NYC Salsa Lessons?

[macocael]

Well you learn salsa not just to meet chicks or guys, but to dance a really great dance. Look I love merengue and bachata, but salsa as a dance form beats them both. It looks better, feels better, and requires more skill. I dont have trouble finding partners either; in my experience most women will give it a shot and do a passable turn on the floor -- it's the men who are shy or left-footed.

I admit you dont get as many salsa dancers here but they exist. Sometimes the dance floor gets cleared because the salsa that gets played is the latter day, adulterated stuff -- it is too formulaic and stale. Salsa is drama, most good salsa builds to a crescendo and makes the dance almost like theatre. The stuff that the ni?os bonitos brought in during the 80s and 90s just pales by comparison.

I agree about respecting the quality of the dance -- but you know, we all have to learn sometime, and dance is joy in movement in rhythm, so I got no problem if the couple next to me is not exactly ballroom material, as long as they are feeling the groove. I prefer street salsa anyway -- individual interpretation along with a basic knowledge of the rhythm and steps. You dont have to wait until you are an expert or you have all your "shines" in place -- learn the basic steps and get up there and dance!

 

[deelt]

I agree with you. This is why I suggested going to a small spot (G &Gs) with limited view and a comfortable laid back environment where people will be more accommodating to people who are learning. These folks in smaller places will also be more willing to teach. You go to the big places (Exit, etc)to go learn and pick up steps.

In DR, I think people are just too people conscious. They are more concerned about looking a fool than actually learning to dance so then no body really gets the opportunity to learn. Private lessons seem to be the main way to go in DR.

A man that can dance a good salsa well is a beautiful thing. Even if he's ugly he can become cute in a minute. LOL True dat!

I agree about respecting the quality of the dance -- but you know, we all have to learn sometime, and dance is joy in movement in rhythm, so I got no problem if the couple next to me is not exactly ballroom material, as long as they are feeling the groove. I prefer street salsa anyway -- individual interpretation along with a basic knowledge of the rhythm and steps. You dont have to wait until you are an expert or you have all your "shines" in place -- learn the basic steps and get up there and dance!

 

[Stodgord]

Well you learn salsa not just to meet chicks or guys, but to dance a really great dance. Look I love merengue and bachata, but salsa as a dance form beats them both. It looks better, feels better, and requires more skill. I dont have trouble finding partners either; in my experience most women will give it a shot and do a passable turn on the floor -- it's the men who are shy or left-footed.

I admit you dont get as many salsa dancers here but they exist. Sometimes the dance floor gets cleared because the salsa that gets played is the latter day, adulterated stuff -- it is too formulaic and stale. Salsa is drama, most good salsa builds to a crescendo and makes the dance almost like theatre. The stuff that the ni?os bonitos brought in during the 80s and 90s just pales by comparison.

I agree about respecting the quality of the dance -- but you know, we all have to learn sometime, and dance is joy in movement in rhythm, so I got no problem if the couple next to me is not exactly ballroom material, as long as they are feeling the groove. I prefer street salsa anyway -- individual interpretation along with a basic knowledge of the rhythm and steps. You dont have to wait until you are an expert or you have all your "shines" in place -- learn the basic steps and get up there and dance!

Macocael,

What I am trying to say is, one should learn the basic steps first at home so when they are on the dance floor they don't look ridiculous and bump in to other people. I like street Salsa, tiguere style. I think ballroom Salsa is too stiff for me. I learned by watching people at the club and and practicing at home with my sister. We both learned at the sametime and she has always been my best partner. Then we ventured out into the dance floor, only after, we knew the basic steps. Everything else after that was easy.

Take care,

Roberto

 

[deelt]

On the bumping note, I have to agree with you. My second litmus test as a good dancer is whether you have a sense of space and depth, vis-a-vis those around you, when you dance. It does irk me (if my mind is not programmed for being w/beginners) when people are stepping on you and hitting you from all across the room or when a partner leads you to bump into folks and look as if you don't know what you are doing or where you are going. As a female you can only mitigate a bad dancer for so much.

Since I live in an area where the pickings tend to be slimmer than NYC I check out who the good dancers are first then I step up and do the asking.
If I really want to dance but haven't had time to check out the caliber of dancers, I ask for a dry run. Show me what you got. I know it may seem a bit raw but if you lived where I do then you would know why...

To date I haven't been disappointed. I've also been known to leave folks standing on the dance floor if they get too out of hand/disrespectful. But after NYC I've learned to handle most dancers where such extremes can be avoided.

Macocael,

What I am trying to say is, one should learn the basic steps first at home so when they are on the dance floor they don't look ridiculous and bump in to other people. I like street Salsa, tiguere style. I think ballroom Salsa is too stiff for me. I learned by watching people at the club and and practicing at home with my sister. We both learned at the sametime and she has always been my best partner. Then we ventured out into the dance floor, only after, we knew the basic steps. Everything else after that was easy.

Take care,

Roberto

 

[Ricardo900]

Fastest way to become a Salsero!

1. Take all the beginners lessons for a month at your local dance school.
2. Attend at least one Social a week. (Fun)
3. Go clubbing at least once a week, that specializes in the type of Salsa you are learning.
4. Buy a CD that teaches "Ear Training" and "Learning how to count"
5. Meet friends at the dance school and socials, go clubbing together, they will be more in sinc with you.
6. Have fun, Don't take it serious, and Enjoy yourself.

I will be starting the April rotation cycle at Stepping Out Studios, to freshen up for the summer. http://www.steppingoutstudios.com/

See you at the Copa:classic:

 

[macocael]

I couldnt agree more with all of you.

vis a vis "ugly" people dancing well -- you know, I learned to dance merengue first, and the woman who taught me was short and stout -- not ugly, but not a typical beauty either. She was what people here would call a bit "fuerte" with a strong build. Let me tell you I have never had a better dance partner. something about her center of gravity I imagine! When we danced together we had beautiful form. I have danced with many, shall we say, "overweight" people too, and they are positively beautiful on the dance floor! I kid you not. Good form on the dance floor turns everyone into an object of beauty.

 

[Bailarinagirl]

Hi Principe, I teach salsa, merengue and bachata in the UK ( my dance/business partner is Dominican ) and 'on1' Cuban or crossbody style is danced in most of the world. Infact, Cuban style is most popular amongst the latin countries of the world. Unfortunately in the Dom Rep the male dancer starts with his right leg forward (no.1) and left leg back (no.5). This is not done in any other country, it's usually the other way round. But if you can get an 'on1' class you will be able to dance with most salsa dancers outside of New York as usually people learn 'on1' before they do 'on2'. ( Also, some peopel don't even think of 'on2' as Salsa and call it Mambo. ) Though in NYC this might be slightly different as 'on2' seems to be very big there. When you've learnt, if you do go to the Dom Rep.... just dance on the back step with them, then you won't tread on their toes when they come forward on the opposite foot to which you've learnt !!

 

[donrael]

Salsa/mambo...east Coast/ West Coast

( Also, some peopel don't even think of 'on2' as Salsa and call it Mambo. ) Though in NYC this might be slightly different as 'on2' seems to be very big there.

in New York, you have both ways of dancing sala/mambo.
this is the way it goes:

if you know "street salsa", the salsa you picked up along the way watching people in your family dance, watching people inthe clubs, or had a friend taught you, this is what you will be dancing. Street salsa IS same as dancing "ON1" except, there's no structure to it and people just make it happen on the fly.

"ON2" is the style New Yorkers who went to school learn to dance. this is also called East Coast at times; but mostly it is alled NEW YORK style salsa becasue it was born here in NYC (Eddie Torres...the tacher of teachers, takes credit for coming up with this style)

Eddie Torres would be what Hector Lavoe was...cantante de los cantantes Y Maestro de los Maestros...lol
in some way shape or fashion, everyone that dances salsa "ON2" has a direct OR indirect link to Eddie. its just something that seems unavoidable believe me.

you do find both types of styles here in NYC, the only difefrence is that most people who started with "ON2" find it hard to dance with someone who dances "ON1". however, if you started "On1" then went to learn "ON2" you are in a good position to dance with anyone

"ON1" is called WEST COAST style salsa pretty much to make contrast to the NYC style, not really becasue it was born on the west coast. afterall, "ON1" is the style in Miami, which is on the EAST COAST.


ONE issue about people who just dance "ON2" is that they get so caught up inthe techinicality and tricks, turns and spins that they forget to get into the music and enjoy it as you dance. the ones who are mostly able to do this are the more experienced "ON2" dacners who have been dancing for years and have done every imaginable turn you can imagine, they mature as dancers and tend to enjoy the music more. they do less on the dance floor and put more passion into it (except for those times when they take it back and put heat into it).

one of these days, i'll talk about the Salsa OR mambo debate.

ciao for now...


~Don