I need advice!

L

livedance

New Member
I'm a 16 year old dancer and I'm dying to start salsa. I've been trained in other forms of dance but I'm wondering how to start with salsa...how to feel the music, become one with the rhythm, connect with your partner, etc. Any tips from experienced dancers? While recently experimenting with the dance, I've struggled with loosening up and really feeling it...I become too concerned with my form and steps. I would love some advice on how to start.
Thank you so much!
 
Just let it go and enjoy it!!

Just focus on the music and let it move!! The more you listen, the more it does. Listen and imagine yourself moving in response to the music. After a while you will start to play with the music in your mind and then with your body!!

Good luck and enjoy! Atrevete!!
 
livedance said:
I'm a 16 year old dancer and I'm dying to start salsa. I've been trained in other forms of dance but I'm wondering how to start with salsa...how to feel the music, become one with the rhythm, connect with your partner, etc. Any tips from experienced dancers? While recently experimenting with the dance, I've struggled with loosening up and really feeling it...I become too concerned with my form and steps. I would love some advice on how to start.
Thank you so much!
Click to expand...

As salsalawyer says, don't beat yourself up about it just yet! If you are of a rhythmic/musical persuasion, check out http://www.formedia.ca/rhythms/index.html which has the basic rudiments for you to listen to. If you like, spend a bit of time listening to salsa music and trying to pick up those elements, particularly the paila, which goes "I don't like carrots, I like potatoes" ... well, rhythmically it does...

If all of that fills you with dread, just ignore it. It's not for everybody!
 
Sweavo...I'm losing my mind over the rhythm site you posted. I'm of the "musical persuasion" as you call it and it's great to be able to see the phrases I'll run across in Salsa broken down. Normally I just pick an instrument and follow it, but this is a great guideline. Thanks!
 
esa negrita... said:
Sweavo...I'm losing my mind over the rhythm site you posted. I'm of the "musical persuasion" as you call it and it's great to be able to see the phrases I'll run across in Salsa broken down. Normally I just pick an instrument and follow it, but this is a great guideline. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Cool! I got so much more out of the music and the dancing after I studied that site and other stuff on the rhythms. I found it really opened my ears.

Spread the love!
 
livedance said:
I'm a 16 year old dancer and I'm dying to start salsa. I've been trained in other forms of dance but I'm wondering how to start with salsa...how to feel the music, become one with the rhythm, connect with your partner, etc. Any tips from experienced dancers? While recently experimenting with the dance, I've struggled with loosening up and really feeling it...I become too concerned with my form and steps. I would love some advice on how to start.
Thank you so much!
Click to expand...
Welcome to DF! :D

Are you a male or female? And which dances are you trained in?
I've heard that people who have done solo dance training such as ballet and jazz can struggle at first with "lead and follow", which is the most important element of partner dancing. If that's the case for you, don't worry -- it takes time but you will get the hang of it after a while. Have you started taking any salsa classes? A good teacher can help you with connection techniques as well as steps and moves.

As others have said, listening to salsa music will help you tune into the rhythm. Try streaming stations such as salsastream.com and batanga.com, and also get some compilation CDs. Immerse yourself in salsa music.

Once you've done some classes, start dancing! Dance before and after classes, go to socials and clubs and dance with as many people as possible. In salsa, a lot of learning takes place on the dancefloor, through social dancing. The more you dance, the more quickly you will improve. And that's the fun part too! ;)
 
MacMoto..thank you so much for the tips!! To answer your questions..I am a sixteen year old girl and I have done hip hop, jazz, flamenco, and some ballet. I haven't started salsa classes yet but I'm looking for a good place in town to start. Thanks again!
 
Hi Livedance,

I have a friend who is a professional dancer with similar experience to you. She started Salsa when she was 17 (2 years ago), found it hard to relax too and struggled against years of dance training. She's now a fantastic dancer. It takes time but if you love it you'll get there..

Salsa is a street dance and unlike the formal training you've had there is no strict curriculum of teaching technique. For Latin people it's much more about listening to the music, taking that emotion you feel from your favourite song and expressing it by moving your body. So relax, experiment and have fun!


Here's some tips I posted in a previous thread for a guy starting out (I've updated it for you) in case you get hungry for more technique..

azzey said:
Azzey's 10 step guide to learning Salsa:

[Things you can learn at home]

1. Focus on getting really good at the basic steps and practice every move with an invisible partner. Personally I've never written down the moves - I visualise them, that way you have ALL the little details not just the foot and arm placements in your head when you go out dancing! Buy one beginners DVD (that's all you'll need for at least the first 6 months) to give you some material to work on at home.

2. You can get FREE video clips from the web for additional inspiration. Check out different Salsa styles (LA/Puero Rican/NY, Cuban/Miami/Colombian) and see which one you like and is available to dance in your area then concentrate on that for a year or two.
http://www.mamboston2.com/vclips.php and http://www.salsamemphis.com
http://www.clubmayan.com/salsa2006/main.html LA Style Salsa competition. My favourite is Abel & Sulmara.
http://www.muchoswing.com/Download.html Cuban style Salsa dancing.

3. Get as much different kinds of Salsa music as possible and listen to it for hours every day. Find the stuff you like and practice to that. Love the music and love your partner and you'll eventually become a great dancer. Try http://www.live365.com It's FREE to register/listen and has lots of great Salsa channels, like '100% Salsa' and 'RadioTimba'.

4. Focus on listening to the different instruments to improve your appreciation of the music and your timing. Buying a timing DVD will really help with this as it plays each instrument seperately and counts out loud to help you hear the beat. http://www.salsafever.co.uk/shopping/mike_bello_mambo_fello.htm

5a. Practice your turns and spins - Buy Edie's World Famous Spins Video to get solid technique.
http://www.salsafever.co.uk/shopping/salsa_freak_videos.htm

5b Work on natural body movement - Iris de Brito's Body Talk DVD teaches the basics of good body movement for any style. http://www.salsafever.co.uk/shopping/irisdebrito.htm

6. Read this FREE book on leading & following.
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~eijkhout/lead_follow.pdf

7. You only really need 3 web sites for further info. Read the articles!
http://www.salsafreak.com click on "Beginner's corner"
http://www.salsanewyork.com
http://www.dance-forums.com

[Things you do away from home and the most important!]

8. Go dancing at a Salsa club as often as possible! There's no replacement for experience! Not even several months of classes will prepare you for your first night at a club.. get out there and dance with lots of different partners! don't watch. This is the fun part.

9. Go to a class with a good instructor that has after class social dancing. Here you will get feedback on your dancing and can work on your technique.

10. Go to a salsa weekend or congress at the first opportunity. Take all the workshops and dance all weekend. This will improve your dancing massively overnight and is also great fun.

Pay me $10 for this info.. hehe.
Click to expand...

I'd expect that lot to last you AT LEAST a year!

Also, I've been experimenting lately with google UK's new interactive map feature to find Salsa venues in foreign cities..

Try this and let me know if it works for you..
Click on this..
http://www.google.co.uk/maps
Select 'Find business' and type 'Salsa' in the box on the left and the name of your city in the box on the right. Press Enter and you should get a map up with possible Salsa venues! Either that or latin restaurants.. hehe.
 
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