DATE: 03 Nov 2006, 11:55 pm / MOOD: Happy

To all who dance salsa,

I have been dancing salsa for a little over 4 years now. After that many or few years of dancing in this scene, I have heard many a conversation about levels and who is at what level, etc. I have been to many places and seen that the levels seem to be defined by a different standard for every place that I visit and dance salsa. This leads me to my question:

What truly defines a beginner, intermediate or advanced dancer?

What are the staple skills of each level?

Does time really matter or determine a dancer's level?

Finally,

What are some things that can be done to raise a dancer's level?

I will attempt to answer these questions from my perspective in hopes that we can get some dialogue going.

Question #1:
What truly defines a beginner, intermediate or advanced dancer?

This is a difficult question with many different opinions, but what I have learned is that each city seems to have its own set of standards, and most of these standards can be very subjective. Portland, for example, will not have the same set of standards as perhaps Chicago. My interpretation is this:

Beginner - Beginners should have a concept of timing and structure supported by the basics. Beginners usually look unnatural when they dance; however, that is okay because they are, in fact, beginners. Beginners should be able to execute simple turn patterns (single turns), and they should be able to do it and transition, all the while staying on time with the music.

Intermediate - I believe that intermediate salsa dancers should be able to do the following:

- stay on time

- take learned material (partnering/solo work) and incorporate it into their dancing

- understand the dynamic of leading and following and demonstrate the premise of being able to apply it

- (for men) understand the concept of giving simple cues to follows, or pre-leading

- (for women) understand spotting on travelling turns, and keep hands where leaders leave them

Intermediate dancers sometimes flow, and sometimes they look robotic. This is a part of the growing process in repeating and practicing and sometimes even modifying turn patterns into a personal mold out of the style of the leader/follower. These help the leaders/followers to gain the confidence that they are going to need to move to the next level.

Advanced: The mark of an advanced dancer is the ability to make even the most difficult movements seem effortless. They need to be able to apply everything from above and more, including but not limited to:

- musicality

- rhythm as well as timing

- leading/following comfortably, leaders not jerking the follower around, and follows not consistently back-leading the leader.

- taking learned material and putting their own spin on it (but leaders should always make sure it is comfortable for the follower, and that they can execute it on time).

- precision

- posture

- connection aka compression and equal pressure in leading/following

- dancing relaxed and not uptight

- many other things not-so-easily named that apply to the world's best dancers.

This list may seem comprehensive, but it is one person's opinion on what defines a dancer's level. What is your opinion?
Ricardo
www.hurricanetumbao.com

View Entry | Leave A Comment