Salsa dancing...I suck at dancing, but want to try

[MtnMan]

My main plate suggested salsa dancing with her Friday. I know she has danced before, and enjoys it. I have never salsa danced, and generally am a pretty bad dancer.

We have been dating about a month, had sex, spend a bunch of time together, so I am pretty comfortable with her, but really uncomfortable with the idea of dancing in front of a bunch of strangers given how inexperienced I am.

The thing is, I want to try it because I am so uncomfortable with it. Stepping out of the comfort zone can be a huge thrill and really rewarding. Plus dancing is something that I want to step up my game in anyway.

Only question is...am I insane for getting into this with a girl who is clearly going to be way way better than I am? I can tell she is a naturally sexy dancer, and I am naturally about as sexy on a dance floor as someone having a seizure. She knows I am totally inexperienced.

Has anyone done this as a raw beginner before? Any tips? Am I insane?

 

[Who Dares Win]

I tried for reasons similar to yours, always been a bad dancer with no rhythm ever on me, so I decided to try to acquire a precious ability in social settings.

Did just a single lesson for two reasons, they do not teach your those few moves you need from the beginning, in fact the first lessons are simply make some moves by yourself following the rhythm which I disliked for two reasons, the first one it requires an effort to memorize a long sequence plus you have to do it according to the time given...more like an aerobic class but with less familiar moves.

There is not way for a hobby I can stay focus for an hour in a row doing something I dont like so I just let it go, for my purpose its much more effective and fast to learn 5 or 6 combination for quick dance or for club purpose just to learn again some 5 basic moves to mix.

I'm sure it will be great and will create a lot of intimacy to dance fluently salsa with a girl but it simply requires too much time and effort and the cost/benefits ratio is not that great.

 

[MOTU]

Mtnman, I have taken a couple salsa dancing lessons this year; one in a club giving free group lessons and one private lesson with my main plate. Salsa isn't that hard.
- go on YouTube. There are lots of videos to show the basic step. Practice between now and then.
- just don't move your feet too far. 6" steps are fine for beginners. Keeping your feet tight will minimize the appearance of mistakes.
- relax and have fun with your girl. Let her dance circles around you. That's hot.

I keep saying I am going to go take more lessons but I haven't gotten around to it, though plate and I practiced a little last wknd.

 

[MtnMan]

Yea, I can see this being a fun bonding experience and thrilling because I am so uncomfortable with it. I will look up the basic steps tonight and do a little practice on the basic footwork. I see there is tons of vids on youtube.

I love showing this girl off, she is really pretty and has great style, I could see myself dancing with her regularly if I can actually move my lanky arse to any kind of rhythm.

 

[hudpes]

I've been dancing salsa for 2 years, progressed to other dances too and I can tell you what it's like. There is always going to be people better than you, some of them, impossibly better, so no shame in feeling bad when you're practicing. But it takes a lot of practice to get a feel for it, and really enjoy without thinking about it too much. When you first start, you understand the moves are actually simple, but they seem so hard, and there is multitasking involved, thinking of the next move, staying in the rhythm, giving signals to your partner! The only way to stop sucking, is practice.

My advice, and I really suggest you listen: don't go. Man has to lead, you don't know how to, and it will be awkward for you and for her. You might feel humiliated by all the other guys asking your girl for a dance and since she's a beginner, some will be levels above her and will flash their awesome moves and it will give her a huge smile and you will feel like an idiot.

Now, if you want to learn to dance for your own sake, and I encourage you to (I never danced in my life, now I often get complimented), take a class, practice, then go dancing. But if you don't want to, then don't, it's your plate's hobby, she can have it, if you like playing the trumpet that's yours. You don't have to do everything together.

 

[MtnMan]

Well, i've already agreed to go. Apparently i was wrong, she has never done it before, but I see your point hudpes for sure. Now that I agreed, I am going to have to go through with it and make the best of it. I don't think this is going to break me, but it may not increase my value either. I am more nervous for myself than I am about impressing her.

I guess all I can do now is make the best of it and report back!

 

[Cerwin Vega]

If it's your both first time you'll enjoy it, guaranteed.

 

[Cremasta]

Your plate knows you're a crap dancer, but she still wants you to be there with her.
This is a GOOD sign, she is finding reasons to spend more time with you.

Just remember that every good dancer was at some point a sh!t dancer.

Go have fun, you'll get laid after

 

[pyros]

I agree with Hudpes in general.

As a salsa dancer I do not think it is a very good idea for you to go there.
First, as someone above said, you cant lead her, so she'll try to lead you which is not very good and you will feel awkward and dumb.
Second, there will be many guys that will ask her to dance, and you'll be there standing and getting bored...while she dances.

However, it would be a good idea if you two joined any salsa class. That would be good because after a few months you could go to the same club and kind of dance with her and this way it will be fun for both of you. However if you hate dancing, then it is not recommended.

For the one tha said that she can have her hobbies in which you're not included, well, yes, but do not get surprised if while she does her hobbies she finds some guy that shares her hobbies and then...

Now that you've agreed to go, just go there but do not stay long. One hour max. Go to do something else before or afther the salsa thing.

Good luck.

 

[MtnMan]

I should add that this is a one time event that takes place at a local venue (restored barn). It is a funraiser with food, cash bar and a salsa lesson for beginners. I watched the video from last years event and there was lots of people who appeared to be raw beginners. The crowd was also mostly couples, so I think I will be better here than at a salsa club.

Again, we shall see. I will give it a go, and make the most of it!

 

[hudpes]

The situation now looks way different, as neither of you know how to dance, it's a low profile event aimed at beginners, so you can just go have fun, try the class, but cheat, and practice at home as much as you can with the basics on youtube, look for addicted2salsa channel. You don't have to impress, but it certainly won't hurt if you do. I promise you'll have a good time

 

[MtnMan]

I practiced the basic step last night and tried to get the right turn down. Not easy for me. I look so ridiculous, hopefully I will have a little more flow with a girl to dance with.

I'm having trouble imagining how much practicing by myself is going to help when I actually have someone else to keep track of.

Its hard for me to do the full 360 turn and keep the beat without loosing my spot. This is going to be a great learning experience for me on a few levels.

Edit: 500th post! Now I am a 'master don juan'.....somehow I really dont think that is an appropriate title. Should be more like, 'beginner don juan'

 

[mangotot]

If your chick is hot don't be surprised if the teacher ends up picking her up right in front of your nose under the guise of 'dancing'.

I used to go salsa. The salsa teacher made sure he got to dance with the hottest chick going after the event. In fact, it was accepted and very normal to everyone (men and women), no one sneered at it or anything. If your chick is average looking, then there is nothing to worry about.

 

[MtnMan]

If your chick is hot don't be surprised if the teacher ends up picking her up right in front of your nose under the guise of 'dancing'.

I used to go salsa. The salsa teacher made sure he got to dance with the hottest chick going after the event. In fact, it was accepted and very normal to everyone (men and women), no one sneered at it or anything. If your chick is average looking, then there is nothing to worry about.

she is pretty hot, but I'll take that risk. If I can lose her because a salsa TEACHER dances better than me, I never had her in the first place.

 

[TheMonkeyKing]

Main Man Mountain,

Lose yourself to Dance! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBXv37PFcAQ

Being a perfect dancer is not a concern of yours at this stage. Having fun is your priority. I doubt your lady is going to be concerned about your ability, especially if she knows you haven't salsa experience. It sounds like a fairly informal gig anyway.

She only wants you to be there with her and get involved with something she obviously enjoys as well. I went dancing with a ballerina a few months back and when I asked her about my style, she said that I was good because I just let myself go, didn't take it too seriously and got in to it; probably being polite, but that's all they want.

As far as he rhythm goes, I find it's less about hearing or listening, more about anticipation (of the next beat or bar). 'Feeling' the music sounds cliché, but there is a lot of truth in it. Fortunately salsa is fairly rhythmical and easy to anticipate (i.e. you're going to be working with the same beat over and over again):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnl7pm1CP4g

All the best. Let us know how it goes!

 

[Tomo]

The biggest thing I realised was that my hesitations were all in my head when I first started dancing. NO ONE cares how you dance tbh. You could be so bad but earn respect from people for giving it a shot and not giving a damn. As long as you jump in for fun, able to laugh at yourself and show your girl a good time, you're locked and loaded.

Enjoy mate.

 

[hudpes]

Forget the 360 turn, it's nothing for beginners. Just basic step, basic turn, keep the rhythm, that's all for now, you'll do fine.

 

[Darth]

Take it from someone who has done a lot of bad dancing:

It doesn't matter how bad you are; it matters how confident you are.

I was extremely bad at Argentine Tango and completely faked it and most all of the girls fell for it. Yes, there were a couple that knew that I didn't know what I was doing and tried to "teach" me, but they were no fun and they were the minority.

The majority will just be appreciative that you take the lead and have your way with her. Whether your way is right or not, LOL.

 

[MattTheW]

just have fun with it
As long as she has fun it wont matter if you make a few mistakes

 

[MtnMan]

Field Report: Met up with girl at event, the location was amazingly gorgeous. Arguable some of the nicest property in the state. Amazing restored barn is where the event took place. My date was looking sexy as hell.

People were rolling in blasting salsa on their car stereos...she was clearly a bit nervous.

I played it cool, we walked around the property, grabbed some snacks, and took the salsa lesson. She was talking about not dancing, but I insisted! I didn't sack up and agree to this and pay $30 to be a wallflower! The old me would have been a wallflower, but not now d@mnit!

The lesson was very quick and not very thorough. There were a bunch of people that were awesome and a bunch that were terrible just like us.
I SUCKED at it to be honest, but I had a great time and so did she. I would need a real lesson to actually get better at it. The instructor breezed through things way to quick, and those of us that were beginners really didn't have time to get the basics down.

Either way, I came out on top of this one. I wish i could have gotten the basics down a bit better, but I still had fun and wasn't embarrassed.

To top it off we headed back to her place at midnight in 2 cars. I was following her down the interstate and my $hitty old diesel VW broke a water pump belt and rendered me stranded. It overheated in about 20 seconds. I was lucky to be able to coast into the pull off.

I limped it into a pull-off and figured my night was hosed. Called her up and told her to keep going and I was going to get a tow home.

Then I realized I had a spare belt and basic tools in the trunk! 5 minutes later I had a new belt on and was back on the road. Somehow this scored even more points for me since I am so good at fixing things. This girl loves that I drive a beater car and fix all my own stuff. Stayed up until 5 am banging, and spend the rest of the next day with her. She asked me to be exclusive with her, so i guess my horrid dancing and $hitty car didn't blow me out too bad.