Etiquette of "slot dancing" vs. a more circular pa

I'm just wondering if dancers who dance fairly strictly in a slot resent more circular dancers for possibly taking up more space. Does it necessarily take up more space to dance in a more circular manner? I gather that there are some places where dancing in a slot is simply expected (most of New York city for instance).

My dancing is an eclectic (styleless?) mix of things that can be done in a slot, and more circular sorts of things, but many of my favorite, slightly more involved moves fall in the circular side of things.

Any strong feelings around this issue? (Let's see how many micro-divisions we can create among salsa dancers.)

(Yes, I know I'm supposed to be out dancing, but I have been feeling run down lately.)

It doesn't bother me at all. As long as you stay in your 'space' it's all good.

Personally I find that those who dance roationally tend to actually be tighter and easier to dance next to. One reason seems to be that since there isn't a "set" orientation they can adapt better to fluctuating floor conditions. Poor floorcraft, however, comes from both camps.

As an aside, I will say that dancing on a really mixed floor can be quite tricky. If the majority of people are dancing slotted or rotational it makes it much more feasible to avoid undue floor trafic. It is when there's a total mix of both that it can get dificult to adjust . . . especially as it now becomes much more complicated to really anticipate the directions of motion from others on the floor.

Re: Etiquette of "slot dancing" vs. a more circula

HothouseSalsero said:

I'm just wondering if dancers who dance fairly strictly in a slot resent more circular dancers for possibly taking up more space. Does it necessarily take up more space to dance in a more circular manner? I gather that there are some places where dancing in a slot is simply expected (most of New York city for instance).

My dancing is an eclectic (styleless?) mix of things that can be done in a slot, and more circular sorts of things, but many of my favorite, slightly more involved moves fall in the circular side of things.

Any strong feelings around this issue? (Let's see how many micro-divisions we can create among salsa dancers.)

(Yes, I know I'm supposed to be out dancing, but I have been feeling run down lately.)

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It bothers me IMMENSELY! Where I am from, most of us dance slot. The idiots who dance "circular" (I call them idiots not because they dance "circular", but because of their lack of etiquette/their rudeness) are a nightmare from hell. They use up the space of at least 6 dancers rather 2, and they have no consideration for anyone else around them. They are constantly slamming into myself and my follow and/or coming between us, and they are constantly interferring with our dancing in general so that we are prevented from having any enjoyment. They are just plain selfish, inconsiderate and rude. It might not matter in some places in the world, but where I am in Tokyo, ALL the latin clubs are really small. So, that's my two cents; several times I have been at the point where I want to hammer one of these idiots and tell them to think about having some consideration for the other people on the dance floor.

Having said that, there may be a way for people to dance "circular" as you put it, and not destroy everyone else's fun, but I have yet to see it in my environment.

Re: Etiquette of "slot dancing" vs. a more circula

Marvellous said:

It might not matter in some places in the world, but where I am in Tokyo, ALL the latin clubs are really small.

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That's funny. A few years back I was briefly dating/dancing with someone had lived in Tokyo for a while, and had taken up salsa dancing there. As we were taking the elevator up to a club, here in Philadelphia, she said, "This elevator is bigger than some of the clubs in Tokyo." Granted, it was an unusually large elevator.

I see where you're coming from Marvellous. Although I am not sure that idiots is the right term to use here. Why? Because if it is a newer dancer who doesn't (a) know better, or (b) have the control yet, I can make some allowances aside for idiocy. On the flipside, however, if it is more experienced dancers behaving in such a manner then dismissing them as idiots is far too generous. These people are just @$$es. Mistakes and bumps do happen on crowded floors, but patterns of such mishaps indicate an utter lack of consideration, courtesy, and manners.

I wonder if my experience with slotted dancing has something to do with my proximity to LA? Too many LA dancers seem to get so caught up in flash and trash that they really can be a nightmare on the floor – well, at least for anyone trying to dance in their vicinity.

I do find it interesting that Enio and Terryl have continued to develop their rotational style precisely because it uses less space then more linear arrangements. The more I think about it though, I think that there's a distinction between rotational dancing and what is commonly referenced as circular (mostly Cuban) style.

Anyway, got to go hop in the shower before I head over to the salsa club . . .

SDsalsaguy said:

I see where you're coming from Marvellous. Although I am not sure that idiots is the right term to use here. Why? Because if it is a newer dancer who doesn't (a) know better, or (b) have the control yet, I can make some allowances aside for idiocy. On the flipside, however, if it is more experienced dancers behaving in such a manner then dismissing them as idiots is far too generous. These people are just @$$es. Mistakes and bumps do happen on crowded floors, but patterns of such mishaps indicate an utter lack of consideration, courtesy, and manners.

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Well, all the people I am talking about are clearly very experienced so, yes, your term for them is better.

I wonder if my experience with slotted dancing has something to do with my proximity to LA? Too many LA dancers seem to get so caught up in flash and trash that they really can be a nightmare on the floor – well, at least for anyone trying to dance in their vicinity.

I do find it interesting that Enio and Terryl have continued to develop their rotational style precisely because it uses less space then more linear arrangements. The more I think about it though, I think that there's a distinction between rotational dancing and what is commonly referenced as circular (mostly Cuban) style.

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All I know is that in my environment, the slot people "generally" take up less space, except the idiot show offs. The circular folks, as I said, clearly use far more space and disturb others far more.

SDsalsaguy said:

I do find it interesting that Enio and Terryl have continued to develop their rotational style precisely because it uses less space then more linear arrangements. The more I think about it though, I think that there's a distinction between rotational dancing and what is commonly referenced as circular (mostly Cuban) style.

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I have seen people say that a rotational style takes up less space--it may have been the individuals you mention--but much as I would like to believe it, that has never made sense to me. Can you explain what you think is the difference between a rotational style and a circular style?

I definitely wasn't learning a pure Cuban style of any sort, although based on descriptions of some of the things that are distinctive about casino style, I suspect that my teachers borrowed a lot from it.

I dance both Casino and LA style and i think i use less space when dancing Casino. When there is not much room and i dance LY style i stay with simple figures because i feel safer then. But when i am in the same situation and i dance Casino i am still able to do more complex figures and still use little space.

From what I see, LA style dancers pretty much mark their territory with their slots. This is my slot, don't come inside it. Good Casino / Cumbia style dancers tend to move around a little more, adjusting to the people around them.

I don't mind what anyone does, or how they dance as long as they have their little floor craft up to par. If you think you are the only one on the floor then you have business of being there. (dancers club only)

In my opinion dancing on the slot is smaller. Here in NY city most dancers can bust out in two tiles and not collide with anyone. Now, I must express that floor craft seems to be more of a worry to trained dancers. When you go to non-dancers latin club everyone dances all over the place. There are collisions every-where. It seems like you are trying to dance in an exploding bomb field. :shock:

That said I enjoy it more when there are slot dancers, minus the few who think they are God's gift to dancing and choose to do their aerial display. The circular motion in itself says more circumference, hence more space taken up. I do however dance rotational from time to time when dancing mainly slot. By rotational I mean that I move in angles, but not circular. When there is space I do just about everything, circular, slotted, rotational and walk all over the floor.

PS... impolite people don't care who is next to them when they dance. That goes for both, dancers and non-dancers.

Re: Etiquette of "slot dancing" vs. a more circula

HothouseSalsero said:

I'm just wondering if dancers who dance fairly strictly in a slot resent more circular dancers for possibly taking up more space. Does it necessarily take up more space to dance in a more circular manner? I gather that there are some places where dancing in a slot is simply expected (most of New York city for instance).

My dancing is an eclectic (styleless?) mix of things that can be done in a slot, and more circular sorts of things, but many of my favorite, slightly more involved moves fall in the circular side of things.

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I have no real preference, I actually like both slotted and circular. I switch to slotted swing or hustle if a dance floor gets really crowded, I hate colliding with people.