Frequently Asked Questions
-
How do I know what level of dancer I am?
-
Are dance shoes necessary & where do I purchase them?
-
How long will it take me to learn how to dance?
-
What is the proper clothing to wear to a class?
-
Are Instructional Videos a good learning tool & is it
possible to learn to dance from videos?
-
What
is "Cumbia" and is it different than "Salsa?"
1. How do I know what level of dancer I am?
If you have never taken a formal dance class before, it is always best to go to the
level 1 group lesson because each instructor has his/her own style and teaching methods.
If the class is too slow or easy, then move up to the next level.
Every instructor has their own interpretation of what determines the level of their
classes, but the safest bet is to try out one class of the particular teacher of your
choice, and see how you fit into the general level of ability of the students in that
class.
If you are wondering which
instructional video to purchase then visit "Which
Video Should I buy?"
Back to Top
2. Are dance shoes necessary & where
do I purchase them?
Just as soccer shoes are not necessary to play soccer, but are very helpful for control
and obtaining better performance, the same holds true for dance shoes.
One can go for a while using regular street shoes, but once a dancer wants to reach a
certain level of performance, proper dance shoes make a world of difference. They
are made to be light weight, flexible, yet supporting enough for balance and control of
movement.
Please visit our Bloch sneakers for more details on
casual dance shoes.
Back to Top
3. How long will it take me to learn to dance well?
Everyone's interpretation of what dancing "well" means is just as different
as everyone ability to learn a new skill. Because everyone learns at a different
rate, it is very hard to answer this question with one blanket statement, however, it is
guaranteed that every student will learn the basic step and possible 2 or 3 variations in
their first class.
In every lesson, the student will learn more and have more fun.
The best way to learn a new skill is to attack it at many different angles- visually
(videos), physically (taking group & private lessons), and mentally -- and remember
Persistence & Practice make all the difference between a fast & slow learner.
Back to Top
4. What is the proper clothing to wear to a class?
If the group classes are in a dance studio (as opposed to a night club), casual &
comfortable attire is the norm. Jeans, pants, or dresses are acceptable
attire. Running shoes are not very practical for learning dance because they tend to
be too bulky and sticky. Any street shoe for the gentlemen or flats & heels for
the ladies are acceptable.
If the group class is in a night club, it is always best to find out the dress code of the
night club because some have very strict rules. The Mayan, for instance, will not
allow jeans, corduroys, shirts without a collar, or t-shirts.
Back to Top
5. Are Instructional Videos a good learning tool & is it
possible to learn to dance from videos?
Instructional videos are great for a variety of reasons:
- they can be used in the privacy of your own home any time, at your convenience
- they are very easy-to-follow and great to learn & review patterns with or without a
partner
- there are many steps & variations and you can go at your own pace
- details about hands and counts are easy to visualize and learn
- you can rewind and review them as many times as you want, and any time you
want
Please see Josie's Dance Hot Salsa Videos Page for more details
and video clips.
Please check out what other's have said about learning from Dance
Hot Salsa Videos in my
customer testimonials page.
If you are unsure about which video to purchase, please read Which Video
should I buy?
Back to Top
6. What
is "Cumbia" and is it different than "Salsa?"
CUMBIA is a type of music as well as a dance.
It is a very popular dance in Colombia and Mexico. The Colombians tend to dance
it very close to together with very few turns or elaborate movements. They also
have differing rhythms (i.e. quick-quick-quick-quick, or quick-quick-slow) and
have different rituals like dancing in front of their partner holding
handkerchiefs or candles in one hand while holding their skirt or pants with the
other.
In terms of SALSA, each city around the world has developed their own style of
dancing but there are basically 2 schools of thought about the "Basic
Step". One variation is called "Cumbia" style salsa. The South
Americans tend to do this "Cumbia" style salsa which is based on a
SIDE-TO-SIDE BASIC STEP (i.e. side step and breaking back with one foot, then
side step and breaking back with the other foot).
There is also a "Mambo" style salsa which is based on the
FORWARD-AND-BACK BASIC STEP (i.e. breaking forward with the left foot and
returning to the center, and breaking back with the right foot and returning to
the center). This is the style that is popular in places like Los Angeles and
New York. Some islands like Curacao, do the "Mambo" style salsa but
break forward with the right foot and back with the left.
It is interesting to see how the World Salsa Congresses (which have met in
Puerto Rico every year since 1997), have developed a unity among many countries
and styles of salsa. There is a give and take of ideas, philosophies and
movements.
Salsa is still a "street" dance with many different views about the
way it "should" be danced, but the passion for dancing this great
Latin Dance called SALSA, is universal.
Back to Top
|
JAN
