Synopsis....!!!!

Hey guys and gals.....I guess we all will agree unanimously that last Monday's session with Meenu was......again a "gala time" for all of us.......a very nicely choreographed combination.....with lots of "clear cut" basic steps and easy/manageable cross-body turns/spot turns.....the best part was the pace at which we progressed during the class....(gradually picking up the speed by the end of the session)......I loved the way each step was explained and demonstrated absolutely "thread-bare".......moreover we learnt a new basic step called the "side basic" (though I know one more...which I had watched on youtube).....the "Titanic step" and the "Magic step"......with lots of tips from Meenu about "shines" and "how to manoeuvre your steps to avoid bumping into your partner" (remember she showed us the side basic step at this point) and "Correct use of holding the hands of your partner while giving her a spin" (please recall she said something about the rolling action of your hands/fingers)......and yes all this "clubbed" with an excellent sense of humour......actually added to a quicker learning experience....!!!!!!

But any learning process would be incomplete without a critical feed back from the dancing partners and the instructors......so I would request all the students in the class and on the forum to kindly share their experiences or any problems with others......our mutual feedbacks are inevitably important for understanding where we are going wrong........I have kept on saying that some ladies keep their hands and posture very stiff...........which leads them to wobble out of control during a spot-turn and cross body turn or else leads to an undesirable locking of hands during some complicated moves..........by the way thanks "Mahek".....for reminding me that at times even I keep my hands a bit stiff....and for teaching me the right way......I have definitely taken a note of it.....!!!!!

Mutual feedbacks awaited.....!!!!
Ciao........and keep practicing...!!!!

Salsa always lights up my day..classes r soooooper fun...

The problem with me though, is that since we do a single combo per class...i know exactly what comes next, irrespective of whether my partner does, which tends to make me lead myself..and sometimes, my partner too, which i think/realize/have been told, salsa is sooooo not about Sowieeee...
And if im not forewarned, i falter when someone tries a move thats not part of the combo making me look like a complete doofus However, the good thing is that we DO get to dance with multiple partners, giving us a chance to get acquainted with the different ways that we "can be led".
Im guessing the salsa nite wud help a great deal too when it comes to this, when i REALLY gotta be sensitive to following a lead and actually pulling it off right...

Deepika it does take some time to "give in" completely and just follow. I too use to lead myself when I started dancing-well I still do it sometimes -but being conscious and realising that you are self-leading is the first step to good following. The more alert you are , the more you will make an effort -each time you change a partner in class- to try and loosen up on your hands. And this will then eventually lead into a habit of "Letting it go".

Though one cannot perfect on the following, unless your footwork for all your basic steps is mastered. And that would definately require some efforts and practice.

As far as the Salsa night is concerned , this is THE opportunity where you can put your knowledge to test. You will not know what the guy is going to lead you for, but don't worry, you may fumble, but start afresh and catch up.This will help you improve your skills as a follower.

Geniuses are not made in a day. We all have to LEARN.

Happy Dancing to all and looking forward to seeing you all at the Salsa nite........

Love,
Meenakshi

To improve your leading and following skills ,please refer some wonderful articles posted in the "Leading and following" section on the forum.

i DIDDD i didddd...i spend wayyy too much time here

Some of the stuff there is really technical...i guess v need more practice to understand what a LOTTT of it means...

Ya even I did...go thru these articles on "Leading and Following".........and yes its true that most of the gals do anticipate the moves and lead themselves.....which actually slackens the hand grip while leading a lady........so when the guy actually tries to pull and lead the lady she doesn't get any clue what the guy is actually trying to tell her.....(also becoz she already knows the combo)......I would also like to bring to everybody's notice that 'Anand", during the Weds' session, told a very interesting fact (which ofcourse I had already learnt earlier, courtesy : youtube) and that is the pace or the rhythm of salsa......1,2,3.....5,6,7...goes as "fast-fast-slow, fast-fast-slow"......please keep this in mind everytime we practice....coz doing it with the same pace actually disturbs the rhythm leading to the gal or the guy completing there respective basic step earlier then their partner.......resulting in....guess what ?????......"confusion".......I have noticed this most of the times in the class....that whenever I complete my basic step....either the gal is still on the 5,6,7 or has already completed it and started 1,2,3 afresh......moreover....inspite of the clear instructions from the instructor that the gals should place their hands on their tummies.....while doing their spins or spot turns they tend to keep it away from their bodies or simply let it go bersek in air.....hitting the guys in the wrong places.....(gals it hurts....).....by the way....we got an excellent practice session in Wed's class.....the combo was made to seep into our blood stream.....great going......thanks Anand and Meenu......!!!!

Ciao.....and keep practicing....!!!!!

hey priyank and deepika,

good to see u guys participating here ... and listen carefully to what meenu has to say.. she has a lot of wisdom in her.. and is a great teacher too as u all know...

any specific questions or queries u have..just ask me

love
anand