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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 with the music!  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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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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    Author

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

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