Now, I’ve been so busy with my real life (work), that I haven’t been able to even go out dancing! Yes, I know its blasphemy around this site. However, looking over some old files, I found a great treasure that I’d like to share.
I first saw this graph from when I used to read articles from Eddie The Salsa Freak (salsaweb.com). I think this graph is an accurate representation of what leads (men) and ladies (follows) tend to generally follow in terms of learning salsa dancing for the first time.
This usually explains the disconnect when a couple starts learning how to dance - and why some girlfriends get frustrated with their boyfriends because they are not learning ‘fast enough’ compared to other men. I’ve had experience in those situations, which of course, is when I step in and give my speech on how we all start the same way. We all go through what I like to call ‘Salsa Hell‘ - which in this graph is labeled ‘Beginner’s Hell’. (You might want to check out why leading is harder than following article about your brain and salsa.
Think back and wonder if there was a point in your learning when all of a sudden everything becomes clear, and you (amazingly) start learning patterns faster and begin to listen/feel the music in a totally different fashion. I think the yellow marker for beginners is usually the point when they can hear the beat in the music like a perfect played note in a quiet room. Once they pass that obstacle, their feet movements are removed from their mind and can focus on patterns (which are mainly hand positions).
I wonder how many of you might agree (or disagree) that you have followed this graph when you were learning salsa? I look forward to your comments.
Of...
So what exactly is the sequence of events that happen between the 2 ladies’ plateaus? Is it the difference between joining a dance team or performance skills?
And where does learning how to take on the opposite dance gender roles come into play on the graph?
I’m halfway up the females’ line, yaaay for me =)
Must Say I do totally agree with your graph, I think I am only just getting out of ‘Beginner Hell’ mostly thanks to your podcasts I think, and also a couple of pints seem to help.
I completely agree. But it’s not too hard to get out of the begineer’s hell. All it takes is a buddy who will watch and spot all your errors, and you just practice 2 hrs a day for like 2 to 3 weeks, then you will be golden! Or i should say it all boils back to practice, practice and more practice.
Of course, this graph assumes that leads stays the lead, and the follow only follows.
Timing:
One of the best way to improve your dancing (when your salsahell is already a distant memory), is to change roles in the dancing. Men learn the how to follow, and ladies learn to lead. This is especially true for women that dance On2, because they never have to switch the orientation of their dance step (in other words, ladies On2 always go forward with the left on the 2, never on the 6). Guys that dance On2 always change orientation because men learn shines On2 going forward on the 2, but then have to change orientation when they dance with a lady on the floor. Men can change more easily between going forward on the 6 or the 2. Ladies brains don’t have to do this little exercise often. You would be surprise how many women feel like they are dancing our of beat just because they find themselves breaking forward on the 6 when the music changes. My point? Changing roles helps to constantly climb that graph.
In another point, the guys’ job is a little tougher at the beginning because they are in charge or keeping time, dancing on beat, leading the movement, smiling, thinking about the next move, getting the phone number
etc etc. Moreover, initially they guys has to learn so many basic steps, steps which are seldom performed by women (i.e. open breaks, hook turns, axle turns, spot turns, fake pivots, hook turns into open breaks, axle turns in to hook turns, 360 cross body leads, etc etc. That’s why there is such a steep learning curve for the guy.
A woman can learn to follow crossbody leads, crossbody leads with inside turns, crossbody leads w/ inside turn-check, and the famous prep for the quick right, and she is ready to dance with the instructors at full speed.
sorry for the tpypos and speling mistakes. I didn’t prooofreead my last posst.
I like your perspective, DanyJ. I have been dancing casino/rueda for almost a year and I lead that all the time even though I only follow when I dance slot-style. I agree wholeheartedly that learning to lead accelerated my entire learning process a bunch.
I’ve just begun to delve into leading slot-style, as well, at my dance team practices. The mind-bending is palpable but it’s fun, and once again, the change in perspective is great for getting insight into even the things I thought I was comfortable with/good at before.
I too agree with your perspective, although I think you are understating how hard us guys have it. Most western white men have No timing, No rhythm, can’t hear the beat and on top of that can’t lead because we are unsure of what we are doing AND do the salsa step all at the same time - that’s a hell of a lot of brain processing going on!
It wasn’t until my feet were in automatic that my leading improved.
My suggestion to men and woman (especially) is be patient with lesser dancers we were all rubbish at some stage.
I like this graph, but have one remark.
How can you compare two different things, namely leading and following? It doesn’t make sense to say - certainly at the end - that leaders eventually become much better dancers than followers. They simply have a different role. In any case, irrespective of that, if one checks out youtube and sees the complete body control of the good female dancers, one knows enough.
Anyway, there should be something different on the Y-axis.
Yes, I agree. It can’t be true that we leads keep improving exponentially like the graph shows.
What a great article and chart! After years of teaching students how to salsa dance I can tell you that I abosolutely agree with the chart. I have written more about this article and chart in my own salsa blog at: http://www.torontodancesalsa.ca/blog/2007/08/learning-curve-chart.html
Let me know your thoughts!
Anthony,
This chart is very encouraging to me, a salsa novice. It wasn’t until I started taking lessons with my wife that I realized how awful I was as a leader. I have gone from being unconsciously incompetent (really bad and I don’t know how really bad) to consciously incompetent (still real bad, but now know how bad, and am willing to do something about it). The chart helps me see that I just need to be patient, deal with rejection, work really hard and give my skills a chance to grow. So there’s hope for the Gringo.
Thank you for this site. Every Dante needs a Virgil to guide him out of Salsa Hell. The videos have really helped me (and my wife).