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Text: Erik 20.12 2004

Tips for "Salsa Night"/ dancers (specially the men)

Since most or all of those who come to the salsa night on Saturdays come fresh from a class, and have never otherwise danced before, I decided to share some of my own experiences. My main advice is this: Do not focus on doing the same combinations or turn patterns that you learned in class - stick to the basic concepts. Remember that a lot of the people in the club wish they could only do the basic steps. Remember that part of the fun is when something goes wrong - it always brings out a smile!

It is perfectly ok to dance a whole song with just basic steps, maybe adding a few cross body leads and maybe a couple of outside turns. All guys lead slightly differently and the same goes for the following of the ladies.

As a beginner I often prepared myself to go to a salsa nightclub to do the combinations I learned in a recent class. I thought that the ladies would enjoy dancing with me if I knew a lot of different moves. I did not care too much of myself tumbling around, bumping into others and getting off beat, as long as I did those moves. Today I know that for the lady it is much more comfortable to dance with somebody who does the basic steps well, than somebody who tries to do complicated combinations that make her get off beat many times during one song. Keep it simple, fun and nice :)

When you stay on beat and dance in a relaxed manner, you (and your partner) will be able to enjoy the music in stead of focusing too much on interpreting each others moves. So to conclude: Start off very easy and from there, try out new things little by little. When something does not work out, go back to the simple thing again. .

Erik