Understanding the beat of the music is the challenge of many beginning Salsa dancers. This isn’t surprising at all, since Salsa music is composed of so many complex rhythms with underlying musical beats occurring simultaneously. Salsa music often has approximately 180 beats per minute, although it can be slower or much faster!
There are different styles of Salsa music, yet they all share one thing in common- the clave. The clave is a rhythmic pattern on which all Afro-Cuban music is based on, generally played on claves (a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of short wooden sticks that originated in Cuba). Understanding the clave in Salsa music will help you to distinguish the bars or measures in the music, which in turn will allow you to coordinate your steps to the rhythm.
Ladies you should feel comfortable asking a gentleman for a dance, under any social dance setting. You are strongly encouraged to dance with different partners no matter what their dance level is. This will make you a better follower.
A good salsera can make a beginner salsero look good.
by Joe Wieder Salsa Partnering & Dance Floor Etiquette
Ladies ...
A successful salsa strategy toward dancing all night, apart from knowing how to dance, is to be seen dancing. Guys are generally a shy lot, but if they know you can and will dance, you'll be dancing all night.
So...Select a good dance club or studio. A place with a wide range of ages works best. Some of those older guys can really dance! Live music is rarely good dance music - most bands seem oblivious to what a good salsa tempo might be.
Wear something bright and colorful, and/or slinky and sexy - just be sure, whatever it is, it's noticeable! Dance places can be dim as dusk, so make sure you don't blend into the shadows. Arrive early and position yourself as close to the dance floor as possible. Sit or stand near the dance floor, preferably where guys coming off the floor will see you first. And, oh yeh, don't congregate with a group of women. No guy is going to walk up to several women hanging together and risk that kind of rejection.
Smile till it hurts! If you don't look like you're enjoying yourself, you probably won't be! Don't be afraid to make eye contact. Say, "Yes!" to the first dance offer, no matter who it is, and keep on saying it. This is the most important rule! Being picky is counter-productive, so lose the attitude! If you're seen saying no, you'll be left with only the blind and the bold - a small, and not necessarily cute, minority. The point of saying yes every time is to increase your chances of meeting talented, interesting dance partners. If you do this right, good dancers will soon monopolize your time anyway. Ask good dancers to teach you something new! They'll usually be happy to oblige and will seek you out in the future.
Oh, and don't chew gum - or if you have to, do it with your mouth closed.
A man goes to a salsa club and sees a very pretty lady sitting at a table all by herself. He finally gets his chance to dance with her, and when the song is over, he says, "You're such a great dancer! But I'm kind of surprised to see you're alone".
She says, "Well actually, my husband and I used go dancing at different clubs several days a week. Unfortunately, he died and this is the first time I've gone out without him".
"Wow, that's really sad. But don't you have any friends or relatives that would want to come along?", the man asks.
"I suppose", she replies, "but they're all at the funeral".
Salsa Addiction
This page was last updated: May 28, 2009
Me & Al, "Liquid Silver" Palm Springs
Salsa News
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Play danceable music in the range of 150 to 200 beats per minute. Songs of 200 (BPM) or more should not be played one
after another.
6064 Maple Street
Omaha, Ne 68104
402.505.9917
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