Starting the dance?
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africana
New Member
sometimes the song is soooo possessing that I dance my way to the dancefloor 
sometimes we just start off with basic
sometimes with shines/freestlying, especially if the song has a rumba intro I might actually do the guaguanco/yambu first (if the lead is okay with it) to loosen up, get the juices flowing
sometimes the lead will do a spin out and then begin the basic or crossbody
it all depends on the mood right? also depends on the person I'm dancing with
sometimes we just start off with basic
sometimes with shines/freestlying, especially if the song has a rumba intro I might actually do the guaguanco/yambu first (if the lead is okay with it) to loosen up, get the juices flowing
sometimes the lead will do a spin out and then begin the basic or crossbody
it all depends on the mood right? also depends on the person I'm dancing with
borikensalsero
Moderator
As africana has mentioned, when I dance the beggining to songs is dependant on the song's style.
Nonetheless, the very first thing I establish is eye contact.
Nonetheless, the very first thing I establish is eye contact.
Sagitta
Well-Known Member
Interesting. Yesterday night I was dancing with quite a few beginners and I noticed that walking and then transitioning to the non progressive step made them a little more at ease then any other way of starting for them with me. These people start smiling when we just walk and by the time we transition they don't even notice it until we are already well into our 2nd or 3rd musical phrase of the non-progressive stepping
I do start differently depending on the song as others mentioned, and actually was curious as to how people would respond.... I'm always looking for little tricks to make dances better for beginners.
I do start differently depending on the song as others mentioned, and actually was curious as to how people would respond.... I'm always looking for little tricks to make dances better for beginners.
I once had a private lesson with Fire (teacher/dj from London) where 1hr private turned into 2+ hrs discussion on the music - breaks, patterns, etc - where my eyes were opened to the magic of salsa music.
Anyway, out of that came that every salsa song has that one place where the intro transitions into the dance. That's your 1 (OK we do on1)... that's where you start! Then you start the dance in tune with the music already!
Problem is in a club situation, by the time you've recognised the song that you want to dance it, asked someone and then scurried them off to a little open hole somewhere on the floor, you've often missed that moment!
I've been taught, and it makes sense, so I do it: start slow - or rather use the word easy, and as borikensalsero said make eye contact, make frame connection, hand connection (mind connection?), settle in a rhythm for a basic or three, then start with easy stuff (where it fits the music). Then build up the salsera's level (maybe plus a little bit...)
Hey, but some songs (like Dame Cinco) start with a bang! High energy from the first real dance note. For such a dance it's great to dance with someone you know very well, who likes spinning and turning and high-energy stuff and start with a race-track double-spin-loaded routine from hell immediately on that first real beat. (i wouldn't do that with someone I don't know, even if I have seen her dance very well and very energetically...)
Anyway, out of that came that every salsa song has that one place where the intro transitions into the dance. That's your 1 (OK we do on1)... that's where you start! Then you start the dance in tune with the music already!
Problem is in a club situation, by the time you've recognised the song that you want to dance it, asked someone and then scurried them off to a little open hole somewhere on the floor, you've often missed that moment!
I've been taught, and it makes sense, so I do it: start slow - or rather use the word easy, and as borikensalsero said make eye contact, make frame connection, hand connection (mind connection?), settle in a rhythm for a basic or three, then start with easy stuff (where it fits the music). Then build up the salsera's level (maybe plus a little bit...)
Hey, but some songs (like Dame Cinco) start with a bang! High energy from the first real dance note. For such a dance it's great to dance with someone you know very well, who likes spinning and turning and high-energy stuff and start with a race-track double-spin-loaded routine from hell immediately on that first real beat. (i wouldn't do that with someone I don't know, even if I have seen her dance very well and very energetically...)
HF
New Member
A very good question.
I like to mirror the structure of the song in the dance. Not all but many of the songs have a step-like structure with increasing intensity. At the beginning of a new phrase there will be added a singer or a chorus or more percussion or more orchestration or whatever.
It is really delightful to change the dance mood exactly at these points and many ladies like it very much. Therefore I begin most dances in easy mood, sometimes just moving the upper body.
Like the musicians say: Crescendo means piano.
I like to mirror the structure of the song in the dance. Not all but many of the songs have a step-like structure with increasing intensity. At the beginning of a new phrase there will be added a singer or a chorus or more percussion or more orchestration or whatever.
It is really delightful to change the dance mood exactly at these points and many ladies like it very much. Therefore I begin most dances in easy mood, sometimes just moving the upper body.
Like the musicians say: Crescendo means piano.
Claire_Brummell
New Member
I'm in absolute agreement totally depends on music / partner / style of dancing - the key is to make a connection - however that may be...
Whether its through eye contact, smile, slow sway into basic or drop straight to a CBL - it doesn't matter - what matters is that the connection is made and each dance is often different in this respect
Whether its through eye contact, smile, slow sway into basic or drop straight to a CBL - it doesn't matter - what matters is that the connection is made and each dance is often different in this respect
DeeplyDippy
New Member
At a simpler level, forgetting about eye contact etc., I like to whip the lady into a spin.
I throw her hand, she spins, I move in for a cbl.
If it works you know you have a good dancer. If she stands there like a lemon, I adjust my level of dance
Very stagey but the ladies do seem to like it and I've had complements on how well it starts the dance.
I throw her hand, she spins, I move in for a cbl.
If it works you know you have a good dancer. If she stands there like a lemon, I adjust my level of dance
Very stagey but the ladies do seem to like it and I've had complements on how well it starts the dance.
Big10
Member
:?: What do you mean by "non-progressive salsa step"?Sagitta said:
My typical way of starting the dance is pretty boring. I walk the woman to a good spot on the floor, get into a dance frame, wait until I hear when the next "1" will come up, and then start dancing on it. I will occasionally vary that based on the music and my partner, but that's how I start about 80% of the time.
Sagitta
Well-Known Member
Big10 said:
I can do the salsa step in place - non-progressive. I can also do the salsa step of quick quick slow, alternating feet while moving around the floor - progressive.
I used to start most of my dances by staying in place...but I noticed that my body was already slightly moving and I didn't like staying still. From that, listening to the music etc it has evolved so that it is my preference not to start dancing to a song from a stand still.
nost guys who ask me start off waiting for the next 1, although some are able to start on 5, too. Generally, I am already salsa wiggling, as I can't wait to get started - and with beginners, I hope it helps them find the 1.
then the first move is usually a basic with eye contact, a right turn and basic, a CBL and THEN it starts. That seems to be the case in 90% of strangers I dance with.
last week my first dance with someone did not start so gentle. Immediately thrown into multiple spins from the get go and every spin thereafter was multiple and fast and no basics in between to recover if I had wobbled.
What annoyed me was that
a) it did not fit the music
b) they were not lead particularly well
c) us girlies are not BORN able to spin - I'm an intermediate who hasn't done much spinning. I need recovery time between them.
d) he was still throwing LOADS of these moves at me after it was apparent it's above my level - didn't seem to care what I was going through. So much for trying to connect with your partner!
But I have a question, why do so many of you guys look to my feet when I do that first turn, are you checking my footwork to gauge my level, inspecting my footwear?
then the first move is usually a basic with eye contact, a right turn and basic, a CBL and THEN it starts. That seems to be the case in 90% of strangers I dance with.
last week my first dance with someone did not start so gentle. Immediately thrown into multiple spins from the get go and every spin thereafter was multiple and fast and no basics in between to recover if I had wobbled.
What annoyed me was that
a) it did not fit the music
b) they were not lead particularly well
c) us girlies are not BORN able to spin - I'm an intermediate who hasn't done much spinning. I need recovery time between them.
d) he was still throwing LOADS of these moves at me after it was apparent it's above my level - didn't seem to care what I was going through. So much for trying to connect with your partner!
But I have a question, why do so many of you guys look to my feet when I do that first turn, are you checking my footwork to gauge my level, inspecting my footwear?
Sagitta
Well-Known Member
UK dancers different then at other pkaces then? I prefer starting with a left turn myself...I personally think that the right turn is over-used and am still working on cutting that down in my dancing....cookie said:
Why look down? I don't undersatnd that either. I prefer looking at the other parts of my partner more so then the feet. I would look down at her feet perhaps...if I was bending to lead an inside turn via the knee or something....though even then I think I would look up at my partner or straight ahead..... hmmmmm... :?
cookie said:
I can't imagine why you would want to do that? Especially with someone I don't know, the first few moves I would concentrate on her eyes and facial expression:
smile - that is OK
hungry grin - give me more :lol:
confusion/phwew, made that - keep the level down
pain/frown - I'm doing something very wrong
Something like that...
Come to think of it, with followers I don't know at all, if the music doesn't dictate otherwise, after basic and eye/frame contact I usually do a simple CBL, with/without turn, then straight into right-to-right hold normal single right turn. It's easy enough for a beginner to follow, but you can already gauge how they're doing... I find people who have just started show some surprise with the changed hand-hold but they still make it comfortably. After the turn, if she takes my left hand offered under the right hand, you know you can go for more. Silly little approach, but works for me...
hopelessly_addicted
New Member
cookie said:
Well, I know this guy who's ALWAYS looking down. The reason why he does that according to him is to make sure that enough floor space is there so that followers don't get stepped on, bump into other dancers, etc...
But if leads look at your feet only when you do your first turn, I have no idea why they'd ot it.. if you know them, perhaps you can ask?