It seems like every month there's at least one salsa convention going
on somewhere in the world. So I decided to put together a list of tips
and recommendations to help you get the most bang for your buck from
the congress. I'll leave the decision of which congress you go to up
to you they each have their own pro's and con's.
You may find you prefer large conventions (as there are more dancers
from around the world, but it can be more intimidating) or smaller congresses
(as they can be more intimate and give you a chance to get to know your
fellow dancers better as there are less to choose from), but these tips
should help you no matter which type of congress you attend.
1.
Register early - As soon as you decide you going to attend register
right away with at least one friend to start with; then work out the
room details later if others decide to join you. The closer you get
to the date of the congress - the higher the prices get.
2. Be selective - There's going to be a myriad of workshops/lectures
to choose from - select a few can't miss events and stick to those.
If you're not sure which ones to take, get some advice from your fellow
dancers/ instructors who regular attend dance conventions. It's guaranteed
that if you end up doing all the workshops you won't remember what you've
learned by the following week anyway. So choose quality over quantity
and focus on a few.
3. Make sure to eat - You are going to be very busy dancing all
day and all night so make sure you eat at least two good meals dependent
on your schedule. If you don't eat you're not going to make it. It's
a great idea to bring portable snacks like granola bars and fruit to
give you an extra boost of energy.
4. Drink, Drink, Drink - Now you know I mean non-alcoholic drinks
like water, gatorade and juice. This is really important. You are going
to need to replenish your fluids frequently as you're going to be sweating
a lot from all that dancing. Alcoholic drinks will just dehydrate you
more - plus it won't help you with your triple spins.
5. Pace yourself - This is the hardest thing to do because you're
going to want to do everything especially if you're a congresso newbie.
Remember you don't have to dance to every song, go to every workshop
or see every performance. Take it easy. This is the only way you're
going to make it to 4 am on the final day without burning out. If it's
your first time, make sure to do a little bit of everything, without
overdoing it.
6. Bring a first aid kit - Since you're going to probably ignore
tip #5 you're going to need some medical assistance. Ibuprofen for your
sore back. Band-Aids for your arms and feet from being stepped on. Tiger
Balm for those aching muscles. Ice pack for your knee. If you follow
step #5 then this step can probably be eliminated.
7. Bring a mini sewing kit - For those moments where you least
expect it, you might need to do a bit of spot mending in case you break
a strap on your top/dress or accidently split your pants from all the
dancing. Hey it happens. It's better to be safe than sorry.
8. Bring a camera - Whether you choose to bring a video camcorder
or a regular camera, make sure you get a few shots for posterity. It's
great to look back on the event and the videotapes or photos help you
remember everything that went on.
9. Dance as much as possible - Some people get so caught up videotaping
that they don't do any dancing. Remember the main reason you came is
to dance. Definitely tape if you want to but if that's all you're going
to do you might as well have stayed at home saved your $$$ for a real
vacation and bought the videos.
10. Dance with somebody new - This goes for you too ladies, have
the courage to ask someone whose style you admire and/or someone you've
never danced with before. You can dance with your buddies back home
anytime. Don't forget, that's what the conventions are all about --
meeting new people and experiencing the different styles of salsa from
all over the world.
11. Visit the city - You're most likely going to be in a city
you've never been to before. Don't let your only impression be the view
from your hotel room or the inside of the convention areas. Take an
afternoon or a day to check out some of the sights. You'll be happy
you did.
12. Take a nap - Now you're going to want to be able to dance
all night and then wake up early to attend the workshops or tour around
the city. I highly recommend an afternoon nap to help prevent congress
burnout or if you're in a sunny climate, take your nap outside and sunbathe
at the same time. Think of it as preventative medicine.
13. Wear comfortable shoes - Now is not the time to break in
a new pair. Bring one for the workshops (jazz shoes) and 1 or 2 extra
pairs for dancing. I wore out my favourite dancing shoes at my 1st congress
so a spare pair is a good idea.
14. Stretch - This is good advice, which I unfortunately never
take myself. I always wish I had stretched the next day. If you don't
want to have really sore muscles I highly recommend it.
15. Know the music - Now you can't possibly know all the songs
but the more you are familiar with the music the better your dancing
will be. You'll be able to dance to the different accents in the songs.
A good place to start is the Music
section on this site to see the top picks by people in the scene.
16. Keep dry - You're going to sweat. Bring a little hand towel
to dry off with or a dry change of clothing. This will not only benefit
you but all of your dance partners.
17. Have fun - Don't take everything too seriously; remember
it's not life or death, it's just dancing. Smile, laugh, meet new people
and most of all DANCE.
A
salsa congress can be a great experience, but there's so much going
on it can be really overwhelming. Hopefully this list helps you have
the salsa time of your life.
|
