Repeat Moves?

[Lynn]

Originally posted by gtman
ah well, I've been having big problems with Salsa.
Got to the point now where I do the lessons in clubs then sit the rest of the night to scared to get up.
Been learning it for about 9 months (once a week) so I should know lots of moves. But I find I still cant seem to dance it. Its just something about following the flow of the music. If it has a flow. Maybe its just me. Or maybe its the dance school I go too. I'm about to switch to a new one who teach in a lot of the clubs up here. Maybe they can show me where I'm going wrong.

This sounds so familiar! I go dancing with a group of friends and several of us are learning both MJ and salsa. After our MJ class there is a salsa disco nearby and we often head round to that. Us girls are able to get up with the more experienced male dancers but the guys just sit there, wishing they could get up, but not feeling confident enough to get the music and the moves together. These same guys are fine about getting up in the MJ freestyle after our class, before the salsa disco, which shows that MJ is more ‘beginner-friendly’, (or might be some reflection of the fact that everyone is relatively new to MJ here, classes only started in Oct, compared to some having danced salsa for years).

I was also told, when I started salsa, that it takes about 9 months for it to feel comfortable for the guys - so maybe you are just about to reach that point!

[gtman]

Hay Lynn,

I hope your right. I'd love to be able to make some progress with it. Nice to know I'm not the only guy that sits it out I dont see many guys doing that up here. Then again most of the dance events and clubs I get to have more girls than guys.
Still think a change of school may help a bit as most of the moves my current one teaches are fine if you go as a couple. But as most of the girls I meet have learned at other places they aint learned the same moves as me. (not counting the simple stuff) I cant teach the girls steps that my dance teacher does, she just knows where to go. Doesnt help when i have to lead others.

[Lynn]

I'm just moving up to improvers tonight in my salsa class, (which has more girls than guys ) but have also started going to another beginners class on Fri night in the same venue and just before MJ class. Partly as some MJ friends go and its fun to go together (more guys than girls in that class ) also because I'm finding it good to learn the basics again with another teacher. There does seem to be more variation in salsa than MJ. And the teachers have very different styles, the one I went to started with steps, the new one I am going to is also starting with steps but more emphasis on finding the beat (right from week one), another teacher (who is in my MJ class) starts with lead and follow. (As I am only beginner I can only compare the teaching styles at beginner level.) So going to a different class will probably be useful for you.

[gtman]

Well I just did it.
Contacted the other dance school over here who specialise in salsa and told them I'd be along on sunday (school day for me )
I get double the lesson time for the same price too. Cant be bad.
Then I called my old school and told them I'm dropping out. Feel better already. Lets hope it works.

[jivecat]

Its especially scary when the girl you just danced with is something like a year ahead of you. You see her in the next dance with someone else and think boy she must have found my attempts really boring.

Although ladies enjoy dancing with skilled and accomplished leaders there are lots of other things they like too. So although it may appear to you that another bloke has more to offer in terms of exciting dancing it's quite possible that the girl who is 1 year ahead of you values you just as much, or more, for a variety of different reasons.

1. You might have a particularly nice smile.
2. You might have a great personality.
3. You might be more relaxing to dance with than the hotshot who has rapidly moved on to an even more experienced/prettier/younger/whatever dancer.
4. You might make her feel good by asking her to dance rather than the other way around.
5. By asking/hoping that someone will help you out with steps/moves you build up an enjoyable friendly relationship of trust and shared experience.
6. Your face is familiar and friendly amongst a sea of intimidating strangers.
7. She gets a buzz out of your keenness to learn and likes being helpful.
8. You flatter her ego by suggesting that you find it particularly easy/helpful/enjoyable to dance with her.
9. She likes the way you look/smell/dress. (Yes, we do notice)
10.She can spot your obvious potential and thinks that by dancing with you now you might still be willing to give her the occasional dance when you become a hotshot.

Modern jive is primarily a social activity and if you can score highly on the above list ( not too difficult, I think) then ladies will still enjoy dancing with you even if you don't think your technique & repertoire is as good as you'd like it to be. But it will be! Don't panic! Keep at it! Don't worry! Essentially the same message as everyone else.

[gtman]

Hay JiveCat,

Thanks for the Dating tips.
God I hope your right and Girls like me for more than just how good or bad I dance. But hay, I'll worry about that later.
When I'm on the dance floor I only worry about those moves.
Any other moves I mite make on a girl can come later Just kidding. Dont worry girls. Like i said, on the dance floor I only make dance moves Still a beginner in many things. So If I forget to get up when you leave the room or forget to walk you to your car (Burke) I'll do better next time.

[sarahw31]

GTman, you are lovely to dance with! I don't know what you are worrying about!
You score highly on all of Jivecats 10 points, especially number 10
Here's hoping you don't forget me when you join the ranks of the 'hotshots'....
See you on Wednesday at Newcastle

[bobgadjet]

Originally posted by gtman

When I'm on the dance floor I only worry about those moves.

Why?
Why worry? I don't get it
Ask yourself "what do I go dancing for?"
IMHO if you are worrying about "moves" on or off the dancefloor you are going about life in the wrong way.
If you can make just 6 - 8 moves fit perfectly to a tune by being smooth and maybe hitting most of the breaks, escpecially on a tune you know really well then you will impress almost any partner, whether they are experienced, a beginner, or even a superstar.
A partner will respect you more for how you dance, not how many moves you can fit into 3 1/2 minutes.
It's all been said before and I think I'm just backing others up. IMO the more you worry about anything, the longer it takes to conquer the problem, if indeed there is a problem.
Those who have obviously danced with you tell you that you have nothing to worry about, so, chill out the moves will come in time, be patient and just enjoy your evenings for the enjoyment they give you, and you give others.

[gtman]

Ok than, I won't worry.
At least not as long as Sarah remembers which table I'm sitting at and keeps coming back there to sit down
I just hope my Salsa and Ballroom will be impressive enough when you decide to give that a whirl.

see ya

[sergio]

Yes repeating moves is ok, you are not expected to do 20 odd diff moves in one song.

Originally posted by DavidB
The ladies don't get bored, because your set of moves are different to everyone else's set

What about the bloke getting bored though? My brain turns to mush after the second time through if I try to stick to a routine like I've been told I probably should.

[Gadget]

Originally posted by Unregistered
What about the bloke getting bored though? My brain turns to mush after the second time through if I try to stick to a routine like I've been told I probably should.

Stick to a routine I've been going to Ceroc for mumble mumble years and still can never get the beginners routine right every time. Too used to developing my own patterns I suppose

I'm afraid that this is the main reason for me varying my moves - never mind the ladies getting bored: I do.
In saying that, you probably should follow the routine..., at least until you can do each of the moves outwith the order they were presented.

Glad I'm not the only one.

[under par]

Originally posted by jiveoholic
My question to you is whether YOU are getting bored with your own moves. After all you do not get a new set each time you dance with a lady! I regularly add a new move (and an old one flushes off then end). Also try changing your style with the same moves.

I found that I was getting bored with my own moves and felt inadequate because I couldn't recall in freestyle all the other 100s of moves I had been taught over 2 and 1/2 years.

PLAN. 1.write down the moves I like from every subsequent lesson. not the whole lesson just the moves I got on well with.

2.Repeatedly recording these sets of moves, from every lesson

3.then during freestyle as soon as I get "bored" with repitition,

4.sit out a dance and look at list

5.then try to use 2 to 4 moves from list during next few dances.

when 3. occurs again, repeat 4 and 5 again


variety is the spice of life

[Yogi_Bear]

It's possible to use nothing more than say a first move - with a few variations - and a travelling return for a whole dance, and still make it enjoyable and look cool. At least, that's what I keep telling myself when my mind starts to go balnk towards the end of the evening...