New to Salsa need advice/tips

[wannarunna]

I'm pretty new to learning the dance. A friend has been teaching me. It is kind of hard for me and her to get together often and to practice. So, far I have learned many moves (I learn fast). But each time after i learn a move i forget it because we can't dance for like 2 weeks. Anyways now that I am home i have no one to dance with except when I for my little sister. Also there are no salsa classes around here.

I was wondering how can i go about and teach myself?
Do videos work?
How do i not mambo inbetween moves (i guess this comes with experience)?

Right now I am learning to dance one 1, many have told me dancing on2 is harder but it looks better. I want to learn how to dance on 2.
Are there any websites that teach bachata moves?


I would greatly appreciate answers to my questions as well as, as much advice as you are willing to give. I also need tips on how to lead.

Thank everyone so much

 

[icering]

I would go with videos and yes youtube has bachata

 

[terremoto]

Wannarunna, welcome to dance forums! If you are interested in learning bachata check out this site - www.bachatarueda.com there is a beginning and intermediate DVD. Also there is a demonstration of a couple dancing and there a lot of moves that seem relatively easy to follow.

As for learning to dance by yourself - thats a tough one. Yes, videos can help and so can practicing with an air partner its no where near as good as a real partner but hopefully it will keep the moves fresh enough in your mind so that you can remember them. Also to help you remember your patterns - write them down with a description - if there isn't a name then come up with a descriptive name.

And learning a bunch of moves isn't necessarily a good thing right away - work on smoothing out the moves and making sure that they flow nicely. Quality is very important at this level and not necessarily quantity.

Good luck!

 

[sweavo]

IRight now I am learning to dance one 1, many have told me dancing on2 is harder but it looks better. I want to learn how to dance on 2.
Are there any websites that teach bachata moves?

Is that short for wannarunnaforicanwalka?

Sounds cool, I would say stick with on 1 for now unless you're in new york.

For partner stuff there's no substitute for a partner. Be careful about "learning" too many moves without a partner or you run the risk of becoming a patternmonkey with no regard for your partner's comfort. Followers are more impressed with sensitivity of a lead than with a bunch of bitchass moves!

"Getting rid of the mambos between moves" does simply come with time - but there's nothing wrong with a couple of mambos in there at any level.

I don't think on2 "looks better" (I am an on2 dancer) it's got a different quality to it which some prefer - on2 is more punchy and sharp, on1 is more melodic in some way. See http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=12829 for cool on1 and on2 male dancers.

good luck with it, hope it grabs you like it got me!

 

[devane]

How do i not mambo inbetween moves (i guess this comes with experience)?

The Mambo step or basic and the CBL's (Dile que no) is what links all the sequences together. I have heard people saying that going from one sequence to another without the basic is a sign of a good dancer. I would disagree, to me a 5 min sequence is a sign of a bad dancer in terms of understanding music.
Use the Mambo & CBL to join sequences or just play around with the basic. Once you get the feel for the Mambo step learn to add a turn/spin to your 5,6,7..
or learn a few shines.
Learning the basics slowly is way better than learning a ton of moves which make you look awkward. You'll have more fun & you'll look better.

 

[terremoto]

I would disagree, to me a 5 min sequence is a sign of a bad dancer in terms of understanding music.

I definately agree. however, when I first started dancing I observed a lot of the more advanced dancers and I wondered if some of them even knew the basic step. There were a lot of them that would just go from one patttern to the next - and so for my first couple of years of dancing I thought becoming an advanced dancer meant not doing any basic steps - and just trying to lead one advanced pattern after the next. This is one style of dancing that some dancers prefer; however, I prefer a much different style, one where you connect to the music (as Devane mentioned) and connecting to your partner and aware of your partner's level and not to force patterns that your partner cannot follow. For me this is a lot more enjoyable type of dance!

 

[MacMoto]

So, far I have learned many moves (I learn fast). But each time after i learn a move i forget it because we can't dance for like 2 weeks. Anyways now that I am home i have no one to dance with except when I for my little sister. Also there are no salsa classes around here.

I was wondering how can i go about and teach myself?
Do videos work?

You will not remember moves unless you practise. If your little sister is uncooperative, you can always practise by dancing with an invisible follower (have you seen the film "Shall We Dance?"?) .

Good videos do help, but again you have to practise the moves they show you.

Right now I am learning to dance one 1, many have told me dancing on2 is harder but it looks better.

Wait a minute -- who are these "many" people?? Other salsa dancers? Where do they dance? Do they take salsa classes? Are there any salsa clubs in your area?

The best way to get better is to go out and dance with as many girls as possible as often as you can.

As for the on1/on2 thing, I don't think on2 looks better than on1. They are just different ways of feeling/using the music. Good dancers can make either style look good -- and I have seen some awful looking dancing in both styles too :lol:. If there is a local salsa scene and it's predominantly on2, then learn on2. If not, stick to on1.

I also need tips on how to lead.

First, make sure your timing is solid. As an on1 dancer, you need to know where the "1" is in the music and be able to hit it precisely, all the time. Also, when learning a new move, always make sure you know when (as well as how) you lead it. A lot of beginner leaders learn new moves but unsure about the timing of the lead for those moves.

Leading is about indicating to your partner where you want her to go. This means:

:arrow: You don't move her; you invite her to move, and she moves herself. Indicate your intention clearly, but you shouldn't use force to drag/shove her.

:arrow: You need to signal *before* she has to start moving in that direction (back to the "timing of the lead" issue).

 

[azzey]

Azzey's 10 step guide to learning Salsa:

[Things you can learn at home]

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

2. You can get FREE video clips from the web for additional inspiration. http://www.mamboston2.com and http://www.salsamemphis.com

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.

4. Buy a timing DVD, listen to the different instruments to improve your appreciation of the music and your timing.
see http://www.salsafever.co.uk/shopping/

5. Buy Al Espinosa's spinning DVD and practice that.

6. Read this guide on leading & following.
http://www.eijkhout.net/lead_follow/

7. You only really need 3 web sites for further info.
http://www.salsanewyork.com
http://www.salsafreak.com click on "Beginner's corner"
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.

 

[I Salsas]

find somebody.

 

[Claire_Brummell]

Is that short for wannarunnaforicanwalka?

I was thinking the exact same thing!!

The key to it is probably just slow down - I know there's so much you can do and that you want to do it all at once, but it's like anything - you need to get the basics solid and second-nature to really build on them.

For the moment I'd concentrate on On1, forget On2, bachata etc. Just get your feet solid in one style and you'll then be able to change to others easier. The more you try and learn the more you'll forget so if you focus on one you'll be able to remember more.

And I can only echo what the others are saying - the key to remembering is practise so either find someone else who wants to learn, or post your (rough) location on here so we can give some advice on the nearest places to you to dance. Watching other dancers, practising with lots of different dancers etc is invaluable to learning how to dance salsa - not how to remember a sequence of moves, because there is a difference!!

Good Luck!

 

[thespina13]

Heheh, I remember for the first three months or so I was constantly thinking "when am I going to get better? HOW am I going to get better? NOw now now!!!". The only good thing this mindset gave me was an eagerness to talk to absolutely everyone about where to go, what to do, what they did, and then I went out and did it. I own a large collection of DVDs now thanks to a friend who burned a bunch for me (should I be admitting this?), I've tken privates frequently, and most of all, danced regularly. I never missed a salsa night. Of course, my life (sort of) allowed for this and not everyone can manage that.

Give yourself some time. It's amazing what simply time will accomplish. Are there instructors in neighbouring cities? I drove three hours to Chicago to see a great one... it's always worth an investment. And if you can ask around and find a friend who'd be willing, get a DVD and go over itwith her in your livingroom or whatever. Step by step, over and over. This way you can start to expand your repertoire slowly.

And don't worry. Women don't need to be flun ginto a millioncominations to have a great dance. They just need someone who can do a few things really well and LOVE it. I had a dance last night that was chock-full of MOVES... fast ones, spinny ones... and I sucked!! I'm new to the area and I didn't know anything he was throwing at me (talk about demanding my following skills)... but then I danced with one guy who just had it in his soul and was relaxed and solid and grounded, and I danced like a fiend. I felt comfortable, we had connection, I wasn't nervous and his smile was sucha huge reward. It all boils down to loving the most basic things about it. The way you hold her hand, the way you move your body, the look on your face. All of us, no matter how advanced or not, practice the basic alll the time. Do it everywhere and you can't go wrong. Make it a part of you and let the rest come as you find the oportunities.

 

[tangotime]

beginning to learn

One simple answer to a complex problem -- all bricks are held together with mortar ( see the connection ? ) the foundations of all dance are sound basics -- please crawl before you walk-- let alone run -- take this advice from a teacher . and welcome to the wonderful world of dance

 

[Claire_Brummell]

One simple answer to a complex problem -- all bricks are held together with mortar ( see the connection ? ) the foundations of all dance are sound basics -- please crawl before you walk-- let alone run -- take this advice from a teacher . and welcome to the wonderful world of dance

Here here! I agree totally - if you skip over the basics too quickly, believe me when we say the building will fall down (we've seen it many many many times)

Good luck!