Salsa City Forum » Salsa Music and Dance » Circles seem more natural than straight lines, also watch out for Frisbees!

EACH STYLE IS ACTUALLY SUITED TO THE TYPE OF MUSIC PLAYING CUBAN MUSIC IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM MAMBO MUSIC. It has a completely different feel. If people are educated about the music things will make much more sence. Cuban dancing should be done to Cuban music and New York to Mambo. Then again there are also songs that are more suitable to dance On1 or On2. It should be the music that dictates the dance.

As for being technically correct. Although Salsa in Cuba is still a street dance, and there are no set rules, Cuban dancing has usually gone in circles as that is the flow of it and the turns are mostly stepped out.

Cross body dancing has a very different technique, normally done in a straight line with many more piroettes for the women, with less push and pull in the lead more of a signaling technique with direction and tention.

It is frustrating to mix the two at a high level of dance because the lead becomes extremely confusing and even the best of leaders can confuse you as to whether they want you to cross or walk around them.

Most high level dancers will dance the style of dance to its suited music that way they can feel and enjoy the dance much more.

My advice to anyone wondering or questioning salsa is to get into the music. If you really have any unanswered questions there are some very good books. One by two Jewish guys called, Salsa The Rhythm of Latin Music is highly reccomended it is out of print but can be purchased second hand it comes with a CD which explains and demonstrates the rhythms of the music.

Happy dancing

Lisa, I disagree with the satement “There are indeed no rules in salsa except to have fun, listen to and interpret the music, dance with your partnernad connect with them”.

I agree with your comments about - fun, listen and interpret the music, connect with your partner.

However, there are certain rules and if they are not follwoed it becomes very frustrating to dance salsa for the leading partner particularly (all partner dances actually). Of course these rules can be broken, but this makes for “confusion” and not “harmony” on the dance floor. And I hope everyone agrees that what we all are looking to achieve is harmony when dancing.

For example : The follower must keep their arm up at around their stomach area, so that the leader can find their hands easily instead of reaching down to find them beside their hips. Generally a beginner problem, nevertheless a rule.

Another: The follower must keep to the style that the leader is doing. The follower breaking into cuban when the leader is doing On1 does not exactly work well.

Another: The follower must (should) keep there arms where the leader puts them until the leader moves so as the arm drops or has no contact. Ok, not such a big deal, but nevertheless annoying when the follower decides to remove the arm mid routine.

Another : arms in close or up when spinning. Nothing like an elbow in the face to stop a dance in it’s tracks.

Anyway, there are certain rules and generally it is the experienced dancers that know these things without having to think about them. They learnt the rules.

I cannot think of a partner dance that does not have rules.

Oh dear JamesD, haven’t you put me firmly in my place?!!

I believe you mis-interpreted what I said. Of course everything you said is true and valid and helps greatly when dancing salsa.

What I meant was that dancers shouldn’t focus so much on the ‘rules’ but to have fun and just dance. I like to think of the points you made as techniques rather than rules... when using the term rules... there is a risk of the dance/dancers becoming rigid and not letting go as they are constatntly worrying about what they are doing.

Dancing in its true form should be enjoyable, expressive and interpreted through the music. Of course in partner dance, technique is required to allow the couple to dance in harmony but many dances can be danced together but not in close contact at all times allowing each person to dance how they wish.

I don’t know if I’ve explained myself or just made it more confusing but anyhow, what I’m really getting at is that it should be fun. But fundamentally, yes, there are certain moves, steps and techniques to learn to improve on the dance if dancing Cross Body style salsa.

I like how you mentioned the ‘rules’ the follower must know. Of course there are many ‘rules’ for the lead also.

Lisa

It’s a question of semantics, but to me the idea of dancing technique sounds much more dancer friendly than the idea of dancing rules so I’m going with Lisa on this one.

I also think that Lisa is bang on about the best attitude / approach to adopt towards Salsa for the average social dancer. IMHO it’s a shame that not everyone involved in Salsa sees it this way! There are some who seem to believe they are entering into a competitive environment as if they were themselves professional dancers…

Of course I believe everyone has a right to approach Salsa as they wish but I personally feel that some people take the learning of this dance process far to seriously!

Thank you el Diablito.

You are absolutely right that everyone has a right to approach salsa as they wish but I do agree that some people who do seem to become too competetive.

What we forget is that it is a social dance. Don’t get me wrong I do think it is important to learn certain techniques for a number of reasons... one being so as not to cause injury to either party but people can get too caught up in that... I.e personally, if I’m dancing with a guy, I’m aware if I miss a lead or make an error etc... I did not need the guy telling me half way through that what I’m doing is wrong... that’s what I go to classes for.

It’s so off putting and it knocks people confidence if said in the wrong way. There are many people out there dancing who want to improve and take it to another level and good for them but let social dancing be what it is... social.

Well said. It is all about having fun and enjoying the dance (Even if you are entering the competitions). Some people just take salsa too seriously and its becoming like a military drill. 1,2,3 this, 4, 5, 6 that. Etc etc...

I have been dancing for a few years and still loving it. The main reasons - fun, fitness and friends. Have a laugh, have a dance and de-stress.

When my friends from Spain & South America come down to Cardiff they couldn’t understand why some people try to dance like they are in a military operation. Dancing by number! There is no interpretation of the music. The list goes on...

How many people do you see in the evening with a smile and a chat during the dance? Not many I must say. All you see is intense concentration on the people’s faces and trying to show each other off.

(More constipated looks on the dance floor than smiles).

I think some people should learn how to have fun, relax, try not to barging into everybody etc etc before taking Salsa too seriously.

That is what dancing is all about (for me anyway)!!

Counting can hardly be considered “taking salsa too seriously”. Counting is utterly fundamental to learning, understanding and discussing salsa. I think you’re overstating your case, Salsero.

Oh Hugh,

All I’m going to say is I think you’ve mis-interpreted what Salsero has said and he didn’t actually say Counting is taking salsa too seriously.

Salsero... I totally get what you are saying and could not agree more.

Lisa

Many thanks Lisa. That was what I meant.

Hugh. Counting is important. I agree. Just like other factors such as getting the basics right, dancing to the music, when to dance, when to turn & spin, when to shine, how to pay attention to the person you are dancing with etc. Also to lead clearly so that the lady can follow regardless of the style (Cuban or NY).

Salsa styles, moves, expressions can also be up to each individual dancer. As long as you can see both dancers having fun & enjoying the music, that is the main thing.

It is just that some people start taking certain things so seriously that the fun side of salsa is disppearing!

One of my friends is a total beginner. She is a beautiful girl so one of the leading Cadiff salsa mens took her to the dance floor and tried doing triple turns, cross body turns and spins etc. As a show off. All that time, he was doing 1,2,3 this, 5,6,7 that, countingout loud with a stern face.

Then he had a go at her when she can’t follow (well... she only had 2 lessons. No one is perfect like that gentleman she was dancing with!). Where was the fun in that? She was put off from salsa since then. I DO see that A LOT on the salsa scene regardless of where you go.

That is my view. I don’t consider myself to be a great dancer (or Mr. I know everything about salsa) and I know that I still got so much to learn when I got time.

Like Lisa said, would be nice to see some people having fun on the dance floor. Whenever I get a chance to dance with Lisa or Nat or Irene etc, I always have a good dance regardless of how many mistakes I make or what style I try to dance. They help me with the moves, I learn, improve and at the end of the night I had a great evening.

Anyway. I am not going to get sucked into the verbal war so thanks everybody. Have a good evening...

Salsero, again thank you!!

What a lovely compliment... I know I rarely dance in Cardiff nowadays but whenever I am out and you are too, please ask me to dance again... and let me know its you :)

Lisa