First Salsa Workshop!

[Sakura]

Hey guys! *waves* I've come to all of you great Salseras and Salseros seeking advice from your plethora of wisdom! :wink: And I know you all are out there, so please, come help! 8) :lol:

Here's the deal: there's going to be a Salsa workshop at my studio in about two weeks. However, it will be my *very first* time doing Salsa! (I *believe* my parents will be letting me go; I'm posting this with the fact assumed that they will let me go.) I'm really not sure what to expect, beyond from what you all have said about Salsa, which is that it's the best! 8

So, I was wondering if any of you all would want to give me advice along the lines of: what to expect; mistakes that many first-timers make that I could try to avoid; tips to make learning easier, etc...

I'm really looking forward to this workshop, so I don't want to make a fool of myself on my first try! =^__^= Also, it should be my first group class, so I'm excited (and *nervous!*) about dancing with a lead other than my teacher... (Obviously, since I've only had private lessons before, I'm only accustomed to my teacher's lead; and while he's one of the teachers for the class, it's obvious that I will most likely *not* be dancing with him. So, any tips on getting accustomed to different leads would be a *BIG* help too!)

*hugs to all* Thanks for all of the help guys! I know some of these questions must invoke a " :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: " reaction from some of you, but *poke poke* remember that you all were once beginners too! (Hard to imagine, I know! :wink: :lol: ) Thanks again for being here for me and my questions! *waves*

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

(PS- Any personal experience stories would be helpful too! :wink: )

 

[Danish Guy]

My guess is it’s a beginner workshop.

I'm really looking forward to this workshop, so I don't want to make a fool of myself on my first try!

Everybody make mistakes in class, so it's no big deal. Don't be mad and upset, get a laugh an enjoy yourself. This is supposed to be a good time.

So, any tips on getting accustomed to different leads would be a *BIG* help too!)

You will properly be facing everything between an ok lead, and an awful lead. The guys have to learn too. Just try to adapt as good as possible, and give the guy some feedback if he need it, and can handle it.

Dance, learn and have fun!

 

[Sagitta]

Do you have any latin music? Have you listened to that stuff? If not, then listen to some and get comfortable with it. Another suggestion is try and see if you can hear the phrases of the music. Since you've already done some dancing see if you can count 1-8, through the music. If you get that you will be ahead of many.

I guess that the above would be the most I would advice. Anything more and I may confuse you even more, because how the basic step will be taught is going to be totally dependant on the dance style of instructor and there are way too many to guess which one.

 

[SDsalsaguy]

Yup, as Danish Guy says, the "leaders" in a begining workshop probably will leave a lot to be desired... just try to feel what they're signalling you to do rather than just blindly assuming they're right.
Other than that just have fun and enjoy! :cheers: [non-alcoholic beverage of your choice little one]

 

[Sakura]

Do you have any latin music? Have you listened to that stuff? If not, then listen to some and get comfortable with it. Another suggestion is try and see if you can hear the phrases of the music. Since you've already done some dancing see if you can count 1-8, through the music. If you get that you will be ahead of many.

*nods* I don't exactly have any of my own ( :evil: I need to get some!), but my Dad has that XM Radio, and everytime I get into the car with him, I tune it into the Latin stations and start counting the beats for the dances I know!
It's really quite a bit of fun! And then I can count through the music, yes, because I'm a band geek! :lol: :wink: I love my life!

Yup, as Danish Guy says, the "leaders" in a begining workshop probably will leave a lot to be desired... just try to feel what they're signalling you to do rather than just blindly assuming they're right.
Other than that just have fun and enjoy! :cheers: [non-alcoholic beverage of your choice little one]

Blindly assuming things is a no-no in my book, unless I'm just having fun with friends. :wink:

Heh, heh. No worries on the drinking; *although* I would *love* to go to a bartending school to learn how to make drinks! But I can't stand alcoholic drinks in and of themselves, so I've vowed to always be the designated driver! (Is that a sort of Oxymoron, do you think? Me wanting to make drinks but refusing to drink them? Ah, I suppose that's okay. I shall make killer drinks for everyone at the future DF get together! =^__^= :twisted: )

Thanks for the advice so far everyone! You too, Danish Guy!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

 

[salsachinita]

Just go along & have fun....! While techniques are important, don't get too bogged down with rules (salsa is a club dance & still evolving, different animal to the ballroom dances you might have been learning).

Keep that excitment little one :wink: ! A little passion goes a long way :wink: !

*lately I've noticed a young Asian girl around salsa clubs...... in many ways she reminded me a lot of myself at that age ........geez I sound old :roll: :lol: not that I ACT it *

 

[Sakura]

Just go along & have fun....! While techniques are important, don't get too bogged down with rules (salsa is a club dance & still evolving, different animal to the ballroom dances you might have been learning).

Keep that excitment little one :wink: ! A little passion goes a long way :wink: !

*lately I've noticed a young Asian girl around salsa clubs...... in many ways she reminded me a lot of myself at that age ........geez I sound old :roll: :lol: not that I ACT it *

*notes that now everyone on DF seems to be calling her "little one" ... How interesting! *

Thanks for the advice! Technique seems to sorta roll right into whatever I'm doing; so when I ask, it's in the back of my head, but I know the most important thing is to just "let go," have fun, and remember that you're okay so long as you're not trying to dance and be stiff as a board! (Be like water... For any Cowboy Bebop fans out there, you should get that, but if not, it still applies! :wink: )

Heh, heh! Nobody ever said anybody had to *act* their age! :twisted:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

 

[youngsta]

If you have XM listen to channel 94 (Caliente) they play some pretty good salsa (I LOVE my XM radio!! :lol The only other advice I would give is to really try to follow the bad leads you're gonna get. It will be frustrating at first, but in the end that's what is going to make you a good follower.

 

[borikensalsero]

Go with the flow, leave frustration in a box at home and laugh off mistakes. Just enjoy it the most you can... remember that salsa isn't impossible, but rather challenging.

 

[tj]

You have such an amazing amount of enthusiasm - that'll help you a bunch.

I'd suggest that you keep your expectation low (as I was doing this past weekend), because you can't expect to learn all that much after a single workshop. Maybe you'll be a natural and just pick it up immediately, but more likely you'll struggle a bit especially since you'll be with beginner leads. Like everyone else, make sure you have fun and not put pressure on yourself to learn everything immediately. It may take you a while to get a feel for it. Everyone learns at a different pace and I'd hate to see you get frustrated simply because you're not meeting your own expectations.

 

[borikensalsero]

wear comfortable clothes and shoes...

 

[volleybgrl]

Try not to back-lead! Go whereever the guy leads you. While social dancing, you never know what's coming, so don't start anticpating in class. If you understand the partnering (where you're theoretically supposed to be), experiment with a little styling while the guy learns the proper lead. (styled hands, hip rolls, flicks, flares, etc)

Good luck and have fun girl!

 

[Sakura]

:shock: :shock: :shock: Ahh! So many things to reply to! *grins* But that's a good thing!

Thanks for all of the advice everybody! I *really* appreciate it! My Workshop's today, and I'm nervous (in a good way! -- It'll be my very first lesson with a group! :? I hope I do okay with the other people... :roll: )/excited, but I know it'll be awesome! I'm also slightly reassured because my teacher is going to be one of the instructors for this workshop!

Youngsta, Caliente is my favorite station! =^__^= It's so awesome! Nearly everytime I listen to it, I count out beats for the dances I know (so I don't forget them!) if they apply to a song. It's quite a bit of fun for a Band Geek like me! :lol: :wink:

Tsb, thanks for the complement! Enthusiasm is one thing I'm good at! (And one needs it if they want to go to Midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show!!! :twisted: Just had one "last night" (read: this morning!) My teacher has said that I seem to be a natural at Dance, so I'm really confident (but not overly so!) about learning Salsa. However, at the same time, appearing to be a natural irritates me because I can't get into the studio very much to learn, so I can't harness the raw talent... :? :cry: Money is a *VERY* evil thing...

I plan on wearing a pair of "pipe"-type pants (not type, sorta loose around the legs -- *VERY* nice!) and one of my Hard Rock Cafe shirts, so I'm all set on that! 8) So I should be very comfy. I just need to know what to do about my hair! It goes down to the small of my back, and I don't want whoever happens to be my partner at whatever point in time to be: 1. Eaten by my loose hair or 2. Fwacked in the face by it if I put it into a high pony tail... I'm hesitant to put it into some sort of bun though, because it's been sort of abused the past couple days... Eek!

Well, 4 hrs to the Workshop and counting! *crosses her fingers* Wish me luck! And thanks again for the advice!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

 

[Sagitta]

lady styling to have hand out of the way...

Hand combing ones hair
Hand up in the air

I survive with people whose hair is down there so I'm sure that the ledaers in your class will be able to do the same Sakura.

A little off the topic. Ladies love combs and veils, especially beginners. It doesn't require much work on their part when struggling with turns etc. It does not require advanced skills /techniques, but does give dancing a little oomph.

 

[youngsta]

Go Sakura go!! Can you put your hair in a ponytail? I know it's easier for me to dodge that than thousands of strands flying every which way :wink: