Dance Tips

Photographer: Steven Bellew

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Dec 2003/Jan 2004 Tip:
"How to Approach Practice"

written by Ana Tinajero Massicot

October 2003 Mambo Mania Photographer: Sarah Harman	October 2003 Mambo Mania Photographer: Sarah Harman

        

Now that we’ve established the importance of practice in last month‘s tip, let me attempt to answer one of the most commonly asked questions: “How do I approach practice?”  There are many different ways to practice, so here are a few suggestions on what has worked best for me…

While in practice, always begin with a warm-up and a 15 minute stretch, following up with drills and practice suggestions below.  Try to end with some social dancing so it doesn’t become all work and no play.

For the actual practice, start by figuring out what your weakest area is.  This is what you need to work on the most and should be priority.  If you are unsure of what it is, your dance teacher can probably give you the answer.  Then, design your practice to focus predominantly on that area.

If you are an absolute beginner, try to practice with a friend.  Your friend will help push you a little more, and practicing with a buddy will also keep salsa a social event, which is very important to remember as a beginner.   However, this is not an excuse for you not to spend some time practicing on your solo steps.

Work on timing (there are timing cds your teacher can tell you about that can help you out with this) and the basic steps.  Your friend can practice side by side with you as you go over the Suzy Q, the double cross over, the right turn.  The key to starting out is not so much in the details, but in just trying to remember the steps without having to over-think them.

If you want to work on your leading, following, or spinning technique, once again practice with a buddy.  This is a good chance to practice what you have learned in class so you will not forget it.  If you make a mistake, don’t automatically assume that it’s your partner’s fault.  Take as much constructive criticism as you give, and always try out suggestions before rejecting them.  It will only make you a better dancer.

For style (please work on following technique first), you want to start out by working alone, to avoid shyness or embarrassment, and then move toward working with a friend whom you feel comfortable around.  Please remember that you should be able to do a move without having to think about it before you try to add style to it.  Be sure to practice your styling with a partner before doing it out on the dance floor.  You don’t want to accidentally poke someone in the eye or worse, resulting in a very unhappy dancer.  For suggestions on how to develop your own style, read my tip for the month of April.

To work on details, try working with two friends.  Practicing in a group of three can sometimes be very convenient.  On a rotational basis, one person can sit out and watch the other two dance.  The person sitting out should try to offer suggestions every so often (in case you have trouble with this, keep in mind that it gets easier as you learn what to look for).  These suggestions are the ones you need to pay attention to since they are the ones which you cannot see yourself, so this person plays a vital role in the others’ improvements.

And of course, always practice the basic step! Practice makes perfect!

All the best, and stay humble,

ANA and JOEL  :)

 

August 2003 Mambo Mania
Photographer: Erik Rodriguez

Click here to view November 2003's Tip

Click here to view September and October 2003's Tip

Click here to view August 2003's Tip

Click here to view June and July 2003's Tip

Click here to view May 2003's Tip

Click here to view April 2003's Tip

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