December 8, 2002 -- The Guide to Salsa for Beginners

1.5.4) I already have dance background, will I learn quicker?

I totally agree with this. I have been learning (and teaching now) ballet since I was 5 and that would mean 23 years of ballet grounding. Learning salsa was relatively easy for me but tough for my teacher (male) - he had a tough time controlling me coz I kept leading him back!

I've completed my advance level (sequences)in 16 private lessons but now have to unlearn all the steps and relearn with a new teacher (salsa specialist) whose main focus for me now is rhythm and style - apparently I have none !! :( or rather, not enough... :)

I did not learn any freestyle / feel of rhythm from my first teacher (not really qualified) who only taught sequences (variations) without paying much attention to those areas.

Maybe you could write an article on the fundamental importance of strong basic footwork before any attempts in the sequences. This is a hard lesson for me but not all is lost though. I just have to be a bit more patient. Hope this feedback helps.... Fiona

I think a good teacher suppose to teach both Male and Female in a equal quality even Styling and Spin.

1.4.4) Male or Female instructor?
(give feedback)

Whether you prefer a male or female teacher is really up to you. A female instructor may have more insight for females, and a male instructor may have better insight for guys, but this is not always the case. A good instructor should understand both roles, and be able to teach both guys and girls equally well. For specific things like styling, you may want to choose an instructor of the same sex; but for everything else, it shouldn't matter (especially at the beginner level) -- Gupson Pierre

The Beginner's Guide to Salsa -- Your reference articles on Dance Instruction, and its various subsections, were very well done. You coverage of many questions is thorough and informative. I recommend that all Beginners (and those beyond beginning skill level) should read it. I teach and I am often amazed at the requests that I hear from people who are complete Beginners (which I define as: never set foot on a dance floor, never took any lessons, don't have knowledge of any basics or even the differences between the dances, don't recognize differences in the rhythm and tempo of different forms of music).

I've had calls from people who "want to have some cool moves" for their wedding reception next month. They are usually surprised when I tell them to just take classes consistently and to practice, and no, at their novice level, they won't have "cool moves" thirty days
from now. I am always surprised when beginners and advanced beginners ask me for styling classes. That I don't do (although there seem to be those will encourage beginners into styling class.) Beginners need to begin at the beginning and styling is body work that come with advanced skills and knowledge.

Another issue that the articles touch upon is whether familiarity and skill in one dance form will automatically transfer to Latin dancing. Well, that's not necessarily true! And, sometimes skill in one dance form can actually be a hindrance (mentally) to relaxing and
opening up to another.

I think that many people are influenced by the ease that they see accomplished dancers exhibit on the dance floor. Perhaps it's our societal leaning toward instant gratification -- it looks so easy, I want it now, too! In Chicago, there are many dancers -- men and women -- whom I really enjoy watching. They all have a trait in common: they worked from the beginning to build a foundation and they built their dance skills and talents brick by brick. We have many types of accomplished dancers in Chicago, including those who are into performing and and/or contests and those who are talented social dancers who are not interested in performing or contests.

So, to Beginners and beyond, I would say, "Practice, build your skills, progress at your own rate -- not at the rate that someone else is at -- and have a good time while you're doing it."

salsera60616 - Chicago

December 5, 2002 --

Yes, that is an excellent article.

I especially liked the section on the four zones of learning salsa. I continue to cycle through them. -- LeftonThree, Chicago