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Anyone into salsa dancing? - Page 2

post #16 of 30
4/19/07 at 1:00am
I take lessons once a week and try and go out dancing one or two more times. Been doing it for almost a year now and am good enough to hold my own on the dance floor and leave em wanting more. Salsa clubs are absolutely full of gorgeous single women. Granted most want to dance, but hey the next step is totally up to you. That said - I enjoy the whole thing and would definitely reccomend to anyone wanting to explore a different style of dance as opposed to jumping up and down like a retard at an R&B club - you won't regret it if you stick with it and practice practice practice. Did I mention the women ??

troop

p.s. - I wear my Tiger Tai Chis to practice, but go with a leather-soled dress shoe to a club. What do other people wear to salsa if there are more of us that bust a move here?
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post #17 of 30
4/19/07 at 2:51am
Nice Topic!.. The Overall SALSA term is just for the general aspect of the music.

In D.R. dancing is all we did when I was there. In front of the grocery stores with loud music coming from a car, and even at house parties.. damn those days.

I've been dancing all my life (Dominican Blood line). My Wife is a white girl with some rythym. She really dislikes to go dancing "Salsa" with me cause she says I always show off. Here in India it's kind of hard to find a club that doesn't have the regular couples intimidating you by the way they dance. It seems so rehearsed when we see dancers here it's fake. At times it looks like they are all set on their ways and none of them are really FEELING the music, just going through the steps.

Going to clubs, expecially in the East Coast U.S., you'll be able to see the different kinds of "SALSA". Merengue, which is really easy. Bachata, which is really sensual and nice. And Salsa, which has a lot of spins and movements that in rythym would be nice.

In my house we tend to crank up the music a few times a week and just dance. My 2 boys, ages 12 and 4 both love music. The 4 year old is a Dancer..

Good luck.. and Enjoy!
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post #18 of 30
4/19/07 at 6:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DucatiCole View Post
I'm just wondering, is it strange to start going to a studio to take lessons by yourself? I've never really even looked into it before and I'm not sure what's normal. Do most people go with someone or do you just show up and then partner up with someone randomly?
At the intermediate lesson I took we started with even numbers or perhaps too many men and quickly dropped to a surplus of women. While the women were waiting for partners they would sometimes dance with the instructor, so being the odd one out might be beneficial. Dancing with multiple partners makes you a better leader because they won't learn how to read your mind.
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post #19 of 30
4/19/07 at 7:46am
I finished Beginners 1 LA Style and beginners 1 Cuban style. And I have just began beginners 2 LA Style. 1 tip: If you are a beginner and you want to taste of both styles just pick 1 and go from there. Don't do both styles at the same time since Cuban style dances contra tempo. I personally liked Cuban style a bit better but the LA school is near my house and the school is more fun. LA style tends to be more danced here in the Netherlands (Amsterdam). Also when going to Cuban / LA parties the LA Style people tend to be much younger.
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post #20 of 30
4/19/07 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared View Post
I'm two lessons into a beginner class right now and it is rough. I still have faith in the end of a tunnel, though.

Interesting issue: salsa has lots of spinning moves, so you need shoes with smooth soles. This wouldn't be a problem for most people on here (at least in MC), but since I live on the Wet Coast I have topys on all my dress shoes! Last week, believe it or not, I put duct tape on my sneakers like I was going curling...

Many people that go a lot actually buy special shoes (likely also the people taking dance classes). All my shoes have leather soles and I prefer them, but especially in the winter, I saw a lot of people changing in to their dance shoes at the club.
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post #21 of 30
4/19/07 at 7:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared View Post

Dancing with multiple partners makes you a better leader because they won't learn how to read your mind.

Keep forgetting to use multi-quote...

I'd say yes and no to this. Multiple partners is better in the long-run, but I find learning goes quicker in private lessons, especially at the beginning. Even though your instructor is going to be the easiest person to ever dance with, and even though you don't really have to lead with her because she'll be able to read you so well, it's really beneficial to concentrate on getting your own stuff right and not worry about your partners' horrible balance, or the fact that she just won't come in close enough, which forces you to make big movements that throw everything off. With an instructor you'll avoid all that and get the moves wired-in to muscle memory, which is the first important step.

I did both private and group, and every time I went back to my private instructor I found it a huge relief to dance with her compared to the neophytes from my group class. It also helps you develop better technique from the start because you've got someone watching your every move.

So I'd say do private till you're at an intermediate level and then do the group classes so that you can gain some extra leading experience with many different partners, that hopefully by then have improved enough that it's not a horrible experience dancing with them.
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post #22 of 30
4/20/07 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
I've been looking into lessons and there's actually quite a bit available to choose from around here. I won't be able to start until September since I'm going home for summer soon but I'm looking forward to it anyways.

What are the average ages of the girls going to these clubs? I was hoping that I could use it as a new way to meet people.
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post #23 of 30
4/22/07 at 2:53am
There's no average age that I notice. You will see young and old and while the majority tend to be of hispanic origin there seems to be a good number of white people in the clubs. I would take lessons on your own since you don't have a partner. That way you will practice with multiple people and will be more adept in a club type atmosphere where you will dance with people of varying styles.
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post #24 of 30
4/25/07 at 10:30pm
At the salsa class I took at the university I went to, everyone who showed up showed single. In fact, it is better to take dance classes single anyways. Even if you show up as a couple, you should rotate partners anyways because it helps you learn to lead better. (Note that I stink at all of this, but I thought it an interesting thing to do.) Average age at the class that I took was pretty standard (mid-to late 20's) since it was all graduate students. Other dance classes I took that were affiliated with the university had a huge age range. But, it is a good way to meet people. No idea about the clubs though.
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post #25 of 30
4/25/07 at 10:39pm
Did any1 here ever, pay 10$, for a dance ?
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post #26 of 30
4/26/07 at 12:02am
They cost $20 here in Toronto bud - although with the exchange rate thats only about 18 USD. To answer - yup

troop
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post #27 of 30
5/5/07 at 8:37pm
Hi DucatiCole,

He man I am justing finishing my Beginners 2 Salsa class. I am enrolling for a intensive beginners 3 course soon and Semi-1 summer course. You may do a beginners 1 course in the summer too!

There are lots of girls and boys doing these courses in the summer here. And the sphere is pretty good because the weather is nice. Perfect opportunity to meet lots of new girls for you and there are always fights over men because there is a shortage of men in these classes. Not to forget its really fun.


Anyways keep us posted on how your dancing endeavors progress.

xerxes
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post #28 of 30
3/20/08 at 1:33pm
I have been into salsa, off and on, for the past few years. I would like to go from beginner to intermediate. Would you recommend that I take structured lessons from a dance studio, or are drop-in lessons at the local club (I live a stone's throw away from the best salsa club in DC) sufficient so long as I get out and practice often?
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post #29 of 30
3/20/08 at 11:57pm
Practice is key, but lessons will definitely speed you along. A problem many men have is confidence. When they start learning, they know they suck and they feel bad about inflicting their suckiness on others. Most women prefer to "dance up," meaning they prefer dancing with people at least as good as they are, but preferably better. Lack of confidence means they don't practice. Lessons help with confidence. I got more out of private than group lessons, although they both have their positives.
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post #30 of 30
3/21/08 at 1:05pm
I took a few lessons in the fall, but stopped as school work became too much. Last night I went out to salsa at bar that had salsa night, and met some girls there from the same salsa class that I used to dance with during class. I have decided: I am gonna start going to classes again.
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