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.
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.