It’s definitely a touchy topic for salsa dancers. I myself am not Latin and had absolutely no dancing skills when I started dancing. I learned how to salsa dance in the clubs with mostly Latin men. Looking back I should have definitely taken classes, to begin with, because I learned so many bad habits in the club and many of the dancers I often danced with were not half as good as I thought they were, to begin with having no method of comparison.

Now with all that I know when I go salsa dancing those who have taken lessons and put structured work into their dancing are often smoother, more skilful dancers. It is still fun to dance with “unschooled” Latin dancers who have learned a few steps as children and just really let go and feel the music. But it definitely takes some structured learning to hone even the most naturally gifted dancer.

So no I do not think that those with “Dancing in their blood” are any better then those that have taken classes. I think what you put into your dancing shows on the dancefloor and with hard work (remember that it is fun work) anyone of any background, age, size and skill level, can because a great dancer.

The post The great debate. appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

Leading and following are both equally important roles. However, as a beginner a woman may feel that her role is easier than the leader’s role which is true to some extent. Men have to think about themselves, the women, the music, their surroundings, what is happening next, how to execute the move, etc. So women, you have to always be sympathetic to men as they are learning how to dance. However, somewhere around level 3 women begin to fall behind and men begin to stabilize. I think this is because men almost never miss classes and they concentrate on their development. Women can sometimes take classes for granted and tend to miss a lot more classes then men. They don’t practice at home as much also and so once the men start to get better around level 3 or 4 they find that they may be falling behind.

Ladies, my suggestion is to take classes and practice seriously right from the beginning because the lead gets so much harder to follow after level 2. So if you have done your homework, go out dancing and go to classes you will be much more successful once you reach the intermediate level. The foundational work is always the most important. If you get it right from the beginning you won’t have to go back and undo bad habits like I had to when I learned how to dance without formal training.

Don’t be afraid to ask your partners for suggestions on your follow. Men tend to receive more feedback then women and I think if we heard more about our dancing we would be more likely to make positive changes. So once in a while, ask your partner what you can do to improve.

If you can do it on your own, you can do it with a partner. I always say this in class. Can you do a cross body lead with a turn by yourself well? If so you will be able to follow it well even with someone who is not leading it properly. Practice at home on your own – it will assist with balance, rhythm and movement.

Keep tuned in for some more ladies tips in the future!

The post Tip for Women appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

So yesterday I discussed the pros and cons of private lessons. Here is the same for group salsa classes:

Group classes – The main benefits to group classes is that they are a more realistic environment. You are dancing with those at approximately the same skill level so that there are no surprises when you get to the clubs. Also the pace is usually slow enough that there is a lot of time for practice and muscle memory. Repeating each new move or exercise throughly really is the key to progression. The class environment allows you to meet other students which is especially useful if you don’t have a dance partner. You can meet a potential future dance partners or even new friends to go salsa dancing with together. Group classes are also really fun. The energy of the group can really inspire you to improve and continue and it is really a fun, relaxing environment.

Now there are cons to group classes when compared to privates. You can develop bad habits with regards to leading/following. The pace is not catered to you personally so you have to go to the group pace. Lastly the schedule is not flexible as private lessons – you will usually have to attend classes at the same time weekly.

So which is better? Well it depends on your budget, schedule and personality. My best suggestion in general is to do the group classes and after every semester take a private lesson to clean up your bad habits, firm up your skills and be prepared fully for the next semester. It is a great strategy that several of my students use and it really assists them in their progression.

The post Private Lessons vs Group Lessons – Pt 2 appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

To complement yesterdays blog entry on group salsa classes vs. club classes, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss private lessons vs group lessons. I receive many questions regarding this topic – which is better?

I believe both have an importance on a student’s development. It doesn’t actually have to be a choice of one or the other unless there are budget constraints. Here are the pros and cons:

Private Lessons – Obviously privates are a lot more expensive than group classes. Group classes range from $12-$16 an hour in most studios in Toronto. Private lessons range from $50-$100 an hour. Quite a leap. The benefit is the one on one attention you receive. When you dance with the instructor they can give you tips, advice and exercises that you would not get in class that are suited to your strengths and areas of improvement. It is a great environment for those who are hesitant about learning with or in front of others. The learning pace is also much faster. I estimate you will learn 3 times as much as in a group class. Also you don’t develop those terrible bad habits that you can in a group class that are so difficult to get rid of – privates tend to nip bad habits before they become a set part of your dancing.

However, it is an unrealistic environment. You are dancing with a professional who will lead/follow properly and you will have difficulty once you dance with someone of your own level, especially if you are a beginner. The space is also unrealistic. You get a studio all to yourself – it is spacious and quite and you will have no problems bumping into someone or listening. That is not the case once you get to a salsa club.

Tomorrow I will discuss the pros and cons of group classes and give you my opinion on how to work both into your learning schedule!

The post Private Lessons vs Group Lessons – Pt 1 appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.