… and what no one tells you when you’re a beginner.
Photo: Ahtoy Juliana salsa dancing in St. Martin.
Ready to go salsa dancing? If you found my weekly salsa party calendar through my salsa classes, you know that I encourage everyone to practice the moves they learned at a salsa party. Admittedly, it is a very intimidating experience – you will see highly-skilled dancers improvising moves that you won’t recognize. Personally, I was not comfortable “social dancing” (improvised salsa dancing in a party setting) in NYC for at least a year because I found the average skill level to be so high here. In fact, most salsa teachers will tell you that you aren’t ready to social dance until you’ve reached at least an intermediate level. So, allow me to make my pitch for social dancing early in your salsa journey, while still sharing the reality of being a beginner in NYC’s salsa scene.
Participate in salsa community & culture
First and foremost, social dancing is the core of the salsa community – the primary mechanism through which individuals connect with one another and form a group culture and identity. Salsa inherits an ancient African and Afro-Cuban movement tradition where dance and music are entwined with everyday life – celebration, spirituality, and communication.
Social dancing also creates continuity for salsa culture and the ethnic groups that created and continuity to shape the dance. African diaspora traditions like salsa have endured slavery, oppression, and cultural appropriation. Even in NYC, salsa social dancing tells a story about survival, perseverance, and joy in the face of adversity. It’s no wonder that salsa has persisted here since it’s arrival (in the form of Mambo) in the 1940’s. New Yorker’s refuse to let it fade along with other trends, and instead continue to revive the old and innovate anew. The fact that salsa is still thriving is itself a form a social justice.
Meet new people
Salsa dancing has obvious individual benefits, too. Although there is a solo dancing aspect to salsa nowadays, the ability to engage with another person, guided by the magic of music and ambience, is the biggest draw for salsa social dancing. This is where we learn the social etiquette of salsa, providing opportunities to make new friends, relationships, and at the very least, create a a unique moment with a total stranger.
When you learn to dance salsa and become a part of your local salsa community, you will have friends everywhere. In NYC, there are at least 3 major salsa parties per night. And wherever you travel in the world, there will be a salsa community there to party with, even if you don’t speak the local language. While learning to improvise in salsa is difficult, mastering it provides you with a sense of self-efficacy and the gratification of being able to communicate with another person through your body alone.
Start sooner, rather than later
It takes a long time and a lot of hard work to get to a skill level where you can lead or follow effectively. And in my classes, you’ve probably heard me say that NY style salsa is one of the most complex styles of salsa in the world. I believe that its complexity and difficulty are big reasons why people continue to do it. New Yorker’s just love to go the hard way!
In my Intro- and Beginner-level classes, I teach you the foundation of NY style salsa – the basic step, stationary turns, and cross body lead figures. I show you how you can already improvise with those few basic steps. You can have a good time with friends at a relaxed club setting – a restaurant or live music venue like Gonzalez y Gonzalez or a free outdoor salsa party that welcomes everyone regardless of experience. But, once you set foot in a social (usually held in a studio with a DJ and no alcohol), like Jimmy Anton’s salsa social, you will realize how much more you need to know to be able to dance with others at that level.
In my experience, a really dedicated student can get there in a year. Are you ready to make that commitment? I hope I’ve convinced you that both the journey and the outcome are worthwhile, and I work hard to support you every step of the way, including recommending salsa parties that are appropriate for your level. It’s up to you to make the leap!
Ready to party?
There are countless more reasons to dance salsa. If you’re just starting to learn, what do you want out of the experience? If you’ve been dancing for awhile, what do you love about social dancing?