Recently I saw an advertisement for a ladies styling class at a local school. The ad promised a bunch of skills to be acquired in a 5 week course, including posture, balance, foot placement – all good things! But what caught my eye was the promise of hand and finger styling. FINGER styling?? Over the years of teaching I have… Read more →
MAMBOJAM in Brisbane
THREE SESSIONS of fun, footwork, body movement, music and jamming! This is about bringing Brisbane dancers together to enjoy great music, challenge ourselves with body movement and great footwork. Love Salsa? You should be JAMMING!!! WEDNESDAYS 8PM : November 9th, 16th, 23rd *** 45min non-stop footwork/body movement jam, followed by social dancing! Attend ALL THREE sessions (just $50) or any… Read more →
Mambo Convention in Australia? Yes please!
It is seriously rare in Australia to have an event dedicated to Salsa. Perhaps ten or so years ago it was an option. (Sydney Salsa Congress was certainly a highlight for Salsa enthusiasts!) But with the influx of many, many dance styles into the Aussie Salsa scene, the hard-core Salsa lovers have been left with two options: attend those large… Read more →
The importance of revision
One of the most common problems dance students face is lack of practice between classes. Ironically, those who spend more hours in the classroom are actually more likely to practice at home than those who keep class to minimum (even with the good intentions of revising material in their own time). But whether you are an experienced dance or a… Read more →
Investing in yourself
As dancers, investing in ourselves should a priority. After all, our body is our instrument. Often the short term effects of what we do to ourselves go easily unnoticed, so we keep pushing the boundaries. But in reality, the bad habits catch on and catch up with us in the end. So here are a few thoughts on investing into… Read more →
Is my lead strong enough?
As a follower, I always find massive variation between leaders when it comes to the ‘strength’ of their lead. Since we are meant to respond to the lead lightly and efficiently, it is helpful for guys to understand what is expected from them. When you start your dance, your partner will sense from your first touch how you will treat… Read more →
How to practise Salsa without a partner
Too often people say to me, “But I don’t have a partner, I can’t practice at home.” Actually you can! In fact, practicing on your own can actually be a blessing in disguise, as it can strengthen your ability to ‘sense’ the connection with your partner. So to put your mind at rest and get your Salsa feet working, I’ll… Read more →
I followed his move – now what?
I am on the dance floor. It’s been a long day, and I can finally let my hair down! All excited, I start to relax and follow my leader’s ‘conversation’. Only, a few moments in he has a strange look on his face! What’s going on? Nothing out of the ordinary, I have seen this move before… Then he tries… Read more →
What’s so special about Cha Cha anyway?
In our next Mambo course we’ll be doing Cha Cha shines instead of Mambo shines. For something different ~ to challenge the timing ~ to have some well-deserved fun! So why do we need Cha Cha? Well, firstly, Cha Cha Cha is super cool! It is directly related to Salsa through its underlying percussion rhythms. (If you… Read more →
How to get the most out of learning choreography
Learning choreography can be an immensely satisfying experience. Every time I learn a new routine, it challenges my dance memory, my ability to concentrate and pay attention, and my capabilities to not get lost when I’m getting lost! Learning a routine is hard. Yes, it fits the music, and you can learn the combinations. But the ball game changes when… Read more →