One of the biggest challenges that a relatively inexperienced dancer imposes on themselves is the idea that “I don’t know enough moves.” Often, a newer dancer – and this is often more true among leaders – wishes they had a larger repertoire of patterns and combinations with which to spice up their dance experience. After…
On the Salsaholics Facebook group this week, I posted a picture of what looks like a pretty painful injury incurred by one partner, literally at the hands of another. What is clear from the photo is that the injuring party grabbed the injured person with extremely strong thumb pressure, so much so that there is…
In last week’s Repertoire pattern, I mentioned in class that there was a key element that made the difference between success and “not-so-much” in the choreography. That magic ingredient? Flow. What I mean by “flow” is the dancer’s ability to keep their body in motion through the entire 8-count of salsa “units,” if you will….
Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the street! Literally! There are 10 months of the year (9 if we’re lucky with the weather, which seems not to be the case this year) when, certainly, patronize the clubs, the socials, and the parties. But summertime is the opportunity for we dwellers of…
This week, I’m teaching a one-day workshop, not on salsa (or bachata, or West Coast Swing) dancing, but on Performance Management as part of the Ontario University Institute of Technology’s Professional Management Certificate. One of the modules that I introduce throughout the workshop is a segment I call, “Coaching for All Occasions.” It discusses how…
As I’ve mentioned in the past, the very best salsa lesson I ever took was a master class in fundamentals with Vanessa Stay, one of the most experienced Latin dance teachers in the city. It was a group class for a very small number of people that cost us $100 for the hour. Between the…
Allow me to express a great big thank you to the great Jen Daudlin for stepping in on very short notice to teach the two Salsaholics classes last week. Where was I? Lounging on a beach somewhere? Doing a guest appearance on Dancing with the Stars? (I wish!) Abducted by aliens obsessed with learning bachata…
Very often, I’ll have new students come into the class, just to “try out” a beginner lesson. You know: “To see if they like it,” it being salsa dancing. As any more active student – not to mention long-time dancers – will know, a single beginner class won’t likely tell the tale of whether dancing…
The number one piece of advice for social dancing is, don’t teach on the social dance floor. This is doubly true if you’re not a teacher! I often have dance partners who will ask me for “pointers,” or to teach them one thing or another, or even to point out their dance deficiencies during a…
This week, we’re once again doing a bachata class. Bachata can be danced with a range of styles, including Urban, Modern, and Sensual with each bringing elements, idioms, tones, and aspects from other, analogous dance styles. While Urban and Modern forms can be danced with, say, your mother or father, the sensual style is sometimes…