| You've arrived at your first group class! | | | | loud. Do yourself, and him, a favor by counting out |
| Congratulations - it may have taken a lot to actually | | | | loud. This will aid you both in staying on the beat! |
| get you in there, but now you're finally there. You | | | | 4) Never stay with one partner in group classes. ~ |
| feel nervous, out of place, and secretly wonder if | | | | Sometimes people come to class with a friend or |
| everyone else in the class is a salsa dance pro. You're | | | | significant other and they, understandably, want to |
| worried that you're just not going go get it - or even | | | | dance with each other. But if the teacher is |
| worse, make a fool out of yourself in the process. | | | | instructing students to rotate around the circle, by all |
| Perhaps you brought a partner with you to class, to | | | | means, join in! The process of dancing with new |
| help share the agony with someone, or perhaps | | | | people will increase your learning exponentially. In |
| you've come alone, but rest assured, you're in for an | | | | dances where you need to lead and follow, sticking |
| amazing experience. | | | | with one partner during class will actually slow your |
| Always start with group classes, rather than private | | | | learning. Why? Because you get used to each other's |
| lessons. You simply won't get as much out of a | | | | movements, and begin to EXPECT certain leads and |
| private lesson when you're just beginning, since your | | | | responses from each other. In short, you never |
| capacity to absorb information is limited by TIME and | | | | actually learn to lead and follow extemporaneously - |
| PRACTICE. You'll hit your limit for new info very | | | | leading and following is all about responding to the |
| quickly in the beginning. Through practice and by | | | | UNexpected. We're going to talk more about |
| letting time pass, your muscles will slowly absorb the | | | | partners in a little bit - but for now, take my word |
| new movements and timing. This is an incremental | | | | for it, change is good! |
| process, and it takes time. | | | | 5) Write it down! ~ This is really just true for the |
| Start with a group class that meets over the course | | | | leaders in class. The instant class is over, take out |
| of 4-8 weeks, at least once a week, and is | | | | the pen and paper you brought to class (which |
| progressive. This is key - progressive classes help | | | | means you should definitely bring a pen and paper to |
| you build each week, much like the lessons in the | | | | class!), and make notes on what you just learned. |
| SalsaCrazy DVD Learn to Salsa Dance | | | | You will develop your own shorthand after a while |
| (SalsaDanceDVD.com). Progressive classes are about | | | | (like CBL for cross-body lead, for example). Don't |
| a thousand times more helpful and productive than | | | | stop doing this when you become an intermediate |
| classes that are not progressive. You learn a pattern | | | | dancer - that's when it will actually be most useful to |
| each week, then the following week review and build | | | | you because that's when the patterns you learn get |
| on it. Learning incrementally like this is the best way | | | | long and complicated! Oh, and yes, your teacher |
| to keep your newly learned patterns from falling right | | | | probably did this at one point, too! How do you think |
| out of your head! | | | | they remember the gazillion patterns they've learned? |
| In your first month of training, the best use of time | | | | Over time, even in the course of one week, you |
| is: | | | | could learn ten new patterns - if you don't write |
| * 2 Progressive group classes a week | | | | them down, you'll probably only remember one! Even |
| * 1 Practice Session out at the clubs each week | | | | if you never review your notes, the simple exercise |
| * 1 Private lesson after the first three weeks or | | | | of writing it down will help you commit the patterns |
| more (or after your first time out at a club) | | | | to memory! Don't believe me? Try it! |
| When you're in class itself, there are some basic rules | | | | 6) Shop around! ~ Dance teachers are like shoes, the |
| to live by when taking your first, or fiftieth, group | | | | first pair you try on might not fit your feet just right. |
| class: | | | | Perhaps you're taking lessons with us, at There are a |
| 1) Pay attention ~ Don't talk during the class, but | | | | ton of very qualified salsa instructors around, and |
| actually try to focus on what the instructor is saying! | | | | they all have different styles of teaching. Some are |
| Sounds simple right? But it's not! There's your partner, | | | | better at breaking down the steps and the details of |
| ambient noise, and countless other distractions (like | | | | the patterns, which is pretty essential when you're |
| that cute guy or girl you're going to be dancing with | | | | first learning. Others may teach patterns that you |
| next), that are vying for your attention. Don't lose | | | | find deliciously stylish! Some teacher's classes might |
| focus! Always get the name of your partners. No idle | | | | be really crowded, which you might like, or you might |
| chatter though, you'll need to focus for the hour, and | | | | not like. A class that has 50-100 students is not |
| then come back and hit on whomever you were | | | | entirely uncommon, and while that sounds like a huge |
| talking to later. This focus is required for you to learn. | | | | teacher to student ratio, that number of students |
| 2) Face the right way ~ Always, always, always align | | | | can actually really energize you! You may prefer a |
| yourself of in the same direction as the teacher you | | | | class that's smaller, where you can ask more |
| are trying to follow. If you're in a circle with the | | | | questions. The point is to try as many classes as you |
| instructor(s) in the center, align yourself in the | | | | can, eventually you'll find a match! You might even |
| direction the teacher whose movements you are | | | | get lucky and find more than one teacher or pair of |
| trying to follow. That way, you can mimic their | | | | teachers whose style of teaching fits your style of |
| movements, and you will get everything so much | | | | learning! |
| faster. | | | | It typically takes 2 months in group classes to get |
| 3) Count! ~ This is one of those tips that just can't | | | | your feet moving, and to understand the rhythm. |
| be stressed enough. Count out loud - even if you're | | | | Then, a good ratio is 1 private lesson for each 2-3 |
| with your partner. You can't get away with doing | | | | group classes, but no more than 1 a week for the |
| that a nightclub, but in class - do it as much as | | | | first 2 months. |
| possible. Now, ladies - it's well known that a guy will | | | | Keep Dancing, and Keep it Crazy! |
| not count out loud unless the lady is also counting out | | | | |