07 Aug07

Topics:Raves Arb Thoughts 

(First thing first - commments are working again). As some of you have experienced... I've turned into a bit of a salsa addict. No. I'm not referring to the food. I'm talking the dance. Now this is the strangest thing because I've NEVER been a dancer really.

It use to take me a bit of time for other people/myself to get slightly tipsy. The rationale behind this was so I could dance without feeling as though people were sitting around laughing at me. I tend to lose concentration and stop dancing to the rhythm of the song and 'kick it' to The Bergen Rhythm (true story) . Half the reason why I started salsa was to get the confidence in myself when it comes to dancing, and the other half is to try get a bit of a rhythm.

Just over two months ago I finally dragged my bottom off to Salsa lessons with my good buddy Charles. Since then its been Wednesdays... then it was Tuesdays and Wednesdays, then it was hunting around on the internet for tips (finding none - although if I had access to You Tube from work I'd be watching Salsa dance routines on there), then it was Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays... and thank goodness. I think I've finally found a Thursdays class! YAY! But enough about me being over eager to hit the dance floor.

There are some observations about the lessons I've been taking and I'm sure that there will be a lot of guys out there experiencing the same problem I have been. The people teacing you to dance, are NOT teaching you how to lead. It took me asking one of the instructors for tips and guidance when it came to leading before it was incorporated in the lessons. I soon found that this was only a little help. Practice practice practice. (hence the other classes!)

I read only one other article on the net where the guy writing alluded to the fact that dancing with one partner (in my case its a few regulars) has helped him. What he failed to mention was to actually talk about this with the persons you are dancing with. They'll help guide you. More than likely they'll be beginners too, so they won't mind.

Something else that helped was dancing with the instructor (if you lucky enough as a guy to have a female instructor) it helps alot, unless you are like most guys and are a bit embarrased or shy. Here's where I can give a tip (2 months in!). Get over it. She knows you are a beginner. Allow yourself to be one. Dance. Talk to your partner. Talk to the instructor. You paying money for the instruction use it to the fullest extent yo ucan. You will NOT be a proffessional after the first lesson, neither will you be a proffessional after the 10th.

Expect to fall down in some areas. Your regular dance partner(s) will do two things. They'll help you compensate for those area's where improvement is needed (if they can) and they'll point them out... if you let them. We are also assuming that you find yourself with dance partners who can communicate and is paying enough attention in the classes.

Ladies - do let the guy lead. Don't be afraid to voice issues you are having when he where he falls down.

Gentlement - don't take it personally if she's pointing some things out which could use improvement. They are trying to help you. Unless of course she is being a down-right ... cow ... about it. But you ladies won't be will you.

Guys - you have the hard job, ladies you just have to get use to spinning a lot. For those of you who haven't tried Salsa, the title of this post was the only warning I'm giving. I'll see ya on the dance floor...

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