I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer because salsa means different things to different people. For some it is purely for the creative release, for others it is about the exerciser’s high, for many it is a social outlet to meet new people and maybe develop a potential romance. So depending on why you are on the dance floor, you will have different expectations regarding conversations on the dance floor.

If both dancers are there for the social aspect then conversing while dancing is great as long as it isn’t dangerous or gets in the way of other dancers. My advice for the social dancer is not to expect that every partner you ask will want to converse. Start with simple small talk and feel out the situation. If the conversation is easy and two sided and you are aware of what is happening on the dance floor, then great! However if your partner seems to prefer to enjoy the silence then respect this. Also if you find yourself getting carried away with conversation and not paying attention on the dance floor then please concentrate on safely and effectively finishing the dance and continue the conversation off the dance floor.

From my experience most serious dancers prefer mild small talk and then to just enjoy the dance in silence. That way you can stay alert, reactive and in the moment. Don’t be offended if that is the situation. It is, after all, a dance floor, not a chat floor and that is usually why you have cozy corners in most clubs where you can hang out and chat!

The post Should You Talk and Dance? appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

One of the conversations we had is how drama-free the TDS team is in comparison to many salsa groups. From past experience I know that just like work or school, salsa groups have lots of drama, competition, romances and friendships gone wrong. But with our TDS core team of instructors and helpers which has more than 60 people in the group, it is very rare to hear of any incidents. Everyone is really there to be social and enjoy the fun, stress-free environment. This is what I love most about what I do. Seeing students catch the salsa bug and grow and develop into helpers and really come out of their shell and become different people. They may move on to other groups in the future but I can be proud that their initial first years of salsa experience were positive, passionate and gave them a really good base of friendships, dance partners and dance experience.

Thanks for the great conversation and evening ladies – you all rock!

The post Girls Night appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.

When I was learning to dance, I thought about it every free second I had. If I wasn’t actually dancing, I was creating turn patterns in my head, choreographing a song, thinking about what I wanted to work on or improve. All of this actually assisted me. I would wake up in the middle of the night with a turn pattern (sometimes it made no sense but other time…bingo!). I would be more aware of music accents and breaks because I would listen to it constantly and my memory sharpened so that when I was finally on the dance floor I had to think less and just execute.

I always tell my students that if they absolutely can’t practice to at least imagine practicing because it will help with memorizing and confidence. If you can imagine you can do it, then you can do it!

The post The Power of Thought appeared first on Toronto Dance Salsa.