you can ask?

[salsero-in-apprenticeship]

I like to start non-progressive too - only if I know the follower and it's a high energy salsa, I sometimes with a triple or double. As it already was said - it all depends....

[Sabor]

all i know is .. if u have a set methodology to start dancing.. u may well be suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder..

check with a psychiatrist just in case :wink:

[Claire_Brummell]

Just go with whatever feels right at that time in terms of music, partner and style :D

[Sabor]

one could also wear a hat equipped with a green, red and orange light flasher..

green flash = start
red flash = no start
orange flash = on alert

[Sagitta]

one could also wear a hat equipped with a green, red and orange light flasher..

green flash = start
red flash = no start
orange flash = on alert

Nice idea...one of these days. :)

[cookie]

oh guys don't look to feet my throughout the dance, it just tends to up to the first two turns, then it's dancing as normal. It's not shyness and it tends to be the more advanced dancers that do this.

I'm wondering now if you guys just aren't aware of doing it. As soon as those first two turns are done with, it's eye contact and smiles (or i'd be wondering if I have spinach in my teeth) whic is why i thought it had something to do with gauging the follow's ability level.

[Sagitta]

oh guys don't look to feet my throughout the dance, it just tends to up to the first two turns, then it's dancing as normal. It's not shyness and it tends to be the more advanced dancers that do this.

I'm wondering now if you guys just aren't aware of doing it. As soon as those first two turns are done with, it's eye contact and smiles (or i'd be wondering if I have spinach in my teeth) whic is why i thought it had something to do with gauging the follow's ability level.

Oh... I was talking about at the beginning of the dance also... I do look down at times after I have done a cbl and notice that the follower is not moving smoothly through it. Then I will do it again and watch. Perhaps the advanced dancers just do it as a rule/habit rather then only doing so if the move does not go well? And it is true that if I see how a follower does a cbl with her feet I can tell quite a bit about the follower.

[SurfSalsa]

oh guys don't look to feet my throughout the dance, it just tends to up to the first two turns

Maybe... at first, they think you have beautiful feet??? :oops: :lol: :twisted:

[SurfSalsa]

one could also wear a hat equipped with a green, red and orange light flasher..

green flash = start
red flash = no start
orange flash = on alert

You forgot blue, white or some other cool, passive non-start, non-move colour for the silent 4 and 8 (if you're on 1, that is...) :twisted:
Oops, one of those moods....

[Big10]

oh guys don't look to feet my throughout the dance, it just tends to up to the first two turns, then it's dancing as normal. It's not shyness and it tends to be the more advanced dancers that do this.
Guys who've been dancing for awhile have obviously danced with lots of partners, and are therefore probably more aware of the different variations of Salsa steps. For complete strangers, I never assume that they will dance Salsa exactly like I do -- and those first few steps are where I try to pay special attention to any differences. For example, people from certain countries may have a more side-to-side basic, rather than back-and-forth. We may want to make sure that the partner is responding to our lead in the way we expect, or stepping on the beat we expect (on1, on2, or on3). We also don't want to step on our partner's toes, so it helps to notice whether she tends to take large steps or small steps.

I'm wondering now if you guys just aren't aware of doing it.
When I saw your first post about it, I thought, "Gee that's weird." :? Then I started thinking some more, and realized that I probably do it too :oops: when I'm dancing with someone whom I've never danced with before. That's when I came up with the theory I stated above.

[africana]

sometimes I get the impression that guys assume that I cannot dance at much of a decent level or cannot dance on2 (based on my looks :?: ) so I will sometimes 'display' my basic step (essentially leading it) if i want to dance on2 and know that he can dance on that count at well...

so I also get the looking at the feet, (strangers usually) when they are surprised, to verify the count (on1/on2),
also if I start out freestyling they often observe the footwork because it's sometimes more intricate than the basic....could be to see if I'm on beat (?) dunno

[Big10]

also if I start out freestyling they often observe the footwork because it's sometimes more intricate than the basic....
Hunh? Your freestyle footwork is "sometimes more intricate than the basic"?

If that isn't THE understatement of the year, I don't know what is!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[itorres]

About starting the dance, the leader walking in doing the basic while not officially having started to dance seems to be one of the easiest for beginners. Follower will pickup the step by the time you get to closed position.

Doing a CBL seems useful too since it eliminates the doubt as to whether follower is starting the basic breaking forward or back.

Another option I've seen suggested is to (assuming man breaks fwd first on first measure)
1. Engage in the closed hold
2. Leader start dancing back on the 5-6-7 (or 6-7-8 )
3. Follower is ready to start then on the 1 (or 2). She saw the timing and knows she'll break back.

This is sort of like counting 5-6-7-8 in your class to start everybody dancing at once.

About looking down at followers feet. I agree with Big10. You need to verify what she's doing.

[africana]

also if I start out freestyling they often observe the footwork because it's sometimes more intricate than the basic....
Hunh? Your freestyle footwork is "sometimes more intricate than the basic"?

If that isn't THE understatement of the year, I don't know what is!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

lol yeah, well I try to simmer down a bit with beginners so as not to confuse - it all depends on how hot the song is though
(how's it going by the way?)

[Sagitta]

About starting the dance, the leader walking in doing the basic while not officially having started to dance seems to be one of the easiest for beginners. Follower will pickup the step by the time you get to closed position.

Doing a CBL seems useful too since it eliminates the doubt as to whether follower is starting the basic breaking forward or back.

Another option I've seen suggested is to (assuming man breaks fwd first on first measure)
1. Engage in the closed hold
2. Leader start dancing back on the 5-6-7 (or 6-7-8 )
3. Follower is ready to start then on the 1 (or 2). She saw the timing and knows she'll break back.

This is sort of like counting 5-6-7-8 in your class to start everybody dancing at once.

About looking down at followers feet. I agree with Big10. You need to verify what she's doing.

Swaying side to side with each step taking two beats, then adding the quick quick has worked too, with beginners. Also, doing back breaks from side to side and then getting into the basic. Lots of different things...

[Big10]

Another option I've seen suggested is to (assuming man breaks fwd first on first measure)
1. Engage in the closed hold
2. Leader start dancing back on the 5-6-7 (or 6-7-8 )
3. Follower is ready to start then on the 1 (or 2). She saw the timing and knows she'll break back.

This is sort of like counting 5-6-7-8 in your class to start everybody dancing at once.
Over the last couple of months, I've started doing this myself, essentially unconsciously. :? I primarily dance On1, and I don't know what made me feel like starting the dance by breaking back on the 5-6-7 all of a sudden, but it seems to work. I didn't realize that some instructors actually advocate that method.


(how's it going by the way?)
I'm doing fine -- thanks for asking. The Houston Salsa Convention over the July 4th weekend was a LOT of fun! :D

[africana]

(how's it going by the way?)
I'm doing fine -- thanks for asking. The Houston Salsa Convention over the July 4th weekend was a LOT of fun! :D
Yeah I saw the lineup and really wished I could go :cry: but I had a special visitor from over there instead :D so maybe if they have it next year...