Q. There are a number of intermediate moves that depart from a tap. These include: Sombrero, Dedo, Vacilala, Abrazala, Beso, Balsero and so forth. What beat in the salsa 8-beat structure does that tap take place on?
A. The answer is: the 8th beat.
Q. What is LA style Salsa?
A. It is a style that has borrowed extensively from other dance styles. It has been influenced by Cuban & New York style Salsa, Jazz, Swing and even Ballroom dancing. From these influences, the modern dancers of this style have further refined it to produce a distinctive range of turn patterns. Most LA style moves are based on the "cross-body lead", where the man leads the woman across his body in a linear motion. This basic dance component is shared by other dance styles like Cuban and New York styles. All three dance styles share many other common turn patterns as well. For example, the Cuban style "Setenta" is also known as "Hammer-lock" in LA & New York style.
Dancing On1 to a 3-2 Clave!
Dancing Mambo On2 to a 3-2 Clave!
Breakdown of the Clave for Salseros.
Article of The Month
Salsero's Corner
What does it mean to be a good follower? A good follower successfully matches the leader's style by mimicking his energy in interpreting the song. This is not easy.
But even if you go through the motions, give and release tension properly, and are cautious in your turns, it's not enough - it will still give you the appearance of a marionette on the floor.
You become alive only when you add an extra something - and that is styling. Styling could be compared to cooking: you can make a plain dish that is perfectly fine, but to add a really French touch, you need to add spices, sauces and other special secret ingredients.
The same goes with dancing. However, doing styling without being a good follower is not going to get you anywhere. Keep styling and mastering your basics, its a must.
Posture, Frame, Connection, and Timing are the most important elements for salsa dancing. Don't stoop or look at your feet. Don't allow your frame to collapse or loose integrity. Always maintain firm and secure connections. Never give up counting! Count the steps always but don't count out loud. Always start "on phrase" with the music.
10 Tips to Improve your Salsa Dancing
1. You're your own worst critic... Watch yourself in a mirror or videotape yourself; and see what you like or don't like about your salsa dancing and change it...
2. Whether you're just starting out or been dancing for a while, sign up for a class or take a workshop to learn some new moves or to help improve your technique...
3. Want to add a little more spice to your dance style? Analyze what you like about a dancer's particular style and see if you can start emulating some of their movements in front of the mirror at home. Need more help? Take a styling class, a private with an instructor whose style you enjoy watching, and/or purchase a styling videotape.
4. You're lousy at dancing on time to the music? Take a music workshop class, a private with an instructor OR ask your friends to help you "listen" to the music.
5. Take a class in a dancestyle you know nothing about, such as Afro-Cuban, hip hop, jazz...
6. Hate shines? Usually it may be because you may be too lazy to learn, practice and memorize them. Make a game plan to try and learn one new shine a month and use it while dancing on the dance floor... or take a cardio-salsa class with a salsa instructor at a gym (which is usually made up of shine patterns).
7. Find someone who loves to dance as much as you do and become practice partners to learn new moves...
8. Can't find a partner, who needs one... learn new moves from a videotape or class and set aside one night a week to practice at home in front of a mirror...
9. Bored of just social dancing in the clubs? Why not take your dancing to the next level by trying out for a dance group or participating in a dance contest?
10. Do you want to be a good leader or follower to the point where you don't have to ask for dance, but everyone's asking you? Here's a snapshot on what it takes to reach the ultimate salsa goal...
Leader: The ladies know every dance with you is so much fun -- they can get their salsa fix from you in one or two dances. As a leader, your attention is 100% on your partner and the enjoyment of dancing that song together. You've mastered the lead so well that it doesn't matter what level of skill they're at (beginner, intermediate, advanced) -- they know exactly where you want them to be and what moves you are doing without a tug of war; and/or doing crazy moves which forces them to bump into and/or be stepped on by other dancers on a crowded dance floor. Your skill as a dancer is at such a level that you don't even need a partner for someone to appreciate how you can move on the dance floor (style-wise). You never refuse a dance without good reason and if you promise to dance with them later, you remember your promise.
Follower: The leader knows that he'll have 100% of your attention during the whole dance and you'll be able to follow whatever move he can give you at a moment's notice. You don't try to anticipate or lead yourself and even if you both make mistakes, you can laugh, smile and/or apologize for the mistake (not give him dirty looks). You can execute his every move seamlessly and can add a little spice to his dancing enjoyment by adding your own personality (from ladies styling) into the dance. You don't refuse and judge the other dancer just by his looks or whether you think he can dance, then go up to him later and ask for a dance when you realize he really does know how to dance.
by Rose Lau (aka Rose Knows...)
Stepping on Salsa
Que Sopa magazines new premier column!
Discriminatory Salsa?
Is Salsa really getting a bad name due to prejudice, cliques, ageism, racism, or other "isms"? Did Salsa seem more fun when you started out, but now it's sometimes a drag? Do you complain that good dance partners are getting rare? Do you believe or know that certain people will not dance with you no matter what?
If so, welcome to the Salsa world! All the above is normal. When we begin partner dancing, everyone seems friendly and encouraging. As we progress, suddenly we notice the existence of situations, such as cliques. We receive less encouragement and things may not seem so exciting anymore. This too, is perfectly normal. But there is a solution.
First, accept the legitimacy of ALL pickiness, stupidity, and isms that you think you observe at a dance venue. For example, if a lady wants to dance only with blonde-haired-men-whose-chest-size-exceeds-his-waste-size, I say, "Whatswrongwitdat?...nothing!" I'm happy if only I can discover her requirement, so as not to waste any effort asking for a dance. As in, "NEXT!" Of course, the guys have their biases too, and are often worse than ladies, especially after men think they know how to dance. I'll admit one of my prejudices--I tend to not ask any smoker to dance. If there is some other good overriding reason, I will, but generally I avoid smokers. "Whatswrongwitdat?...nothing!" Therefore, if I'm entitled to my preferences, prejudice, or pickiness, then other dancers are entitled to theirs--no matter how seemingly irrational.
Obviously, not everyone attending a salsa dance even cares about salsa. Even at a studio dance, various agendas are floating around, such as to only enjoy the social atmosphere. Some want to learn only bare minimum--just enough to hang with a basic dancer without appearing confused. And others may start out hoping for a hook up, but instead fall in love with Salsa itself. Anyhow, I expect to be weeded out--usually GLAD to be weeded out--by those who don't know Salsa from tortilla chips, or by those who can dance but have strange agendas. I try not to give a second thought about the "whys." For all I know, she is there to organize a Tupperware Party.
So what's the solution for those Salsa lovers who want to dance more, but believe that either others' attitudes or their own personal disadvantages are working against them? Two things--these two things alone will stack the odds in your favor as much as possible. #1. Continually work on improving your dance skills--meaning take local lessons. This will automatically attract those who are likewise there as much for a dance experience as well as a social occasion. I am glad to dance a song with a beginner whom I discover is taking salsa lessons--that's proof enough to me that I'm not wasting my time even if today's dance is poor. Who knows, in a year she may be my favorite salsa partner. But if not, it's still good salsa citizenship to help newcomers get a foothold. #2. Be friendly to everyone. Just because others have picky preferences doesn't mean you have to indulge in yours. Realize you will never change the way the dance scene thinks and behaves, but you can still enjoy living according to your personal ethic.
I sometimes neglect #2 above, but I'm willing to live with the result--meaning enough #1 alone can often provide all the good dancing a person can stand. But some people are so natural at #2. Sometimes the super friendly type nightclubbers get all the dancing they can handle, even though they really NEED lessons, as in...please! But such party-hoots are often here today and gone tomorrow.
Ladies sometimes have it rougher in the club scene than guys. Many women hate asking a man for a dance, and don't like rejection any more than men do. Admittedly, some women who are friendly enough AND good dancers can STILL find themselves sitting more than they want. Even so, if it's good dancing you desire, then ongoing dance skill improvement and friendliness are the two best equalizers you can have. The other questionable "situations" and attitudes will prove an unproductive waste of energy to even worry about.
Que Sopa Magazine
Stepping on Salsa
Column Editor,
Mark (Gimmeair) Bennett
Groom yourself?
A man should be clean, neat and appropriately dressed.. Body odor can be a real problem. Make sure to use deodorant and to have clean hair, hands, fingernails and the like. Brush your teeth and use breath freshener.
Alcohol or smoker's breath is a turn-off for women who like to dance. Hair should be neatly combed and a man should shave or trim his facial hair before dancing. A lot of greasy hair products can also be off-putting.
Clothes should be clean, fit well and be neatly pressed. Shoes should be polished. Natural fibre absorbs moisture better than synthetics and feels better to the touch. If you perspire a lot, take extra shirts and change into them as needed. It's not fun to dance with someone who is soaking wet.
Flashy jewelry, tank tops, sneakers, and T-shirts are not usually appropriate dance apparel.
this months recipient of Salsero of the Month award.Tim has made the transition of budding salsero to an intermediate student. Tim manages to make it to almost every available class whether beginner or intermediate despite his busy schedule at work.
