1.) Social Dance – While this may seem obvious to some, I’ve heard many developing dancers say “I’ll go social dancing after I get better at it” without understanding why I give them a quizzical look. To be fair, I’ve also heard people say “I will practice speaking more Spanish after I get more comfortable doing it.”
The only way to get good at social dancing is to social dance. You can take 10 years of classes, and you will not be as good a social dancer as someone who has been social dancing every night for 4 months. You may know more moves. You may be a better lead. You might be able to follow more spins. But the art of social dancing comes from the experience of social dancing. It’s the only way you learn how to adapt to different floor conditions. To spontaneously create moves. You have to immerse yourself into the social dance scene to improve as a social dancer.
Leads, you need to dance with dancers that are not necessarily good. Find the opportunities and take them. In doing so you will learn what it takes to lead, how to make adjustments to your partner, and the difference between a move learned in class and a move executed on the dance floor. See every dancer as someone that can teach you something by trying to understand what you are trying to do for the next 3-5 minutes. Understand that what makes someone a good lead is not how many moves they lead, but how clearly they lead them, so that the follower doesn’t need to guess what’s going on.
Followers, you need to dance with people that are recognized as accomplished leaders. I’m not talking about the leads that talk about how great they are, but the ones that other followers clamor to dance with. The leads that make every follower look spectacular; they can do the same for you. Don’t hide from them. You will learn that the lead doesn’t have to be strong to be effective. You will see how quickly they adapt to your level, and help you to feel that you can do no wrong. That’s what a good leader has spent years developing. You don’t have to tell them your level, they will figure it out in the first few seconds. You don’t have to tell them not to lead you through double turns; they can tell if you’re ready for that after leading you through a single. All you need to do is relax and enjoy it.
Dance with many, dance often, and between dances…
Very good article,The number one problem is you get to a level and plateau this is where you need the experienced dancers to practice with to get better however they are too overwhelmed with dancers who want to dance with them,and some donot want to dance with you because you are not at there level.the challenge should how many new dancers can you lead and get them to do exactly what you want them to do and make it look effortless
A really good insight! And from a great social dancer too! Had a pleasure to dance with you once in Krakow – it was effortless (despite significant hight difference) and smooth. Great stuff!
Best,
Eva
Great article! Thanks for posting. I’ve been doing all of these over the last couple of years but I live in a city with limited salsa resources. What can one do when they’ve exhausted all the professional help they that’s available in the city? (actually there’s no one close outside my city either)
Thanks…and yes, there is a link back to this article.
Thanks for giving these great tips! As a new salsa dancer, I’m loving my classes and my Monday nights out and really need tips to look as smooth as some ladies I see! I always ask the guys to honestly critique me (I’m like their salsa baby now! Lol!) But I’ll try the video next!
Great Article, Shaka! Especially believe #4 and #5 helps alot. Once someone see themselves dancing, they will identify their problems QUICK instead of accepting baseless “compliments” from other dancers, LOL!
Hey there Guno, I don’t mind at all. Please include a link back to this website, in case people want to view the full article, and have an opportunity to leave comments as well.
Thanks for the sharing, Shaka. I am a student of Jack Dunn in Beijing and I did a summary of your 5 tips to become a better social dancer in Chinese and share them with dancers here in China. Hope you won’t mind.
Absolutely LOVEEEEEEEEE these tips! Being in the salsa scene socially for 6+ years….I myself had to take steps like these to become better for myself first and others. I did have to become part of a dance studio to get the professional teaching I need while still dancing socially:)!
Glad to help Nestor! Looking forward to seeing how your development comes along, shoot me a link to a video and I’ll see if I can give you some pointers.
sGB
Thanks Shaka for putting this together!!! I have asked my friends to take videos of me social dancing and they tought it was kind of weird even when I explained my strategy. I will show them your recommendations.
Thanks very much!
always stand on the ball of your feet and take small steps, Only stride when necessary. I am teaching the same small steps in tennis.