Tag Archives: where to dance

What to wear for the 1950s Havana Salsa Party!

04 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by in salsa, Salsa Party

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Some of you might be wondering what you can wear for the upcoming 1950s Havana Party. So I decided to give you some ideas:

Men:

What you need to be thinking is Cuba: Cigars, hats, smart shirts, brightly coloured and braces. Much like these:

Ladies:

Your dress (yes, it should be a dress) should be along the lines of a sexy, classic style, cocktail dress- floral or brightly coloured. Flowers in the hair would be a GREAT idea- but make sure you have secured them well- you will be spinning quite a bit! Think ‘Dirty Dancing 2’ and you will be on the right track! Here is some inspiration:

See you all on the 13th October, if not before!!

The fastest way to learn salsa!

02 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Dancing Tips, salsa, Uncategorized

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Learning can be frustrating.  Many people get very despondent with how slowly they progress when they start to salsa. They lose confidence and think that maybe the dance is just not for them.

NOT TRUE!

Salsa, like anything in life is learnt by practice. Therefore, the quickest way to learn how to dance salsa is by immersion. Immerse yourself in the dance. Find a place to dance as many nights of the week as possible. Contact us if you are unsure of where you can go in Cape Town.

We have lately taken a beginner to an advanced level within 6 weeks merely because she danced 5 nights a week! The more hours you put in, the quicker your ability and confidence will grow.

When you are out dancing, dance with everyone! Be certain to dance with those who are better than you as well as with those who are at your level. Dancing with someone at your own level is great, you learn and play and practice together. Dancing with someone who is above your level is like a free 4 minute private lesson. Every move is a lesson learnt- cherish it! Every track is an opportunity- don’t waste the music!

Another means of immersion is to listen to salsa music- all the time. Salsa music is very complex and many hear it simply as a whole lot of noise in the beginning of their salsa journey. The more you listen to Salsa music the more your ear and then your body will be able to understand it and respond to it. So, fill up your Ipod with some amazing salsa tunes and play it all day.

Here’s to hours and hours of fun!

Immerse yourself!

Terrified of the dance floor?

23 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by in Dancing Tips, salsa, Uncategorized

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Still afraid to step onto the dance floor? 

Many beginner leads complain about not being able to remember the turn patterns they learnt in class. And they do not feel confident that they will be able to remember their steps and leads when taking a lady onto the floor.

Here’s the thing: YOU DON’T HAVE TO!

All you need to do is remember a few simple steps: You need to be able to do the salsa basic, a cross-body lead and one simple turn. Apart from that, just smile and enjoy it!

When you want to grow from this, do not try and remember the entire routine you learn each week. Rather pick one step that you particularly liked, or the only one you remember and add that to your repertoire.  That way, over the year you could possibly add 52 steps to your collection. Since the most experienced dancers usually use less than 20 actual steps/patterns and then repeat them, you will have more than enough to allow any salsera to enjoy her 4 minutes on the dance floor with you! And that is really what you are after- nothing fancy, just simple enjoyment!

So be confident men… the ladies are longing to dance with you!

I’ll see you ALL on the floor at the MASQUERADE SALSA PARTY!

What makes a good dancer?

04 Saturday Aug 2012

Posted by in Dancing Tips, salsa, Uncategorized

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Simply put… Stubbornness.

The best dancers are incredibly stubborn! When they know they can’t do something, they do it. Usually over and over again so that what they cannot do becomes what they can do. Often it irritates them so much that cannot do something that they determine to get  that something right usually before the next time they are going to dance.

Seldom do they get it right in a studio. Most often it is in the kitchen or in front of the tiny bedroom mirror, in the shower or randomly in the street. Or, and this is a common one, in the grocery queue. This is because the best dancers dance absolutely everywhere while life happens around them. They do not let it go! It’s stubbornness!

Every opportunity to dance is taken. It is not given up for the comfort of home or for an enticing fad. Whenever they can dance, they do. With whomever they can dance, they do. If they happen to hear the right music, they dance. If there is a dance party, they go and they dance. If there isn’t a dance party they throw one, and they dance.

Dance stubbornness perseveres. It doesn’t leave you be. It doesn’t stay for only a short time. Good dancers do not dance for a few months only, they stick to it for years. And their stubbornness sticks with them.

Be stubborn.

Dance!