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