The Life-Changing Benefits of Salsa Dancing

Your first adventure to a salsa club may be a surprise. Familiar faces seem to be the theme of the evening. Is that your accountant, your dry cleaner, your next door neighbor? It could very well be as salsa has become a universal past time without the barriers of age, race, gender, and size. With the abundant benefits to salsa dancing, it is not surprising to find out that millions of people around the world have come to enjoy this exciting and passionate hobby.

If you are unsure about whether or not salsa lessons are for you, here are some benefits to attending salsa classes and social dancing:

Physical Health Benefits

Salsa is a wonderful form of cardiovascular exercise. It has been estimated that a half hour of salsa dancing will burn as much as 200-400 calories, an equivalent amount to such exercises as cycling, swimming or power walking. Salsa will increase your heart rate, help you burn more calories, tone your muscles, and may even help you lose weight. Because of the unique movements of salsa, you will be strengthening your body and toning areas such as abs, hips, buttocks, thighs, calves, and arms. Salsa classes and social dancing will make you sweat and you will enjoy every minute of it. Salsa also promotes other healthy habits. Salsa dancers tend to drink and smoke less. Salsa dancers eat healthier food and keep their weight at a healthy level.

Mental Health Benefits

Salsa dancing is an amazing way to relieve stress. When you begin your salsa lessons, the world and all the issues you face daily will fade away and allow for complete fun and relaxation. Once you have invested some time in learning to dance through salsa lessons and practice sessions, your self confidence will increase on and off the dance floor. Dancers have a great sense of self awareness and confidence and are in tune with their own bodies. They are more comfortable interacting with others in social situations. Also, students taking salsa lessons get to rotate and meet many new people and learn to feel good about themselves in a learning environment, which can be difficult to accomplish. A sense of camaraderie and a feeling of belonging to a team are created in salsa classes and this can also assist with inner confidence and self-awareness.

Social Benefits

Let’s admit it – most of us can use a boost in the social life department. Whether that means creating a new friendship, a new social group or building a new relationship, salsa lessons and salsa dancing will create an arena for social networking. Salsa classes will introduce you to up to 40 new faces every semester. Add that to the hundreds of students that are found practicing their moves at bi-weekly outings and the thousands of Toronto salsa addicts that can be found dancing the night away at local Toronto salsa clubs, and a new social world is created. Salsa gives people an excuse to interact. From the beginning of a conversation a common ground has been established so conversation is easier. Once you dance with someone a bond has already begun to form. You can laugh at your mistakes, enjoy the feel of the music and rhythm together and very soon communication is easy and free-flowing. You do not need a partner to attend salsa lessons, take salsa club classes or social dance at an outing or club. It is very common for people to go to salsa classes or clubs on their own because it forces them to be social and meet new people.

In addition to wonderful and lasting friendships, salsa is an amazing and natural avenue for single people to meet other single people and potentially create a romance. Salsa dancing is very romantic and sensual so it is a great venue to find a compatible romantic partner. Students that attend salsa lessons tend to get together in small groups and go salsa dancing so not only are you meeting the students from your class but also their network of friends, family and acquaintances. Forget the uncomfortable internet dating scene, speed dating or singles events: try a salsa class! We have classes specifically for singles looking to meet new friends and spice up their social lives. Every salsa lesson will have a rotation so everyone who wants to rotate will get a chance to change partners every few minutes and get to know a variety of salsa students.

Creativity Benefits & the Fun Factor

Salsa dancing is an extremely personal, creative and inspiring passion. For anyone looking for an expressive, creative outlet, salsa will satisfy your need for self expression. Turn patterns, body movement, styling and the way one interprets the rhythm of the music is reflective of one’s self and is always a unique experience.

Most importantly, salsa is fun. Not the nice-dinner-and-movie type fun. Salsa can be the head-rush, heart-can’t-slow-down, euphoric excitement type of fun. With the fast paced, high energy, hot Latin rhythms it is no wonder there are so many salsa addicts worldwide!

So let’s review.

• Salsa lessons are a great form of cardiovascular exercise

• Salsa lessons increase heart rate, burn calories and promote weight loss

• Salsa lessons tone muscles, improve flexibility, coordination, endurance and overall strength

• Salsa lessons promote good posture, grace and style

• Salsa lessons are great stress relievers

• Salsa lessons sharpen reflexes and mental agility

• Salsa lessons keep you young and youthful looking

• Salsa lessons increase self confidence, self awareness and sense of sensuality

• Salsa classes are a great way to meet new friends

• Salsa classes are a great way spark a romance

• Salsa classes are a great way for creative self expression

• Salsa classes are a great way to increase a sense of belonging

• Salsa classes are high energy, exciting and fun

Anyone who has fallen in love with salsa dancing will tell you it is a life-changing experience. It changes the way you view the world, the people around you, and even yourself. So put aside your schedule concerns and your personal reservations and try something that will give you more back then you ever expected!

Tips from Jorge Elizondo

Tips are from Jorge Elizondo of BachataRueda.com

1. Make sure you dance to your partners dance level.

2. If you are off step, make sure to stop hold your partner and then slowly start again. Look cleaner than trying to correct wrong footwork on the fly.

3. Less is always More! Ladies will always remember a clean fun dance verses a very complicated sloppy dance.

4. Protect your partner from injury at all times.

5. Most Importantly, Have fun and let the music move you. Don’t be afraid to break away from the basic steps.

 

 

  

For more information about Jorge, visit his website

Tips from Milton Cobo

Tips from Milton Cobo of the Cobo Brothers, New Jersey.

1. Leaders don’t make your partners “run� all over the place while you remain stationary.  The less you make her travel the less energy you will exert, the easier it will be to lead/protect them, and the more time they will have to enjoy the dance and style.

2. Leaders need to understand their own limits as well as the limits of their partners. If you execute patterns you or your partners are not ready to attempt, then someone (most likely the follower) will get hurt.  Just because your partners are able to get through an entire song with you does not mean they enjoy dancing with you. 

3. Followers don’t over-style (learn your limits). Definitely challenge yourself to continue improving BUT don’t cut the circulation from your partner’s fingers whenever you style/spin to maintain your balance/control.  Improving your balance/control is as important if not more important as improving your styling.

4. Followers, the less effort you use to spin, the more controlled / balanced you will look and feel on the dance floor.  Less effort does NOT mean less spinning.  The more you improve your technique the more you will spin with less effort.

5. When I watch a couple dance I like to SEE 3 things: 1) The PASSION!!!  Dance with each other and not for yourself… 2) The RHYTHM!!!  Dance to the music and not to some choreography you picked up somewhere… 3) The MOVEMENT and not the EFFORT!!!  Don’t push/pull (fight/throw) each other all over the dance floor…

For more information about Milton, visit his website

Tips for shy men and women

Do I Need A Partner? – Tips for Shy Men and Women

By Steve Hill

This is one of the most common questions that I hear from newcomers. All regulars know that the answer is an emphatic NO!!

You can go on your own! One of the reasons for Salsa’s popularity is men and women can do this without worry. It’s much less partner-oriented than other types of dancing. Many women find it difficult to ask men to dance. Whilst I have no sympathy

for this socially-retarded behaviour (there, that should stir things up!), I have these tips for those wanting to enjoy a level of dancing activity that could only be described as promiscuous! If you’re too shy to ask:

1) Do the lesson.

2) Chat to your fellow students. They will ask you to dance when the conversation moves from mortgage rates and the weather.

3) Stand by the dance floor, on your own, sway with the music and smile!

4) Never refuse a dance – if exhausted, arrange to do it later. Refuseniks are as popular as a sausage roll at a Bar Mitzvah and are soon boycotted!

5) Ask guys who’ve already asked you to dance earlier.

6) If anyone is too gropey (very rare), just walk away from them mid-song. It’s their problem and they should sort it out.

Would You Like To Dance? – Tips for Shy Men

By Steve Hill

This is that daunting question. You have paid your five quid, you can count to four and you have danced with 15 fellow students without their suffering a broken toe or nausea. Now the class has ended and it’s a jungle out there!!

As I reflected last week, the question “Would you like to dance?” is seen by a majority of women as one that men should ask. And, as it is men who are expected to lead the dance, it is very daunting to go from attending lessons to being confident enough to ask a stranger.

Here are some tips and observations to ease this transformation:
 

1) Do the lessons and learn it. If not satisfied try other teachers and see which one suits you.

2) Chat to your fellow students. They are probably as nervous as you, and will almost certainly dance with you later on.

3) If you are asking an experienced dancer, explain that you are a beginner. Some will turn their noses up – they will die bitter, sad and friendless. The majority will be sympathetic and give you tips as you dance.

4) Always thank your partner for the dance, even if it was grim.

5) If you see two or more women together, ask “Would either of you like to dance?”. If the dance is not a complete disaster, you are almost certain to get a dance with the remaining friend’s.

6) Don’t grope. Any downward sliding of your right hand from your partner’s back is likely to result in ostracism and purgatory!

7) You’re refused! The nightmare scenario! You should not feel that this is your fault. Turning down a civil request to dance is plain rudeness. Some answers are common and can be countered with a little encouragement or gentle humor:

a) “I’m only a beginner” – reply with “Weren’t we all!”

b) “I’m not very good” – reply with “I’m not enquiring about you morals!”

c) “No” – reply with “Which leg is broken?” or “Is it my shirt/flares/after shave?” Remember that you’re the one who’s making the effort here and summoning up all the courage. Occasionally I’ve been so irritated with a haughty refusal that I’ve answered back with “Why are you here then?” or “I’m sorry – this is a dance club – the Library’s round the corner!”. I’ll leave this kind of response up to your judgment.

Above all, if you smile, are well-mannered and clean, most women will tolerate a lack of dancing prowess, and if you’re a keen student and enjoy a variety of dance partners, your transformation from Salsa virgin to Juan Travolta will be rapid!

Top 5 tips for Leads

Here are my top 5 tips for leads on the dancefloor. Feel free to add your own using the comments function at the bottom of the page.

1. Don’t start a lesson during a dance. The classes have finished, and everyone’s now dancing socially. The last thing a follower would want is to be stopped in the middle of the dancefloor and be taught a move. Do this, and you can be sure they won’t be dancing with you again, along with anyone else who noticed what you were doing. We all have enough combinations, turns, etc in our locker to be able to leave one or two out that someone may be having trouble with.

2. Dance with the follower, not for the spectators. You’re not putting on a performance. Other womens perspective (and I don’t pretend to know what women think, by any means!), is that the way you dance with other women is how you’ll dance with them.

3. If she looks good you look great. Dance at your followers level. Since you’ll be dancing with a variety of women, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to ‘show your stuff’.
Imagine two guys: One ALMOST knows about a hundred twists, turns and other moves! The other knows about 10 moves, but the difference is he knows them well, and can execute them comfortably, with precision and clarity. Since he knows the moves well, he’s able to concentrate on making the dance enjoyable. Which one do you think a lady would prefer as a dance partner?

4. Be aware of how much space you have, and use it with consideration for others. Also watch out for those who’s only goal seems to be to crash into as many people as they can. Protect your follower from these moving hazards and dance small, not big.

5. Dance to and with the music – be inspired by it and tailor your dancing to the music. Keep timing and rhythm, don’t get carried away, and if the music’s fast, keep it simple!

Written by Torqueo   

Guide for Beginners Part2

What do I wear?

Salsa dancing is pretty athletic and you will break a sweat.  So wear loose clothes that breath!  That is the main thing.

Clubs: some have dress codes, but generally if you dress up a little, you’ll be fine.  Guys, generally slacks and a nice shirt with collar will get you in anywhere.  Jeans and t-shirts shirts should be avoided, particularly on weekends. No sneakers or athletic wear.

Ladies, dressy jeans are popular but not recommended.  For one they aren’t ideal to dance in.

BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY, dress festively!  After all, this is a party!  Dressing a bit for it will make you feel more like you’re a part of it.  And you want to look good out there anyway! I find that the more I dress up, the better time I have. Ladies, pull out that sassy dress you never had the courage to wear. Guys, the GQ look is always good, or a guayabera (a Cuban dress shirt). Or some tropical look if it’s summer. Have fun with it!

Also, be prepared to check your coat. Most clubs try to maintain a cleaner look, so if there’s coats everywhere it takes away from the atmosphere. It also leads to people taking the wrong coats and even can be a fire hazard.

What about dance shoes?

Dance shoes will help you!  Don’t just rush out and buy them, but ask around and get recommendations.  Guys are pretty easy. Ladies, with heels particularly, you have to really find some that fit just right.

Shoes run about $80-$120.  They have leather soles, either plain leather or suede.  Suede is better to dance on but problematic since you can’t wear it on the streets.  They have special brushes to maintain them.  A lot of people will bring their dance shoes and change, but be discrete about it.  You don’t want to bring your stinky shoes in a grubby Stop-and-Shop bag! You can wear plain leather around, but it does wear out.

If your shoes do wear out, don’t throw them away. Take them to a cobbler and they can resole them, etc. for a fraction of the cost. Plus you don’t have to break in new ones.

You’ll also see “jazz shoes” which are fancy sneakers with split heel and toe.  They are really comfortable for studio lessons and practicing but generally aren’t what you would wear to the club.

“Nobody asked me to dance”

One of the most enjoyable things about Salsa is dancing with a lot of different people. Many dancers I know in fact try to do exactly that, but it’s not always easy to approach people. So if you want to dance and you’re not, the best thing to do is to make yourself “available” for dancing. Some suggestions:

• Don’t sit behind a table, but stand at the edge of the dance floor.
• Smile, make eye contact, don’t keep your arms folded. That’s a naturally defensive behavior. Body language counts.
• If you have a drink in your hand, keep it by your side and be ready to put it down. Again, you want to be open, don’t use your drink, arms, other people, or furniture as a protective barrier of sorts.
• Ladies, if you have a purse, put it down. You can’t dance with a purse. Sorry! Its best to just bring your ID and cash in a pocket, and if there’s a few other things, bring them in a small purse that you won’t be concerned about if you leave it somewhere.
• If you’re with a group of friends, keep your circle loose and open so that people can pull you out of the group.
• ASK SOMEONE! Ladies, guys alike, if you want to dance with someone, just ask them!

“I’m intimidated by all the good dancers!”

Don’t be.  We were all there once and we’re interested in growing the Salsa Community.  Ask the good dancers to dance, they will.  One or two songs certainly, you can’t ask for the whole night!  Guys, ask the ladies, ladies ask the guys.  The more you dance, the better you will get.  The more you dance with people better than you, the faster you will learn!

The basic rule: IF YOU WANT TO DANCE WITH SOMEONE, ASK!

 “I’m not getting any better!”

Are you dancing a lot?  Some people tell me they are taking all these classes but aren’t getting better.  It turns out they never go out dancing! If you are trying to become the world’s best dancer before you’ll be seen out there, forget it!  You gotta dance! What’s the point of taking all these lessons if you don’t go out to the clubs?

Are you taking any lessons? Occasionally I meet people who won’t take them for one reason or another. That doesn’t make sense.

Also, get some music and listen to it a lot!  Once you can feel the music you’ll dance much better and with more passion.

Finally, it’s not about how good you are anyway, but if you’re having a good time and meeting people.  Don’t worry about it!

Music:

Get ahold of a Salsa mix in the “Latin” bin at your local record shop.  There’s a ton of them, like “Salsa Hits 200x”.  Some DJ’s also have mixes they’ll sell you.  Crank it up!

Alternatively, there’s tons of internet stations that play salsa.

If you don’t speak Spanish, ask the DJ’s when you hear what you like.  Much of the stuff you want is available online.

Guide for Beginners

#1 Question: Do I need a partner?

Heck No!  Never once have I been anywhere where it was required.  By some magic usually there is a pretty even ratio.  Just show up! In fact, it’s a great way to meet people in a very unpretentious setting. People are there to dance.

Where do I start?

My personal suggestion for your first venture out is to go to a club where they offer a drop-in beginner class, and take it.  Don’t be late! The basic steps is always explained at the start, and if you don’t get that, your going to have a tough time.

At a club lesson you’ll also very quickly be introduced to some people who are also new at it, learn the basic steps, and get a feel for what all the craze is about.  Maybe organize a group of friends if you’re unsure of yourself, but all of the places are VERY FRIENDLY.  Salsa is a fantastic multicultural experience, but the bottom line is people are out there to have a good time!

If you have two left feet and no clue, I suggest taking “Sergio and Salud” class in burbank (which I go to).  It’s designed as a level 1 “beginners Salsa” class where they will go over the basics of dancing Salsa.  This class is ALWAYS a fun!  Wear comfortable shoes, with non-rubber soles if possible.  You don’t need a partner but BE ON TIME!  The beginning of the class is the most important part.

Then what?

Once you got your feet somewhat sorted out at Sergio and Saluds class, start going out and checking out local salsa clubs.  My experience is that many beginners take lessons but fail to go out and practice. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Try checking out different salsa classes, talk to other people that can give you their opinions about what they like and what they dont like. Moreover, you’ll get a sense of what instructors are out there and what to expect from their classes.  Some instructors you will find yourself learning a lot from, and some not so much, depending on how you learn.  i.e. Find the instructors you click best with–don’t just stick with what you know.

What about studio lessons?

Studio lessons are more intensive and you will learn quicker than in a club, but the key is to first get the basics and also find an instructor you like before you spend the money.  That’s why I recommend Sergio and Salud class a few times first.

Studio lessons usually run in 4-8 week blocks, and incorporate a curriculum, so you need to go the entire session to get the most out of it.  They usually run about $10-$15/hr for however many hours for the whole session, and meet once per week.  Most instructors offer different levels at varying times, so start with beginners, and after that take the intermediate, etc.  Some instructors will let you drop in on the sessions but it costs more than paying for the whole thing in advance.

Visit the Salsa instructors page for listings of where to go.

What does it cost to go out?

When you go out for a night of dancing, you should plan to spend at least $20 as an obligatory rule of thumb and perhaps $30. Why? Well, nightclubs are businesses that depend on patronage. $20 includes cover, a drink or two or some bottles of water, coat check, and maybe parking. When patrons come in, beg the cashier to be let in free, don’t spend any money at the bar, and go home, that’s like sneaking into a movie. You can do it, but it brings down the quality of events that we as Salsaeros can have because the clubs are businesses. The DJ’s and staff have to get paid, the rent on the building and the insurance has to be paid, the owners and promoters have to get something, and all the advertising, marketing, and promotions have to be paid for. It’s the unfortunate truth. So, please, SUPPORT THE CLUB when you go out. If you don’t like to drink alcohol when you dance, buy water, juice or soda, and tip generously. Seriously, the bar revenue is what allows the dancing to happen.

Cover charges in LA are on average about $10, and lessons usually $2-$3 extra. Some places offer “frequent dancer” cards, or online discounts which will save you a few bucks if you’re on a tight budget.

What about alcohol?

Many people, especially as they get better, don’t like to drink in the clubs when the dance because their dancing gets sloppier. Well, that’s okay if you’re a serious professional dancer and nothing else, but my take on it is this:

1. It’s a party! Have a few! Who cares how perhaps slightly sloppy you dance. You can always hang with Fred Astaire the next day.
2. If you’re worried about how sloppy you dance, have another drink. I find you actually get slightly better because you’re more relaxed and less self-conscious.
3. Of course we’re not talking about getting wasted here…

But, some people don’t like to drink which is fine. Then… please support the bar! Buy a soda or juice or water or something.