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Welcome to Salsa
and the City! This is a monthly column by Erin
about Salsa in the Circle City. Salsa has become a lifestyle for some of us: music,
dance, parties, fashion, travel, friends, relationships, and, did I say dance?
For those who are addicted to Salsa, this is a place where you can read about
what's going on in the city, and share your ideas, comments, and gossip. Erin
has been a regular of Indy's Salsa scene since 1998.
It Ain't That Deep
by Erin
Lamb
posted August 20, 2008
Salsa dancing in Indianapolis has been growing in leaps and bounds the last few years. There are always new people being turned on to this fun pastime. The club dancefloors stay full night after night with happy people twirling and shaking.
The average person who hits a dancefloor in the evening isn't looking to make a name for themselves. They aren't hoping to perform in the next salsa congress, or be a finalist in “So You Think You Can Dance.” They are just looking for a good time – a few hours to get away from the stress of their daily life and just dance!
There are those salseros that are very driven. They want to be the best dancers they can be, and they spend every free minute thinking about how to be better. That is great. I consider myself to be a somewhat ‘serious' dancer, so I am not trying to criticize. However, there are those ‘serious' dancers who push their ambitions on to their partners while dancing on the dance floor.
The Dance Floor Performer
This type of dancer believes that everytime he/she steps onto the dance floor that it is a performance, and every other person in the club is their audience. You can recognize these dancers because instead of just their partner, they make eye contact with every face in the crowd wondering, “Who has noticed my magnifiscense tonight?”
The Angry Technician
This dancer wants perfection not only out of him or herself, but is also hard on their partner should there be a mishap while dancing. This dancer, rather than laughing about a mistake, will spend the rest of a 3 minute song punishing themself AND their partner. You can spot them in a crowd because of their angry expressions and the extreme amount of sweat they produce by salsa dancing themselves into a flawless routine. Salsa for them is a like an Olympic sport. You mess up, and there will be no gold medal and your countrymen will scoff at you from now until you die.
The Nightclub Teacher
This person can be male or female, though I will say that I have seen more men guilty of being the Nightclub Teacher. These people will stop in the middle of the dancefloor to show their partner how to execute a move. The thing of it is, unless your partner told you they want you to correct them, you are probably insulting them. Even worse, I have heard of salseros telling their partners at the end of a song that they should take more lessons. Not smart if you ever hope to socialize – let alone dance – with that person again.
If you fall into one of these categories I consider it wonderful that you love salsa that much. You must, however, remember that the person you are dancing with may not take it that seriously. As a good friend of mine says, “It ain't that deep.” Don't let your desire to be a better dancer get in the way of having fun while you are dancing. Chances are you are never going to be crowned “The Best Salsa Dancer in the Universe.”
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Reader's comments
Good identification, Erin. We need to remember that we social dance to be social and have fun. It's always irritated me when someone has tried to instruct at a club. Part of the fun is the challenge of making it work when something goes 'wrong'.
- just dance
As someone who also wants to continually imrove as a dancer, and who is out most nights there is salsa dancing, I've seen the spectrum of dance egos. As I have improved as a dancer, I have continued to be appreciative of anyone who wants to dance with me. I have also been continually humbled; as in all other things in life, the more you learn the more there is for you to learn. Erin makes good points. Be present with your partner. If you want to look good, that will be much more the case if you are present with whomever you are dancing with. Accept people for who they are and where they are, and know that you are not above or below anyone. You will save yourself and others much unnecessary suffering. For beginners, accept yourself for where you are. If you don't feel confident about your dance skill yet, you don't need to apologize to your partner before you start dancing or anywhere along the way. We all start at some point, and dancing, like anthing else, is just a skill. But more than that, when we get past our fears and judgments, dance is an outward expression of essence.
- Chad
Too funny!!!! Well said Erin and I would have to agree that not all salsa dancers are trying to take it up to the next level unless they have there own desire to do so. I think it is unfair when someone expects you to be like them when you don't have the desire to be like a teacher,professional dancer or a pushy instuctor. Well it just isn't that deep for me just a pleasure/hobby which I enjoy dancing, and I love to have fun and meet people. I am not trying to be more then what it is.
- LL
Thanks for a very insightful and encouraging column. I went salsa dancing with my wife for the very first time this weekend...my intentions were just to have a good time. I instantly saw that most people were there to "climb the salsa ladder", and I felt like I had just stepped back into high school. The great news is, i'm comfortable in my own skin, the acne is gone, and I realize.."it ain't that deep."
- JT
The BEST dancers are those who DANCE TO THEIR PARTNER! This goes for men and women alike. Partner dances are about what two people create by blending their energy and abilities. As I read Erin's three dancer stereotypes, a name immediately was associated with each description. Chad pretty much sums up a good way of thinking for beginners and advanced dancers alike. I hope we all can incorporate more of this thinking into our approach to dancing.
- LM
I agree with Chad...be comfortable and there is never any need for an apology if you feel that your dance level is not up to par. There's a few people who do try and want to take it to a different level but you'll be surprised at how many just want to have fun. I'm one of those who just dances from the heart...if I mess up, I simply laugh about it and keep having fun and most of the time my dance partner laughs it off too...seriously you guys...."IT AIN'T THAT DEEP".
- Gino "El Campeon"
Good points, Erin. I'd just add that there is no such thing as "The Best" salsa dancer. No matter how good you get (or think you can get), you can always get better and you can always learn something new. You may have the LA style down, and then start all over on 2; or you may discover rueda, etc. You may also discover new aspects of styling, or body isolation. It goes on and on and on. So, if you're striving to be the best, especially when you are just beginning, you'll soon find out, that it's not gonna happen. The "best" is to enjoy each moment of every dance, and to connect with your partner.
- YP
Hi Erin, I do not know why I read your article soooo late!!! It is a great description os Salsa environment, opening eyes for all new salseros coming to your studio as well as making us-the regular salseros-about the uniqness and fun socializing while SALSA dancing!
- Maggie
Sweat: Maybe they are just a heavy sweater. Wandering eyes: maybe all the eye contact away from the partner is because they are too shy about looking at their partner and making eye contact for that matter (as the dance suggests). Also, maybe they look around a lot because they are actually watching out for their partner, too. I am guilty of all of these. Especially the latter. I don't want my partner to be elbowed or stepped on, so I am more prone to look around. Good points, nonetheless. My only gripe is that these issues are matters of perception, when in fact there are loads of reasons why people do what they do. Peace!
- Odie Coyote
The unfortunate thing about most salsa "circles" is that they are highly competitive. I left the salsa scene in another city several years ago for just that reason-after a while, it became difficult to endure the shallow social climbing that took place at every salsa night. It seems too many people are simply interested in having their picture taken and making sure everyone knows their name. In my opinion, our society has taken dance competition to an unhealthy extreme. Not everyone is going to be a star-and if you're really dying to be one, head to NYC or LA and try your luck in a bigger pond.
- TR
This article is a wonderful breath of fresh air. The stereotypes mentioned will make one lose their salsa self esteem. Thanks Chad for your insight. It is so important(for me)to always go back to the basics and remember the humbled attitude, the intense desire to learn and even more the love of the dance. My first time out dancing this year after taking a break - I danced with a young man who made me feel like the sexiest and most beautiful woman on earth. I didn't even know him. That is the "essence" Chad mentioned...the core of what brings us to and keeps us coming out to dance salsa. THIS IS DEEP....but everything outside of this essence - Erin your right - "It ain't that deep!"
- Tiffany
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