that first one is always such a DUD

[thespina13]

I'm writing while more tired than I've experienced in many, many moons. Forgive me if this doesn't sound at all lucid.

The last two days were spent dancing for about four solid hours at a stretch, and starting up a new salsa night at a classy new venue, which was a fabulous success, all while trying to be a perfectly perky mom of three boys and provider of food and a comfortable and stimlating living environment for the family, and designing new flyers for our salsa night. Oh salsa... the sacrifices I make for you!

At any rate, this is all beside the point. This is more to the point: the last two nights and every single night since I started dancing, my first dance or two or maybe even three are always such complete DUDS! I've even had some of my fellow casual partners choose not to dance with me too much over the course of the evening after a dance like that, if I'm particularly off. (Which is rude and I wish they weren't so concerned about their own good time that it keeps them from being polite... but anyways...)

What is it? Stage fright? Uncoordination due to not having warmed up? I'm trying to find a good strategy for getting over that stupid warm-up obstacle. What are your little pre-night-on-the-town rituals? Do you go out on the floor cold? Or is there something you do to prep yourself? I'm wondering if practicing shines would loosen me up a little. Where would I practice shines? In the bathroom? On the floor in front of everyone? Aah I don't know. Maybe I could TEACH shines to early birds and THAT would get me going. anyhow, suggestions appreciated.

Love,
thes

 

[just-a-salsera]

same problem

I often have the same problem - I also many times suck at the first dance
But strange thing - if I dance casino style, then I am doing fine, but if the first dance would be with LA-style dancing partner, then I am in trouble
I guess, I just need a little bit more warming up for dancing other styles than Cuban.

 

[Twilight_Elena]

I'm also off for the first one to three dances. Also depends who I'm dancing them with. I think it's perfectly natural, it's just till you get warmed up. Whoever judges you from the first dance is the dud, in this case.

Twilight Elena

 

[Sabor]

i on the other hand start at my best feeling wise and as the dances go on my the curve heads downward to the point of 'normalization' by the end of the night.. that is unless i'm lucky enough to have a considerable mix of great salseras to keep my emotions on the rise all throughout which is very rare indeed..

as to how i start with a great feeling ... nothing special comes to mind.. so i guess its my nature helping out there..

 

[Jamie]

I'm writing while more tired than I've experienced in many, many moons. Forgive me if this doesn't sound at all lucid.

The last two days were spent dancing for about four solid hours at a stretch, and starting up a new salsa night at a classy new venue, which was a fabulous success, all while trying to be a perfectly perky mom of three boys and provider of food and a comfortable and stimlating living environment for the family, and designing new flyers for our salsa night. Oh salsa... the sacrifices I make for you!

At any rate, this is all beside the point. This is more to the point: the last two nights and every single night since I started dancing, my first dance or two or maybe even three are always such complete DUDS! I've even had some of my fellow casual partners choose not to dance with me too much over the course of the evening after a dance like that, if I'm particularly off. (Which is rude and I wish they weren't so concerned about their own good time that it keeps them from being polite... but anyways...)

What is it? Stage fright? Uncoordination due to not having warmed up? I'm trying to find a good strategy for getting over that stupid warm-up obstacle. What are your little pre-night-on-the-town rituals? Do you go out on the floor cold? Or is there something you do to prep yourself? I'm wondering if practicing shines would loosen me up a little. Where would I practice shines? In the bathroom? On the floor in front of everyone? Aah I don't know. Maybe I could TEACH shines to early birds and THAT would get me going. anyhow, suggestions appreciated.

Love,
thes

Dear thes,

Two things occur to me ...

1. You may be doing a little too much. So you're tired and crabby? (ok maybe only mildly tired and crabby). I find this in lots of things, if I do too much, I'm not at my best and I don't enjoy it so much (even if it's something I love, like salsa).

2. I get the same thing. My first dance or two, and often not good, and I just look on them as warm up dances. Unless of course it's my fave tune and / or I'm all fired up etc.

My only advice for your consideration, would be that sometimes it's good to take a break or do less for a while, and come back with renewed viggor. After all, no-one can go on 100% steam all of the time.

Hope that helps, good luck

 

[BugBear]

Well it seems that this is quite common. It happanes to me too. I guess it is really about warming up. Sometimes right before going to the party I go out with my non-dancer friends for a beer or two. That seem to help a lot

 

[starry]

There is nothing wrong with warming up with shines by yourself along the side of the dance floor. I see folks do it all the time. I do too at times! If the music moves me and there is no partner nearby, I shine my little arse off! Your dancing does not always need to be partnered! That's the beauty of shines! Go ahead and do your thing girl! Get yourself warmed up and make your own fun!

I am the opposite of you. My best dances are the first ones usually. It is later when I am tired that I find myself off. By the end of an evening, I find myself steering clear of the advanced guys who just want to spin me like the Tasmanian Devil. But at the very beginning, well, bring it on salsa show-offs! Everyone is different, but go ahead and try the warm-up shines! I bet that does the trick for you! I bet you will find others who see you shining will join you!!

 

[delamusica]

I always put on some salsa music and dance around my house while I'm getting ready, and make sure to listen to salsa music in the car on the way over, so I'm all good and fired up by the time I get there.

 

[africana]

the dudding thing happens when I'm tired or stressed or both, then that makes me unfocused or tense because I am giving up control of my body (temporarily) to strangers, which is totally unlike my day life.

best way to relax, get a nap and be rejuvenated. Even better way to relax: take a yoga or pilates class to loosen up my arms and stretch my legs. that way I'm not too tense, and am a bit warmed up

doing shines is great too, though i hardly do that unless the song is really kicking
Also warming up on the early beginner crowd who come for the lessons and will leave soon ( don't tell me i'm the only one who does that )

 

[desconocida]

I often have the same problem - I guess it's a "warming up" thing...
But isn't it rather normal? I'd never perform without warming up and stretching before... so why should I be able to spin three or four times and move quickly in the club without it?

I found out that it's rather frustrating to dance to something like "La Malanga" or "Sonido Bestial" when just arrived - so I normally wait for a romantica song or a really relaxing and slow mambo and use to say to my dancing partner that I just arrived and am still ... sleeping a little bit - so he doesn't expect me to be able to spin ten times in a row (and the most important thing - I don't expect it from me myself!!!).
Even if it's hard sometimes to wait while all the great songs are playing - but so you're spared any disappointment.... For me the most important thing was to realize that what I perceived as a failure is a natural precaution of my body!

P.S.: ok, sometimes, when I see that even after three or four songs danced it's not getting better I go to the restrooms and slacken my shoulders and hips a little - but I'd never let someone see or know it!

 

[thespina13]

Hee hee.. another bathroom breaker... I do that too. I'll excuse myself and stand in the bathroom and walk around and push my shoulders down and do some hip rotations, solidify some spins, center, and the most important part.. check my HAIR.

As for doing too much, Jamie, you're absolutely right. This week was WAY too much and completely out of balance. Thankfully I won't need to be doing that every week, since there is only one opening night for our new venue. And I'm goingto make a commitment to coming back early on Thursday nights so I'm not completely shot for the night that counts.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. Seems men are more ready right off the bat than girls are... isn't that the way it is in all areas of life? Happy and unusual night it was on Thursday night, when the most advanced dancer of the evening got me on the first song of the night and I didn't miss a step (Of course I know he was taking it easy on me, but still..)

 

[hello]

I always put on some salsa music and dance around my house while I'm getting ready, and make sure to listen to salsa music in the car on the way over, so I'm all good and fired up by the time I get there.

Same here, the music gets me pumped. It's all about the attitude. I find the more confident I am, with the right state of mind, no matter what time of the night it is, early, middle or late, I dance my best. Focused, yet relaxed. Aware of my partner and others, aware of the music.

Another thing that keeps me on top of my game for the first dance, is I know leads are watching me to see if they want to ask me to dance, so my first impression has got to be strong. i've learned people are VERY OBSERVANT, at least in my salsa scene...true for others too?

 

[Shooshoo]

I'm just a little careful in the first dances until my body warms so I don't get injuries. My mood/messing up with the dance is a factor of the leader I'm dancing with, bad music and my tired feet (but that's usually by the end).

 

[SurfSalsa]

I agree it must be a warming up thing. I also feel sluggish and dud on the first few dances... my regular partner has also complained that I lead very tense and stiffly at first. This applies to other sports as well - I'm much better when warmed up properly (sounds like a muffin ad :LOL). That's why I appreciate teachers who do some warm-up shine routines before class too. I guess some people are just ready out of the blocks and other need loosening up. It also depends what you've been doing before dancing... some activities loosen you up naturally; hours behind a PC or a car's steering wheel surely doesn't...

Also warming up on the early beginner crowd who come for the lessons and will leave soon

Excellent source for warm-up where you don't get into complicated things at first; you can relax, get into the music, get your body moving, etc all at your own pace without any stress or expectations... (and you're fulfilling one of salsa's comandments at the same time).

Actually (off-thread) I have found dancing with beginners a very good source to train myself to dance "moves" (be it simple ones) on semi-automatic pilot, while concentrating on listening to the music. So even with a beginner I might not do an actual break, I can imagine it, or just lead differently, change to another form of basic, whatever, or just stall or hasten the dance depending on the music. It gives me opportunity to imagine/plan moves to music while actually dancing, which is way more realistic than to do it just sitting down and listening or even dancing solo.

 

[alemana]

i usually dance my first dance with the exact same guy. it's a tradition i have that has worked well to relax me and get me into salsa mode. he is a nice but v. predictable lead with a solid but limited repetoire, and i always dance well with him.