Building a shine repertoire

[pygmalion]

Okay. So now I'm convinced I want to do a little more salsa, and here's the dilemna. I have no shines. I mean NO shines. I'm pretty darn good at copying what I see, so I usually mimic the guy I'm dancing with, then if I get messed up, do a little shoulder shimmy or hip wiggle or something, and come out ready to move on the one (or two, depending on the guy. :D ) Now I'm ready to take it up a notch. Where do you learn shines? Do you just improv to music around the house and see what feels good? Do you copy somebody else? Do you watch videos? How do you build a library of shines that belong just to you?

[youngsta]

Do you just improv to music around the house and see what feels good? Do you copy somebody else? Do you watch videos? How do you build a library of shines that belong just to you?
I do all the above, although most of my favorite shines were creations in front of the bathroom mirror! :lol: I've learned some great ones in workshops too. I'll take those and make them fit my style.

[peachexploration]

Okay. So now I'm convinced I want to do a little more salsa, and here's the dilemna. I have no shines. I mean NO shines. I'm pretty darn good at copying what I see, so I usually mimic the guy I'm dancing with, then if I get messed up, do a little shoulder shimmy or hip wiggle or something, and come out ready to move on the one (or two, depending on the guy. :D ) Now I'm ready to take it up a notch. Where do you learn shines? Do you just improv to music around the house and see what feels good? Do you copy somebody else? Do you watch videos? How do you build a library of shines that belong just to you?

Hi. I use all of the above also. Try this link. There are a few basic shines here and you can add your own style. http://salsamoves.tripod.com/
Alot of it is really practicing and more importantly "feeling" the music as Jesus Morales stated today. It was nice meeting you today. Glad you had fun.

[brujo]

You can always get a shines video. I tried the one by the Mike Bello, it's about 90 minutes and has a couple of cool shines... But nothing beats the real thing, so take a workshop or two.

I also really like incorporating dancing from other styles into my salsa shines, so rent a movie like 'Tap' with Gregory Hines, or take a Charleston, hip-hop or Tango class. I find that I usually get a 'what the hell was that' look from people when I sneak in those in my dancing.

[pygmalion]

Have you tried the Mike Bello salsa musicality CD? I've heard it's very good at explaining breaking down the music and creating choreography/moves that fit the music. I haven't bought it yet, though. Thumbs up?

[brujo]

Have you tried the Mike Bello salsa musicality CD?

I have heard good things about it. He does provide a good explanation of this at the start of the shines video ( maybe 10-15 minutes worth ), enough to start dancing + following with it. I personally find that his explanations are good but a little long-winded for my taste. The video does cover a simultaneous view of all the shines. ( one part of the screen shows the front, one shows the side, and one the back ). I would consider it a nice 90 minute workshop with practice included. Besides, who needs musicality when I got DEATH DEFYING DIPS AND AEREALS! :shock:

[pygmalion]

Thanks, brujo. So sounds like the video and the CD are both good investments. I'll check them out. :D

[borikensalsero]

Brujo that is a great idea about incorporating other dances, Youngsta, the bathroom thing is rather wild, you must be in love with dancing to pull that on off. :D

pygmalion if you can take a few Afro Cuban Rumba and/or Puerto Rican bomba classes you can incorporate those very easily into salsa. See if they can teach you all '3 basics' of the 3 Rumba dances.

But if your concern is shine repertoire that is only yours then I would suggest to put a fly CD on, put the video camera on, close your eyes, instead of hearing the music with your head concentrate on your heart and how the music makes it feel, when you are good and ready your body will take you, don't think, don't do a thing, just let the body follow the rhythm. Chances are your body will react to the music without your brain having to process the music, you will notice that a few new moves will keep comming up all the time as you dance. After you've had enough watch the video, and see if you like them and what you can do to consiously fix them if need be... You have just made up a few shines that are only yours. :D :D

[Pacion]

Brujo that is a great idea about incorporating other dances, Youngsta, the bathroom thing is rather wild, you must be in love with dancing to pull that on off. :D

As someone said on another thread (either Boriken, Pygmalion, SD or Peach or someone else whose name I don't remember)

"Doesn't everyone do this!" :banana: :lol:

Pygmalion, how are you getting on? :wink:

[pygmalion]

Like a house on fire. LOL. Shines are easy, once you stop caring what other people think.

[Pacion]

lol Have you tried the bathroom mirror thing :wink:

[pygmalion]

Naturally. That and the dancing around the livingroom thing. LOL. :oops: :lol:

[Pacion]

and the dancing around the livingroom thing. LOL. :oops: :lol:

with the hoover :shock: :lol:

[Jack]

I know a couple of shines but havent tried them in battle yet *LOL*
I'm not really in to them at this time

[pygmalion]

and the dancing around the livingroom thing. LOL. :oops: :lol:

with the hoover :shock: :lol:

Hoover? Me? Never! I've found vacuuming to be overrated. LOL. I must say that the Hoover can be a very nice follow, if you have the high tech model.

[Sabor]

too a large degree .. from a differnent angle.. your shines or solo action depends on:

what kind of a solo dancer u are b4 taking up partner dance (are u a natural dancer)

your general dance experience/history and repertoire.. (the more dances u done the better.. personally i think tapdance, tango and hiphop footwork are easily incorporated and most frequently used)

observation skill .. how fast/well u pick up moves u observe (a very supportive skill)

your cordination skills and creativity factor leading to a choreographing ability (u make it your thing as opposed to just mimicking the whole routine)

IF u have all those factors down to a groove .. then shine away .. let it go cause u cant do no wrong.. just hit the beat and organize the movement so it doesn't appear chaotic and incase your partner likes to mirror u..

light as feather, smooth as wind, flow as water, cool as ice, passionate as fire, u are all that and more .. cause to 'shine' is to 'glow' .. aint nothin like watchin a rythem player (aka salser@) glow :D

[Pacion]

Was that a "yes" Sabor :wink: :lol:

[Sabor]

may be.. then again.. may be not :wink:

[dancin/dj]

edie the salsa freak just came out w/ her new ladies styling #2 its realllllllllllllllllllllllllllly good she does all kinds of cool shines and much more. i have mike bellos video an timing cd, he does a great job explaining the clave - etc,however he"s all about dancing on 2(if thats your thing fine) its not mine,and its very lengthly as someone has said and most people do not want to get into all the technical stuff that he goes into on the timing deal-im a musican and he admits you cant hear the clave in modern salsa ,so you have to listen to the tumbou-im sure i spelled that wrong,and as a musican i question his and other peoples views on getting people to dance to the music(note im not saying he"s wrong) its good (if you want to go where he goes-he seems like a real nice guy) but perhaps the shine part is something that may work for you. to end my 3 cents worth, eddie and al dance to a war number, low rider(not a salsa groove) and at first you go huh? then she explains why they did that,wow i was tres impressed, happy hunting :lol: