Salsa Tip #12 : Analyze Your Moves (Videotape)

Well, it might seem like a given…but sometimes we don't make enough of a commitment to actually take time and video tape ourselves dance and see how we can become better.

Now, I posted a video of myself dancing at the Marriott (with Alina).  Now, it has been less than 1 year since I've been in San Diego, CA and really pushed myself to become better (especially on2). The last episode I had put out before leaving Iowa was Salsa Episode 19 back in August 2006. Comparing these two videos – I already see a difference in what I have improved upon, and where I still need some work.

Now, with that said, every time I see myself in a video (just like the one in the previous post, I analyze myself to very fine detail). It is important because you end-up realizing what looks good (that you may have not thought it looked good) and what things that you thought looked good, actually aren't so hot. Literally, looking at he previous videos – I noticed what things body movements I need to cut-out, and which ones to actually like (so I can make them even smoother and better). Even little things on where I've been placing my hands doing specific patterns makes a huge difference on whether a pattern looks good and looks perfect.

The hardest part, I think, about videotaping yourself is having to look at yourself. Just remember – YOU ARE YOUR OWN WORST CRITIC. So,  know that you will be hard on yourself. However, getting feedback from your peers on how you look with the feedback you give yourself can speed things along to help you get better – just keep an open mind, take a deep breath and put yourself out there. Let others help you become better faster.

You know… putting a video out there (and knowing you aren't a perfect dancer) is kind of like.. knowing you might be overweight, and still have to stand on a scale to actually confirm the inevitable. However, just remember it's like cough medicine… sometimes you have to do it so you understand where you need that improvement, and just like cough medicine, in the end – it will make you feel better than you currently are.

You can always upload your video to YouTube, and link it to the addicted2salsa forums and see what other people. Remember, this is about community, and getting your friends (even though they might be half-a-world away) to help you get better. 

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Salsa Tip #22 : Getting the bad ones out of the way…

Yes, #22 (which means it very important!). It is usually the case that you will learn something new in a salsa class and you will not get it right, right away. It is just the way we (as human beings) are built. We can't automatically duplicate an action – we are not built for consistency. Anyways, this of course is the main reason we practice – to perfect what takes us time to perfect.  However, most students forget this little fact, and sometimes get discouraged when they haven't done it right by the 10th time.

Now, lets go back to a little bit of history. Thomas Edison , a great inventor of the light bulb (among many other things). You know how many tries it took him to actually make a working and quality lightbulb? It took him more than ten thousand failed attempts. Have you ever thought of the times that we (in our lives) have tried something new, and maybe failed at it  10-15 times and thought about giving up? Imagine if Thomas Edison would have given up on the light bulb after try #1000. How bright would our world be?

I usually tell students that when they learn a new pattern or footwork – it will take them at least 50 times to get it down and be able to do it smoothly without effort. Basically, telling them that on try #51, thats why they'll be able to do it perfectly. I tell them to practice it 50 times as soon as they can, so they can get to #51 as fast as possible. This is because since you know you won't do it right until the 51st time, why not speed the process up by doing the pattern/footwork 50 times as soon as you can – so you can get those (bad ones or failed attempts) out of the way and start enjoying the good ones? 

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Salsa Tip #85 : Dance Etiquette 101 – Drinking and Walking

Now, this tip might be for newcomers to the salsa scene – and it could be a public server announcement for the rest of us. Now, I don't think these rules have ever been written down or said – but usually they are implied by dancers, because dancer understand what bugs them. It is just basic courtesy on the dancefloor:

 1. Never walk through the dance floor – but around it. Now, the only good reason you are walking through the dancefloor is because you found a good spot and you are actually going to dance. Other than that, I suggest (and many others too) is to walk around the outside of the dance floor if possible. People are dancing, worrying about their dance 'slot' and worrying about their neighbor's dance slot. I can't believe the people think that going through the dance floor (to get to one side to another) is easier than walking around the floor. First of all, you are going through a crowd of people that are constantly moving, making weird contortions with their arms and especially females spinning. That alone should tell you… "hmmm.. I might get hit and hurt – or I might cause someone else to get hurt". Not to seem crazy, but I can't tell you how mad this gets me. Because, to tell you the truth, I don't mind that some people walk through the floor – if they understand salsa slot mechanics. For example, wait for the guy to do a cross-body lead to walk near him/her (through the other side). You know this, because as a dancer, performing a cross-body lead will require the lady to move her location (which means, that a space opens up for you to walk through). However, few people are aware of this – so in general, please be kind – if you are not doing to dance, walk around the outside of the floor (so people dancing won't get mad that you have screwed up their pattern or gave them something more to worry about – their safety).

2. Never dance with drinks. There are a few of people (that for some reason) like to dance with open drinks. Now, this might be good at any other club, but I'm not so sure that at a salsa club. People bring their nice (suede bottom) shoes to the floor, so they can do lots of spinning. People who bring drinks ON the dance floor (are usually not being kind) because they end up spilling their drink on the dance floor (making it sticky) and laughing about it as if it was funny. In some cases, they'll end up spilling their drink on someone else. The good rule is that if you are going to have a drink, have it on the outside (but be warned someone can hit you if you are close enough to moving bodies) or having by the bar (where you are supposed to have drinks). Just be considerate – and everything should be good.

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Salsa Tip #407 : Water or (Propel) in the Car

If you are lucky enough to go to a salsa nightclub that has free water – than you are good. Drinking plenty of water at salsa event is a must – more than you think. Sometimes we forget that with all the patters, footwork and body movements we put into every 5 minute song – its really a tough workout for the body. We end up loosing a lot of water (through sweat) during one salsa night – especially if the nightclub is packed.

Now, in the cases where the water is not free (and they are charging an exorbitant amount of money for a itty-bitty bottle) – its good to sometimes bring (sneak) in your own water (if allowed). Now, first of all – I prefer Propel water because it feels more satisfying after I drink it compared to regular water (which seems to just go through my system pretty quick without providing any effects). So, I end up trying to put 1 bottle in my dance shoe as I bring those shoes to the club (its hard to tell its in there). However, in the cases where I can't really bring my dance shoes (or I'm already wearing them) – I end up keeping bottles of Propel in the trunk of my car. So whenever I am really thirsty and need some replenishment (and don't want to pay $3-$4 per bottle) – I just step outside (while getting some fresh air to cool off) and go to my car and drink a couple of bottles). It is sometimes pretty funny because since some of us have the whole 24-pack in the trunk – we all go to the parking lot and just hang around the car drinking bottles of water and chatting before going back in.

Anyways, going back to the main tip – I suggest if you can to bring your own bottle of water at a salsa event. Sometimes either the water runs out or the prices are too high. In another case, you should always keep some water in your car for when you really need it (or even after a hard night at a salsa club). Drinking lots of fluids after an event can help relieve any muscle stress you might have in the morning.

 

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Salsa Tip #67 : Get a full length mirror for body movements

I get asked a lot on how to become good with body movements. Now, I'm not close to the Cobo Body Movement, but I can tell you what I used to train my body isolations and perfecting the look. Its really simple – just a mirror.

The key is to practice, practice and practice. (How many times have you heard me say that?). Get a nice full-length mirror from Target or Walmart (I think I paid like $10 for it). Then, what you do is just stand in front of the mirror and do your basic step – and see how it looks. Then once you got that down (and it looks good to you), try adding some footwork – and perfect how it looks. After you have those two things down, now add some body movements. Try a body-roll, try rolling your shoulders backwards, try doing some rib-cage isolations or hand movements.

At first, you will feel COMPLETELY awkward. But thats because you're body is not used to doing that type of coordinated movement (yet). You have to keep doing it until it becomes comfortable. As you continue to do it, your body will auto-fix itself so it feels natural – and once you have control of moving the hands, shoulders, and chest fluidly – then you can work on making it look they way you want it to. Its like trying to learn how to paint. The best way, is to first learn about colors. Then, become comfortable at stroking the brush. Then, you can be comfortable at making your figures in the canvas.

Now, to tell you how I come up with cool footwork + body movements – its really pretty simple. I put on a song that I really feel and can jam to. Example, right now I'm listening to (the LIVE version of course, but there are a couple of good ones on iTunes too). I put this song on, and I just dance and start doing crazy stuff. What do I mean by crazy stuff – really, I just cut loose. I'll start goofing around, or do some weird Usher footwork with some bachata, whatever comes out. You should do this without worrying what you look like, because you don't want to restrain yourself (remember, once you become comfortable dancing by looking at yourself, you WILL become a much better dancer because you will be more comfortable dancing with a partner – remember, you are your own worst critic). Anyways, lather, rinse and repeat – and at some point you will end up doing something really cool in the mirror – and you'll be like 'wow, that looked pretty cool, let me see if I can do it again'. And BAM! That is it. You'll end up trying to reproduce (slowly) that you will perfect it (to make it look better) and it will become part of your muscle memory! 

Have fun! 

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Salsa Tip #209 : Key Ingredients to Smooth Salsa Spins

What makes salsa dancing so great for the ladies? Is it the beautiful styling which includes beautiful arms, isolations, and body rolls? Yes, styling is fun to do but that also can be found in many dances such as tango, flamenco, jazz. Can it be the ability to spin endlessly? The answer is yes. The great quality of dancing in salsa is doing multiple spins. This may be an opinionated answer, but there are many great female dancers which capture how spins can be one of the best aspects of salsa dancing. These ladies you will find on the addicted2salsa website are known for not only being spun by a partner, but spinning on their own and "stopping on a dime". Some of these salsera have not obtained that gift of spinning over a day or weeks, but sometimes month or even years. Some people I recall speaking to about spinning have told me it took them either 2 or even 5 years to do multiple spins. Other people who have a well-developed dance background can obtain that skill earlier that a few months or even within a year.

What is so great about spinning? Here is there scenario. You are dancing with a partner and leads you to do multiple spins, but you stop yourself from spinning so much. Some girls who I have spoken to told me that some problems of spinning include: out of balance, are dizzy, or can't control the spin. The other girls who I have spoken with have different reactions to spinning and state that it is many factors that attribute to great spins. In the beginning I remember almost falling out of a spin, almost knocking the guy out with my arm, or wobbling out of a spin (not spinning in place). I'm not an expert yet on spinning. However after a year on focusing on this technique I discovered the key to spinning. I have taken jazz classes, private lessons, group classes, and as well as advice from friends on spinning. After experience and observation I have found 5 steps to doing multiple spins.

1.) The Prep: Some ladies I have spoken to told me that the prep initiates the spin which helps maintain ones balance and creates momentum. How one preps also determines how fast one spins. For example, when a gentleman’s arm goes down and up like the letter K (called the J-hook) he is warning you that he is about to spin you more than one time. Get ready ladies. One prep that I learned is that the right leg swivels to the right (twist your torso and right leg slightly to the right) then shift your weight all on your right foot keeping your left foot close to your right (feels connected). Finally push off on your left leg. Ready for lift off, I mean spins

2.) Keep your legs closed: When first learning how to spin, some girls tap while spinning. This is in order to keep the spins going. Tapping is like the training wheels for spins. However, if you keep your legs together and knees slightly bent, you will see a huge difference. Make sure your weight is all on one foot (right or left) which depends which direction one is spinning. This really helps with balance.

3.) Keep a 90 degree angle: Make sure your arm looks like an L which is a 90 degree angle facing your partner. Also you want your arm to be nice and strong. No spaghetti arms. You don't want your arm behind your body. If you feel your arm upwards, create an arm bar. For example, have your right arm in a 90 degree angle while having your left arm hold your right arm in place. This bit of advice ensures that you will wobble less and also have the lead have more control of where you are spinning. This may even prevents the guy to get injured like an uppercut.

4.)Keep everything tight: It does not matter how fit you are because if you keep everything tight the faster you will spin a lot faster and smoother. In order to keep everything tight make sure you keep your stomach nice and strong (hold it in girls) and keep your fanny tucked (squeeze). This also enables guys to have a better control of the spins.

5.)SPOT: This is the best piece of advice not only because it keeps one less dizzy, but it makes one spin so fast the guy will think you have disappeared. I'm just exaggerating, but it is very important to spot. Spotting is "process of delaying the rotation of the head, relative to the body's rotational speed, by way of visual focus on one or more fixed points in space. " (http://www.ballroomdancers.com/). Spotting is when you look at an object in the room or your partner and make sure that when your spinning that object or partner is the first and last thing you see. While spinning your head should be the last thing to turn. The faster you spot, the faster you will spin.

You got that ladies:

• Make sure to prep (be warned to spin a whole lot)
• Keep your legs closed, and slightly bend your knees
• Make sure your arm looks this–} L facing your partner
• Keep your stomach tight and butt tight (Your can squeeze a penny if you do it right)
• Never take your eyes off him: SPOT!!!!

Pretty soon you will do multiple spins and it will feel great because it feels like you are flying in another world.

- Erika Briones a. k. a. (Latina Skin) http://www.myspace.com/esb_2005 

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Salsa Tip #331 : Dipping dots…. and ladies..

Well, I've done dips before… but I hardly do them at the club. And the main reason for this salsa tip is because I see a LOT of beginners trying to do dips in salsa, when they are barely trying to get the basic step down.

Doing big dips in a club is a very dangerous game. Now, there is a difference between doing a small dip, and a large elaborated? dip. Small dips are fine, the lady doesn't go down much (and doesn't feel like she has to break her back). However, with large dips – its tricky and risky.

The floor is crowded. One time, when I decided to do a dip to this cute girl I was trying to impress, it ended up being that another guy next to me was doing a dip as well. For some statistical reason, we ended up doing the dip in opposite directions (and similar dip) so that the girls ended up hitting their heads. Yeah.. real smooth.. (sarcasm). Well, then I realized that when the floor is this packed, you will probably never want to do dips like that so you don't accidentally injure your follower. For these, you might as well do a standing up dip (not sure what they are called).

Don't operate heavy machinery. It will be the case that the ladies might not know how to perform a correct dip. In a good dip, the lady basically holds her own weight (and does not launch herself on the floor for you to catch her and support her – while not breaking your lower back). Some ladies think that its up to the guy to magically work against the laws of physics to perform the dip – and trust me, it doesn't work. Either you'll get injured, or she'll be on the floor. So, before you try a dip, make sure you feel like you are with a comfortable dancer that understands dips. Like in the picture shown on the right – that is not a good dip.

Find a good spot in the song. If you are going to do a dip on a given dance in a given song – try to do it to a song that you know that might have an accentuated pause, or drawn out instrument piece. Why? Well, you can't just do a dip anywhere. If you try to do a dip in the regular beats of the song, it looses some of the feeling of how your body moves with the music. In addition, you might end up doing the dip either too fast or too slow to maintain synchronization with the song, which will make the dip look sloppy.

A hand in head support. If you are doing a dip, where the lady's head is going down – my biggest tip is to use your free hand and give her some head support by placing your palm behind her head (as if it was like a pillow) so she doesn't feel a type of 'whiplash' effect when doing the dip. Trust me, it will make the dip feel 100x more comfortable. (again, thats why I say that the picture shown is a bad dip).

 All in all, dipping is about one main thing: making the dance end with graceful closure. How to make that happen is two things: make the lady comfortable when dipping and make her feel secure. Remember, the dip is for her, and not for the audience. Simple, comfortable and elegant dips are the best.

[UPDATED] The easiest way to get into a dip is to do a cross-body lead with a turn, and into a simple dip.

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Salsa Tip #265 : Don’t just say NO…

I wrote this late night, so hopefully its coherent… I'll fix it later.

Yeah, this is a small tip – mainly for the ladies. First off, men have a tough job at the dance. Take out the dancing part, and we are left with getting 'approved' or 'rejected' by the ladies who want to dance. Now, ladies, I'll tell you the truth – it requires courage to ask one of you to dance and wait for an approval or rejection. Not only that, during the dance (if you end up saying yes), we have to meet your minimum expectations of what you consider 'FUN'…. so… imagine if you had to do it, how tough it would be. However, most of us have asked ladies out to dance so many times (and have had enough rejections) to have our emotions hard as a rock (and you wonder why guys are less emotional… the ladies cause us to be this way.. ). 

Anyways, I can tell you ladies, for every guy you turn down – the word goes around. Its not a bad thing or a good thing. It depends how you turn the guy asking you. Here are a couple of suggestions to make yourself have a nicer reputation on the dance floor than other ladies.

First of all, if you don't want to dance in a given while or song, step further away from the dance floor. Make it obvious that you are taking a break (maybe by sitting down or getting some water). That helps us weed out the ladies to ask (remember, for us is first come first served).

If we ask you to dance, don't just say no – give us a stupid reason. I rather hear 'I'm tired', or "I'm with my boyfriend" than just a plain no. It just seems nicer that you actually have a valid reason (men are logical creatues) than just a 'no'. Most likely if you just say 'no' your salsa stock price will plummet.

Last but not least as another quick tip (my favorite one). If we ask you to dance, and you do say no for a specific reason, or you say 'maybe later' – don't wait for us to ask twice. Come find us and show us that when you rejected us before 'because you were tired' or 'maybe later' was not just a blow off excuse. Finding us and asking us to dance will considerably make up for the previous rejection that night. It will show you care and I can guarantee that your reputation will go up and that next time you say no for any reason, no guy would be mad because they know you mean well.

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Salsa Tip #90 : Creating your own practice floor on a budget

So maybe you've been in this situation… You want to practice in your apartment or home, but its mainly carpet. Also, getting wooden floor panels costs too much. Well, there is a simple solution (thanks to Alex for this tip). Go to Staples or Office Max and get a couple of those plastic office floor matts. This makes it perfect because you get the smoothness of a regular dance floor, but with the portability of… well.. plastic sheets.

 You can lay multiple of them over an area (hopefully in front of a mirror so you can practice your footwork with your dance shoes – of course, without ruining your carpet. (Don't try high heels). Also, limiting yourself to 1 mat will help you get better at controlling your 'spread' which is the distance that your body moves when doing footwork. (Well, I call it the spread which is a investing (stock) term). That way when you are a club, you have learned how to do patterns, combos and footwork in very little space without hitting your dancing neighbors.

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Other quick collected salsa tips…

I found these cool salsa tips from another blogger salsero named 'SilverFox '  has collected from others…(don't ask me how they name themselves that… I wonder what my nickname would be? 

Cuban motion: Some people tap on the 4th and 8th beat, while other's pause. However the tap, or Cuban motion looks good, so try it and see what you think.

Dance as well as learn: classes at the club are a great way to learn, but eventually you will want to try freestyle. Take the opportunity to do this after your class, if possible, and at socials, workshops and congresses or visit clubs in town at the weekend. see the  events page for some ideas.

Dancewear: do wear comfortable light clothes to dance in because dancing Salsa can be warm and energetic. Any form of restricted clothing, unless with a fair amount of Lycra or similar, will restrict circulation and or movement and you should avoid these. You can get a range of Salsa clothes for Followers on the dancewear products page.

Dance etiquette: There are no rules you will be relieved to know, however there are a few customs that it is nice to know about. It is considered impolite to refuse a dance if asked by a partner, unless you have a very good reason for refusing. Be prepare, if you can, d to dance at least once with a new partner if asked. It is just as likely that Followers as much as Leaders  will ask a partner to dance. Don't take hand bags or drinks on to the dance floor and try to dance around them because you can't dance Salsa like that. There is too much movement and either you, your partner or another couple will eventually trip and fall over it. If the dance floor is crowded be considerate, keep your moves small, arm gestures restrained and watch where other couples are dancing to avoid bumps and bruises. If you are not dancing it is thoughtful to walk around the dance floor not across it. If you do all that everybody has more fun!

Enjoy yourself rather than compete: Occasionally Salsa is danced competitively, but not usually. So when you and your partner go out on to the dance floor it is not a competition. Just be yourself and feel the music, because there are no points awarded, just fun!

Feel the Rhythm: practice your hip movements in time to the beat and your steps. The hip sway should come from the correct foot move rather than deliberately wiggling your hips like a belly dancer!. Good hip movement is the secret to pleasant, sensual and stylish Salsa.

Fit and healthy: Salsa will help keep you fit. Drink plenty of fluids to keep cool and avoid dehydration. It is not recommended you drink too much alcohol while dancing because it might affect your concentration and it will dehydrate you as well.

Following: Followers should co-operate and follow their Leader's steps smoothly and quickly and not resist the steps as thy unfold. Followers should use the steps their Leader makes for them as an opportunity to demonstrate their style and artistry to the full. Tell your Leader if what they are doing seems uncomfortable or inappropriate.

For your eyes only: When dancing look at your partner and encourage them with smiles. Remember you are having fun. Don't look at your feet or your partner's feet. This is off putting for your partner and confusing for you. It can also, for leaders especially, give the unfortunate impression that you are staring down your Follower's cleavage!

Holding your partner appropriately: If you are the leader, and you are dancing close hold, don't hold your partner too close or too far away with your right arm in the middle of your Followers back and your left arm out to the side at about shoulder height holding your Follower's right hand. People hold hands in different ways so do whatever you are both happy with. Partners of different heights may need to adjust their holds slightly for better comfort.

Latino look: You should keep your upper body relatively still, but still move with the music. So try to avoid the kind of animation you might put into Jove or Rock & Roll. However it shouldn't be stiff and formal either, as it might in ball room. Let your upper body flow gently with the music with most upper body movement  in your arms rather than your chest or shoulders, although there are some moves that deliberately change this dramatically. Think of other Latin influenced dances such as Flamenco, Tango to give you that Latin look.

Leading: this is the male dance role. Occasionally at the club, if there are more of one type of partner than another, some will swap role. So some Followers might become Leaders. Some dancers even swap roles permanently in order to keep dancing all the time. While this is possible it is not recommended as it is confusing for both Leaders and Followers to then un-learn and revert to your own steps. It is better to occasionally step out of the dance as dancers rotate partners.

Practice makes perfect: Come to the Silver Fox Salsa club classes in order to get the most practice time. You can practice some more on your own to Salsa music or videos at home.

Shoe care: If you wear proper dance shoes on the dance floor, with suede soles, make sure you only dance on a proper wood floor, take your shoes off when you leave the dance floor and carry your shoes in a protective bag. Keep the soles clean and suede brush them occasionally.

Shoes to wear: Do wear comfortable shoes that won't hurt your toes or ankles and avoid ones that  you might hurt you or your partner. Don't wear trainers or other rubber soled shoes because they make dancing difficult. Proper dance shoes are available for both men and women, see the dancewear products page. If you don't want to wear dance shoes then leather soled shoes are quite effective too.

Signal, mirror, maneuver: If you are the leader with your left hand hold your partner's right hand with a medium pressure, not too hard and not too soft, with the left hand to allow clear but relaxing signaling. Both Leaders and Followers should gently tense their left and right arms respectively to send and receive signals clearly. When you maneouvre, Leader, generally be prepared to lighten your hold with your left as you or your partner execute turns or spins. Use your right hand, and occasionally your left, to guide your Follower through the steps you are dancing. This will help your Follower to follow effectively and allow her to think more about her style and flair and not worry about keeping up with your step.

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Salsa Tip : On the performance of dance teams (pt 1)

 First of all, when I mean 'performance', I do not mean it in the performance = choreography way. I mean it in the manner in which or the efficiency with which something reacts or fulfills its intended purpose – in this case dance ability. Now, I might not be an expert at managing a dance team, however, I have a good background in business. There is no reason you should not take concepts from other fields and apply them to your own (yes, double negative). 

So, I was dancing with a wonderful dancer named Maribel (shout out to her if she reads the site). Now, I give her credit because what she said after I danced with her was what caused me to have this train of thought. Now, if you don't know how I think – this will sound very weird, but for those of you know, then you'll understand.

After I danced with her, she said "You did a very good job" – or something like that (actually it was a little longer, but same effect). What she said was very encouraging and supportive – compared to the usual 'thank you' and moving on to the next person like a person at a fast food line. Anyway, I consider that positive reinforcement. You do something right, you get rewarded. Which then reminded me of how we teach dogs new tricks. When we show a dog how to sit, and it sits, you give him a treat or you pet him/her. That teaches the dog the trick and most likely open him up to learn new tricks because he knows he will get rewarded. There is no reason to go to work, unless you are getting some type of satisfaction (monitary or personal). So, those encouraging words reminded me of petting my late dog when he used to do something good. (he was an Akita if you were wondering.).

 Anyway, the problem with that is that a treat is only temporary reward or satisfaction. It does not actually build upon anything. So taking my investment skillset, I decided to think of a way to make the reward something that would have a type of return on investment (ROI for those finance folks)….

Dancers are not your most important asset on a team. The right dancers are. Giving your best dancers more room to grow, will help grow your dance team in return. So, what can we do. We understand that everyone joins a dance team to get better at dance, perform and meet hot girls interesting new people. Well, lets say you have a 'dancer of the month' – similar to an employee of the month. What should be the reward? Well, lets start simple – how about a free private lesson from an instructor of their choosing thats belongs in the dance company. Thats not hard.. but some of you might say – well, I'm loosing $75 and 1 hour if I give it for free… – you might think of it that way, but you are not being a director/manager.. and here is my reasoning.. sacrificing 1 hour and $75 a month gives you this:

If you tell people that if they win "Dance of the Month" award – they get a free private lesson with the instructor of their choosing (so they can build on the style they like with their favorite instructor). This alone will boost the morale of the team, and make them want to work harder to become better dancers so that they can win the award. This is perfect because you will be increasing the practice time of most team members striving for that goal. Second, you will also see a better segregation of the students in your dance team – of the ones who are really trying to become better dancers, from those who are just in the team – possibly languishing in mediocrity (sorry to put it so sadly). Third, most likely the entire team will start practicing the routine that you have given them so that they can show YOU that they are improving – which makes the routine much more cleaner and presentable when you actually have to perform it. Last, but not least – the big ROI is in the reward. Because you are rewarding a dancer every month with a private lesson, you are giving them something that is not perishable. Its an investment into themselves. Taking that free private lesson will make them better dancers – and by helping them become better dancers – your dance team becomes a better dance team – which in turn makes your dance company have a better 'quality' appeal to it when they perform their choreography. This brings out what is called a flywheel effect – a synergetic effect which causes things to build off of one another. By improving your dancers, you improve the performance, which in turn improves the 'brand appeal' of the dance company, which in turn attracts more quality dancers to your company, which then helps all those quality dancers become even better and so on and so forth… like a flywheel building momentum upon itself.

 Now, this is not THE solution – but a simple solution nevertheless. This solution is mainly for large teams – however you can find your fit for smaller teams in order for the overall team to grow. It provides you with an idea on how you can improve the performance (ability) of a dance team in order to improve people's dance ability. You might have a different reward system – or rewards for that matter. However, always remember that the best rewards are investments into one own self. Those are the types that last the longest.

 [UPDATED] I love the posters from Despair Inc. I think they are funnier than the actual positive ones.

 

 

 

 

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Salsa Tip #225 : ‘Cause this is (Salsa) thriller… thriller night!

Now, Halloween is coming up, and there are a lot of Halloween Salsa parties this weekend. I thought I might touch on a kind-of-salsa type of subject that might also be used for other events where the event usually takes into account having a specific costume (which assumes it is more than your regular salsa gear). I will assume that while you would be wearing a halloween costume, and that you actually plan to dance at these parties (not just sit around with your costume). With this in mind, these are my tips for helping you choose the correct 'outfit' so you can have a good time on the dancefloor (and less people get injured).

 

Minimize the wearing of possible projectiles

Now, I think this one is for mainly the ladies, but it can apply to gentlement too. Sometimes,  most costumes will have parts that maybe dangling of your side, on your feet, maybe on your head, or it can be a witche's hair. Whatever it is, try and not have items that if you spin, will cause to spin with you that might act like a heavy whip and hit someone on the dancefloor (or potentially  the follow or lead). I have also seen situations where the object might strike your lead and then go flying off across the floor. Additionally, if you have a pony tail, you might want to make the length of the pony tail shorter so that if you do multiple spins (fast), the pony tail will not stretch longer than the length of your head to one of your shoulders. That way, its easier for the guy to concentrate on dancing, while not worrying about getting hit with pony tails in his eyes (trust me – it happens). I've even been hit by sexy cat tails (which I didn't mind… ).

 

Minimize the body paint on your hands or forearms.

This sometimes seems like common sense, but sometimes we forget (or you plan to enter a contest while you are at the party). Now, I didn't say "don't" wear any – because it depends on the type. You will be dancing, and you will be sweating. What you might not want to happen is for that body makeup to be rubbing off on the leads hands and possibly all of HIS costume. If you do wear the body paint stuff, try to get the type that doesn't rub off easily or 'waterproof' – in order to have some collateral damage control. I've seen women start out as pretty princesses, and by the end of the night look like one of those sad clown faces with tears in them.

 

Wear flexible clothing and change your style.

In some cases,  you can determine what type of material you can wear for your costume. You should wear something breatheable and flexible so you can still dance without worrying too much about your outfit (especially if the ladies wear something too sexy that.. well.. might cause something to rip or 'pop-out'). Additionally, as a LEAD, you will be dancing with different ladies with different outfits. You should understand that you want to be simple, and easy and change what combinations you use for the different ladies depending on the costume. #1 rule is let the lady have fun. #2 rule is not to damage anything thats not yours.

 

Bring your regular clothes with you (just in case).

In some cases, people bring costumes for a specific competition. You might want to bring your regular dance clothes for after the costume competition, so you can just switch back to your regular clothes and have a much more relaxed time (without the obstruction of a complicated costume).

 

And now, just because I like the way one of my favorite dancers moves, here is from that unquestionable great halloween music video of all time: Thriller, by Michael Jackson (which is funny it was one of the first Vinyl records I ever heard – yes, I grew up in the era of Vinyl…. I'm that old). I really admire zombies that wear dance shoes to kill people . 

Filed under: salsa tip

Salsa Tip #109 : The salsa axe effect … (mainly for gentlemen)

Now, I know this is one of those weird subjects, but I thought I'd share my experience at the club. Now, I am assuming everyone wears colonge (eau de toilette) – and if you haven't – you should. We all dance, and we all sweat like crazy – especially in a very packed club. Not many girls would like to dance with a highly sweaty, highly smelly (not good smelly) type of guy – especially if you are a beginner. Sorry, its the truth… So you might as well make the experience for your follow as pleasant as possible. So you should try and smell good for as most of the night as you can. However, I do a little extra other than wearing the regular Polo (Ralph Lauren) and on special occasions, Black (Kenneth Cole) colonge which some may have not thought of. I also use body spray. My preferrence is AXE body spray just because it goes on dry, and I like the smell of it – but back to the point. The main reason why I like body spray is because it goes directly on the skin (as opposed to colonge) and its less alcoholic which means it lasts longer. (Alcohol evaporates faster). Therefore, the more I dance (and sweat) the more fragarance comes out – especially if I dance bachata (a very close-up dance). That way I can at least not smelling badly when 11th hour chimes at the club. Again, a little goes a long way.

Now, as an extra – I recommend not choosing colonges and body sprays that have a strong smell. For the inexperienced, sometimes you end up spraying too much colonge on yourself before going out to the club that you start attracting bees. (thats not a good sign). Take something that is soft, and possibly matches what you are wearing… yes.. Just like the smell of grease doesn't go well when eating a salad… or in wine terms – there are rules when to have white or red wine with specific dishes. Now, there is not clear rule on fragrances, but I can tell you that if I wear a nice shirt (long sleeved) with khakis (so that I look like I was going to go to a nice 5-star restaurant) I wear my upscale things (such as Kenneth Cole or A|X). These are soft yet subtle fragrances. The smell usually reminds you of 'new' things – just like that smell of a brand-new car, opened book or.. who knows. If I wear a more casual outfit – kind of like wearing shirt-and-jeans – I will wear something a little stronger and sportier – maybe Cool Water (by Davidoff) or Polo Sport. Whatever you choose, I recommend ALWAYS keeping a small bottle of it in your car – for those special occasions when you forget. (Mine is next to my first-aid kit to be accurate). One last thing – never spray directly on your clothes!! Remember, its your body heat from your skin that makes the fragrance evaporate (so others can smell it).

Now, don't call me metro-sexual. I just believe that salsa is not just a dance but an experience [mainly for the ladies].. and every little bit helps to get better compliments on the dance floor. It like treating yourself as a company in the stock market. The more value you add to yourself and to the dance experience you bring (dressing nicer, being a smooth dancer, smelling better, smiling a lot and making the lady look great on the floor) the higher your stock price goes up (the more ladies will be glad to dance with you). I rememer when I was first dancing, it was hard to get a lot of dances because – well, I wasn't that good (and I'm not saying I'm perfect now either) – but I realized that I had to somehow make up for not being as good as the rest of the other gentlemen at the club so that I could get more dances so that I could get better. I'm not saying that smelling good will magically make you a better salsa dancer, or liked by the ladies – but every little bit as a whole helps.

Filed under: salsa tip

Salsa Tip: Try not to overwax the dance floor…

Now, we all love salsa nightclubs and events where they actually have a really nice wooden dancefloor to dance on. Don't get me wrong – I give the club owners a lot of credit of giving us that pleasure. However, I went to a club last night, and they had one of those rented wooden dancefloor. However, it was overly waxed. It was very waxed to the point where it was hard to get a grip on the floor.

So, I started thinking whether I would rather liked and unwaxed/sticky floor compared to an overly waxed floor. I came to the conclusion that even though I would like neither, I would prefer a unwaxed/sticky floor. The reason for this is as follows: a unwaxed floor, I'll feel like I have less chance to slip – even though I would have to do extra work – but as it goes, on a unwaxed floor – I can always relieve pressure on my shoes to make my feet lighter. In addition, I usually come with nice shoes to the dancefloor that are already a bit slippery, which with a not so good floor, will make every dance just right. However, on a overly waxed floor, with really slick shoes (or with leather/suede on the bottom) is a mess. Its hard to artificially add the elements of 'friction' – and hence harder to make an waxed floor, less smooth (unless you spill some drinks) for just that night.

On a overly smooth floor, it requires people to compenstate for the lack of friction – which causes a lot of people to miss timing, or screw up combos. It kind of like doing a turn on ICE, when you've always been turning on tile. I think the main thing is that I always worry someone is going to slip (even me) and someone can get injured… but its just a thought. 

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Salsa Tip #55 : In case of emergency, break-out the iPod…

Oh yes, you know I couldn't pass up a story about iPods. Well, this is a pretty straightforward tip, which most of you know, and probably already do, but others haven't really though of. If you haven't gotten one already, you are missing out – big time. This little handy device is perfect for any salsero. It can have all of your music that you love to listen to and practice as you walk to class, work, or sit in front of the computer.

However, there is another GREAT usage for it. Have you ever gone to a dance club, to try to practice some of your styling or combinations… and then just magically blanked out .. and can't remember how the move went? Well, with a video iPod, you can take all the videos you might download from the internet, or take from your salsa dance class, or from our podcast and poof….

You are at a club… and you forget how a combo you are practicing goes (or some footwork).. you take your iPod out of your pocket (yes, its pretty thin), go to your videos.. see the combo and BAM! You are back in the game. Of course, I would probably recommend getting a nice case so you protect it on the dancefloor, but other than that – its a great device to help you get better while you are at the club trying out the different moves. Its like having salsa lessons on the GO! 

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Salsa Tip #108: 50% of the dance is personality…

Now, we talk about technique, combos, rhythm and timing. We also talk about body movements, styling and footwork. However, we keep forgetting that the main part of the dance is the personality and attitude. Anyone can be a great technical dancer — however, many people forget that personality is really what makes the dance entertaining. A simple rule — always smile! There have been many times when I see dancers just be all stressed and flustered over the dance, they forget to make eye-contact with their partner and smile. Smiling helps their partner know they are having a good time, which enhances the chemistry between the both of you.

How do you express your personality? Well, easy…. just be yourself. Find the salsa style that you like, that lets you have fun in the dance floor — and your personality will naturally come out. I know it is very hard for beginners to ‘cut-loose’ and not worrying about doing the combination right, or for the ladies to make sure they are paying attention to the leader. But, even if you don’t know a lot of combos, you can use your basic step and spice it up with your own style and personality. When your personality shows, (and hopefully is a fun one), more people are going to want to dance with you because it will seem more natural and fun.

And please for God sake… don’t chew gum while you dance! Use breath mints instead… (Of course, you should brush your teeth before you go out to the club)

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Salsa Tip #207 : Take your greasy hands off of me!

This actually doesn’t even have to be a tip — just a little consideration coupled with common sense. There have been times I have gone to the club and seen males (and females) be devouring greasy food (wings, pizza, cheese sticks… or fried coconut shrimp with sauce) and then they go out to dance! People, napkins don’t take off the grease — thats why there are bathrooms with soap! And thats why you need soap to get oil + grease out – because water + oil DON’T MIX. Basic Chemistry.

Here is why this is a problem. Everyone that goes to a salsa club to dance, likes to dress nice. Some us actually don’t shop at the Salvation Army or Goodwill for our club shirts. I usually like to go to GAP, Banana Republic, AX, and ExpressMen for my Salsa shirts — and only use them at salsa clubs. Therefore, we would like to take care of these clothes and not get them greasy or dirty intentionally. Accidents do happen, for sure, but those are far, few in-between. This goes for both men and women going to a salsa clubs.

Now, I saw a fellow dancer at a club. I started to approach her to say high, but then I realized she was eating – so I started to back away (and come back later). She noticed me walking away and said her hello and ‘lets go dance!’. In my head I was like ‘Oh God no’ because I saw how greasy her hands were from eating some nasty stuff. I kindly stated that maybe later becuase I didn’t want to interrupt her meal (of course I used that as an excuse in a way of not saying no) – but she said it was no problem smiling. She went ahead and licked her fingers and used a napkin as the method for ‘cleansing’. So I was stuck in this predicament — my only solution, dance the whole dance in open-partner position and limit my combinations.

Another thing I find bothering, and disgusting if I may add — I am a big higene guy. I wash my hands all the time (I take 2 showers a day – I rather be clean, than smell stinky and dirty). However, when I got to the bathroom at a salsa clubs — LADIES — you would not imagine how many guys just walk out without washing their hands! Swear to God! I sometimes feel good for the ladies that forget that people actually go to the bathroom at a salsa club.

So please people — be considerate! Help conserve our clothes and our health!

Filed under: salsa tip