amount of moves in a dance

[Salsaonone]

I cant remember what I did this morning, so if this is a repeat post of any sort from any length of time ago, please forgive... :wink:
As the leader, I get to choose and pick when and what kind of move I want to lead (although I will take requests when asked, if I know what they are talking about)...sometimes I feel like going through my entire list of moves if I can remember the next one (sometimes I draw blanks....sometimes it comes back...), and other times I choose to do alot of what I call moving basics (my basic tends to be circular because I like it that way)..sometimes for most of the song(and some salsa songs go on and on), because that is what feels good to me with the follower (even if she is an expert follower)...Just wondering if followers really care too much how the dance is done...know what I mean?? There is some urge to do x amount of moves just to either be not boring or too impress, and other urges to enjoy the simplicity of the connection....and as the leader I get to choose...I dont think any follower has ever said that was boring to me, but the mind does wonder....

 

[Lockstep]

nah, if you present it well amount of moves shouldnt matter as much as the smiles and attitude package, but ive found that doing frequent new moves makes them come back to you more, in the hope of learning something new!

 

[MacMoto]

Just wondering if followers really care too much how the dance is done...know what I mean??

I care... not in terms of x number of moves but how the dance matches the song. I don't like hundreds of flashy moves crammed into a smooth mid-tempo romantica :shock: or the leader insisting on continuing with close hold basic when the music picks up and climaxes into a dramatic break :roll:. Dance to the music guys!

 

[Sagitta]

Just wondering if followers really care too much how the dance is done...know what I mean??

I care... not in terms of x number of moves but how the dance matches the song. I don't like hundreds of flashy moves crammed into a smooth mid-tempo romantica :shock: or the leader insisting on continuing with close hold basic when the music picks up and climaxes into a dramatic break :roll:. Dance to the music guys!

makes sense...

 

[Sabor]

'doing more with less'.. is always a way of life i prefer in general.. other than that, as MacMoto wrote, and it can never be stressed enough..baile con la música..

 

[cocodrilo]

Just wondering if followers really care too much how the dance is done...know what I mean??

I care... not in terms of x number of moves but how the dance matches the song. I don't like hundreds of flashy moves crammed into a smooth mid-tempo romantica :shock: or the leader insisting on continuing with close hold basic when the music picks up and climaxes into a dramatic break :roll:. Dance to the music guys!

Same here! More is less in many an instance! Connection is more what matters to me. I have hair down to my butt and when guys start doing some technique on me which closely resembles me being a loom and them wanting to weave something out of my hair with their appendages, it's really no fun. Save those octopus-arm moves for a performance!

 

[Lucretia]

Same here! More is less in many an instance! Connection is more what matters to me.

I agree with Cocodrilo. The only but I have is that perhaps the leader feels more confident if he know several more moves/patterns. And that confidence makes him more at ease with dancing.

I have a friend I've danced with since I started to dance salsa (9 months ago). He has struggled with his confidence all the time. He wanted more and more moves to put into the repertoire. I tried to explain to him that he really didn't need to do that but he choosed not to listen (or perhaps he didn't understand or was unable to get over this lack of confidence).

I have spent hours of rehearsing salsa patterns at home. We have been out dancing a lot and everytime he called out what move he was going to do next. When his mind was totally blanked out I helped him and suggested moves.

Last Saturday he "came out" as a brand new salsero. He was so good. He took me to places I never have been to before - and that is quite good since I know him as well as my inner pocket. An innerpocket in a jacket I had for 20 years. He almost shocked me!

The success was based on a few more hours of rehearsing. He finally felt that he managed all patterns he had learned for the last 14 salsa lessons (yes he had them written down). And he started to break the steps down and built up new ones, without any hesitation.

What did I want to say with this story...
You don't need that many patterns to be a real god dancer. But if you feel you cannot dance without a huge repertoire - well get one. Do what ever that makes you feel good and relaxed.


/luc

 

[tj]

You don't need that many patterns to be a real god dancer. But if you feel you cannot dance without a huge repertoire - well get one. Do what ever that makes you feel good and relaxed. [/i]


/luc

Nicely summarized!

 

[Salsaonone]

I care... not in terms of x number of moves but how the dance matches the song. I don't like hundreds of flashy moves crammed into a smooth mid-tempo romantica :shock: or the leader insisting on continuing with close hold basic when the music picks up and climaxes into a dramatic break :roll:. Dance to the music guys!

"Dancing to the music" I would think is way down on the list of things leaders are doing to learn how to dance...first they have to find the beat, then they have to learn to dance on it (on 1 or whatever) (not the same as dancing to the music, or what they music tells you/makes you feel), then they have to learn moves for themselves and the leads they need to learn for the follower to do what they are wanting them to do....there are so many variables...listening to the music is a great idea, but I think that takes a lot of time....not a basic concept....listening to the beat and staying on time, yes, that is important right away, but there is soo much a leader has to learn before worrying about the subtleties of the music.

 

[Vince A]

It really doesn't matter . . .

So, if you had 32 counts to play with, you could have:
5-6count moves, and hang out for 2 counts
4-8 counts moves
2-16 count moves
or any combination to get you to 32 counts,
or, you could just hang out and play for 32 counts and do NO moves.

What I'm trying to say . . . don't get hung up on doing moves . . . listen to the music . . . let the music call out what you will do . . . listen . . . listen to the phrasing . . . listen to the accents . . . listen to the donwbeat . . . listen to the upbeat . . . listen for any crescendos . . . listen for the breaks, and react to them - if the breaks repeat on the same count in the same phrase of music - set up for those breaks . . .

Listne and learning the music is the key to better dancing . . . not what or how many moves you can do.

 

[tsb]

and of course limit the moves to ones the follower can do smoothly. she will not be impressed looking and feeling like she's struggling throughout the dance. it's a pity that some guys never get this - but the fact that it's the way guys naturally think is something followers should be aware of also - we men tend to be goal & accomplishment oriented - so maybe they can find ways to drop hints....

 

[tacad]

He finally felt that he managed all patterns he had learned for the last 14 salsa lessons (yes he had them written down). And he started to break the steps down and built up new ones, without any hesitation.

What did I want to say with this story...
You don't need that many patterns to be a real god dancer. But if you feel you cannot dance without a huge repertoire - well get one. Do what ever that makes you feel good and relaxed.


/luc

Nice! You speak for me. I don't use a large repertoire but I need enough moves so that I understand the structure of the dance. And then I am not so bored.

 

[tacad]

and of course limit the moves to ones the follower can do smoothly. she will not be impressed looking and feeling like she's struggling throughout the dance. it's a pity that some guys never get this - but the fact that it's the way guys naturally think is something followers should be aware of also - we men tend to be goal & accomplishment oriented - so maybe they can find ways to drop hints....

You know I've noticed leads pushing follows through moves and the follow usually is smiling. Are they smiling because they are enjoying it or are they smiling because they are very unhappy inside and don't want to show it?

 

[tsb]

and of course limit the moves to ones the follower can do smoothly. she will not be impressed looking and feeling like she's struggling throughout the dance. it's a pity that some guys never get this - but the fact that it's the way guys naturally think is something followers should be aware of also - we men tend to be goal & accomplishment oriented - so maybe they can find ways to drop hints....

You know I've noticed leads pushing follows through moves and the follow usually is smiling. Are they smiling because they are enjoying it or are they smiling because they are very unhappy inside and don't want to show it?

i'm not sure what pushing means in this context, why don't you point out an example the next time i see you. (friday?)

last sunday night - my friend nancy was clearly not having a good time because she couldn't follow this guys' lead & she was feeling very awkward. and she was clearly upset afterwards, almost in tears. james had to take her off the floor and talk with her for a while.

 

[tacad]

Is Nancy the nice older woman?

I'll try a step with someone. If they don't get it I'll try it again but that's it unless they ask. Some guys will do move after move that the follow doesn't get (it may be either a lead or follow problem or both) for the whole dance with the follow stumbling through the moves. I was just wondering if follows enjoy this or not.