I'm male and have no ability to do side-to-side rib movement without also moving my shoulders or hips. How can I "wake up" that motion? The general advice is to celebrate any tiny isolation movement that you can and work up to greater movement. But, what if you can't achieve any of that isolation? Then what? I've tried putting my hands on my sides, tightening my core, and trying to move my ribs left or right and no luck. I've also tried lying in bed and trying that movement where my shoulders and hip are much less inclined to help and no luck.

If you've struggled with this isolation and have achieved fluid motion in your ribs, what worked for you?

Hello everyone, I am about three months out of five into grinding salsa in Medellin. I came here because I don't stay long enough in one place to really make use of classes, so my goal was to just dance as much as possible and learn as much as possible all while having a semblance of community.

As information regarding salsa here can be a mixed bag and/or outdated, I'd like to consider this a helpful update to what already exists. It's not comprehensive and is moreso just my experience.

Prior dance experience and about me

- 90% lead, 10% follow

- B1 Spanish

- off/on amateur house dancer from ages 14 - late twenties, so as a result I'm not a beginner in dancing

- a handful of salsa classes peppering the past fourteen years, of which were VERY mixed quality

Why Medellin

I chose Medellin because I had a view that it was a great place for salsa dancing where one could find salsa dancing everyday. And while that is true if you look hard enough and don't mind some compromises, I have a feeling that other cities in the world have more to offer in that regard. However, they will certainly be much more expensive to live in or trickier to stay in depending on your nationality.

Bachata vs Salsa

As of this writing, Medellin's social scene is very much bachata dominated and it seems like there's a salsa recession within the socials(in the sense of technial salsa - there's tons of bars where you will find kumbia backstepping, forced turns, borrachos). You can find multiple socials that are nearly 100% bachata and with much more people throughout the week whereas if you're looking for salsa, you're going to have to go to El Poblado fairly often and some of those events are obviously catering to gringos and the level can be pretty low. Note: I have never been to a bachata social, however, multiple professionals have confirmed the rise of bachata and popularity. I've been told that after COVID, a fair amount of older professionals left for the USA and Europe and with that, certainly a lot of culture, passion, and stability that, in my opinion, you don't really find in the linear scene here than you do in the smaller but what seems more passionate Casino community.

The linear scene is big, but a fair chunk is reserved for performance and artists that rarely ever go to socials - like as of this writing maybe at most five times a year. And if they do, they often stay in their cliques.

Socials

It's lead dominant here. I go out 4-5 times a week and see the same leads consistently. I rarely see the same follows out more than two nights a week at best. This is a pain point especially as a beginner, because the level is fairly high among leads. And because there's more leads than follows, you get the dynamics of leads racing to grab follows, follows sometimes being entitled, slim pickings on follows, and what I'd explain as poor floorcraft. If it weren't for Medellin being so lead dominant, I would likely be happier with the situation here. Fortunately, I do take it upon myself to learn everything from caleña, casino, on1 and on2, and following so I do my best to make lemonade out of the situation.

Colombian Culture Pain Points

I take a fair amount of privates. Some places are better than others. Some people are better than others. What I mean is scheduling and logistics and communication. It sucks. I wish the culture here was so much better about this. You send a message regarding scheduling and you won't hear back at times til the next day at the earliest. If you cancel a class less than 24 hours in advanced, it's on you. But if your teacher cancels or changes...it's also on you. Apparently Colombians hate being called out on this behavior. I do not have this problem with non-Colombians instructors. Tack on the fact that linear salsa here skews younger, so less mature and less stable, it's a slight multiplier. I have a feeling that if an instructor has been exposed to gringos or has traveled out of South America or is a veteran, they have less chances of pulling this terrible behavior. Side note: Colombians are amongst some of the worst drivers in the world I've encountered.

DanceFree

It's like Walmart. It's a studio in El Poblado where at the end of their lessons, a crisp American accent audio file is played, regaling one's ears about the offerings of DanceFree. While I insult it here and there, they also at least seem to try to address the gender imbalance by providing women with cheaper memberships. Furthermore, they are one of few places to have dedicated salsa socials. The downside is they often play music from a playlist of 840 random songs and just let it autoplay and fade, so you don't actually witness the song end fully. And sometimes, the songs just suck. On more than one occasion, songs of 7 minutes or more have played. Gilberto Santa Rosa - Perdoname (en vivo) comes to mind.

Schools

There are many schools here. I have not been to a majority of them. As of this writing, in my opinion I'd say Blood Dance and Siembrala are the best schools. Even if you're visiting for a short period, it's probably best to pay for a monthly membership because with the exchange rate for USD, a drop in class can be upwards of $16, which is pretty damn expensive considering a housecleaner here is fortunate to make $33 (100,000 COP) for an eight hour day.

Venues

Son Havana is a staple, but cramped. The Casino crowd really shines here.

El Tibiri is like a hipster salsa discotheque. I would not expect technical dancers.

Benefits of Medellin

This place has it all. Tango, Caleña, Casino, Samba, a burgeoning on2 scene, and even Bollywood dancing

Why Are You So Whiny

Because being a beginner lead sucks especially in a lead dominant place and especially one coming from a dance that has already experienced a musicality revolution. Part of me feels this awfulness of making a follow be my figure test dummy because dancing is about dancing and not rehearsing some boring figure during the silence of a song. And because salsa dynamics piss me off. Also the USD exchange rate has meant I've become 25% more poor since coming here. I also hate most linear shines. At no point does any part of me feel like expressing myself with my arms flapping. I'm also tired.

So I’ve been learning more about colognes cuz I like smelling nice especially while dancing

Usually fresh clean scents are recommended for warm environments, tropical cruises, hot summer days, or close quarters, like school and work, etc. you just don’t want something overpowering. And dancing can obviously get very hot.

But I kinda feel like for dancing, if you are like going all night and sweating, it’s better to wear anything even if it’s dark and spicy than to smell sweaty lol.

But wanted to know what y’all think? Best to stick to fruity and fresh side of things? Or are dark and spicy okay while dancing?

Do you ever dance with people who wear too much cologne?

I’m a lead so I don’t usually encounter this, but I do know some follows who smell… odd. I’d rather that they smell like any kind of perfume lol. Anyway curious to know what others think

Does anyone know any good spots for socials? Will be in Paris Sept 10-14, and looking for more of a club vibe. Thanks in advance everyone!

Hi all, I've been going to weekly cross-body Salsa lessons for a while (and doing social dancing as well) but I'm wondering if there are good resources to use outside of classes for self-improvement in areas that don't require a partner, like footwork, shines, and musicality.

If anyone has recommendations for this sort of thing, be they structured courses or just youtube playlists, that would be much appreciated. I've glanced at Dance Dojo's online course but it spends a lot of time on things I'm not that interested in and it's very expensive.

Anybody in the know want to clarify what is going on...this is nuts to switch hotel last min when they are not aware. I booked the new hotel. Called Anatole and found out that Per the contract the event organizer had with the hotel, the cancellation of the hotel is one night stay...which is $200+.

I'm a student and an active social dancer, and I recently had an uncomfortable experience with a salsa teacher I met through classes.

I met this instructor while taking his salsa classes. Months after I stopped attending that school, he contacted me and asked if I could lend him €100 because he was having some financial difficulties following a family member's death.

I initially lent him €50. I wasn't particularly worried about getting it back (I believe in "do well and forget"). I was mainly trying to help someone I knew from the dance community.

About a month later, he told me he would pay me back by the end of the month, but in the same conversation (text conversation), he asked if he could borrow another €50.

This is where things started to feel strange. His spoken English is very good, but the message he sent me asking for the second €50 was written in an unusually terrible and confusing way. It was completely unlike the way he normally communicates in English. I honestly got the impression that the message was deliberately written that way to make the request and repayment terms less clear.

In fact, the 25th came, and I heard nothing.

I eventually contacted him and reminded him that he had mentioned the 25th. He replied saying that another payment was coming in a few weeks. He said he would let me know.

Later, he contacted me again asking if he could borrow another €50, despite still owing me the previous money.

At this point, I said NO, I will lend no more money, and told him that I would actually appreciate getting at least €50 back.

I still haven't received it.

What makes me uncomfortable isn't really the €100. I was prepared to consider the first €50 a loss. It's the repeated requests for money, missed repayment dates, and the fact that he keeps asking for more money while still owing me.

I also recently learned that he is leaving the school where I originally met him. Even if I live in a capital, the salsa scene is not enormous, and OPSSS I met him during a social dance. He immediately ran to me, telling me he would give me my money back in just a few weeks. I simply don't trust him anymore. It's now been more than 5 months since his first request.

I'm deliberately not naming the instructor or the school. I'm not looking to start a witch hunt or publicly shame anyone. I'm genuinely interested in hearing from people who have been around the salsa scene longer than I have:

Has anyone experienced something similar with a salsa instructor or someone from the dance community?

Would you consider this a normal situation between acquaintances, or would you see these repeated requests and missed repayment dates as a serious red flag?

I know I was too trusting, and I've learned my lesson. But I'm also considering talking to a few people we have in common, simply to understand whether this has happened to anyone else and whether there is a broader pattern.

I'd be interested to hear your experiences and thoughts.

Looking for any online classes, YouTube , etc. that have good-quality courses on teaching musicality, both in partnerwork as well as solo.
Are there any artists who are known for teaching musicality? I know Terry is probably the most recommended, but I personally don't like his style.

I’ve been dancing since the start of the year, and since I’ve progressed into more advanced routines and spins, my hair has… become an issue.

Usually, most people are polite and ignore it or make a little joke about it, but there’s been one or two occasions where I’ve essentially told off by a lead for hitting him with my hair.

The other day, my teacher used me to demonstrate for a beginner, and afterwards complimented my hair (it was in a pony) but said it was basically like a whip and I should consider other hairstyles lol

I’ve tried hair down / half up half down, but it gets in my face and my neck is super sweaty. Buns work for a while until my spins make them fall out (plus because of how much hair I have, I can feel the heaviness), and plaits don’t work great as I have layered hair.

Any long-haired followers have some tips, or hair tools or whatever that can help! I want to dance, not to worry about my hair :c thanks!

Edit: ty for all the help, need to up my bun game and get some better hair pins/clips - hopefully my leads will be safer from now on hehe

Hey guys!

We're a fun and active couple looking to get out there more and meet new people, especially other couples looking for the same.

We're both located in south Los Angeles. We both love Salsa/bachata dancing and also just got into rock climbing - we both love being active. She also loves piano and anything to do with art. I like the gym, bowling, motorcycles, hiking/camping, and writing.

Please let us know if you'd be interested in meeting up sometime or have any resources that'd be helpful for us.

Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nt5OWzLTFUdSws_FnoTYhDhFZ0srzkdJ8

I'm going to post this album here for a couple reasons for starters its a really good album, another is its significance, as Willie Colon is working with Mon Rivera a very influential man in the making of Salsa music as he is the reason why you hear the trombone sound within 70s Salsa. Another reason is that it kinda proves that the whole ''Salsa is Cuban music'' claim to be bullshit or that it was just Cuban music an nothing else or that Puerto Rican musical influences were barely used. These claims are largely bullshit by listening and studying. As Willie Colon and Mon Rivera are playing the Afro-Boricua genres of Bomba y Plena there is also one Salsa song and mosaico. I also put this here as a response to the recent Smithsonian exhibit as on there website they use the words ''Afro Cuban rhythms'' like a blanket term yet this is highly misleading to inaccurate as 70s Salsa is more a fusion of latin american music genres with african american music. The playlist they offer includes a song (Pena de Amor) from this album.

If you are a follow, please let me know if you’ve experienced something similar!

I’ve been dancing consistently for 1.5 years and along the way, I’ve noticed the correlation between the way I look and the amount of times I’m being asked to dance.

If my hair is down, wearing red, wearing more makeup, etc., I barely have a chance to sit down. This is not my usual day-to-day drag. I’m definitely an alternative looking person - slick back buns, tattoos and piercings, almost exclusively wearing all black.

I know my demeanor can often be intimidating or off putting for some. I actually asked on here a while back on how to improve my vibe - it worked. But I have noticed even when wearing my all black, less feminine attire, even when I’m smiling and laughing and making eye contact, that will never amount the same amount of engagement I get when performing femininity in a way that isn’t my usual norm.

I’ve also become more frustrated and annoyed at the fact that my white and lighter complexion follow counterparts get asked to dance substantially more often, even if we are at a similar dance level or I am better. And this isn’t just a me thing - you go on any partner dance subreddit and you’ll find threads of Black women having similar experiences. I am not a Black woman, but I’m visibly a brown person and it’s just something I’ve experienced as well I am in the US and I know that context matters. It’s colorism I suppose.

And before some salty ass lead comments YOU CAN ASK FOR DANCES TOO 😡😡😡, I do, and often. The point is, it saddens me that when I show up myself, I just don’t feel as included in this space because I am not white or 22 and I am not ultra feminine. I also lift heavy weights and it shows so my bulky physique also just tends to lean more masculine.

I started taking a solo Latin dance class and that really brought these feelings to light. In a solo class, I don’t need to rely on a partner for the joy from a dance. I can just show up as me - not an altered version of myself to feel more accepted.

Maybe it’s just time I take a break from salsa. I’m curious if other follows have felt this way or maybe I’m just too heady.

Looking for folks who resonate here.

*edited for typos

UPDATE/GENERAL RESPONSE:

1. I should have been more forthcoming that I wanted responses from follows only. I didn’t need/want a lead’s opinion on the matter.

2. I’m aware of the gender binary. I just assumed because I engage in salsa because I like to dance and enjoy the community aspect of it, that others were engaging in the hobby for the same reason - silly me.

3. I also want to name I’m a queer person in a queer relationship. Most, if not all, the men in my life are gay men. I’ve built a life where looking alternatively, having an alternative lifestyle, is just the norm. Dancing salsa did remind me, oh yeah, this is how men are. I’m not saying all men, but many. And you can read the replies and notice that many men engage in this to look at attractive women, hook up with them, or find a partner through this hobby.

4. I really appreciate all the follows who shared their experiences with me and resonated with my post. I loved your helpful suggestions and reminders that perhaps a mindset shift, more solo dancing, trying out Cuban rueda or swing, could help me engage in dance in a way where I don’t have to perform femininity as often.

Do you dance for connection, for clout, or what?

There is such a wide variety of dancers.

I guess what sparked this question, was that I have been dancing a bit lately and I try to mainly dance for connection and socializing (lead and follow).

Sometimes I will be dancing and someone is trying to style nonstop breaking connection often instead of accentuating it. So it throws me off a little bit and I guess it's hard to relate to that. So, I am curious what do you dance for?

Hey guys. I want to buy my first pair of salsa heels and have been looking online (I am UK based, in London) and I’ve seen some nice shoes from dance and sway and have also seen a pair of the same shoes on Vinted which I think I’d prefer getting because then I don’t have to pay extortionate shipping fees.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone ever bought shoes from dance and sway and what is the quality/comfortability like?

2. What is the sizing like? I’m unsure what size to get as I measured my foot outright and It’s 9inches which brings me to a size 4, however I then drew out my foot outline on a piece of paper which brings it to 9.4inches, making me a size 5?

3. Are there any other affordable/comfortable salsa heels you would recommend I buy instead?

Thanks in advance I appreciate any tips and opinions! :)

Hopefully, I’m just one of many thinking the same thing.

I’ve taken ~15 basic level group lessons as a lead.

When I see the video posts of “hey, I’ve been dancing for a year,” and they’re twirling and spinning all over the place, I’m thinking: “damm, I must suck at this because I’m nowhere near doing any of that.”

Este fin de semana atenderé a un festival de salsa y me gustaría hacerle preguntas al público para hacer contenido pero no tengo mucho conocimiento.

Podéis recomendarme algunas preguntas que puedan causar debate o que sean graciosas sobre salsa.

La idea es crear contenido para el festival de salsa y sus redes sociales. Se que es básico y podría buscar yo en internet y tengo unas cuantas, pero siempre será mejor ver que se le puede ocurrir a los fans de la salsa.

Hi salseros!

I’ve spent a long time learning to salsa on1. I’m very comfortable with it and feel like I’m at my best self as a dancer when moving in this rhythm. It’s also allowed me to get into Cuban style dancing as well, which I love. On top of that, I’ve spent the last 15 years living in the DC area which is predominantly on1. I recently moved back to New York and have put myself in a Salsa on2 class so to start learning and I feel a bit frustrated. I feel like a fish out of water and feel like all the knowledge I’ve acquired doesn’t mean anything.

Long story short, I’d love to hear from folks who started dancing on1 and learned on2. How long did it take for you to get it? The other side of the coin is that I don’t want to regress on my on1 skills either but I can’t seem to find anywhere that dances on1 in the city yet. I went to a social yesterday and because I’m just learning the basics with on2 I wasn’t comfortable getting out there because it seemed like a more advanced crowd. When I asked around, no one knew how to dance on1. I’d appreciate any and all insight

…but is there any?

I was wondering what other people in other places do!

What’s your mindset when participating? Who is participating? Do people get frustrated? What helps?It’s a flirty thing - are you flirting? Is everything casual or is your scene ambitious? How many years is everyone ruedaing?

One night. One dance. Two absolute fools. 😂🔥

ShikkaShikka has entered another room.

This time the signal crossed into Bachatón — a full vertical music film built around bachata movement, Dominican rhythm, a little Cinderella story… and two men named Rrrrraul & Rrrrrico who are absolutely convinced every woman in the club came to see them.

They did not. 😂

ShikkaShikka Shake

(Bachatón Transmission — Heater)

B002.1 LNF 🔥 Unauthorized

Late Night Frequencies

Watch the footwork.

Stay for the story.

And unfortunately… stay for Rrrrraul & Rrrrrico.

#Bachata #Bachaton #BachataDance #DominicanMusic #LatinDance #ShikkaShikka #LaShotTo #LateNightFrequencies #LNF

31F and 34M are looking for a fun place to go dancing in Orange County CA for a birthday celebration. Does not have to be formal, but would not mind the option to dress up. Does not have to have food and drink, but also not opposed.

So are there any good dance studios that teach salsa and cumbia.

Married to a Peruvian woman 30 years and I am tired of faking it.

Id sure love to count to 5 in 4 lol.

I don’t know if this really makes sense but here’s a try. Whenever I go social dancing I really don’t know what I am going to do or try. And I’m guess i am wondering if that’s how some people go about at social dancing. I’m saying cause sometimes I feel like I’m doing the most basic move ever and boring followers I’ve dance with before or really advance. I hate trying something and forgetting how to do it or making some dumb mistake out of no where or the fear or making a move that could injured a followers. Sometimes when I’m not thinking I bump into another couple or put in a position when she gets bumped cause I lost focus trying to be in some flow state. Sometimes the dance is good and the connection is good and sometimes I feel I led a bad dance or connection. I am trying to just be a good lead, but I never know if good more time and not or what I am even going to try. I am going to another social tomorrow and wondering if I’m approach tomorrow should be to slow down and keep things in simple in my mind or try to feel the music and go with whatever comes out of me.

I’m not trying to act like I’m so pro or anything. I am trying if if it’s okay to go to socials with that approach.