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From the 1 to the 2:  Tips for a successful journey

12/4/2021

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So you took the plunge and decided to learn to dance Salsa On2!  Welcome 🤗

The Salsa On2 community is HUGE, not just here in Toronto or New York (home of salsa on2), but all around the world!   As an On1 dancer learning to dance On2, you can take advantage of the familiar as you overcome the challenges. 
 
THE FAMILIAR 
  1. Whether you're dancing salsa on1 or on2, the music is the same. 
  2. The rhythm of salsa (quick-quick-slow/1,2,3, 5,6,7) is the same.
  3. General "moves" including the basic steps are the the same (shines and partner work).  The difference is when in the music you do it. You can apply what you know on1 to on2. 

THE CHALLENGES 
  1. Your Salsa On1 autopilot.  Experienced On1 hear and feel salsa music in a certain way.  When you lose focus (which will happen), your autopilot will kick in.  Your efforts towards learning to dance On2 need to be very intentional.  
  2. General timing challenges:  If finding the “1” in the music was challenging when dancing on1,  odds are the same will happen when dancing on2.  Music is music.  However, learning another style of salsa puts greater attention on music, instrumentation, rhythm and coordination.  Often, those who learn other styles of salsa can improve their overall salsa timing through the process.  
​​​THE APPROACH
  1. Believe you can do it.  Thousands of people around the world have done it. You can too!
  2. The good stuff is in the process.  Learning to dance on2 does not happen overnight.  The “process” is where you find your weaknesses.  It's where you learn to pay attention to music in a deeper way,  and create new connections with your body.  There's lots of good stuff in the "process", so don't try to rush it!  
  3. Expect to be frustrated.  No worthwhile journey comes without some struggles, so expect it to be part of the experience.  Accept it and move forward :) 
  4. Dedicate a period of time to focus on Salsa On2.  Just like any new skill, focus is needed to create new muscle memories.  Dedicate and actually schedule time to focus on On2.  Your intention, consistency,  persistence and regular practice can help strengthen a new muscle memory so that you can think less and groove more!
THE TACTICS
  1. Listen to music.  One of the things makes salsa so interesting is the music.  There are many varieties and flavours of salsa.  Some music is “easier” to hear timing, others may be unfamiliar, or more complex (i.e. salsa jazz or those "quieter" percussion).  Listen to and train your ears to count and dance different styles of salsa.  Click here for a slow salsa playlist by ifreestyledance.
  2. Coordinate your ears, body and music:  Spend time ACTIVELY listening to music; tapping, counting and dancing; if you can’t hear it, you can’t dance it on time. 
  3. Stay present in the music:  Starting and maintaining time requires being aware of the music all the time.  A common pitfall is to use the music to start dancing, then disconnect from it shortly after.  Stay present so that you always feel connected to the music.
  4. COUNT COUNT COUNT!  For now, you can’t trust your On1 autopilot because it serves to keep you On1.    Learning to dance on2 is all about numbers (at first).  It may feel like a step backwards but simply knowing On2 “intellectually” is NOT the same as feeling it in your muscles; they need time to absorb the new rhythm! COUNT! MINDFULLY while focussing on your body and the music as well as the numbers. COUNT.  Do it. Count. 
  5. **Keep it simple.  Learning a new timing means creating a different ear for music, timing, feeling.  This is not the time to be fancy.   Build strong timing foundations first.  Many experienced dancers (leaders and followers) prefer simple and on time, not complex and off time.  
  6. Practice on your own.  Work on yourself so you can bring something solid to your partner work.  Throw on some music, count, dance.. rinse and repeat with regularity.  
  7. Find people you can practice with.  Remove the pressure or fear of boring your partner by finding practice partners. If you take classes, you have more access to others on the same journey.
  8. Dance with On2 dancers of ALL LEVELS –
    1. Experienced:  You can “piggy back” off their sense of rhythm and learn how it "should" feel.  If you fall off time, there's a good chance it's you ;) 
    2. Intermediate:  You're on an equal playing field here.  Can you both stay on time, can you help each other maintain timing?  
    3. Beginner On2 dancers:  You can test how well you are able to help others with their rhythm and keep them on time.
WHEN  YOU KNOW YOU GOT IT
  1. You can dance whole songs while dancing on time!  This means starting on time and maintaining time throughout!  
  2. You can “feel” dancing on2, rather than needing to count it to stay on time. 
  3. You don’t depend on your partner to keep your time or find the 1.
  4. When dancing with beginners (or those with inconsistent or off beat timing), you can help them stay on time.
  5. You can quickly tell when you’re off time and get back on time quickly.  
REMEMBER...
Quality dancers are first most impressed by good timing and rhythm.  Without it, nothing looks/feels as good as it should.  So don’t bombard your partners with fancy offbeat moves that usually lead to discomfort, frustration and even injuries due to lack of partner coordination and timing .  Make your goal to demonstrate to your partners that they can trust your timing and rhythm.

​
Be patient, count and enjoy the journey!  
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HOW TO HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE IN A DANCE CLASS

9/12/2021

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iFreeStyle.ca students in downtown Toronto, Canada!
Have you ever asked yourself this question?  Seems like common sense, right?  Show up to class, learn some moves, meet some people, feel awesome!  A great experience needs some self-awareness and awareness of others. Let's look at this a little closer.

Firstly, why do we even learn to dance?

8 REASONS WE LEARN TO DANCE (VOLUNTARILY)
There are umpteen reasons but here are 10 common ones.
  1. Learn to dance (duh!)
  2. Meet new people (for friendship or perhaps more... but don't be creepy in class)
  3. Escape from the daily grind and life stresses (family, work, partners, world problems, drama, controversies, general negative energy etc.)
  4. Balance life with some FUN (enjoy the music, people, energy)
  5. Follow a dream or fill a void
  6. Challenge yourself (competition, improve, overcome fears, build confidence etc.)
  7. Start a new awesome hobby
  8. Prepare for vacation to a Latin American country or dance congress (if your dance of choice is salsa, bachata or cha cha)
  9. It's in your soul and it needs to be expressed
  10. Connect and vibe with others!  Yes!

IT'S ME TIME
When we choose do so something like dance, we look for an experience that will satisfy our needs, and wants so we can feel great.  Dance has tons to offer...the music, the movements, the people energy,  the vibe.  Feel energized not just after class, but in the moment. Let all that goodness into your soul.  It's ME time :) And on days you need some extra energy,  the music, dance and fellow students can help lift your spirits!

IT'S US TIME TOO!
Our sheer presence in the room impacts the overall vibe of the class.   We feed off energy AND we create energy.  Sometimes we're so into our own experience that we forget about others.  They may be having a blast, totally lost, killing' it, or struggling to stay focused. Your smile or encouragement might be that thing that changes their experience for the better.  
 
HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A GREAT VIBE IN A DANCE CLASS
  1. FOR YOU - Come with an open mind, ready to learn and have a great time!  When you're having a blast, it contributes a positive energy in the room! 
    1. Immerse yourself in the experience, leaving your non-dance thoughts at the door!
    2. Don't hold back.  When it's time to go full out, go as all-out as you can.  
    3. This is your journey.  Don't leave regretting that you held back because you cared too much about looking silly to others.   
    4. Challenge yourself and enjoy the moments when things “click”.  
    5. Be patient with yourself if it doesn't "click" instantly.  Learning is a process.  
  2. FOR OTHERS - Be aware of others who are also trying to let go and enjoy the experience! 
    1. Give encouragement, smiles, share space (mirror-time), saying hi and bye... all the warm fuzzy stuff.  
    2. In partner work, take care of your partner.  Be patient, smile, participate and don't force moves.  
    3. In partner work, acknowledge when you mess up (which is inevitable).  Somehow this can relax your partner (so they don't get tempted to tell you themselves). 
    4. Leave critique to the instructors (or for when you are asked for your opinion).  Think about how you felt when you received unsolicited instructions from a fellow student.  Usual inside thought "who do you think you are? <insert other not so nice thoughts and criticisms here>".  This is negative vibe, so try to avoid this.  
    5. Learn names!  Humans feel greater connection when you call them by name.  
  3. FOR YOUR TEACHERS – Share positive energy with your instructor.  They vibe off of you too!  
    1. Respond when they ask questions like "move on?", "do we have it?" ,"do it again?" "questions?",  It's more fun when there is interaction :) 
    2. Pay attention (save your conversations with friends for breaks or before/after class).
    3. Try.  It's not about getting the moves perfect, it's about effort.  Instructors love seeing you have fun, but also seeing progress over time.  
    4. If you enjoyed the class, let them know! If you have suggestions or requests, AND if they are open to hear them, tell them in a respectful way.  

Let these ideas marinate for a bit.  We all can improve our self-awareness and awareness of others.   In dance, especially in Latin street dances, the experience is shared with partners, team mates, instructors, and friends! Radiate the your best energy and create an authentic joy that will keep you and others around you smiling. 

ENJOY!
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HOW TO BECOME A BETTER DANCER:  SOCIAL DANCING

1/25/2019

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If you’re a Latin danceaholic, your first few experiences watching two people tear it up on the dance floor probably got you hooked.  You might have been enticed by the sensuality, the rawness, the fun, the partner connection, the music, or simply how cool they looked…

  1. “It looks like so much fun!”
  2. “I love the music!”
  3.  “I NEED to know how to do this and impress my friends”
  4.  “If he can dance with so many hot girls, so can I!”
  5. “Look at those awesome shoes! I want to dance in those shoes!”

So you started taking classes, picked up some moves from YouTube, tried club classes and left right after.  But it wasn’t enough to get good.  Why?  Social dancing is simply an essential part of your dance training.  Let’s say you’re not in it to be a professional dancer, so you’re not trying to “train”, you’re just in it for fun.  Hopefully everyone is in it for the fun since most people don’t get paid to do it.  HOWEVER, salsa, bachata and cha cha are primarily danced with a partner.  Which means what YOU do affects someone else.  If you’re off time, rough as a leader, lazy as a follower, YOU are affecting someone else’s experience.  For that reason, it’s important to care about how YOU move.  If you don’t want that kind of responsibility, then choose a partner-less dance genre where you can go buck wild and not hurt anyone else with your fabulous solo work 😜

While in many Latin countries, locals grow up with the music and culture, most any non-Latin Americans learned to dance outside their home, namely through formal classes. One of the biggest benefits of classes is feedback and practice with different people to prepare you for the social dance floor.  Here’s the order of operation:

STEP #1 – Take group classes and/or privates to learn how to dance, and get feedback by trusted instructors.
STEP #2 – Go out to a social/practice session/club and put those moves into practice. Start to build a level of sensitivity to leading/following others.  Adjust, revise, improve.  Have fun and meet new people along the way. 

REPEAT.

While Step #1 alone doesn’t typically build great dancers, taking the time to learn basics builds a foundation for great dancing.  And getting feedback is extremely valuable if you hope to improve.  You’ll find that all levels, even world champions and experienced social dancers have coaches to help them become smoother "movers",  more musical, clearer as a lead/follow. 

 Step #2 is the next essential part of a dancer’s progress to greatness. What you learn, must be put into practice. Mistakes will be made, and that’s okay.  It’s part of the journey and every dancer will go through it (pretty much forever).  This isn’t like Calculus homework.  There isn’t “one” right answer.  It’s about discovering your voice as a dancer, which is just as unique as you are.  First and foremost, remember that Latin dances meant to be danced SOCIALLY.  That’s the best part!  You'll meet people, create new friendships, laugh, connect and feel a sense of freedom that you’ve never felt before.  It takes time and practice to feel the essence of each dance style and to find your voice.  There will be bumps along the way but the results will be worth it!   

Here are 5 ways social dancing can help you becoming a better dancer.


  1. IT TESTS YOUR SKILLS  
    Like any new skill, mastering it required requires real practice time.  One of the greatest things about dancing salsa, bachata, or cha cha is that practicing is FUN! I’ve had students that wanted to wait until they got really good before trying to social dance.  Reality check... it's nog going to happen that way.  Dancing with the same people who know all your moves/following people whose moves you know will limit you.  Great dancers are skilled at dancing with anyone – remember it’s not about the “moves”.  Musicality and connection can take a dance in many directions and the truly "free" will use their well-practiced technique to play and dance “outside the box”. 

  2. IT DEVELOPS YOUR MUSICALITY (IF YOU OPEN YOUR EARS)
    Dancing is not just about "what you do" but "when" and "how" you do it.  
    A common quality in great dancers is musicality (the "when").  Exposure to a variety of music will definitely help your musicality.  It’s one thing to listen to a lot of music in the car or at home.It’s another to react to the music with your body.  Take the time open your ears to hear and feel fit’s flavour, the instrumentation, it’s mood, it’s soul.  Be an active listener of music, instead of just using music as a metronome.  Then learning to move with the music can greatly improve your own musicality.  And in dancing with others and watching others, you can absorb new ways of hearing music and expressing yourself musically.  


  3. IT PROVIDES AN OUTLET TO EXPRESS YOURSELF 
    Dance is an art form.  And there’s endless ways to express yourself to music.  Social dancing exposes you to the styles of others in partner work, foot work, styling or playfulness!  On a day to day basis, many of us may feel constrained by "rules" whether at work or home.  Dance gives us that chance to let your hair down (so to speak) and move to music that inspires us!


  4. IT HELPS DEVELOP BETTER BODY MOVEMENT 
    The ironic thing about having "natural" Latin body movement is that does not come so "naturally" to everyone.  Often it's a result of overthinking, trying to be "perfect" or simply lack of body awareness. Luckily   technique can be learned.  Street dances emerge in response to the "times", the culture and and innate need for humans to express themselves physically to rhythms and melodies.  Learning about the music, instruments, the culture and history can help develop that "natural" Latin movement.   Social dancing provides that opportunity to apply movement to music, and in doing so helps to develop your stylistic identity (which by the way, will continuously evolve as you grow as a dancer).  


  5. IT HELPS YOU DISCOVER YOURSELF 
    This one sounds kind of flakey, but.... like our fashion sense, our humour, how we talk, we all have our own dance style.  We’ll be influenced by who taught us, what we see on a regular basis, our music and stylistic preferences.  And it’s something that is usually discovered on the social dance floor from many hours of fun (practice) dancing.  Enjoy the process.  Be a sponge and learn from instructors whose style you admire, and who possess the skills to teach you. 
 
Get yourself social dancing as soon as possible to gain inspiration of what’s to come.  Being in an environment where there are others who enjoy dancing too can keep the fuelling your fire for dancing. 
Feel the vibe of the Latin dance culture and take full advantage of the social nature inherent in Latin dances.  Watch, admire, absorb, and enjoy!  Watching can be fun, but it’s even more fun to dance!  #LetYourBodySpeak
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7 Ways to Re-ignite your Passion for Dance

9/29/2017

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(repost from 2014)

Many of us have been there before… when you’ve been dancing a while, it’s not uncommon to suddenly feel uninspired, unmotivated, almost empty inside.  It sucks.  Maybe you feel like you’ve plateaued, or you just don't enjoy it the way you used to .  It feels like someone threw a bucket of water over the fire that has kept you dancing your heart out all these years.  You feel lost because you can’t remember life without dance 
😥… What happened?  And what do I do now? 

 At this point there are a few common reactions:
  1. You second guess whether or not you should be dancing.  Maybe it’s just not for you anymore. 
  2. You figure that it’s just a phase and you’ll eventually crawl out of this dance death hole.
  3. You throw yourself into dance and fight your way back to inspiration.
 
In some ways these lapses can help us appreciate how much dance can make us feel happy.  Frustrating at times, yes… but for the most part DANCE has fulfilled in ways that only it can.  The music is awesome, meeting people is awesome, talking about dancing with other dancers is fun…  and the social aspect of Latin dances takes it a step further and provides a whole other salsa life with new “non-salsa” friends at “non-English” clubs in the middle of the work/school week.  Your non-dancer friends, family and co-workers just don’t understand how you can dance late on a work night… if they only knew how it was worth the fatigue!
 
If you’re feeling blue about this emptiness and think you want to get back into it, don’t despair.   Here are some ways to help re-ignite your passion to dance.  In reverse order…

#7) TAKE A BREAK   
Sometimes, what we need is simply to step away… not forever, but maybe for a couple weeks, a month or so.  Maybe your mind is telling you that you’re neglecting something else in your life that needs attention.  Maybe the drama in your scene is distracting and brings you down (this is a whole other topic that I'll tackle in another blog).  Maybe you're tired and your body need some rest.  If dance is in your soul, you’ll crave it again.  Unless within that time, you find a new passion (love, new hobby etc.).  Not to worry though, dance is always there, and welcomes you back with open arms when you’re ready.
 
#6) WATCH VIDEOS
This is probably the easiest, fastest, cheapest way to find inspiration.   YouTube,  Facebook, Instagram (among others) are endless resources for finding inspiration.  Top dancers around the world have footage of their performances, competitions, social dancing, rehearsals, and workshops.  Having said that, there’s nothing like learning live, from a real live person who is qualified to give you feedback and explain the intention of movement that an untrained eye wouldn’t see in a video.  WARNING – Do this in moderation as surfing YouTube/Facebook is highly addictive and extremely time consuming.  You know this already, right? #justsaying

#5) REFRESH YOUR MUSIC PLAYLISTS 
🎼
Music that "moves you" is what dancers need. When you hear a tune that touches your soul, it's tough to resist getting into it.  How old is your playlist? If your music playlist has gone stale, so has one source of inspiration.  The cool thing about dancers is that we like to share our favourite songs on social media. It can't get easier than that to find new music.  So mix it up, find playlists through online music sources like Spotify or online radio stations.  Keep you tried and true favourites, but  give your playlist a facelift with new music.  Not only do we need variety to keep things interesting, it's also great education to learn about the artists who feed our soul. 

#4) TAKE CLASSES
If you feel like you've plateaued, please be advised that this is nearly impossible to accomplish in Latin dances.  If you look at the sheer variety of styles in any one genre (salsa, for example), it would take several lifetimes to be a master at all of them.  And when I say master, that means knowing everything there is to know.  There’s simply an infinite amount you can learn to improve your technique, musicality, and artistry, especially because it’s continues to evolve.  Liken Latin dances to the galaxy.  There IS NO END.  Are you getting the visual?  Perhaps you’ve only been exposed to a small sample of what’s out there.  Search for some variety, get educated about what else exists within the dance galaxy.  Be curious.  Investigate the dance world outside your immediate circle.  There’s ALWAYS something new and exciting to learn.
 
#3)  TAKE CLASSES IN OTHER DANCE FORMS
This can open up a whole other world of movement.  In street dances like salsa, cha cha, bachata, or kizomba,  there are many other genres that have been infused over the years – like hip hop, tango, ballet, modern, jazz etc.  Venture out and learn new ways to move your body that you could infuse into your style. The process of re-inventing yourself is fun, exciting and keeps the wheels turning.  Getting out of a rut means thinking differently.  So open your mind, expose yourself to things that are out of your comfort zone. 
​

 #2) PERFORM OR COMPETE 
If you haven’t tried performing or competing, let’s just say this is a whole other level of challenge beyond social dancing.  What you’ll learn through preparing for a competition or performance is a combination of extreme growth, pain, elation, frustration, excitement, anxiety, self-satisfaction, fire.. oh… wait.. did I just say “fire”?  Mission accomplished.

#1) TRAVEL TO A CONGRESS/FESTIVAL IN ANOTHER CITY… OR EVEN BETTER, ANOTHER COUNTRY 
✈️
Sometimes a routine of the same ‘ol same ‘ol can get a bit tired… boring.  I saved this one for last because this “cure” works almost every time, at least for me, and hopefully for you too!  Travelling to a new city to experience their "scene", meeting new people, watching and dancing with local and regional superstars, has almost always opened my eyes to something new and fresh, and achieves the goal of re-igniting the passion in a big way.  There's SOO much going on in the world right now, and it’s there for you to experience.  There are zillions of congresses to choose from, so go to ones are recommended by your well-travelled instructor or fellow dancers.  Make sure to get involved – take workshops, social dance with the locals and the headliners, watch the shows, do some sight-seeing if you can.  You’ll come back a brand new dancer, full of life, and excited to get dancing again 😄 🙌🏼.  Maybe you won't be so full of life the day you get back, but give it a few days to recover.
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Friends, I hope at least one of these ideas could help the ball rolling. And as mentioned before, this happens to almost everyone at some time or another, and when you’ve been dancing for years, it’s likely to happen more than once.  The nature of music & dance, and what it does to the soul is magnetic and has a way of attracting people back.  Enjoy the journey back to dance heaven :)

Did I miss any tips? Comment below!


Author

Caryl Cuizon, iFreeStyle.ca Co-founder

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How to Satisfy a Dance Festival Crowd

2/17/2017

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​Latin Dance festivals have been around for more than 20 years now.  In that time, they’ve grown from one festival every few months for the whole world, to 4-7 festivals every weekend in different cities around the world, at the same time.  Our dance communities have exploded into an international network with dancers demanding more - it's a "buyer's market" with so many options out there.  Festivals must meet or exceed those expectations in order  thrive, or even just survive. Some events deliver on expectations, the great ones over-deliver, but unfortunately many have not yet delivered on some basic requirements. It takes time and experience to get it right, and every year is a learning experience. Let’s help our event organizers knock it out of the park to make our experiences awesome, and their event as successful as possible.  

Make your guests happy and get some FREE promotion!  While we know we can't make every dancer happy every time, here’s our "Top 10 ways to satisfy a dance festival crowd" to get you started 
😀.

  1. BE ORGANIZED  
    The #1 complaint is lack of organization.  No one said it was easy to organize event, which is why most people don’t bother.  It’s a lot of work.   A LOT OF WORK, and so much of it can’t even be seen or be appreciated.  But heck, if you’re going to step up to the plate and organize a whole dance festival, plan well in advance, get advice from experienced organizers (not just any organizer, but ones who live up to that name of “organizer”), and improve your processes each year.  Here’s some heavy hitters that you don’t want to mess up:
    1. Share details about the event ASAP – Long gone are the days of one congress a weekend anywhere in the world.  So if you want people to choose yours, make it a priority to get relevant information to the masses ASAP (date, venue, artists, workshops etc.) Closer to the event, provide information about parking options, airport shuttles, nearby food options, things to do in your city.  Make the logistics easy so they can look forward to the fun!
    2. Keep your website clean with current content - This seems self-explanatory yet some websites are so busy/confusing that they lead you on a wild goose chase to find basic information like "when" the event takes place.  Make your website a valuable resource, and use technology to your advantage to communicate schedules, headliner info, tickets, competition results etc.
    3. Registration & Sign-in process – Make it easy to buy a ticket.  Then when guests arrive, make it easy to pick up passes.  Today's technology should make easier/faster, right? Not always.  If you don’t have a clear process that your staff can follow, your guests will be frustrated before the event event begins.  Things like a poorly run registration desks can ruin the reputation of an event.  
    4. Signage – Make it easy to find the event with well-place signs.  Most festivals are held in a hotel, so once inside make it easy for guests to find your event.  Large venues often have multiple events going on simultaneously, so put up signs to direct people to YOUR festival.  Following salsero-looking people in team jackets can be a good start but what if there's no one to follow? Clearly label "registration desk", “performer green rooms”, social dancing genre rooms for “salsa”, “bachata”, “kizomba”,  and don’t forget to post workshop schedules, performer lists etc. Hopefully you see a theme here - “MAKE IT EASY”.  People want to dance, learn, socialize, not be put through an obstacle course to find their fun.

  2. PROMOTE HONESTLY
    False promotion is obviously dishonest, and that reputation lasts for years (more on dishonesty in another blog).  Promote your booked artists on the flyer, not the people who have once performed at some point in the last 7 years.  Whether or not intentional, it misleads potential guests if you promote artists who aren't going to be there this year. Maybe the promos were accurate, but the there were unexpected travel issues like visas or other immigration complications at the last minute.  Unfortunately, this does happen.  Some artists/promoters do good job of posting apology videos to explain what happened.  Some guests who were drawn to your event by certain artists have purchased flights, taken time off work, or booked hotel rooms and will be disappointed to say the least.  Being honest, sincere and transparent about well-intended mishaps that were out of your control can go a long way.  But do prepare for some backlash.  Plan early and look into potential challenges.  

  3. START ON TIME 🕘
    Technically this could go under the “be organized” bucket, but since I’m a punctuality nazi I thought I’d dedicate a whole point to it.  I’m still not sure how chronically late people survive in this world, but they somehow make it – irritating many along the way. Schedules keep everyone on the same page.   If you can appreciate that your guests chose to come to your event, respect their time so they're not wasting time that could be otherwise spent.  If the schedule says the shows start at 9pm, do everything you can to start at 9pm. If the shows start an hour late (for no reason other than disorganization), you’re likely going to lose those customers next year, at least the ones who value punctuality. Of course there’s tons of people who hope you’ll start late because they are never on time either.  But that's a low standard to aim for.   So decide what kind of event you want to host – a professionally run event that respects people’s time, or an amateur run event whose schedules are mere suggestions.
     
  4. HAVE FRIENDLY & KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF
    Their first impressions are going to last, and those opinions will likely end up on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter in 10 seconds, especially if the experience is horrible.  Delegate a knowledgeable, organized, decisive person to oversee your staff.  They should be excellent at customer service and representing your event in the best way possible.  Put your friendliest people at the welcome desk - people who know how to make others feel welcome, and have a friendly smile and warm personality
    😊.  If you have that, then you only get half a check mark.  Charm can get you so far, but if you want a home run, these friendly people must be competent too.  They need to know how to execute an organized process, and they need to do it confidently and efficiently.  Don’t just throw your staff into a lion’s den to get eaten alive.  Arm them in information and training to do their job well and make things “easy” for your guests.  And if possible, label them with "staff" t-shirts so guest can easily find help.

  5. CHECK 1,2,3 - CAN YOU HEAR ME?
    So we’re talking about dance festivals.  What will there be a lot of, other than dancing?  Music, duh! And actually, if there’s no music, there won’t be much dancing either.  Unless you're dancing to the drunken sounds in your head, but that’s another topic.  Ensuring great sound quality should be pretty basic, however it’s another element that isn’t always taken care of, and it's not cheap
    😬.  Screechy sounds, high pitched sounds, unbalanced sounds, missing bass, too much of this and not enough of that… or just too loud period.  Dancers who are hardcore into music want to hear the nuances of every song and every sound, including voices over the microphone.  Don’t rob them of this experience. Please and thank you!  
  6. PRODUCE A MEMORABLE SHOW
    Take time to organize your shows each night. Choose someone with a creative mind to produce a flow and energy that people can enjoy and remember. I’ve seen some really well produced shows and others that appeared so random, often politically driven.  The show is for your audience, your paying customers, so satisfy their desire to be entertained.  This might mean making tough decisions. 
    1. Enforce a time limit for each performance or make exception only AFTER you’ve seen their performance and know that your audience will appreciate the extra time.
    2. Quality over quantity:  On that note, people today have ADD, and have limited capacity to pay attention to lengthy shows.  Pre-screen where possible.  Some of the most fun events I’ve been to had less than 10 performances, standing room only. Then the rest of the night was for social dancing.  Find ways to give opportunities to "up and comers" but leave big nights for your finest.
    3. Coordinate your "show crew". Use tech rehearsals to ensure that the DJ, MC, artists, stage manager and audio visual staff are coordinated/practiced.  At a well run event, you likely won't notice how well prepared the "show crew" is.  But it will be obvious when they aren't. Prepare each night so that shows run smoothly, even if guests can't appreciate the work involved to achieve it.

  7. HIRE FOR QUALITY & EXPERTISE
    1. Hire an excellent MC  
      This one is so commonly overlooked, but it’s a huge mistake to make this an afterthought.  Consider your MC like any artist who “performs”, except that the he/she probably has more “face time” and “voice time” than any other artist during the weekend.  Don’t cheap out on this because a good MC with a magic personality can add a lot of value in ways you wouldn't expect.  If you’ve been to the Canada Salsa Congress in Toronto the last few years, you know the impact of a fantastic MC.  Angus Dirnbeck is probably one of the best there is.  Now, I’m not just saying that because he’s the co-founder of iFreeStyle… LOL (ask around, and you'll hear the same).  In all seriousness, he is a true entertainer – witty, funny, charming, has an engaging voice and great microphone technique (a skilled MC is a pro on the mic).  He doesn't overstay his welcome on stage or during introductions. He understands his role, and so does the person hiring him.  As an aside, being the organizer doesn’t mean you should be the MC too.  Many organizers do not take on that role themselves (plus, do you really have time to prepare and do this role justice?).  Don’t take this role lightly.  A poor choice can ruin an otherwise great event.  Research your options and make the investment to hire someone who will enhance the show experience. 
    2. Hire performers who enjoy social dancing: Another major complaint is hiring headliners don’t social dance. Here’s the scenario:  You’ve hired amazing performers who are sure to entertain your audience.  You promote the heck out them to draw more people to your event.  It works and people from all over the country/world fly in to see them.. and guess what?  They want to dance with them too! Yet they are nowhere to be seen on the social dance floor (boo!). Before we make judgments, there are some valid reasons.  Here’s one of them:  we sometimes try to impress the "superstar" and bust out ever move that we know, sometimes so roughly and erratically that we risk injuring the artist.  If that artist is hired to teach, perform, or compete the next day, they don't want social dancing injures to put them out of commission and affect their ability to earn a living as a dancer.   So, don’t scare them off the dance floor - take care of your partners (as you should with any dancer) and give them time to rest.  Organizers, where possible, give time to your artists to interact with your guests on a social level.  Don’t over schedule them.  Outside of injury-risk factors or over-scheduling, hire dancers who are great at balancing performing and teaching, AND who genuinely enjoy social dancing and interacting with guests.  
    3. Hire instructors who are skilled at teaching:  It should go without saying that instructors should be skilled at teaching.  As we all know, being a great performer or social dancer does not equal great teaching ability.  If you hire an artist to perform at event, don’t just assume that their teaching is as good as their performing (and vice versa – some of the most amazing instructors aren’t the best performers, and some don’t perform at all).  Do some research, get opinions.  And as often as possible, consider travelling and taking workshops yourself to get first-hand experience.  Bring those instructors who are skilled at teaching (which is more than just explaining).  A well-planned festival has a balance of awesome entertainment and great learning experiences.  That workshop schedule – approach it like a designing a show.  It can attract guests who are hungry to learn, just like a great performance line-up can attract guests who want to be entertained. 
    4. Hire DJ's who know how to create an awesome vibe:   Most organizers know that hiring good DJ's is important, but there's more to it than that. Your team of DJ's should work together to and create a flow (just like the shows) so everyone doesn't play all "salsa dura" or all "salsa romantica" all night (unless there are dedicated rooms for that).   Also, and here's a big one... know your DJ's strengths, tastes and preferences. If someone is a hardcore "traditional bachata" DJ, don't put him/her in the sensual bachata room. Clearly not a good fit, yet it happens.  Should DJ's be versatile? Of course! But given a choice, many have a style or preference that they are known for. Make it your job to know what that is because they will likely kick butt in that area.  If you have 10 DJ's and 4 different rooms catering to specific genres, you can really take advantage of their expertise in a genre or style, giving that room of dancers a musical experience they won't forget! If there's one room, hire that DJ who is well-versed in all the styles and are skilled in smoothly transitioning from one vibe to the next.  

  8. CHOOSE THE HOTEL/VENUE WISELY
    Most guests prefer and appreciate when the event and hotel are the same. There are pros and cons to this which we’ll cover in another blog, but from a guest perspective, it’s simply more convenient and doesn’t require additional costs for transportation.   Other criteria to consider in choosing the venue/hotel include:
    1. Proximity to the airport (and cost to and from venue)
    2. Parking options and costs
    3. Safety of location
    4. Dance space capacity (make sure it can fit the number of expected guests)
    5. Quality of dance floors (hardwood for salsa dancing)
    6. Ability for the audience to view performances from all areas of the room
    7. Reserved floors for the event to avoid noise complaints
    8. Proximity to food especially for the late night "hangry" dancers
    9. Cleanliness of the hotel rooms
    10. Comfort of bed for the few minutes of rest that your guests will try to fit in during the weekend.

      Some events have failed on the hotel/venue choice.  So consider all the factors.  Good luck :) 

  9. TO HIRE OR NOT HIRE A BAND
    Not every festival has live music.  And it's not always necessary.  Usually the larger events with big Latin communities will hire bands as concerts for the locals.  I've been drawn to some festivals just for the live music line-up, so for the music lovers, it can be a big plus.  It sounds strange to create a sub-group of "music lovers" in our dance scene since you'd expect everyone to be a music lover, but everyone is at their own level of music-appreciation.  There are dancers out there who couldn't tell you the difference between Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri.  A crowd like that may not wholly appreciate a live band. However, it may be your objective to help educate.  If you do hire a band, know if you want it to be a "concert" (where they could go off on 25 min rendition with 15 minutes of that on solos from each band member) or if you want the band to perform live music "for the dancers". They aren't always the same thing.  And if you advertise incorrectly, you may have some unhappy attendees who complain about song lasting too long for dancing.  So some will just leave and return when the band's set is over.  A waste of your investment, no?  Know your audience, promote clearly and if you're hiring "for dancers", consider providing that direction to the band. 

  10. TICKET PRICES
    It’s all about value. You may have hired top artists and booked awesome venue, so you're super pumped about it!  Someone has to pay for it, right? If you don't have sponsors and need to transfer those expensive cost to your guests, it can easily turn off those in your target market.  There’s a certain threshold that people are wiling to pay, and it may be higher for some really outstanding experiences.  If your pricing surpasses that threshold because you’ve overspent, re-think your budget and expenses.

And let's not forget to take care of your locals.  Often, out of town guests get treated better than the local community.  Locals are valuable ambassadors, and without them, there would be no local community.  Where possible, work with them, involve them, appreciate them. They’ll be more inclined to promote the event to friends.  Locals are excited to experience some "fresh blood" at their local congress so give them reasons to help promote it. Guests who travel to your city also want to experience it – the food, the weather, the sights, and the dancers who make up the community. An event well-attended by the locals speaks volumes!

Kudos to promoters who put in the effort (blood, sweat and tears...literally) to organize festivals with the intention of giving their communities the opportunity to learn, be inspired and entertained by the best in the business,  to meet new people and enjoy sharing that with other danceaholics.  Great events are not made over night.  Nail the basics and you're off to a great start!

How does your local dance festival rate? Did we miss anything?  Please comment below!  

QUESTION FOR THE READERS:  Which festivals around the world over-deliver on these basics?



Author

Caryl Cuizon, iFreeStyle.ca Co-founder

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8 Reasons She Hopes You Won't Ask for a Second Dance

2/12/2017

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We’ve all heard the saying “the follower is at the mercy of the leader”, and to a great extent it’s true.  We’re supposed to follow his choice of moves, how and when he wants to do it.  And when feels good, it’s oh sooo good – it flows effortlessly, it’s musical, it’s playful and she can’t wait for the next dance.  As followers, we seek those leaders who we connect with, who adapt to our skill level but can challenge us, those who share a similar groove, taste for musical style and enjoys interacting with us, not just dancing AT us. Every follower has her own special mix of traits that has her craving for more. It’s not necessarily about being the fanciest, it’s about creating an experience.  Hopefully it’s a good experience, but sometimes it’s not 😬.  Fellas, there’s some really basic things that will turn off a woman, so pay attention and steer clear of the “Top 8 Reasons She Hopes You Won’t Ask Her for a Second Dance”.
 
  1. HE DOESN’T MAKE HER FEEL SAFE  
    When you dance with a woman, she expects you to take care of her and not lead her into dangerous territory or oncoming traffic. While she’s not simply passenger on this ride, as the leader, you’re in charge of the “moves” as well as her safe navigation through the jungle of dancers.  When you lead her into other people, you’re not protecting her.  So instead of enjoying the dance, she’s in defence mode protecting herself since you aren’t. This is one easy way to lose her trust.  You can even make bystanders nervous when they stand or dance near you.  If you’re that guy who constantly (and unapologetically) bumps into other people or sling shots your partner into everyone in her path, that’s just scary.   The moral of the story here… pay attention, protect her and manage your space!


  2. DRUNK DANCING
    Just don’t do it guys.  You’ll always be remembered as THAT guy who was so hammered, couldn’t stand up straight, slobbered all over his partner and maybe even puked on her. Gross.  We all know that heavy drinking doesn’t mix well with salsa dancing.  Maintaining good balance is tough even when you’re 100% sober.  But for many, it’s part of the dance experience.  It’s social, takes the edge off, gives you some liquid courage to ask women to dance or helps you to let go instead of being a tight a$$ on the dance floor.  If you find that you reek of alcohol and are out of control (maybe you aren’t a good judge at that point – so hopefully your friends will help you before you make a fool of yourself), it may be time to just dance shines for the rest of the night if you insist on staying.  Remember, friends don’t let friends dance drunk. 


  3. IT HURTS TO DANCE WITH HIM 
    It’s the 21st century and as women we may be independent, but most of us still like to be treated like a lady.  Let’s be explicit here…man-handling is a BIG NO-NO.  If you have to force a move, then something isn’t right – might be her, you or your connection together.   Forcing a move is great way to show a LACK of awareness.  Great leaders “listen” to her level of responsiveness and then adapt to it on the fly. If you feel a lot of resistance, take that as a sign.  Don’t force it or pile on more moves if she's wobbly and hasn't recovered from the last move.  Calmate!  To their defence, many leaders may not realize how “rough” their lead can be. If you’re not sure, get feedback from an experienced follower whose opinions and honesty you trust. Shoulder injuries are extremely common for salsa dancers.  It does't help that most of us hit the dance floor without stretching, so it’s partly our own fault. Outside of that, many leaders do not know their own strength, or haven’t yet learned how timing, elasticity and frame can eliminate the painful technique of suddenly yanking a girl’s shoulder out of her socket (let’s assume that the we’re talking about responsive followers here).  If you focus on connecting with her by using groove, timing and frame you’ll be able to add musical dynamic, quick stops, direction changes all without breaking her arm.  Leading smoothly (even during a high energy salsa) is a skill that takes time to develop and it starts with self-awareness.  


    LISTEN TO HER RESPONSIVENESS when you dance, and you’ll stand out among the sea of schmucks who don’t. 


  4. DIVA DANCING
    Just like women, men can be divas…sometimes even worse than women. Let’s do a self-check.  Here’s some typical male diva behaviours:
    1. Wearing sunglasses at night:  Unless you forgot your prescription glasses, or lost a contact lens and all you have are your prescription shades, there’s probably no reason for you to dance with sunglasses on in a dark club.  It puts up a wall up between you and your partner and can give the impression that you're just too cool to show any expression.  You might actually be cool, but really cool guys know how to do this with their dancing and their awesome attitude.  
    2. Not smiling/looking bored out of your mind:  No one wants to feel like you’re doing them a favour by dancing with you.  If you’re having a fun dance, why not crack a smile every now and then?
    3. Not making eye contact:  Making playful eye contact is a great way to create connection and show interest in a dance. Looking away the whole time can project a sense of arrogance, that you’d rather be dancing on your own, or that you can’t wait for this dance to be over.  If you’re not a diva, know that this is one of the most common complaints, so check yourself and correct  yourself so people don’t get the wrong impression about you. 
    4. Solo dancing:  Generally speaking, salsa is a partner dance.  We’ve all been there before – you're in love with a song and you just want to get down.  If your partner can’t groove with you, you decide to just disengage so you can enjoy the dance for yourself. Don't leave her stranded.  Partner dancing is a conversation, remember?   
    5. Unsolicited corrections on the dance floor:  Unless someone is asking for feedback during a social dance (which really isn't the time or place unless you're okay with it), don't teach on the dance floor.  She may not be looking for an assessment and may actually be more experienced than you.  And that move that you keep trying to correct her on?  It might just be you unclear lead.  So think twice before giving her some unsolicited advice about her following or giving her dirty looks when your move doesn't work.  
    6. Never apologizing for your errors:  We all make mistakes on dance floor.  Sometimes it's you, sometimes it's her, and sometimes it's external factors like the drunk guy that keeps bumping into you.  If it's your mistake, it's nice to hear an "oops, my bad!" to help the other person know that you can recognize when you make a mistake and aren't infallible.  Then you can laugh about it and say "no worries"!  It keeps the dance light and shows a level of humility. 

  5. STARING  
    I know it seems like we complain about no eye contact, and now we’re here talking about staring
    👀.  It’s all a fine balance.  Dancing is interactive and there’s so much energy, character and feeling in one’s eyes (yet another reason not to wear sunglasses in a club).   Good eye contact can be sexy, flirty, playful and fun 😜  BUT every now and then fellas, you need to look away.  And don’t forget to blink.  Staring and not blinking is creepy, and is one sure way for her to avoid looking at you.  When she’s forced to disengage because your staring is making her feel weird, you’ve just lost connection.  Put your eyes back in your socket, remember to blink.  Be playful, not creepy. 
    ​     
  6. OFF BEAT
    This is a frustration that applies to followers who have good timing, and use that skill to connect with her partner.  In the absence of words, music is our common language.  Not only does it inspire movement, it provides the very basic elements of the dance like the pace, which in turn dictates the rhythm and speed at which we move.  Needless to say, music is crucial when you’re trying to coordinate steps and turn patterns with another person.  At the very least, a predictable rhythm is needed to coordinate 2 people. When your steps and rhythm are random, it’s like she's on a wild goose chase.  She has no tools to help her understand what you're doing.  This is mentally painful.  Avoid complicated moves until you have m
    astered your basic timing and rhythm.


  7. HYGIENE
    Some of biggest complaints about male leaders are BO (body odour), bad breath or over-the-top sweatiness (this applies to women too!) We know the drill.. shower, use deodorant, bring extra t-shirts, use mints instead of chewing gum like a cow, maybe use some cologne but don’t overdo it.  Don't place her hand on that pool of sweat collecting on your neck, or spin like the Tasmanian Devil, spraying sweat on her like high powered sprinkler.  The easy fix?  Bring extra t-shirts and a towel, and take some breaks to dry yourself off and freshen up :) 


  8. OCTAPUS ARMS (UNSOLICITED GROPING)
    We know that most guys started to learn salsa (or bachata or kizomba) to meet girls.  #nojudgements #justsaying.   There aren’t many environments that make it acceptable to dance so close with a ton of girls in one night and not think anything of it. Having said that it’s not a free-for-all to grope her under the “guise” of “dancing”.  While some women are brave enough to be vocal about their discomfort, many women are not.  Instead of saying something, they may just avoid you with the hopes that you’ll get the hint.  No one wants to have that uncomfortable conversation which might hurt someone’s feelings.  Respect her space and pay attention to her comfort level.  Be a gentleman.  If she gives you a clear green light to get closer, then proceed at your own risk. 


Guys, we hope that this list gives you some useful insight!  Great leaders are awesome not just because of their technical and artistic ability, but also their spacial awareness and their talent for communicating with their partners without being forceful.  And that extra special something....they project an attitude that is confident yet warm, gracious and humble.  This is a winning combo that women cannot resist.  Let's keep making great experiences on the dance floor!

A huge thank you to all the ladies who contributed to this list :) Did we miss any? Comment below!

Related blogs:
8 Reasons He Won't Ask You for a Second Dance

Author

Caryl Cuizon, iFreeStyle.ca Co-founder

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8 Reasons He Won't Ask You for a Second Dance

1/27/2017

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Ladies… so you think you had a super fun dance with a great dancer.  But you wonder why he never asks you for a second dance.  Most guys won’t tell you why, but here are some common reasons…
 
  1. FINGER SQUEEZING
    Unfortunately, leaders are subject to the dreaded “finger squeeze” by women supporting their weight and balance by squeezing their partner’s fingers like they’re milking a cow.  If you’re a finger squeezer, you’re a potential source of injury for your partner.  Make it a priority to improve your balance and own your steps to avoid benching him.  Injured men means fewer dances for the rest of us and we don’t want that!


  2. MAC TRUCK & INVISIBLE FOLLOWING 
    This is not about weight, rather about tension/tone.  Achieving a nice, fluid, comfortable connection with your partner is needed to let expression flow freely.  When it feels like the leader is basically dancing FOR you (physically dragging you everywhere, keeping your time and balance), it’s a workout. You could be 90 pounds but could be the heaviest follower in the club.  Leaders don’t want dance FOR you, they want to dance WITH you.  Listen to the music, stay on time, and manage your own balance.  Imagine if you had to carry him while he was dancing…for 3-5 minutes. On the other hand, when a follower is too light, she can feel invisible.  
    He feels like he’s chasing you.  Kind of like dancing with a ghost... he can see you but he can't feel your presence enough to lead you.  (This is not the same as back leading).  Whether salsa, bachata, cha cha or Kizomba, there’s a certain level of elasticity needed in your connection for a true lead and follow to happen.  When you find that right level of elasticity, you’ll feel like you’re actually dancing together and isn't that what it's all about?


  3. BACK LEADING
    Trying to guess what a leader is going to do defeats the purpose of following.  And it can ruin the connection you have with your partner.  Great followers are awesome at responding to the leader’s….well, lead.  Women are often afraid of being behind or missing the lead, but sometimes we think too far ahead and anticipate what’s about to happen. In doing so, you’ll likely miss the lead, interrupt his flow, mess up timing, and ruin your connection.  It takes skill to wait for that lead and have that right level of responsiveness.  That skill can set apart good followers from awesome followers.  Your first job as a follower is to follow.  There can be only one driver :)  So try not to “guess” what’s going to happen because you’re going to miss the fun of “feeling” what he’s going to do in the moment and where he’s going to take the dance.  


  4. HIJACKING
    ​Hijackers take back leading to another level.  In the hijacker bucket include: 
    1. Over-stylers who take every opportunity to ram in every styling element they know in one count of eight, for the whole song whether or not it matches music.
    2. Social performers who use excessive energy (often taking down her partner) as they eyeball the crowd and potential onlookers. 
    3. Self-dippers who propel themselves into dips without a lead from her partner.  This is an accident waiting to happen. And can injure your unsuspecting leader. 
    4. Over-spinners who always try to squeeze in extra turns... just cause.  He leads 2, she does 3.  He leads 3, she tries to do 6 as he chases her wobbly unspotted spins across the dance floor, ready to catch her totally off beat and unmusical fall.

      Don’t be a hijacker.  Leaders don’t like dancing with them.  
      ​
  5. THE WILD HORSE
    The wild horse follower usually doesn’t have a good command of timing, musicality or following technique, so she steps randomly with no particular connection to the music or what her partner is leading.  She’s might be completely oblivious to this, having a blast in all the randomness, OR possibly freaking out because doesn’t really understand how to follow (yet).  The wild horse is one of the most difficult types to lead because you just can’t control her.  Her lack of frame means you can’t even help her stay on time unless you put her in a kizomba hold and lock her down. Ladies, if you’re new to dancing, keep it simple and don’t be “extra”.  Tip: practice your timing on your own, take some classes, learn shines, listen to music, get feedback from a trusted instructor and keep it simple.  If you’re experienced, know your #1 job – to follow, and you’ll build a connection that will allow for more controlled “extra”. While there’s tons of freedom to play with in salsa, there are certain rules that help make it flow, and help your leader know where your weight is.  If you’re taking extra steps/missing steps or breaking back on 5.5,6,7.75,8, you’re making your poor leader suffer in confusion.  Moral of the story, don’t be a wild horse.  


  6. DIVA DANCING
    This includes, but is not limited to:
    1. ​not smiling
    2. never making eye contact to show interest in the dance
    3. looking bored/looking around at other dancers
    4. lazy stepping/following like you’re too good for this dance
    5. giving negative energy
    6. giving looks of disgust when a move doesn’t work/blaming him for everything that doesn’t work

      Outside of technique, your attitude could be a turn ON or a turn OFF.  Men like confidence, an easy going vibe, a sexy attitude.. but not an “I’m too good for you” attitude. Sometimes it’s simply bad taste, however it's possible that some women don’t know they're doing it.  Be a friend and let your best gal friend know if she’s a dancing diva.   Whether you’re dancing with a beginner or someone you consider a superstar, it’s good etiquette to give him a positive, happy vibe :)


  7. B.O.
    It may seem like women are the ones complaining about bad breath or BO, but it goes both ways. Keep some mints handy (avoid the potential choking from gum chewing), a change of clothes, deodorant and body wipes.  Don't make hygiene the reason he doesn't come back for more. 


  8. "SECRET" WEAPONS
    This category is more about awareness and has nothing to do with actual dance technique, but it’s worth mentioning.
    1. Sharp jewelry (great point suggested by several readers):  Rings with sharp stones/ edges or flying necklaces can leave your partner feeling like they've been on a battlefield.  Similar to the "jump" test we do with our outfits to ensure there aren't any unwanted surprises, test your jewelry on yourself and see how it feels when scratch yourself with it.  If you see blood or scratch marks, maybe better to find less dangerous options. 
    2. ​Braided ponytail weapons:    If you’re planning on dancing where there could be some spinning involved, high braided pony-tails can be considered a weapon.  Imagine a stiff, tightly wrapped rope whipping you in the face with every turn.  Save that hair-do for Kizomba.
 
So girls, let's do a self-check every now and then, and make some adjustments as needed.  Let your dancing speak for itself and make him want to come back for more!  Happy dancing!

Thank you to all the men who shared their stories and opinions over the years!  Let's make our dance experiences even better :) 

Fellas, did we miss any? Comment below!


Related blogs:8 Reasons She Hopes You Won't Ask for a Second Dance


Author

Caryl Cuizon, iFreeStyle.ca Co-founder.

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HOW TO BE A BETTER DANCER: Master your Basics

1/6/2017

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(repost from 2014)
We live in the era of instant gratification.  
We want to see results ASAP, right now… yesterday even.  
We like challenge, but don't let your ego get in the way of your own growth. When it comes to dancing, it’s a bad idea to skip or rush through learning the fundamentals.   

If you want to know why, READ ON.  While the reasons can apply to dances in general, we’ll focus on the Latin street dances – salsa, bachata, cha cha.


5 REASONS WHY INVESTING TIME IN LEARNING THE BASICS IS A GOOD IDEA
The basic steps, timing, and technique in dance provide a foundation for EVERYTHING that you’re going to learn going forward. With great fundamentals, you’ll acquire knowledge and skills that can serve as “short cuts” to learning new things.  You’ll ALREADY understand and can execute the most elementary skills like timing, lead and following technique, weight transfer so you can focus on what’s NEW. 


  1. SKIPPING LEVELS AND FAILING TO ACQUIRE SOLID TECHNIQUE = A HOT MESS
    It’s so refreshing to meet students who say “I’m interested in learning to dance properly and don’t mind starting from the beginning”.  That is someone who understands the value of great fundamentals :) Unfortunately, this is more an exception than the rule.  Most people like to be challenged.  Being bored doing the same thing is no fun.  However, if your goal is to be a better dancer, your time and money are better spent taking a progressive route, building on skills that you learn and put into practice on the dance floor as soon as possible.  


  2. RUSHING INTO STYLING WITHOUT SOLID TECHNIQUE = A HOT, AWKWARD MESS
    Most ladies can't wait to start learning how to "style", but often it's too early.  And leaders are so eager to add flare (speed, complexity) to their dancing without knowing how lead a clear basic or cross body lead in salsa, or hold frame in bachata.   Imagine a house built on an uneven foundation – if you try to add new levels, the house is probably so shaky that it's bound to collapse.  Similarly, styling without body awareness, timing, coordination, or contra body movement can turn into an awkward situation for both the dancer and anyone watching.  We all seek challenge, but take the opportunities to learn and practice great techniques from people who know.  There is ample challenge in gaining solid foundations.


  3. LESS IS MORE
    While we all crave to learn the latest and greatest, experienced dancers know that intricate moves are built on top of great technique.  In the Latin dances there are basic steps, basic timing, and essential partnering techniques required to communicate with each other on the dance floor.  Forget styling or fancy moves if you aren’t even dancing together.  Step 1 – connect with your partner!  And interestingly, many experienced dancers enjoy dancing less “busy”, appreciating great connection and musicality over complexity.


  4. YOU CAN FEEL MESSY BASICS – NO ES BUENO
    Most dancers are attracted to the fun and connection they see in Latin dancers – the magic, the sensuality, the way that two complete strangers can move as one on the dance floor.  It feels amazing when you have a great connection with someone and can actually feel their lead or follow.   It’s heaven on earth.  Things like being off time, bouncing, being too strong or invisible can be distracting, not to mention prevent some playful or intricate partner work from being executed well. 


  5. IF EXPERIENCED DANCERS VALUE & PRACTICE THEIR BASICS, IT’S NOT TOO BASIC FOR BEGINNERS
    It seems that the more experience a dancer has, the more he/she understands that you need to practice to master their basics.  In other classical dance styles like ballet or modern, you’ll find dancers with years of experience in the beginner level classes so they can continue to master those elementary skills that they use in more advanced dance moves.  In salsa and bachata, it’s not uncommon to see students with less little dance experience trying to ace an advanced class.  We all need challenge to keep us interested and motivated, but if you want to be a better dancer, master the basics. 

Stay focused on the goal..."To be a better dancer".  Be patient.  LEARN YOUR BASICS.  Practice your basics.  Enjoy the rewards in the long term :)  You and your partner will thank you for it!

Author

Caryl Cuizon, iFreeStyle.ca co-founder.

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HOW TO BE A BETTER DANCER: Learn Footwork, the Art of “Solo” Dancing

11/29/2016

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Some of you were probably hoping that this wouldn’t be on the list of “HOW TO A BETTER DANCER”.  Pero si, it’s definitely on the list.  Some of the most admired Latin dancers in the world can throw down and burn the floor with funky, sexy, playful and always musical footwork (otherwise known as "shines" in salsa and cha cha).  Needless to say, their talents go beyond just turn patterns.  While partner connection is the essence of the Latin dances, evolution has brought other elements that allow for individual freedom of expression. 

If you’re thinking “I hate shines!”, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to step up your game, have more fun, and become a more well-rounded dancer!

Coming from an urban dance background, “solo” dancing not only taught me HOW to move, but also WHEN to move, and have the confidence to go for it!  So naturally, coming into the Latin dance scene, it wasn’t as scary to learn footwork. But for the millions of people whose first ever dance steps were to Acid (which I still love by the way) or some super slow salsa/cha cha/bachata, dancing on their own isn’t what they signed up for.  And for as long as possible, they avoid doing it AT ALL COSTS.  Eventually though, it creeps up on you...  eventually you'll encounter some really awesome dancers who enjoy a balance of partner work AND time to shine on their own.

By the way "on your own" doesn't mean you forget about your partner! On the contrary, it's an opportunity to groove together without actually holding onto each other.  You have both hands available, you can move around each other freely, you can play with hair, jackets, arms, legs, drops... when you can both connect to each other AND the music without a physical lead/follow, it can feel pretty awesome :)


TOP 5 REASONS PEOPLE AVOID SHINES
  1. “I’m afraid”/“I feel naked when I’m dancing on my own.”  This one isn’t so hard to understand…many feel self-conscious about how they look when making up their own stuff.  
  2. “Isn’t Latin dancing about partner work?”  For the most part it is… As mentioned above, the dances have evolved to include solo work or adding footwork to partner work as different ways to express musicality and connection.

  3. “I don’t know when to do it.”  When a dancer hasn't yet developed an ear for musicality, what you do, and when you do it might just be totally random.  So at first your try it "whenever" even if it isn't particularly musical.  Gotta start somewhere - and that's just  to try it.  

  4. “I feel awkward and uncoordinated dancing on my own".  For those who didn't grow up listening to Latin music and dancing with your family at gatherings, Latin movement may not be so natural.  The coordination, believe it or not is very natural.  Remember that these dances were made on the streets! 

  5. “I blank out when I'm left alone and can’t remember what I learned from class.”  This is just for lack of practice.. or more accurately, avoiding practicing what you hope you never have to use.  Except you can't avoid it. 
    ​
So let’s try looking at footwork in a different way…   If you knew it could help you be a better dancer, would you do it?

8 Ways Foot work/Shines (“solo dancing”) can help you improve your dancing

  1. CONFIDENCE TO DANCE WITHOUT PARTNER:  One of the greatest benefits learning footwork is overcoming your fear of breaking OUT of partner work and dancing on your own!  Dancing is a mental challenge and a physical one.  And gaining confidence to dance on your own is like taking the training wheels off your bike.  Once their off, the world is yours!  

  2. TIMING:  Dancing is about connection.  Whether we're talking about partner connection or musical connection, it’s always important to connect to the rhythm and pace of the music.   Learning to match your footwork to the beat of the music is a fundamental skill that you typically learn before you attempt dancing with another person.  Practice footwork to help drill solid timing and develop the skill of connecting with the beat of the music.  Learn to speak the same language first (same timing, coordinated stepping) and your on your way to smooth dancing.
    ​
  3. QUALITY OF STEPS – Many dancers think that just "doing the steps" is good enough. In reality,  HOW you do your steps becomes more important… how you transfer your weight, how you coordinate your body with your steps.  So not is it only a no-no to be late for class (don’t get me started..), don’t come late to class with the intention of missing the footwork warm up because you’re missing out on an important element of your dance training!

  4. SPEED (FAST, SLOW & IN BETWEEN):  It takes energy to move body across a floor quickly and on time.   And it’s also challenging to take sllllooooooow controlled steps. It starts with your centre and then your feet.  Learning to adapt to the different speeds and moods of music takes focused practice.  Learning footwork can help challenge your ability to move at different speeds in ways that are controlled and on time.

  5. AGILITY: Great dancers make quick directional changes look easy.  Until you try it yourself and realize that it takes a heck of a lot of balance, centering, and clear intention to change directions quickly.  Learn and practice a footwork combo that incorporates quick directional changes and be an agility champ!

  6. BALANCE & CENTERING:  In partner work, many new dancers and even experienced dancers depend on their partner for balance.  And while you may think I’m talking about followers, this goes for you too leaders! If you struggle with spins/turns (which is a tough skill to master), or keeping your balance within partner work, it’s time to practice that stuff on your own.  Practice at home, practice at the club on the sidelines, take advantage of the “solo” time on the dance floor

  7. DEVELOP YOUR OWN RHYTHMIC STYLE:  Once you’ve learned a bunch of footwork, with practice, you’ll develop a rhythmic style to your dancing.  It may be intentional or it may sneak up on you one night at club.  Rhythm is part of musicality and every experienced dancer has developed his or her own flow that they express both within partner work and when they seize opportunities to do it on their own.

  8. MUSICALITY:  Some of the most musical dancers in salsa, bachata and cha cha are not only comfortable dancing solo, they are liberated by it.  Latin music has such a variety of sounds, instrumentation, moods, flavour…  Dancing on your own can give the opportunity to explore the nuances of each song without the added challenge of leading or following.  The horns, the baseline,  the percussion, the piano melody, the vocals, the breaks….. it takes time to master moving to those musical elements.  And the better you are at doing it on your own, the more comfortable you’ll be to incorporate into your partner work.  So work on YOU and you’ll have much more to give to your partners.

Put that all together and you've just stepped up your dance game both technically and artistically. Challenge yourself with a footwork class by an instructor with great musicality and great teaching ability – whether in salsa, bachata or cha cha.  Be not afraid.. embrace the challenges and look forward to the rewards to come! 

Author

Caryl Cuizon, iFreeStyle.ca Co-founder.

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From "Wall Flower" to "Dancing Machine" – HOW TO GET MORE DANCES

11/25/2016

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This blog, originally posted back in November 2007, is dedicated to an iFreeStyle student and friend who, like many shy intermediate salsa, bachata and cha cha dancers wanted to know how to “crack the code” on how to get more dances… This one is for you! Enjoy my friend and I hope it helps!

If you’re SHY or NEW to the Latin dance community in your city, it may be scary to ask complete strangers to dance.  You might be a beginner (stay tuned for more on that), or you may have been dancing for a while and you don’t understand why experienced dancers aren’t asking you to dance. We all have some insecurities and fears of rejection, but know this… rejection has happens to EVERYONE. The best of the best dancers out there were obviously NOT the best when they started.  You’re not alone.  And there’s ways to get out of the barren dance experience.   

It’s partly a numbers game…  The nature of partner dancing requires some sort of explicit or implicit invitation to dance.  Many times in one night.  Sometimes the answer is “yes”, sometime “no”, or sometimes “later”.  We put ourselves out there and rejection is a real possibility. The frequency of this invitation also invites more opportunities for “no’s” and yeah, that might not sound very encouraging.  If you want to be a dancing machine instead of a wallflower, prepare to put yourself out there.  It’s going to take some courage and know-how to maneuver your way to success, but chances are good that results will come fairly quickly if you give these tips a try.  

These 10 tips on HOW TO GET MORE DANCES (applies to both men and women :)


  1. Smile :) This seems pretty basic, but many people don’t realize that they might have a miserable look on their face – frowning, angry, bored, blank… Someone who wants a fun dance is looking for someone who looks happy and fun.  Check your misery, diva attitude and stress at the door and get ready to have a good time!

  2. Show welcoming body language.  Uncross those arms, face the dance floor, pay attention, stand up, put your drink down…  Like #1, your body language can either say “I love dancing!” or “stay away from me”.  Be yourself and show your happy, fun loving personality - we're drawn to people with a positive outlook and vibe!

  3. Easy Access (to the dance floor, that is).  Be near the perimeter of the dance floor (not ON the dance floor unless you want to get smacked in the head or irritate those dancing).  Unless you’re one of the top dancers, most people aren’t going to travel to the other side of a room, behind the plant, or reach across a table to ask you to dance, especially if the person is shy or afraid of getting a “no”.  So, make yourself available.  Easy access, in this case, is a good thing.

  4. Dance on the sidelines:  If you’re not dancing with a partner, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dance or enjoy the music.  Many experienced dancers look out for people on the sidelines who show a good sense of rhythm and are enjoying the music.  So why not do a bit of advertising?  Move to the music and show them you can groove!

  5. Be gracious while you are dancing. Many people pre-select their next dance based not only by dance ability, but also attitude and how they observe people treating his/her partner on the dance floor.  There have been many AWESOME leaders I’ve seen on the dance floor who make their partner feel inferior, and that is a BIG TURN OFF.  Also, ladies are notorious for giving that dreaded “bored” look.  This is a guy’s worst fear.  Keep in mind that people may be watching, and a bad attitude towards other people could lose your ticket to a dance with someone awesome, and even worse all of his/her friends.

  6. Thank you partner after each dance.  It’s just common courtesy to thank your partner for sharing 3-5 minutes of dancing together.  You’ll likely be more memorable and perhaps get an invitation to dance again later.

  7. Put together the best you.  Okay, many of you are not going to like this one because it seems shallow.  Hear me out…If you put together a great outfit, shoes that look good and feel good, nice hair, smell good… you’re likely going to feel more confident.  And people are naturally more attracted to confidence.  This doesn’t mean look slutty, or that you need a million $$ outfit with dark shades in a nightclub to look cool.  Jut present the best you possible. And when you can back up that up with confident dancing, you’ll be on your way to super-dancing-machine status.

  8. Go out dancing more often.  When dancers see you out regularly, they start to recognize you as someone in the community.  People naturally connect with people who enjoy similar things.  With each new dance, you’ll meet new people and even develop a “favourites” list!  Those people know people who know people.  It’s networking.  Soon you’ll have a new group of dance friends who you can enjoy dancing with on a regular basis. Success!!

  9. Share. If you’re out with your friends, make it a point “share” favourite dancers with each other. You’re getting the endorsement from your friend that you’ll probably enjoy the dance.  And it helps to grow your network of people to dance with.

  10. ****Be proactive & just ask.  This is by far, the easiest and fastest way to transform that barren dance experience to an oasis of dance filled nights.  If you want to dance with someone, ASK.  Simple.  Take control of the situation and go ask them yourself (nicely, of course).  And ladies, it’s equal opportunity in the dance world.  Gone are the days when men do all the asking (although it’s still nice when he does).  So unless you like being a spectator all night, learn to get over it and just ask! 

These tips are doable, right? Ultimately, pro-active people get more out of life. So don’t wait.  Ask. Give some or all of these tips a shot and see how it goes.  Take charge of your night and you may just kick yourself in the butt for allowing yourself so many dance-less nights… Go get’em.  Have fun!  

Author

Caryl Cuizon, iFreeStyle.ca co-founder.

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    Various authors including Caryl Cuizon, co-founder of iFreeStyle.ca Latin Dance Company.

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