I have been doing Salsa for a year and have recently been told that I am not dancing the routine I am just doing it. I was wondering if dancing comes with time or if there is something I should focus on to learn to dance rather than just going through the routines. I guess the thing is I don’t feel the music like the better dancers.
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Hello guys, I was told that you do not just shine or perform routines whenever you want, the music dictates this. Can anyone explain what to listen for that tells me when to perform a shine or routine? I am on2 and if this has been asked could someone reply with a link to the answer of my question. Thanks in advance.
cold.salsero
There isn’t really a set rule that you can only do shines when some instrument X starts playing in Y section of the song, it’s really more a matter of style and how you interpret the music.
If you watch videos of really good dancers dancing, or watch the dancers at your local club, you’ll start to get an idea of what goes well with the music. But again, there’s not really any sort of rule for this, you pretty much can do whatever you want, so don’t be afraid to get creative.
Also, I have a tendency to start doing shines whenever I run out of leads, which happens often =) I make my patterns last a little longer if I space them out with some shines here and there (it’s really a sign that I need to go learn more patterns). If I feel like my partner is getting of tired of following or really wants to go shine to a couple of groovy bars of the song, I’ll also let her go to do her thing then.
adejes01
I would say that “cold.salsero” is spot on with the advice of letting the partner do some shines when you have run out of leads. I do the same
I also throw in shines when there are vocal breaks in the music or solo spots in the music, I think it looks good to break with your partner during those times and get back when the vocals return. This doesnt require that you know the song, you just have to pay some attention to the music.
cold.salsero 4:46 pm on July 7, 2010Permalink |
My apologies for the brief answer, but I’m short on time.
Don’t give up. Yes, of course learning to dance takes time, but how long that time is depends on both you as an individual, and what you’re doing to improve.
These are the two most important things you need in order to develop your sense of musicality, of “feeling the music”:
1. Practice.
2. Listening to a lot of salsa music. And I don’t mean the boring stuff, like salsa romantica (please don’t flame me). I mean the good, catchy stuff, that stuff that makes you want to move and groove, like Rumbon Melon by Joey Pastrana. See this blog by DJ Walt for good music references, http://salsasession.blogspot.com/.
These things can also help you develop as a dancer:
3. Take lessons from a good teacher. Studio lessons are highly recommended. Also, joining a performance group can also be a big help.
4. Learn by example. Watch the advanced dancers in your scene, how they match the music with their turn patterns and body movement and shines.
To get you started with number 4, here is a video by one of the best leaders (and DJs) in Boston, Andres Giraldo of Salsa y Control [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ3_JQp0kV8[/video]. Watch how he hits the breaks in the music with dramatic moves and poses, and how some of his footwork hits the breaks in the music too.
Here’s another video of some cha cha dancers that DJ Walt wrote about in his blog, [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynKOkVEOgUg[/video]. Watch the crazy body movement, footwork, and shines that the dancer in green uses to match the music.
May I ask where you are located? If you’re in Providence RI or around Boston, I can help direct you to a good dance studio. If not, maybe others can give their recommendations.
Finally, you have other answers from the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=411914244409 .
Don’t stop shining,
Cold Salsero
cold.salsero 4:48 pm on July 7, 2010Permalink |
I posted a longer answer for you, but apparently it got eaten.
You have other comments to your post here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=411914244409
chaith1 6:43 pm on July 7, 2010Permalink |
Those were good, if one of them were not yours try to repost it or just email it to me. Thanks for your help.