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Updates from November, 2008

  • Anthony Persaud

    6:10 pm on November 30, 2008 | 2 | # | Reply
    Tags: commentary,

    I saw this comment on a video of ours in YouTube and I liked it very much. It was a great analogy of comparing different salsa styles by a user named tommrod:

    “Salsa is a language, and as a language, it can be spoken in many accents, slang terms, and varying tone as one may like.”

    For some reason, it just never occurred to me that this was a perfect analogy for “understanding” different salsa styles. A lot of dancers tend to be on the “Cali Colombia Salsa is the best”, or “LA on1 is true salsa”…etc. In reality, just as the Spanish language, even though there are proper ways to speak Spanish (grammar, spelling, syntax..etc) – we do come to accept the diversity of Spanish dialects. On1, On2, Casino, Pachanga, Cali…. They are all just different dialetcs of salsa dancing, each with their own variations on accents as well. The diversity is innumerable.

     

    • gabriel 2:44 am on December 9, 2008Permalink | Reply

      you are right.
      that is a great analogy, although even the right usage of a “correct” grammar is nothing but clear. people from latin america use a totally different grammar than those from spain. so correct forms of grammer also have to adapt the spoken styles.
      thats what the academia real does every year, they are analyzing the spoken word.

      as it is in the dancing sphere. there is no correct way of dancing salsa. there is a lot of technique, but as salsa dancing is like every dance a form of communication to and with music, everybody has it’s own way of talking.

    • tommrod 9:46 pm on December 23, 2008Permalink | Reply

      wow i didn’t know i was so cool !!!
      haaa
      no seriously i didn’t think anybody else hadn’t come up with the same thing. it just seems logic.
      though mr apersaud had to change some of the words i used.
      it’s cool, i have to say mr apersaud inspired me to take classes and learn salsa technique because i have danced salsa but to a “family reunion” level.
      not only i had thought of salsa being a language but also compared to the whole human understanding of relationships. which might be a little too heavy and lack some interest.

  • 10:49 pm on November 28, 2008 | 5 | # | Reply

    Hihi, I would consider myself an intermediate dancer with fairly ok leading and salsa skills. However, recently I’ve been desiring to bring my salsa skills to the next level. I’ve been dancing quite a lot recently and am rather confident that I’m not lacking in moves, but I’m sure that there’s more to salsa than merely doing the moves over and over again (with variations of course).

    I’m seeking advice on how to bring my salsa skills to an advanced level, in terms of becoming a good lead and being able to “shine” on the social dance floor with my partners.

    Thanks so much.

     

    • donv69 8:38 am on December 1, 2008Permalink | Reply

      What I do now is try to match the moves to the music; this is the most fun.

    • donv69 8:52 am on December 1, 2008Permalink | Reply

      I match fast moves to a fast beat and repetitive moves to repetitive beats. The repetitive beats are the ones that usually last 32 beats long; on the last 8 beats, I swing the girl out of the repetitive moves into the fast moves again.

    • hooknc 5:44 pm on December 2, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Take privates with an instructor you admire/want to dance like.

      Film yourself dancing and review the tape frequently.

    • gabriel 2:50 am on December 9, 2008Permalink | Reply

      the filming is a good advice, also the dancing to the music.
      what you also could do is studying some musical theory. that gives you the possibility to understand the music better, and so you will automatically incorporate moves or shines to express what you hear. and i think thats it. dancing is expression, and for my opinion pro dancers are pros because (next to earning money with it) they match the music with their moves.
      also you could widen up your dance styles by dancin other dances, like cha cha, afro, rumba, bachata, hip hop/popping-locking, … thats good for yolur repertoire.

      AND listen to music …

      paz y sabor

    • tommrod 10:25 pm on December 23, 2008Permalink | Reply

      hi
      i’m nowhere near to where you are. but if i was. this are some of the things i would do.

      find ways of making my follower shine (and i don’t mean shines but make her look and feel awesome).
      polish myself to the point where i am/look/feel as far as possible from any other leaders and as close to myself as i can be.
      coming up with new ways of expressing myself…

      so basically embracing the art

  • SalseroWannaBe

    1:22 pm on November 27, 2008 | 5 | # | Reply

    Hey, can anyone name this move, that you can see on 0:13 of this movie? I’ve seen it many times on floor, and would like to learn it (currently I’m looking for new salsa class, so I have no teacher).

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpHx-ysan90

     
    • Anthony Persaud

      Anthony Persaud 6:14 pm on November 30, 2008Permalink | Reply

      That is called a ‘Snap’. The follow in the video adds a head whip to make it look better (adding style)

    • Bram 1:17 am on December 1, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Yes its a Snap It can be preceded by a similar move on the other hand to signal an incoming snap.

      The easier way to signal a snap to your follow is to make a sort of Giddy-up move with both her hands on 5-6-7.

      You start to raise your hand to roughly your shoulder height 0n 5 and her hands should be at your shoulder height at 7. then you *snap* her right hand (your left) to her right hip and your right hand stays close to your chest. From there you do other things

    • SalseroWannaBe

      SalseroWannaBe 2:25 pm on December 2, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Thanks Anthony! But is the snap only a slide-in for follower? I thought about how to lead her into this moment, where a guy stands on spread legs and followers goes with these steps

    • Gallo 3:00 am on December 3, 2008Permalink | Reply

      On a quick note, I’ve also heard this move called a strike.

    • tommrod 10:12 pm on December 23, 2008Permalink | Reply

      boy i wish somebody would teach us how to do this… on youtube …

  • SalseroWannaBe

    9:19 am on November 26, 2008 | 8 | # | Reply
    Tags: male shirt salsa problem

    Shirt issue. Yeah, that’s an issue. For socials, I usually wear long-sleeved shirts with buttons plus low waist jeans. I DON’T pull out shirt because of esthetics and on request of my partner (well, you learned this cuban motion, so don’t cover your bums with rag). Problem is that every time I dance, do the spins etc., shirts just pull out in random way. It won’t stop me dancing, but after I always end up walking down dancefloor putting my shirt into jeans. Is there any trick to avoid it? I have a quite tight belt, but it doesn’t helps. I think it’s because I’m thin, my legs are very long and my hips are comparable to Mick Jagger’s ones ;) . Do You have any ideas how to deal with this? Plus, are You familiar with this issue, guys?

     

    • donv69 7:26 am on November 27, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Don’t tuck your shirts in. Shirts you buy these days, except for the office shirts, are made to be worn over your pants. Same with t-shirts, etc. Nothing is tucked, except the undershirts, if you chose to wear one under your shirt.

    • donv69 12:16 pm on November 27, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Otherwise, I would maybe suggest pant-suspenders, they can look good; and then loosen your pants a bit.

    • SalseroWannaBe

      SalseroWannaBe 1:29 pm on November 27, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Hey, thanks for tip. This is a shirt to tuck in, I know what is the difference among them… Well guess I will have to solve it somehow. Thanks for tips.

    • donv69 4:51 pm on November 27, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Sometimes I think they should put these shower curtain weights to them. Would solve everything.

    • Vanessa 10:12 pm on November 29, 2008Permalink | Reply

      How about you safely-pin it to the inside of your pants before you leave?

    • SalseroWannaBe

      SalseroWannaBe 2:52 pm on December 2, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Won’t work, no nail gun in home.

    • Gideon 9:11 pm on December 2, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Try Velcro.

    • DanAshley 8:51 pm on December 26, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Actually, the velcro sounds like an excellent suggestion.

      A local sewing supply store should be able to provide the raw material quite cheaply.

      Figuring out exactly where to sew the parts a) on the shirt tails, and b) on the inside lining of the pants, will be the work.

      Your local dry cleaners may have someone handy with a sewing machine, in case you can’t do this kind of work. If the pants have a lining to which the velcro part can be sewed, you might try it yourself. If the pants do not have a lining, you will probably want to leave this sewing to the professionals!

      - Dan Ashley, Chicago

  • Anthony Persaud

    10:47 am on November 22, 2008 | 2 | # | Reply
    Tags: excercises, , no partner, practicing

    @Djung121

    Of course you can practice by yourself – it is highly recommended. If you are a beginner, the simplest way is to continue to listen closely to music to make sure you can find the rhythm and beat to any song. Training the ear is probably one of the first steps to dancing properly to salsa.

    Second, naturalize your footwork. By this I mean, try to force your upper body to do some action, while you lower body (feet) is doing simple footwork (suzy cues, footwork for a cross body lead). This will help you doing footwork during combinations easier. Do all this while you have a favorite song playing. When I first started learning to dance salsa, I used to fold laundry while listening to my favorite song. Folding laundry in the air with your hands while dancing salsa with your feet really helped my initial dancing.

    One of the best ways to develop personal style is to play your favorite song (I mean a song that really gets you moving) and dance in front of a mirror. Play around with your footwork, body movement and isolations, and simple spins to the song you are listening to. Try to experiment with moves you have obtained from other sources: other dances, martial arts, physical training. Anything goes – do what you think looks good in the mirror. This also builds dance confidence. If you can’t do salsa shines (footwork) in front of yourself without feeling adequate, it will be harder in front of a stranger.

    Hope this gets you started, but there is definitely a lot of things you can do to improve your salsa without a partner.

    Also, I receive a lot of emails from soldiers in the military dancing salsa. You might want to see who else in your area is interested as well. Maybe start a small salsa club group in your free time.

    On a personal note, I’d like to thank you for your service overseas. It is highly appreciated! Thanks.

     

    • donv69 2:34 pm on November 22, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Yup, this is pretty much what I do. When it comes to doing cross body leads or other moves I’ll raise my arms up and try to visualize leading a girl.

      But I agree with Anthony, there is so much to learn on your own. And understanding the music is the most difficult and important one.

    • Djung121 10:19 am on November 23, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Thanks a ton for the advices. I have just finished filling up my ipod with salsa music. This will be one of my first stepping stones to learning salsa. I’ll definitely take your advice and try to improve my salsa whenever possible. Again i really appreciate your help.

  • 8:25 am on November 22, 2008 | 3 | # | Reply

    Hey there

    I’m on deployment in Japan and decided to try something new. Just so happens that my good buddy wanted to learn salsa so i said why not and gave it a shot.  I don’t have any previous dancing experience so it was very hard but fun at the same time.

    It’s been about a month since i’ve started learning salsa My passion for salsa is growing day by day but the problem is that being in the military, i do not have much time to go to classes or clubs.  I would like to know if there is a way to practice with just music and no partner.  I understand it would make a world of a difference to actually have a partner and gain experience, but unfortunately i do not have that luxury.  Thanks and I really appreciate the videos.

     
    • SalseroWannaBe

      SalseroWannaBe 9:26 am on November 26, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Hey, focus on footworks and shines. They use to call it salsa solo :)

    • SalseroWannaBe

      SalseroWannaBe 9:47 am on November 26, 2008Permalink | Reply

      You can find plenty of instructional videos for footwork and shines on youtube. This is one of demos (though you can still steal moves from shows :D ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6EuEiGXeFY

    • Anthony Persaud

      Anthony Persaud 11:32 am on November 26, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Dude, that is an awesome video of Juan Matos doing some crazy footwork. This is front page material! Thanks!

  • Anthony Persaud

    8:11 pm on November 20, 2008 | 4 | # | Reply
    Tags: ,

    I had received a question from a user:

     

    “Hello. Just wanted to say thanks for the videos I think they’re great even though I just started they are very easy to follow along. I just have a question. On1 is said to be the easier to learn, but On2 looks more fun and I like where the breaks are in the music more. Do you still recommend that I learn On1 until I’m comfortable with it, then move on to On2, or is it not necessarily a bad idea to learn On2? Thank you.”

     

    My answer is that it first depends on your local salsa scene. If most of the dancers there dance on1 and you are a beginner, it is better work out the fundamentals in the timing that will provide you with the most dances. This however, will require more time to convert from on1 to on2 timing (on2 is just a bit harder if you’ve formed habits). However, if you have some dancers in your scene that are willing/able to dance on2 and you really enjoy dancing on2 – I say go for it. One of the best ways to learn on2 is joining a dance team that dances on that timing. You can get all of your timing practice in, while being able to know dancers that can dance on that timing as well.

     

    • crystalny86 11:52 am on November 21, 2008Permalink | Reply

      I have to say I love love love on 2. It really it a different feel. But I know I am learning it because I live in NY, and have plenty of dancers here that dance on2. I hope you can find some dancers on2! If you prefer it, go for it! You can always learn on1 later because most people know it.

    • Gallo 4:36 pm on November 27, 2008Permalink | Reply

      If you like how on2 feels with the music, then I’d say go for it. If you have the counting down, I wouldn’t say either style is harder than the other. The basic dance step is essentially the same. The only difference is that you’re breaking back on2 rather than breaking forward on1. Really, it’s not that different as far as dancing goes. It does feel different with the music though.

      And yes, your local salsa scene will probably have some weigh-in on deciding which style to learn. However, from going to salsa congresses and different clubs I have found that most girls have no problem following whatever the guy dances; as long as he stays on beat of course. I initially learned on2 PR style, therefore learning on1 was fairly simple being how they’re only a count apart. Now I mostly dance on2 NY style being how it’s a lot more common than PR style. Personally I like dancing on2 a lot better than on1.

    • MrCrispy 10:08 pm on December 9, 2008Permalink | Reply

      In my experience, going from on1->on2 is a LOT harder than on2->on1. Many people I talk to agree with this as well. This may be because on2 is harder to learn, more in time with the music, more fluid/natural etc – these are all hotly debated of course :)

      But most of the time, when I see someone who’s really good (guy or girl) they are dancing on2. When I started, for a very long time I wasn’t even aware that there WAS such a distinction. I’m still learning on2 and I can tell you the on1 muscle memory is really hard to get rid of.

    • lonbluster 6:34 am on December 15, 2008Permalink | Reply

      I am man, leader :)
      I have recently learned the On2 after Years with the Cuban On1…it is very different…and I still find quite difficult to switch On1On2 within the same night at the club…(here in Brussels switching is a must)
      …the body keeps going back to either one style or the other, but I think I can manage sooner or later…

      -you have to listen to the music differently !
      -the body learns where the weight has to be !
      -usually women don’t make efforts to stay on time…they rely on the man’s lead ! but they can nonetheless mislead the man because of the 2 above!!

      Ciao
      Lonbluster

  • Loony

    10:03 am on November 20, 2008 | 4 | # | Reply
    Tags: members

    Hi everyone!

    Totally random but, a couple of weeks ago I met a fellow A2S member!  David was here for about 2 days before heading back to England.  Of course we HAD to go dancing.  He is such an awesome dancer!  I had a 

    fantastic time.  It was a new challenge for me because I’m used to dancing Cuban style/rueda and he danced completely different… but I tried to follow it as best as I could. =P

    It was also fun finally feeling the difference between the famous on1 and on2.  Before we went dancing, he had asked me if I danced on1 or on2 and I just kinda made a face and went, “er… onMusic?”  Later we started dancing and the rhythm felt extremely odd.  I could follow it, but I didn’t like it at all.  He then said, “that was on2″ and then changed back to “on1″; THAT felt right.  So, I guess I found out I dance on1! =)

    Aaaand of course, a picture:
    (By the way, the look on people’s faces when they asked how we met and we said “An online salsa forum!” was priceless!)

     

    • christian 1:05 pm on December 1, 2008Permalink | Reply

      That’s so sweet !! 2 of my online salsafriends meeting :)

    • Loony 4:10 pm on December 3, 2008Permalink | Reply

      @christian: Thanks! That’s 3 A2S members I’ve met so far… who’s next? :D

    • tommrod 11:36 pm on December 23, 2008Permalink | Reply

      cool

    • Julie

      Julie 9:26 pm on February 10, 2009Permalink | Reply

      I think I should be next!! When are you coming out to CA? :-)

  • Anthony Persaud

    1:54 pm on November 11, 2008 | 1 | # | Reply
    Tags: , minnesota,

    @Gallo, I used to live in Minnesota a few years ago during my salsa time there. There used to be a club called ‘The Quest’ which would have salsa dancing on Monday nights. However, I think it might have closed.

     

    You may want to try the list over at Salsa Power. http://www.salsapower.com/cities/us/minnesota.htm

     

    • Gallo 1:24 am on November 12, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Awesome! Thanks a ton.

  • 1:14 am on November 11, 2008 | 1 | # | Reply
    Tags:

    Hey everybody.  I might possibly be moving to Minnesota in the next couple months.  Does anyone know what the salsa scene is like in Minneapolis?  Or where the good salsa clubs are?  Any insight would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

     

    • Ray 8:02 pm on November 15, 2008Permalink | Reply

      You can pretty much go out every night in minneapolis !
      Saturday: Picosa
      Sunday: Champion Ballroom
      Monday: La Bodega
      Tuesday: Famous Daves
      Wednesday: Picosa
      Thursday: Times, First Ave
      Friday: Loring Pasta Bar
      Saturday: Picosa, Loring, La Bodega

  • Marco

    7:20 am on November 10, 2008 | 2 | # | Reply
    Tags: battle scars

    Was out at the club for the second time on Saturday…went much better.  I think going to the simple lesson before the dance gets the juices flowing and the muscle memory tuned up.  Instead of moves I concentrated more on the music and tried doing different things on the breaks.  Fun stuff.

     

    I did manage to get my skull absolutely drilled by near by dancer. My wife said she heard the impact over the live band’s music.   I didn’t see it coming but I was told it was the follow’s elbow at full free spin speed.  It still hurts a bit to open my jaw all the way.  Normally I have something funny to say like “I said I’d have the rent on Monday!”  This time I was just stung and left picking up my marbles off the floor.

     

    Anyone else have any battle scar stories?

     

    • donv69 10:19 am on November 10, 2008Permalink | Reply

      I’m usually the one doing the injuring. Someone gets too close and usually I end up bruising the followers ankles. If I get injured, it’s usually by my own partner.

    • deuneeq 10:45 pm on November 15, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Hey there
      any idea what this salsa song called pls?

  • 10:38 am on November 8, 2008 | 3 | # | Reply
    Tags: cross body lead, free spin, salsa pattern

    What’s the name of this salsa pattern?

     

    On step 7 you raise the follower’s arms so they are straight above her head, hands crossed. 

    On step 1 you begin a cross-body-lead by having your left arm wrapped around her waist and pull to cause her to do a spin.

    She then moves around behind you where you help her to rolled/spin against you until she comes back on the other side where you prep her for a free spin.

     

    Essentially it’s a spin, but you lead her from the waist.  I kinda know how to do it, but want to find a video on youtube to refine it.

     

    Any ideas?

     
    • Anthony Persaud

      Anthony Persaud 7:46 pm on November 8, 2008Permalink | Reply

      Can you find a somewhat close video on YouTube?

      I think you may be referring to the coca-cola? Is it close to the first part of this (without the stopping forward-backward part).

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STf7k-2xtrI

    • donv69 9:23 pm on November 8, 2008Permalink | Reply

      It’s close to what happens at 0:09 as the first part for steps 1,2,3 and 5,6,7 except she does a full cross-body-lead and 0:04 is the second part for steps 1,2,3 and then a free spin.

    • donv69 10:16 pm on November 8, 2008Permalink | Reply

      I think I found it — this one looks familiar and so does the name, Sliding Windows.

  • 8:49 am on November 7, 2008 | 2 | # | Reply
    Tags: slick salsa combo 1

    Hey guys,

     

    I just started watching these awesome videos again here, and I was wondering what song was playing in one of the earlier episodes: Episode 4: Slick Salsa Combo 1 from 2005?