Last
year was The Year of the Dragon on the Chinese calendar, and I encouraged
everyone to be adventurous and try new mambo events. After all, dragons
are very adventurous.
This year, 2001, is the Year of the Snake. So in keeping with typical
snake behavior, I want to encourage everyone to practice good dancers'
etiquette this year. That means observe your proper space on the dance
floor (snakes keep to their own little territory), don't step on other
people's feet (snakes have no feet to step with), don't go bashing
yourself or your partner into other people (snakes never bash into
anyone), don't bump people with your arms and elbows (snakes have
no arms or elbows to bump anyone with), do unto others as you would
yourself.....treat your partners nicely (snakes always treat their
partners like themself....after all, they're unisex), and remember
that mambo is not just about showing off 10,000 turn patterns, it's
about the rhythm and the motion (snakes have very few turn patterns,
but man have they got the MOTION!). Practice Safe Salsa (snakes play
it very safe). This is to remind everyone again to use good dance
floor etiquette. And don't just think it's me. Check out a typical
email I just received from one of our fellow salseras:
"Happy new year Steve, I'm hoping you'll put the dance etiquette
guidelines on this list again. Please!!! Last Wednesday downstairs
at Nell's was the most crowded I've ever seen it there, which is OK
-- after all, we should help support, right? But I don't think I've
ever been so BATTERED on a dance floor as I was then! I literally
came home
with big bruises from being run into repeatedly by other dancers.
A lot of people just weren't adapting their dancing to the very crowded
conditions on the floor. Usually I enjoy these events. After this
past Wednesday, though, I'm going to take a break rom them, at least
until my bruises heal. It would be a shame if others stopped going
too,
but the behavior of some of the dancers took the fun out of it for
many others. Would you PLEASE post a reminder about how to behave
on the dance floor? Thanks!"
And quoted from the Toronto, Canada, salsa web site
(an excellent web site, by the way):
December
30, 2000
As the New Year approaches, it's a great time to reflect or start
some new resolutions or goals... For a change, I've put in some resolutions
on what you should not do.
Though
shall not...
1. Throw sweat all over the other dancers or expect someone to dance
when you are totally soaked.
2. Spin the girl into another couple.
3. Take big, heavy steps and step on other dancers with your high
heels or big chunky shoes.
4. Dip your partner into another couple.
5. Give your partner whip-lash during a dip.
5. Place your hands where they do not belong.
7. Hold your partner too close.
8. Leave your long hair loose to "whip" dancers.
9. Try to do some fancy tricks on a crowded dance floor to show off.
10. Get so immersed into trying every single move that you forget
there are others around you whom you might bump into.
And how could I forget... please leave your BO at home!
If you feel that I've missed any, please feel free to email
me. I already had a suggestion to do the "male version of
salsa" wishlist.
If
you'd like to learn more about the Chinese New Year... click on any
of the links listed below.
This is a nice simple site with lots of info: http://www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/
For superstitions: http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/taboos.html
Great Chinese Horoscopes: http://found.cs.nyu.edu/liaos/horoscope.html
Hong
Kong Tourist Assoc. Info: http://www.hkta.org/horoscopes/index.html