If I, a salsa beginner, went to a club and totally refused to be timid, but was brave and let my own personality out, and sincerely tried to have fun with my dance partners, do you think that would work? I might actually have enough courage to do that now. Or would my lack of skill and experience undo everything, meaning the women would just run for the hills until I became somewhat accomplished? Would this be worth doing? I mean somehow I don't think there is a requirement to be timid until you get better. Couldn't women enjoy me and my personality? So you salsa believers, what say you all?
Should I just go for it?
- Thread starter tacad
- Start date
What exactly do you mean by "brave" and "let my personality out"?If you meant being courageous enough to invite the best followers, trying to enjoy it rather than being scared out of your mind etc... I think followers would love it!
But if you mean doing "the Mayan stuff" as I call it to the poor unexpecting followers (and obviously, as a beginner, doing it wrong) or trying to do things that are way above your level, thus "pulling and pushing" them around without care... I don't think they'd be too happy!
MacMoto
Active Member
I'd say go for it! You have to start at some point, so you might as well do it now. Just be you and have a good time. Don't be intimidated. Tell women you are a beginner if you want, but don't apologise for it -- everybody was a beginner once. Just smile, be polite and focus on enjoying each dance.
Oh, and if possible, try and get some info on local clubs. Some clubs are more beginner friendly than others, so if possible choose a venue/night where you are less likely to get turned down to start with. Avoid meat market venues -- I'm always more reluctant to say yes to strangers in those clubs because strangers there are often non-dancers looking to hit on girls.
Good luck!
Oh, and if possible, try and get some info on local clubs. Some clubs are more beginner friendly than others, so if possible choose a venue/night where you are less likely to get turned down to start with. Avoid meat market venues -- I'm always more reluctant to say yes to strangers in those clubs because strangers there are often non-dancers looking to hit on girls.
Good luck!
Tasek
New Member
Just go for it, you'll have to step out of the safety of classes someday, and no matter when you do it, it will be quite a transition.
Some pointers that should help:
Ask nicely and with a big smile.
Best to do a few things well, then to do a lot of things badly, so stick to the moves you know.
Always thank your partner for the dance or give a compliment afterwards.
And as you already seem to know, enjoy it, and let it show that your enjoying it.
Try not to let rejections ruin your mood (you will sometimes be rejected).
And good luck, and have fun
Some pointers that should help:
Ask nicely and with a big smile.
Best to do a few things well, then to do a lot of things badly, so stick to the moves you know.
Always thank your partner for the dance or give a compliment afterwards.
And as you already seem to know, enjoy it, and let it show that your enjoying it.
Try not to let rejections ruin your mood (you will sometimes be rejected).
And good luck, and have fun
Hi squirrel. Yeah, I'm definitely talking about trying to enjoy it. I definitely won't try for things above my level. That would not go over well.squirrel said:
If you meant being courageous enough to invite the best followers, trying to enjoy it rather than being scared out of your mind etc... I think followers would love it!
But if you mean doing "the Mayan stuff" as I call it to the poor unexpecting followers (and obviously, as a beginner, doing it wrong) or trying to do things that are way above your level, thus "pulling and pushing" them around without care... I don't think they'd be too happy!
I'm off for a couple of weeks and with the weekends taken up by major holidays my own ballroom venues won't be going. Funny this was inspired by a post by clave in the thread about salsa borrowing from the dancesport world. In my post I started off stating why I did not want to do salsa and at the end of it I was thinking about trying it some time. And now, well I have a swollen toe that has to get better first :cry: .
Any LA salsa DF'rs that can recommend a beginner friendly place like MacMoto suggested? I'll check out the dance directory as well.
Everyone's responses were encouraging. Thanks
! 'Tis the season to be adventurous!
Hi Sagitta. I do dance ballroom and could do some basic steps, turns, and even a CBL. But I was thinking of the whole salsa world and how to deal with it. It seems to me that you have to be more bold somehow. I mean in my ballroom experience if you ask someone to dance they will generally say yes. If they didn't look like they had a good time you don't ask again. Salsa has more of a night club thing going on, right? A whole different dynamic. In the past, before I became a DFer :mrgreen: I would have let this intimidate me and would have gone in timidly, learned to be semi-proficient, and eventually would have a good time--a year later. I was wondering if I could cut through the junk this time. Having done it in ballroom and swing, shouldn't I be able to take this---oh, emotional maturity?---and do it in salsa to have a good time? I mean women are women, men are men, and we like to flirt with each other right? Seems like this should be true but it will require a lot of courage I would think and perseverance when it gets tough. But it should work.
Salsaonone
New Member
being bold
from what most followers who are have a good attitude and will dance with anyone that ask say to me, that they would rather have someone who can keep time and have a good lead with only a few moves, than with someone who cant keep time and tries moves they are not ready to do...alot of times, followers can work on detail work if the leader is doing basics all dance...as a leader, who is above beginning, but not anywhere near those elite dancers, I can enjoy a follower who can barely do the basics..always things to work on or experiment with that are subtle and dont interfere with the lead. But I would think as long as you keep time, and dont hurt the follower (or anyone on the dance floor area), go for it!
from what most followers who are have a good attitude and will dance with anyone that ask say to me, that they would rather have someone who can keep time and have a good lead with only a few moves, than with someone who cant keep time and tries moves they are not ready to do...alot of times, followers can work on detail work if the leader is doing basics all dance...as a leader, who is above beginning, but not anywhere near those elite dancers, I can enjoy a follower who can barely do the basics..always things to work on or experiment with that are subtle and dont interfere with the lead. But I would think as long as you keep time, and dont hurt the follower (or anyone on the dance floor area), go for it!
Re: being bold
This reminds me of one time I was brave. At a swing dance they decided to play a cha cha. I decided to ask a very gorgeous, sexy woman to dance. At that time I think I could do 2 or 3 steps. But I had a good solid frame and kept the beat. She went absolutely nuts. Hips, arms, body parts all flying in every direction with me holding on. Like I provided a framework for her to show off, which she did. Afterward she went to her friends who were all excited for about the dance. I went and took a cold shower.Salsaonone said:
My first DF kiss! And from Pacion! :bouncy:Pacion said:tacad said:
:banana: way to go Clave! :lol: :kissme: to you tacad! Bold is good, especially if you are going to fake/bluff it :wink: I hope your toe gets better soon and you enjoy the salsa experience. Just remember your dance etiquette and you should be fine.
I will remember. (EDIT: The dance etiquette that is. :wink: )
:lol: