Advice for a newbie in Canada....

[rose385]

Hello Everyone,

I cannot tell you how happy I am that I've found this forum....

I would like some advice and would be grateful for any replies..

I started Salsa dancing a few months ago ( a friend introduced me to it) and totally fell in love. I went to a few clubs with her and practised a lot. She left and now I have nobody to go dancing with. I tried to take a couple of my other non-dancing friends with me but no one enjoys it at all..I tried to take a couple of classes but just didn't enjoy it as much as the club dancing(maybe I chose the wrong classes).


I guess I have a couple of questions.........
1) How silly would I look (as a female) going to a Salsa club all by my lonesome? Would it be safe? When I do go to the Salsa clubs I DON'T sit down at all. I dance until the very end (I'm not that good but lots of people ask as I will NEVER say no :wink So I don't know how stupid I would feel walking in there alone etc. Have any of you done it (male or female)?

2)Is there any lessons that someone from the Toronto area would recommend? Perhaps at one of the Salsa clubs? (Where once again I could come alone and not be the odd man out)

3) Is it an absolute must to take lessons to be good? I'm just one of those people that hate the "one, two, three" and just need to follow something inside instead.

4) Is there anyone from the Toronto, Oakville, Mississaga etc. area that would be willing to go dancing with me?

Thanks everyone!! I just can't imagine letting another weekend going by without going salsa dancing :cry: I just don't want to look like a loser going all by myself :roll:

 

[cocodrilo]

Welcome Rose385!
There are many here on the forums that are in love with salsa and you have brought up many good points which I'm sure all of us have considered at one time or other in our history of dancing! I will give you my opinion- I have gone to dance parties on my own, but I usually go with female friends who share the same love of the dance, most are beginners and I am not shy about going onto the dance floor where it is all couples, and my friend and I are there just doing shines & dancing away! I, too, like to spend most of the night dancing. That is what I am there for, right? If you don't feel intimidated going to clubs alone, than power to you! It can intimidate some, and you may have to fight off men on occasion, but you will have lots of dances!
Lessons- hmmm. I took partner lessons for a whole year and learned tons of shines at the parties I went to and from instructor-friends. Lessons are important because you get the basics down and have a better understanding of the dance. You can teach yourself all the shines you want and look cool on the dance floor alone, if that's what you like doing, too! It depends on what your goal is. To dance socially, to just want to improve your skills or to be a performer. I am a socail dancer who is alway looking to improve my skills, as long as it means I am having fun in the process.
I'm sure the next few posts that follow mine will give you details on the Toronto scene- where to hang out & information on lessons.
Good luck & HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[Sagitta]

welcome rose385. I'm glad that we have another salsera in the house. :banana: I don't know about the Toronto scene...however...

1) I have gone dancing alone. I also have gone with people. Sometimes with really good dancers and sometimes with people who don't know a single step.

3) It depends on how good you are. Some people are naturals and just learn to dance socially. The fact that you are a follower makes your life a lot easier. It is a lot tougher for a leader to learn salsa by just going to the clubs.

4) I would love to dance with you, but am far away in NY.

 

[MacMoto]

Welcome to DF, Rose385!

1) How silly would I look (as a female) going to a Salsa club all by my lonesome? Would it be safe? When I do go to the Salsa clubs I DON'T sit down at all. I dance until the very end (I'm not that good but lots of people ask as I will NEVER say no :wink So I don't know how stupid I would feel walking in there alone etc. Have any of you done it (male or female)?

You sound like me (not sitting down, never saying no)! I'm female and I often go to salsa clubs on my own. It can be a bit daunting the first time, but from second time on you will recognise regulars you've danced with before -- just say hi to them, and start dancing!
NOTE: Some clubs can have a bit of a "meat market" atmosphere, and you may not feel very comfortable as a lone female. Find out from other local dancers (salseras especially) which clubs are good for trouble-free dancing.

2)Is there any lessons that someone from the Toronto area would recommend? Perhaps at one of the Salsa clubs? (Where once again I could come alone and not be the odd man out)

4) Is there anyone from the Toronto, Oakville, Mississaga etc. area that would be willing to go dancing with me?

There is a good website on the Toronto salsa scene, www.TOsalsa.com (run by another Rose, incidentally), with a list of local instructors and a club review page. Drop them a line and ask for recommendations. They may also be able to put you in touch with local dancers.

3) Is it an absolute must to take lessons to be good? I'm just one of those people that hate the "one, two, three" and just need to follow something inside instead.

I consider a combination of lessions and club dancing to be the best recipe for becoming a good dancer... Club dancing gives you dancing experience with lots of leaders at different skill levels and with different leading styles, which helps you gain good lead-follow skills, but there are finer points that are difficult to learn on the dancefloor without specific instructions, and lessons with good teachers really help in this respect. Try different classes/teachers -- they are not all the same.

 

[squirrel]

welcome, Rose... maybe tosalsa.com would be of assistance for lessons... as for clubs and company, I'd wait for the advice of one of our members located in Toronto or close by... first hand info is always better!

 

[Lucretia]

Welcome Rose!

I live in Sweden, but I’m actually born in Montreal. I was born on the very same day my parents where supposed to move back to Sweden. But they found out and cancelled the journey home …in time… :wink:

http://www.salsaspot.com is another Canadian site.

I wish I could go there - to Canada - some time...havn't had the money and time yet. (I always lack one of those resources)

/Lucretia

 

[rose385]

Thanks everyone for the replies.......

I never really felt like any of the salsa clubs were a "meat market" atmosphere. So maybe it would be okay if I went on my own.

I don't know why I feel so strange to do that.......I do plenty of things alone without a problem. Movies, dinner, sports etc. I'm fine with that, but just the thought of going to any club by myself makes me a little :eyebrow: ....nervous.

 

[MacMoto]

I don't know why I feel so strange to do that.......I do plenty of things alone without a problem. Movies, dinner, sports etc. I'm fine with that, but just the thought of going to any club by myself makes me a little :eyebrow: ....nervous.

I certainly wouldn't walk into non-salsa night clubs alone -- it would make me really nervous.

I was also nervous when I started going to salsa clubs alone, but I'm fine now - not only local clubs (where I know most regulars it's just like going to a place to meet up with friends) but also when I'm out of town. This is partly because I now know that many other women go to salsa clubs alone, but also because my dancing has improved. This may sound strange, but now that I can dance, I know I only need to start dancing to let others know I'm a fellow salsa nut, and that's enough introduction for other dancers in the place... it's as if I have learned a code or password to access the salsa scene wherever I go. That gives me enough confidence to walk into a club on my own.