PARTNER DANCING

GUIDELINES

This guide outlines the process of learning to dance as a couple. My advice is simple: don’t rush, take it one step at a time.

You’re on the verge of becoming a part of our dance family.

We’re excited to get to know you !

We’re a close-knit family that warmly welcomes newcomers. What unites us is our shared passion for dancing, the desire to connect with new people, and the enjoyment of learning and improving our dance skills. Moreover, from day one, you’ll have the opportunity to join us for real-world practice, applying what you’ve learned in class.

THE DANCER’S EVOLUTION

Evolution starts with the individual.
You must master control over your movements and learn to dissociate (perform independent movements) various parts of your body.

The next phase centers on understanding your role within partner dance and not attempting a role that doesn’t suit you. In essence, the leader directs and guides, while the follower executes the indicated steps. If you’re dancing without a partner, refrain from taking on the leader’s role, as it serves a distinct purpose. Instead, concentrate on personal growth and practice the steps independently, as this will greatly enhance your mastery of them.

Once you’ve mastered the steps and your designated role, without neglecting the second point, it’s time to infuse your dance with your unique style and personality.

PARTNER DANCING

In this dance style, it’s crucial to remember that we’re not dancing alone. Ensuring our partner’s enjoyment is as important as our own.

This necessitates selflessness and the ability to empathize.

Of course, it also requires that both dancers move to the rhythm of the music to stay in sync.

In partner dancing, there are two distinct roles:

 1 Leader:

Traditionally, it’s often the man who assumes this role, but nowadays, more and more women are stepping into it.
This role involves juggling many simultaneous actions:

• You must make sure you don’t lose your step. It is important to always follow the order of your feet, following the pattern of the type of dance you are doing at that moment.
• You will have to learn to guide your partner so that he or she can perform the steps without too much difficulty. To do this, you will have to make an effort and pay attention to the placement of your hands. You need to be aware of the right moment to give the indication and, above all, don’t be abrupt. Make your movements clear and concise. This will ensure that your partner understands what you want them to do and can execute it.
• Be aware that your purpose is to guide your partner in advance, clearly indicating what you want your partner to do. But it is your partner who must make the move. Under no circumstances should the leader force their partner to do it, as this will make them an abrupt leader and prevent their partner from learning to do their movements on their own.
• You will learn to sequence one figure after another with ease. That is to say, while you are doing one step, you will have to prepare the next one, or get resources to be able to link different figures.

Even creating new combinations !

 2 Follower:
Traditionally, it’s typically the woman who takes on this role, but there are instances when men also embrace it.

• You must make sure you don’t lose your step. It is important to always follow the order of your feet, following the pattern of the type of dance you are doing at that moment.
• You will have to learn to wait to be guided and not anticipate in the execution of what you think is going to happen.
• Ensure that you master your individual steps, enabling you to perform as directed without relying on being led. It’s not uncommon to hear some women say, ‘I can dance as long as someone leads me.’ This way of thinking can be selfish because it’s unfair to expect your partner, who already has their own responsibilities, to guide you through every step of the dance execution.
• Make an effort to leave your arms at your partner’s disposal, so that your partner can guide you without losing his or her fluidity.

PARTNER ROTATION

We encourage partner rotation to facilitate interaction with our fellow dancers and enhance our learning experience. It adds an element of fun and, most importantly, prevents the development of bad habits by dancing exclusively with one partner. To ensure the class runs smoothly, regular rotation is essential. Familiarize yourself with the clockwise rotation system, which forms an imaginary circle around the different couples.

If you find yourself without a partner during the rotations, be sure to position yourself between two pairs without someone else waiting in the same spot, and keep a distance from other waiting partners. Utilize this time to review your individual steps.

Stay active and engaged—there’s always something you can do!

EMPATHY

A smile can brighten the atmosphere and motivate them to improve!

Instead of pointing out mistakes to your partners, offer a smile and acknowledge their progress. This encouragement is likely to motivate them to perform better.

Do you want to support your partner?
It’s essential not to execute a step unless they’ve signaled it for you. This ensures your partner can indicate correctly, allowing for a smooth execution. Furthermore, it helps you learn how to interpret various cues, making you better equipped to dance with partners worldwide.

Avoid dancing independently; wait to be guided!

PERSONAL HYGIENE

For those who tend to sweat profusely or have a strong body odor, it’s wise to bring a change of clothes for the sake of comfort.

Caring for your breath is also important. Consuming strongly aromatic foods can be unpleasant for others. Foods such as chorizo, garlic, excessive alcohol, tobacco, onions, or even dancing on an empty stomach can lead to bad breath.

DIFERENT LEVELS

BEGINNERS
The course spans three months, during which you will acquire the fundamental steps required for progression in Salsa, Bachata y Kizomba.

BASIC
Understanding the basic steps is essential, as they form the building blocks for creating dance figures.

INTERMEDIATE
We assume that the basic steps are well-mastered, allowing for smoother and faster learning.

ADVANCED

Our emphasis is on developing our unique style, enhancing musicality, and creating more beautiful and harmonious dances.

Avoid the mistake of fixating on learning increasingly complex combinations without first perfecting your basic steps and dancing in sync. These two aspects are the foundational pillars for rapid and successful progress.

• Read the following post, “Learn to dance and feel the music“. There is a very interesting video at the end.
• Download the following application for your mobile phone where you can interact with the different instruments involved in Salsa:
  Salsa Rythm

The finest dancer is not the one who performs the most intricate moves, but rather the one who adjusts to their partner’s skill level, ensuring they have an enjoyable and fun experience.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS