Salsa City Forum » Salsa Music and Dance » Can anybody do this?

Since my last post was brutally removed by Hugh, I shall disagree with him in a more polite manner. (It's nicer to edit than delete...)

Kerry: Salsa does not require a good level of fitness when you begin. True, it might make you out of breath, and will improve your fitness in the long run, but to have to do another form of exercise before going is (to my mind) unnecessary. Others in the classes aren't all hulking gym-freaks, and they're mostly of a similar age to you too; so don't worry about being out of place!
Just go and enjoy yourself!

I think one of the reasons there is such a huge turnover of new salsa dancers, many dropping out after a week or so, is that many find it too strenuous. You only have to look around you after a class in almost any salsa venue to see people bathed in sweat. Sweating like that is not good for one and is a sign that one's body is under unacceptable stress.

Speaking for myself, I take exercise on the days I'm not going dancing specifically so I can enjoy myself more when I do go. It works for me and I think anyone with an otherwise sedentary lifestyle would be wise to take some gentle exercise before and between salsa classes.

Hugh, you're not really selling this as well as you might. I can almost see your point on fitness, but its impossible for a discussion like this to produce a meaningful idea of what a reasonable level is, and you might be putting Kerry and others off.

I disagree with your idea about turnover. Firstly, any activity has a degree of turnover, and salsa is no different. People try something out, some like it and stay, others go and try something else. And the ones that don't stay do so for various reasons. For many people a salsa class is just something different to do now and again. Many of those you assume have dropped out because they're unfit are probably spending 5 hours on the dancefloor at Emporium or tramping round the Beacons.

Salsa is as strenuous as you want to make it, depending on whether you choose to dance all night to all the fast songs, or just have the odd dance now and again between gossiping. Either way, to say that your first beginners class could be strenuous, when you're only just starting to learn the basic steps, is, in my opinion, a gross exaggeration. I'd argue that you need no fitness beyond the ability to walk through town without collapsing to do your first few classes, and as you get gradually better and dance more, your fitness level will increase anyway.

The purpose of sweating is to cool one down when one is too warm. Sweating is perfectly healthy, and much better for one than overheating. Many people, in fact, consider to be good for one to sweat, and choose to spend time in saunas and steam rooms as part of some detox plan. To claim that it is invariably a sign of unacceptable stress is untrue. Just remember to replace the fluids lost by drinking lots of water, or bying lots of drinks at the bar in support of your salsa venue :o)

It's true that if you don't dance you won't become exhausted, but my advice was addressed to people who want to go to salsa clubs to actually dance.

It's true that perspiration is perfectly normal and healthy but excessive perspiration is a symptom of overheating. It requires the transfer of blood and energy to the skin and sweat glands, away from the muscles. This means the heart has to work harder to keep the muscles supplied with blood. Exercising to the point of dripping sweat is not healthy and can be dangerous if prolonged.

Kerry - just turn up and bloody dace girl. If you get tired then sit down. This is salsa people - not aerobics! I wouldn't be surprised if reading all this stuff hasn't actually put you off!

IMHO - the biggest reason for salsa drop out is that there is a very poor continuation between beginners and improvers. making the jump from classes at that level is very VERY difficult. The beginners then feel out of their depth , the improvers don't want this "lower" standard slowing down the lesson and come the freestyle none of the improvers (or teachers)help the beginners by dancing with them and they all get fed up.

For this sweating arguement let's do a bit of physiology...

Initially as people start dancing they are only using 30% of the blood leaving the heart - their caridac output - and only 20% of this goes to muscle. As they get into things, the amount of blood that goes to muscle increases by 175%! the comparatively MINIMAL amount of blood that goes to sweat glands and skin is not going to be a problem.

Personally I always sweat massively when I dance and nobody can say I'm unfit but I can go at it all night (salsa that is ;-)

Paul
Good point about the jump from one class to another. I guess it's difficult to manage for anybody with attendance varying from week to week and people trying different classes. I liked your old structure at Life of doing a set of 6 weeks beginners covering all the basics, after which anyone should be able to jump up. It then helped that you and JC worked together, switching classes occasionally which presumably ensured the jump was as smooth as possible. Only works if there's some kind of consistency between different classes and teachers.

Andy's recently started doing a quick routine at the start of his Thursday class as a kind of entry requirement. Anyone not able to do it is pointed towards the improvers' class. Harsh but fair, I first thought, but it probably also gives those stepping up the confidence that if they can do that, they can cope with the class. Might be useful if all classes at all levels did the same.

Agree with the need to help beginners, although I know a lot of people who do. If everyone asked one person to dance (whether a higher or lower level) each night who they hadn't danced with before, and teachers encouraged their beginners to ask the more experienced people, we'd improve things immensely. It's rare that anyone actually refuses, so it's probably just shyness and habit which gets in the way.

If beginners are reluctant to ask, how about teachers looking for volunteer taxi dancers (or volunteering themselves on occasional nights)? Clearly identified, obliged to dance with anyone who asks, in return for free entrance, drinks, etc.

And another thing... Can we stop talking abour sweating please?

<<edit>> Sweating debate continued here.

Hi Kerry Sergi,

I can only tell for what I have seen. After trying a few venues I am now a regular at Callaghan's on Tuesdays. Every week there are a few "totally totally beginner material" there, so sure you would feel confortable!! About the age... 41 is not old but just for your peace of mind, there are always a few there too!!

People tend to rotate quite a lot because there is no comitment and it's also free, so give it a try. It is a lot of fun and a fab way to meet new people. Clases usually start at 9 rather than 8 though!!

NMP

Thanks for the Callaghan's update NMP, very interesting.