Leaving my comfortable salsa world! Help!

jenibelle

jenibelle

New Member
Hey DF family!
I have two questions that are very related...I'm moving from Small Town, Middle of Nowhere to Cambridge, Massachussetts in 3 and a half weeks.
My first question is: Where can I salsa? I hear that Boston is huge when it comes to latin dancing but I really have no idea. I have been working super hard and hopefully I can dance on a team when I get there because performing is my biggest thrill and goal.

My second question is more of a nervous rant...I'M SCARED! Right now, I'm in Comfortville; I have the greatest partner to practise and perform with, the greatest friendship with my two instructors and I learn really well from them and I know pretty much every salsero around. I know that moving will be good for me because I'll start suffering from Big-Fish-In-Small-Pond syndrome but to be honest, I'm super nervous!!! I mean this is no egotistical way but I am scared to be a Nobody in a big city. What can I do to break in the Boston scene? Is it easy to meet people ?
Any advice appreciated!
Nervous Jeni :? :?
 
Check out http://www.mamboston2.com

That website focuses more on Mambo/On2 dancing in the Boston area, but you should be able to find information that will get you familiar with what's happening in a more general sense.

Out of curiosity, are you going to Cambridge for school? Harvard? MIT?
 
I wonder if there are any Boston-based salser@s on DF? If so, getting in touch with them and arrange an outing with them will definitely help. I did this when I went dancing in London and I really enjoyed the experience.
 
jenibelle said:
Hey DF family!
I have two questions that are very related...I'm moving from Small Town, Middle of Nowhere to Cambridge, Massachussetts in 3 and a half weeks.
My first question is: Where can I salsa? I hear that Boston is huge when it comes to latin dancing but I really have no idea. I have been working super hard and hopefully I can dance on a team when I get there because performing is my biggest thrill and goal.

My second question is more of a nervous rant...I'M SCARED! Right now, I'm in Comfortville; I have the greatest partner to practise and perform with, the greatest friendship with my two instructors and I learn really well from them and I know pretty much every salsero around. I know that moving will be good for me because I'll start suffering from Big-Fish-In-Small-Pond syndrome but to be honest, I'm super nervous!!! I mean this is no egotistical way but I am scared to be a Nobody in a big city. What can I do to break in the Boston scene? Is it easy to meet people ?
Any advice appreciated!
Nervous Jeni :? :?
Click to expand...

Hi Jenibelle, I am going through something similar, I am moving from nowhere virginia where I am pretty close to the top of the salsa heap.
I am moving tomorrow to a much larger salsa pile, I do have a little bit of the apprehension that you do but I also have a few realizations as well.

1) This is a great opportunity to learn alot, I will be seeing salsa dancers that can do amazing things. I will be able to learn alot more alot quicker simply because there will be people around who I can learn from.

2) While my repertoire of moves may be less developed than other dancers in the new area I have been forced to become a great lead by dancing with tons of beginners.

2)(This is my favorite reason) You have been at the top of the salsa heap in your town, that is actually an awesome position for your own growth as well. It is when you have outgrown the others around you that you are truly forced to develop your own style and flavor. Normally everyone except the very best around will be some sort of copy of someone else's style. Well you have had time to develop your own style and so you will be able to enter a new scene with your own unique way of dancing, that will be really exciting.
 
Hey Vin,

So far, I've gone to the Clarendon Grill last Monday in Northern VA, and people were pretty friendly. They seem to be pretty down to earth compared to other scenes I've visited, so I think it won't be that bad. I will admit that I was being choosy as to who I asked - none seemed to have that "keep away" vibe, although there were several who weren't dancing at all.

Anyway, this weekend there's a dance party in Alexandria which I sent the info to you about. (For the rest of you in the area, it's StuckOnSalsa.com's party at Fanaticos, 2 South Whiting St).

And good luck to you, Jenibelle! It can be a challenge at first, but there was another poster a few months ago who was talking about how friendly people are in the Boston scene. I'll try to find the link...

If a person is really having problems breaking into a new scene, I'd suggest taking lessons and getting to know people in class.
 
Yes, it's easy to meet people, especially those in the dance circles.

I'll send you a PM with the links to dancing sites.

Have fun, and don't forget to study too. :D
 
Ahem? Cambridge? Middle of nowhere?! Oh little do you know that Cambridge is the perfect place to be if you're an avid salsero o salsera. It's conveniently located to just about every good salsa spot in Boston. I live here at the moment and am gutted that I am moving in the very near future. PM me and I'll give you loads of details. By all means, look at your trip as a great opportunity because everyone in the salsa community here is incredibly friendly and welcoming. :) Welcome, welcome
 
A new adventure begins.

You don’t need the good luck.
You CAN dance.
Forget the nerves.
Look forward to new styles, patterns & leads.
Remember the fun fun fun.

*hugs* :friend:

And good luck anyway.
 
MacMoto said:
I wonder if there are any Boston-based salser@s on DF? If so, getting in touch with them and arrange an outing with them will definitely help. I did this when I went dancing in London and I really enjoyed the experience.
Click to expand...

That's a great idea!
Any Boston-based salseros on DF out there???? PM me!
 
Thanks all, I'd really appreciate the PMs with links and stuff...I gotta do research! I'm so glad to hear that the Boston scene is friendly and now i'm getting excited to explore my new world :-)

No no, of course I won't forget to study :roll: :roll: :roll:

Vin good luck in your move too! I bet you'll learn tons...I hope I do!

LOL, Thank you Danish Guy! FUN is what matters in the end, right???

Jeni

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