Importance of Technique in Learning Salsa Dancing

With salsa moves easily available in an endless stream on YouTube, it seems that the enterprising salsa dancer would never need to take a class to learn salsa. I suppose this approach is adequate for dancers that do not aspire to that wonderful point where they lead/follow seemingly effortlessly in a magical connection with their partner. But wow such dancers miss out on a pretty important thing … the dancing.

To become a good dancer requires learning good technique. Technique is comprised of the hundreds of tiny gestural and timing elements that make possible beautiful style and the skill to lead/follow with acumen. To know exactly where one’s weight should be, to know which way to turn one’s hand at a precise moment, to know the particular count when something needs to happen, to embody great posture, to feel the precise connection with your partner … all these things are essential to dancing salsa with skill and style.

We always tell our students that technique and style are inseparable.  Dancing the simplest moves and elements with excellent technique is all one needs to enjoy great salsa dancing.  This is always preferable to dragging (or being dragged) through some complicated move sequence where there the dancers do not have the technical skills to actually accomplish the moves successfully, gracefully, and in the rhythm of the music.

Another major reason to start dancing with much attention to technique is that once bad habits or practices are embodied, it is very difficult to replace them with good technique. I’ve worked with dancers who discovered that they lacked in technique only after having danced salsa for some time.  Even for them to maintain awareness of what they needed to do to change was difficult and often frustrating. The time to get great technique is from the very beginning. But then you work on technique throughout your entire dancing career.

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So it is great to pick up a new move now and then from YouTube, but you will not be able to lead/follow these moves with great technique unless you are already an advanced dancer. Take classes from, or find video instruction from, a good technique-oriented teacher who critiques you and who constantly encourages you to learn and to embody excellent technique.

Source Sam Gill

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Posted in dance salsacircuit , match salsa dance , music salsa , salsa dance technique , salsa dancing

What Is Ballroom and Latin Dancing?

Ballroom dancing consist of two main branches:

1. American Style Ballroom Dancing
2. International Style Ballroom Dancing

American Ballroom dancing is composed of two subcategories. Those two categories are American Style Smooth and American Style Rhythm. American Style Smooth is composed of Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz. American Style Rhythm is composed of Rumba, East Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Bolero, and Mambo.

International Ballroom Dancing is composed of international standard and international latin. International Standard is Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, and Quickstep. International Style Latin is composed of Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Paso Doble, and Jive.

A large percentage of the techniques and figures overlap from international style dancing to American style dancing. At a social level a good follower should be able to follow international style figures even if they're trained in American style, and a good international style dancer should be able to follow American style figures even if they've been trained in international.

In the competitive world, international style dancing is more popular around the world. What's considered to be the championship of ballroom and latin dancing, is held in Blackpool England every year and held in International Style Dancing.

If you are learning how to dance for social reasons, you will want to learn some other dances that are outside the scope of traditional ballroom. Those dances are salsa, merengue, bachata, and west coast swing. Across the USA, those 4 dances have become extremely popular and are critical to learning if you are interested in learning social dance. Within the American social ballroom world, two of the most commonly danced dances within traditional ballroom are Waltz, Tango, Rumba, East Coast Swing, and Cha Cha. If you are interested in learning how to dance, you will want to figure out your goals. If your goal is to go out dancing at a local latin dance club, you will want to learn salsa, merengue, bachata.

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Ballroom dancing is a ton of fun and has become increasingly popular in the USA. I encourage you to try it and see if you like it. It is a great hobby that may be able to help you to stay in shape and enjoy life just a little bit more.

Alex is a professional ballroom and latin dance instructor and offers dance lessons to people in the Chicago Illinois and Naperville Illinois area in Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Salsa, Swing, Cha Cha, Rumba, and More!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Bogdan

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Posted in ballroom dancing , dance lessons , dance salsa , dance steps , latin artists , latin dance , match salsa dance , salsacircuit

Zumba Dance Craze!

Are you tired of doing the same endless dieting. Fed up with buying expensive slimming pills and potions to make you slim that just dont work? Well, I have a great news for you! It's the newest Zumba Dance Craze in town! Currently the fastest growing fitness program suitable for every person who wants to be physically attractive, beautiful and healthy inside and out. It can be beneficial for all types of people, different age groups, races and sizes as it is simple and addictive. For those who want to stop their never-ending sacrifice of going through these ineffective and expensive methods of getting physically fit, a Zumba fitness class is a great way to learn how to stay healthy while having fun.

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Get a stress free life and attain that physic body that you desire by trying out the latest Zumba fitness craze. Zumba uses many different Latin styles of dance. Typical styles are Salsa, Merengue, samba, Bachatta, Reggaeton, even bollywood and Flamenco. It makes you enthusiatic when you listen to the music and you are having so much fun you dont realise you are doing a workout. It gives you the opportunity to work out your entire body thus keeping your heart pumping and feet jumping. A good and healthy heart pumps when you are on the move therefore burning fat and cholesterol in your body. Aside from keeping your body in shape, it also circulates oxygen around your body making your feel fresh and alive after each class.

Did you know that even the winner of Big Brother in the UK this year takes Zumba classes! Zumba have even launced a new fitness programme similar to Wii keep fit, so soon you will be able to practice at home!


Just imagine when you shake your hips like Shakira, you will realise "its a party not a workout"! It is a fast and effective way to become a better and healthy you? There's no fitness class like Zumba! So if you need a healthy and inexpensive way to unwind and become physically gorgeous while taking away all the stress this chaotic and busy world around you brings, then find the nearest Zumba class in your hometown. It is growing at such a rate of knotts there is bound to be a new class opening up near you soon. Having a sexy, Hurry though as the classes fill up so quick you might not get in as everyone wants to join the party!

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

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Posted in Dance , dance lessons , dance steps , latino , match salsa dance , zumba , zumba dance

Putumayo World Music ~ Music From Around the World

NEW YORK—Putumayo World Music launched three new titles to its Music From Around the World Collection. With Latin roots, Rumba, Mambo, Cha Cha Chà, features familiar names to ballroom dancers around the world. This CD contains titles such as ¡Salsa!, Salsa Around the World and Tango Around the World. On Rumba, Mambo, Cha Cha Chá, Putumayo explores retro-flavored Latin dance music with timeless genres from the Cuban family tree.



Putumayo World Music also introduced Bossa Nova Around the World. Originating among a small collective of musical visionaries in the late 1950s, bossa nova helped bring the sounds of Brazil to the world. The recent success of artists such as Bebel Gilberto and the popularity of the bossa sound in the lounge and electronica music scenes demonstrate its continued appeal to contemporary musicians and audiences.



Bossa Nova Around the World album curator and Putumayo founder Dan Storper comments, “As I’ve traveled the world, it’s been fascinating to see how certain musical genres like Brazilian bossa nova have been embraced globally, and, like reggae, seem to blend effortlessly with other rhythms, melodies and languages." The 12 artists on this CD hail from South America, North America, Asia, Africa and Europe and have creatively adapted this mellifluous musical style into their repertoires



Children’s music label Putumayo Kids released the fifth CD in its Dreamland series, Acoustic Dreamland. Eleven singer-songwriters perform unplugged, soothing music to lull children to sleep and for adults to unwind to. The CD includes songs originally recorded by the Allman Brothers, James Taylor, Wilco and Mary Chapin Carpenter, etc.



Source:naturalproductsmarketplace[dot]com

ABOUT PUTUMAYO

Putumayo World Music was established to introduce people to the music of the world's cultures. The label grew out of Putumayo clothing company, founded by Dan Storper in 1975 and sold in 1997. Co-founder Michael Kraus joined Storper to help launch Putumayo World Music in 1993. In the past 17 years, the label has become known primarily for its upbeat and melodic compilations of great international music characterized by the company's motto: “guaranteed to make you feel good!”

Putumayo’s CD covers feature the distinctive art of Nicola Heindl, whose colorful, folkloric style represents one of Putumayo's goals: to connect the traditional to the contemporary. By combining appealing music and visuals with creative retail marketing, Putumayo has developed a unique brand identity, a rarity in today's artist-based music industry.

Putumayo is considered a pioneer and leader in developing the non-traditional market. A large portion of its target audience consists of "Cultural Creatives," a sociological and lifestyle term for 50 million North Americans and millions more around the world with an interest in culture, travel and the arts. To reach these consumers, Putumayo has built a proprietary network of more than 3,000 book, gift, clothing, coffee and other specialty retailers in the US and thousands more internationally that play and sell its CDs, in addition to maintaining a strong presence in record stores.


Dan Storper’s vision of establishing a global company and lifestyle brand is being furthered by CD distribution in more than 100 countries. The opening of Putumayo Europe in the Netherlands in 2000 enabled the company to connect with the European music and retail scene. The expansion of Putumayo International has also extended the label’s presence in South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. The company now has offices in 10 countries around the world.


The Putumayo Kids division was created to introduce children to other cultures through fun, upbeat world music. Since the release of the best-selling World Playground CD in 1999, Putumayo Kids has established itself as one of the leading children’s record labels in the world, winning critical acclaim and honors from Parents’ Choice Awards, the National Parenting Publications Association and others. With its growing collection of albums and multicultural activity kits, Putumayo Kids provides children with upbeat, melodic and culturally authentic music, enhanced by educational liner notes.

Putumayo also launched the Putumayo World Music Hour in 2000. The first commercially-syndicated world music radio show, it is now heard internationally on more than 150 commercial and non-commercial stations. Periodically, Putumayo presents thematic tours in conjunction with its CD releases. Acoustic Africa, a CD and successful international tour in 2006 featured Habib Koité, Vusi Mahlasela and Dobet Gnahoré. Putumayo Kids has produced several thematic tours between 2006 and 2010.

The company’s commitment to helping communities in the countries where the music originates has led to the label contributing more than $1 million dollars to worthwhile non-profit organizations around the world. Charitable recipients include Coffee Kids, Oxfam, Mercy Corps, Amnesty International and many more.

As international markets and consumer awareness of world music grow, Putumayo continues to develop creative ways to present exciting music from around the world that is underexposed in the mainstream media. Please continue to visit our website for more information, news and updates on Putumayo World Music, its releases and events.


Putumayo World Music - EPK (Spanish) from Putumayo World Music on Vimeo.

Source: Putumayo[dot]com

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Posted in dance salsa , hispanic market , latin dance , latin music , match salsa dance , music salsa , Putumayo World Music , salsacircuit

Tips on Keeping You Safe on the Dance floor

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Salsa dancing is one of the latest trends in the dance floor nowadays. Many are hooked on doing this dance craze not just because it provides a channel for socialization but it is now becoming famous as an effective and enjoyable workout routine. But there are instances that you can get hurt when you execute some salsa routines especially those first timers.

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The lady stepping on her partner’s foot with her sharp heels, hitting partner’s face with her elbow and sometimes losing grip with each other’s hands and falling off, are just some of the common yet painful scenarios that you may get when performing a salsa number. But you can avoid these things from happening if you know these simple tips.

Tips for Salsaleras:

•    Pick shoes that are light and relaxes your feet as you do your dance.
•    Be very careful with your steps. Control your step and take smaller steps to avoid stepping on your partner’s foot or ankle.
•   
•    As your partner is leading you, hold on to his hands firmly so won’t be smashing into someone when you do the swaying, bending and turning.
•    When accidentally you have hit the floor but the audience didn’t took full notice it, make some styling on the floor or compose a good pose and then smoothly get back on track.
•    Wear a costume that perfectly fits your body and that you are comfortable with. Comfort is the key for you to move freely well.

Tips for Salsaleros:

•    Make sure that you have enough strength to hold your partner as you do the routines.
•    Be sure to always look o your partner’s moves and lead her to a safer area in the dance floor especially when you are in the competition.
•    Always keep an eye on the shoes and the arms and elbows of your partner to avoid being hit.
•    Avoid wearing “blings” and other jewelries on the dress because sometimes it can ruin the whole performance when your partner accidentally rips it off.



These are simple yet helpful tips that you must bear in mind when dancing salsa to avoid some common minor accidents yet can be very painful and depressing especially to dancers eyeing to get the next title for great salsaleras and salsaleros.

Keep in mind that if everybody has a better focus on their steps and movements, the dance floor will be a safer place to rock your salsa moves.

Joanna Rossi, www.salsacircuit.com

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Posted in dance salsa , latin dance , match salsa dance , salsa dancing , salsacircuit , salseras , salseros

Dance Classes - Which Salsa Dance Classes To Choose?

As a beginner, you can come across various ways as well as salsa dance classes to learn salsa. Prior to taking the plunge, considering the various features of the different dance classes will aid you to make the right choice.
The dazzling postures, mesmerizing moves and wealth of benefits would be the apt way to describe salsa dancing in a nutshell. It is one of the sensual dance forms that has ignited the passion of many enthusiasts. Though it is not difficult to master this dancing form, learning the nuances happens to be a gradual process.

Be it the beginner eager to learn salsa or an advanced dancer trying to get his style refined and learn more new salsa movements, there are many options that help the enthusiasts to learn salsa dancing. The dance classes happen to be one of the ideal sources that provide salsa instructions, as it also imparts the basic skills in the most fitting manner.

There are different types of dance classes and your choice is influenced by several features. Some of the features that play a pivotal role come in the form of location, budget, schedule and the time period, and each of these dance classes unveil their unique methods as when they provide salsa instructions.

Well Structured classes

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The organized classes happen to be the most sought form, as they are also the best medium that imparts salsa basics in the right way. There are classes that fall in the range of four to eight weeks, which basically are conducted for the beginners to learn the salsa fundamentals. Each of the sessions pertaining to these classes build upon the techniques and steps learnt in advance, as they adopt a progressive and continuous approach. These classes provide instruction with respect to technique, dance steps, salsa music and the leading and following mode of this dancing genre.

In this sector, a novice can chance upon likeminded individuals in the core group, which sets up a good base to practice and dance with fellow students who belong to the same level. A novice can reap benefits out of this mode only when he is committed to the time frame of four to eight weeks period to learn the basic techniques of salsa.

Drop in Classes

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The option of drop in classes also stares hard upon the faces of the enthusiasts. In this mode, an enthusiast can opt to join a specific class to attend a specific salsa session. Usually, this mode of dance classes are offered at the many nightclubs and the class level also tends to vary in this mode of classes. Beginners may feel the pinch as when they opt for this type of class, as they might come across many onlookers who aren’t a part of the learning process. With this mode, there is no commitment as you can opt to make use of this services as when you feel comfortable. Also, you can practice the skills taught at the class immediately, as these classes invariably get conducted at a nightclub. This mode is also an inexpensive mode as the possibility of observing top class performers is another advantageous factor of this class type.

Private Tutoring

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Learning salsa skills through the means of private classes is an idyllic way to grasp the essentials. Though it could be a costly proposition, an enthusiast can get benefited from the personal attention showered upon him by instructors as when they opt for this type of classes. The salsa instructor pinpoints the mistakes as he also provides his focal attention on areas that needs immediate attention. With the private classes, you can imbibe the skills and techniques under the personal care of the experienced tutor.

If you already have been swept up into the vortex of salsa, learning the salsa basics through dance classes would lead you to touch dizzying heights in this field.

source: Vasanth Rajan

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Posted in dance lessons , dance salsa , dance steps , fashion latinas , joel salsa , latin dance , latin music chart , latin songs , match salsa dance , salsacircuit

Ricky Martin’s Musica +Alma+Sexo for 2011

photo credited to rickymartinmusic(dot)com

Finally, the wait is over and it was an emotional experience for our “Livin La Vida Loca Man”.

The Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican pop singer rose to eminence first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist. He has sold more than 55 million albums around the world. New RICKY MARTIN Album "Musica+Alma+Sexo"(Music+Soul+Sex) will be released on February 1, 2011. Martin's first Spanish language single is "Lo Major De Mi Vida Eres Tu," a duet with Spanish singer Natalia Jimenez. An English version of the track, titled "The Best Thing About Me is You," features Joss Stone.

For Ricky Martin to embraced his parents after finally revealed his sexuality, it was a very tough job for him while he was considerably appalled for rumours that he is dating numerous guys like Carlos González Abella, a 33 years old man and works in finance and he is related to the former Governor of Puerto Rico, José Roselló González and Valerio Pino's an Italian dancer, model and catwalk coach. Despite the never ending rumoured about his sexuality , Ricky Martin openly admitted while guest on Oprah Winfrey's talk show , that he has serious boyfriend , he revealed he’s in an “amazing” relationship, who is the real guy Carlos or Valerio ?

He was chosen as one of UNICEF goodwill ambassadors and variety of stars like Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, Shakira, Danny Glover, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom and a lot more . These celebrities stay up to date about central children’s issues; visit different projects run by UNICEF and try to help save the lives of children in developing countries.

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Posted in 2010 latin grammy , 2011 grammy awards , hispanic market , livin la vida loca , match salsa dance , musica alma sexo , ricky martin , salsa circuit

Happy Holidays!

Remembering special people
at Christmas
fills our hearts with joy.
We wish you a joyous holiday
season
and a new year filled with
peace and happiness.

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Posted in christmas , dance salsa , global salsa events , holiday dance romance , match salsa dance , salsa circuit