dohrt
16th May 2006, 07:19 AM
So I went to a salsa class last night (just a 'drop in' thing). I had taken a couple of 8 week courses in salsa a couple years back, but nothing since.
I was suprised how much I remembered after just one session (though I am still very very basic - dancing with an experienced partner at a social outing would be very awkward). And I had forgotten how much fun it is!! Only myself and one other person showed up for the group lesson, so the two of us got some really good personal instruction, too !
Nonetheless, as the instructor was explaining to me about how to properly lead, the connection two dancers have, how they communicate, how to be relaxed yet firm, how the position of the hands/forearms should be, etc. etc., I started babbling something about "center" and "seme" and she kind of looked at me funny. So I said, "one should lead from the hips and body, not from the hands or feet, and the hands are merely and extension of that, right? And she was like, "YES!!" and explained how men who learn dance tend to "push" with the hands too much and leave their bodies out of position, then went into an explanation of how dancing is really just understanding basic body mechanics and movement, to music. I chuckled to myself for being such a kendo nerd.
So then as I was trying to appropriately lead my partner between back breaks, side breaks, cumbia breaks, cross body leads, peek-a-boos, and a few turns, I just kept thinking about seme, maai, kendo-no-kata, etc. I'm glad I didn't fumikomi on my partner's foot out of instinct, hahahaha !
Ok, ok, I know, I have kendo on the brain and should seek medical help, but still - I had so much fun dancing !! Anyone else here like to dance (salsa, but really any of the "structured" dancing, foxtrot, tango, rumba, waltz, east coast swing, west coast swing, cha-cha, etc. etc.) ?
I had so much fun, I think I'm going to start trying to make time for an hour a week or two. Yay !
I was suprised how much I remembered after just one session (though I am still very very basic - dancing with an experienced partner at a social outing would be very awkward). And I had forgotten how much fun it is!! Only myself and one other person showed up for the group lesson, so the two of us got some really good personal instruction, too !
Nonetheless, as the instructor was explaining to me about how to properly lead, the connection two dancers have, how they communicate, how to be relaxed yet firm, how the position of the hands/forearms should be, etc. etc., I started babbling something about "center" and "seme" and she kind of looked at me funny. So I said, "one should lead from the hips and body, not from the hands or feet, and the hands are merely and extension of that, right? And she was like, "YES!!" and explained how men who learn dance tend to "push" with the hands too much and leave their bodies out of position, then went into an explanation of how dancing is really just understanding basic body mechanics and movement, to music. I chuckled to myself for being such a kendo nerd.
So then as I was trying to appropriately lead my partner between back breaks, side breaks, cumbia breaks, cross body leads, peek-a-boos, and a few turns, I just kept thinking about seme, maai, kendo-no-kata, etc. I'm glad I didn't fumikomi on my partner's foot out of instinct, hahahaha !
Ok, ok, I know, I have kendo on the brain and should seek medical help, but still - I had so much fun dancing !! Anyone else here like to dance (salsa, but really any of the "structured" dancing, foxtrot, tango, rumba, waltz, east coast swing, west coast swing, cha-cha, etc. etc.) ?
I had so much fun, I think I'm going to start trying to make time for an hour a week or two. Yay !