IS SALSA DANCING EASY TO LEARN?
Yes, yes, it is. Absolutely. As long as you have these three things, Salsa is easy to learn.
One: Join the right culture.
I’ve run this school for more than seven years, and I’ve seen that the most consistent reason to join Salsa classes for my students is not making perfect turns or nailing a fancy move. Instead, they want to have a fun time, listen to some Latin music, socialize with positive people, and connect with their partners. And so, if it’s your first time taking dance classes, I encourage you to pick a school where the culture is about fun, about connection, not about obsessing and nailing down a right turn. I believe that if you’re having a good time in a supportive environment, where instructors and classmates high-five you and cheer you on, there’s no limit.
Remember those instructors that made you feel good about yourself. They covered the material; you learned something, but most importantly, they were your big supporters, and you felt encouraged. You felt good about yourself; you didn’t feel judged. Some of us didn’t have that kind of instructor, however I think a great instructor will always be your cheerleader. Someone who knows that solving a problem isn’t what will make you happy, but supporting you as you’re solving is what matters.
Two: Pick the correct curriculum.
When picking a school, especially at the beginning, consistency is key to progress in Salsa dancing. And the same principle applies to everything. Without consistency, it’s hard to tell how much you are learning. So, for example, if you’re working out inconsistently, if you don’t have a routine, it’s hard to get fit. Likewise, if you skip classes in high school, the information you get has gaps that make learning difficult.
Therefore, we encourage our students to make our Salsa classes part of their routine because we know that joining a school with a structured learning environment will help them learn, connect, and create community, making lessons fun and rewarding. In addition, being among familiar faces eases the tension of learning a new skill.
If your schedule is highly complicated, then a school that offers a drop-in system may work for you. However, we’ve found that success comes from learning with the same instructor and classmates. Lile Lego pieces, students built their dancing skills one on top of the other. This way, you don’t feel overwhelmed because every class is just a little further than last week.
Three: Develop the right mindset.
I’ve learned that the most important thing is approaching dancing with the right mindset; that is, I’m here to grow and have fun. And every time you feel awkward or frustrated, know that uncomfortable means you’re learning, and it is an excellent place to be because nothing in life is worth having if it comes easy right away. For instance, if you feel challenged and engaged by a video game and suddenly find the cheat code, the game is no longer fun.
There is no cheat code to Salsa, and you will have challenging moments, and challenges are good, as long as you don’t feel overwhelmed. And so, if you follow rules one and two and apply the right mindset, which is I’m here to grow and have fun, you will find that Salsa is easy to learn.
Finally, it is essential to avoid self-judgment when dancing. I wish I had told myself that because there were so many moments in class when I was a student when I was too hard on myself. There is no way to fail Salsa. You can make mistakes at any stage of the learning process. However, no one keeps score at my school because we know that missteps are part of the journey. You can fall, but get up, fix, correct course, and learn. That’s the point, be confident and have fun because you can learn anything and everything.
And for that reason, at the beginning of this article, I said Salsa is easy if you are part of the right culture with the right mindset and curriculum. I hope that reading this blog encourages you to start your journey with dancing. As for me It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.
I can’t wait to welcome you to our big family, have you come in week to week, have fun, connect with new friends and let loose to amazing Latin songs. Click here to check our current schedule.
If you have any questions you would like me to answer here are some ways you can contact me: message me on Instagram (torontodanceSalsa), on Twitter (#torontodanceSalsa), on Facebook (Toronto Dance Salsa) or email me at [email protected].
