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I have always promised my students that one day I would
post a progression of my dancing so that they would
see it is all a process. There is always an awkward
stage when you learn something you have never done.
The idea is to practice it until you get through that.
Every dancer
has
different objectives, learning techniques, and patience
levels. Some want to learn the alphabet in a day.
Others understand it takes time to do so. Most forget
that even though you learn the letters of the alphabet,
there is still the process of juxtapositioning them to make
words. Then, there is the process of forming the sentences,
followed by the paragraphs, and the essays, etc., etc.,
etc...
Those that
do understand that sometimes also forget that it is always
good to go back to the beginning and find different ways
to rearrange the letters in a word to form another (i.e. eat,
ate, tea), or just finding a different way to say something
(i.e. first-class, first-rate). Working on the basics
never hurts. My 12th grade English teacher always
said there was no such thing as perfect.
My point?
The boundaries
of salsa are limitless. It is a progression.
Don't get frustrated with how you look when you first start
something or how long it takes to learn a move. Keep
working at it. Most importanlty, never be SATISFIED.
It is good to be happy, but once you are satisfied,
you have reached your comfort zone. There is ALWAYS
more to learn. Don't ever stop trying to improve.
As I promised
my students, I have posted here videos from as early as
2000 to as recent as 2005 (any newer videos can be found
in the main gallery). I hope they may help you during
those frustrating times. There are many things I am
still working on now, and I look forward to being able to
post more as time progresses.
(Also, notice
you'll even get to see some of Joel's own progression.)
>
View Main Video Gallery
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To
view the main gallery with Promotional Videos, Music Videos,
Interviews, and More, visit the following link:
>
View Main
Video Gallery
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View Newer
Videos
18)
5/21/05
Ana & Joel "Mambo Gallego Performance - San Antonio
17)
3/23/05
Ana & Salsado - Korea
16)
3/23/05
Ana Leading Genie - Korea
15)
8/21/04 Ana & Sekou - NY
Windows Media: Part
1, Part 2
Or, A
Different View in Real Media
14)
11/29/03
Ana & Ryu-San - Japan
13) 10/31/03
Ana & Joel - Japan
12)
10/2003
Ana & Roberto - Japan
11)
10/2003
Ana & Tony - Japan
10)
7/27/03
Ana's B-day Dance - Japan
--
Dancing with the many great dancers of Okinawa also helped
tremendously. Those were the days. :)
In order: Joel, Kiyotaka-san, Tony, Albert, Roberto,
Erik of Mamboki, Chris, Christian, a Friend, Brian, Mike,
Kenji-san of Studio Claverio, and then the trade.
9)
7/13/03 Ana
Leading Joel - Japan
--
In all honesty, I never wanted to learn to lead.
I was forced to because I was needed as a lead in a rueda
class. I noticed though that it ended up making
me a better follower because I began to understand what
the lead wanted. This is the earliest videotape
I have of myself leading. Joel was actually following
amazingly well.
8)
7/13/03 Ana
& Joel - Japan
7)
10/2002 Ana
& Andres Performing "Plastico" - Boston
--
Andres and I partnered together for a short while starting
in May of 2002 while Joel was in LA. This was the
second time we'd performed this routine. Yes, I
fell during the performance! It happens!
6)
10/2002 Ana
& JAM'NASTICS Performing "Incomprendido" -
Boston
--
This was a routine Andres and I had that we were asked
to teach to the group for the congress.
5)
8/2002 Ana
& Joel - Boston
4)
8/2001 Ana
& Abdul - Boston
3)
2/2001 Ana's
Review of a Felipe Polanco Workshop - Connecticut
--
At this time, I was still trying to get a grasp of what
to listen for when dancing "on 2". It
didn't actually click in until the LA Congress 2002.
2)
11/2000 Ana and
Brian Performing "Aranca en Fa" - Boston
1)
5/28/2000
Ana & Beto - LA
--
The earliest video I have of myself. I had been
dancing for more than 2 years before this was taken, but
never before had I seen salsa the way it was danced here.
This is the congress that opened up my eyes. AND,
this was actually the first time I saw myself social dancing
on video. Yes, I elbowed poor Beto during the dance!
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