helloman

I am sure anyone in the process of learning to dance(ANY dance) can relate to the author in the following article, which is quoted and abbreviated from another site.

My first experience with Salsa dancing was strictly as a spectator only. I
was completely taken in by the music and dance; it left a lasting impression to be sure.
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It’s easy to get excited about a new interest, but the reality of learning
the new skills can be hard to swallow. Realizing it takes more than one
lesson to be a good Salsero, I had a decision to make. Do I really want to
invest the time, and ego bruising, to learn this well? All right, it took 2
seconds for me to answer that question, but the thought of quitting did
streak across my mind. This is the pivotal moment for a novice in any field.
The ones that forge ahead get results, the others get discouraged and fall
away. Don’t be part of the second group!
Private lessons proved to be crucial in breaking through the first
confidence barrier. I strongly recommend at least two or three privates in
the beginning if you want to accelerate your learning. I ended up taking a
dozen or so of these before visiting a group lesson again. Big difference.
You’ll definitely be more relaxed and focused coming back from private
instruction from a good teacher. New steps come to you faster, you retain
more, and you start to develop a feel for how to move a women around your frame. I still have a long way to go, I’m a perfectionist by nature, but
taking enough classes provides a clear path for your future progress.
PROGRESSING FROM THE BEGINNING
As in anything, there are Great Salsa dancers and there are Good salsa
dancers. Great dancers can command the floor anywhere, and few reach this level. However, even good dancers can be impressive to the casual spectator; this is a fact that should make the beginning practitioner of salsa very happy. Why, you ask? Because I believe that becoming a good dancer, salsa included, is a VERY realistic goal for 98% of the general population. It means that with good teaching, some mental focus, and practice, one can attain a level of dancing that’s fun to participate in and fun to those watching.

Its the effort of moving from, let’s face it, a poor partner dancer to a
good one that sidelines most who quit. As I’ve stated in my salsa story, a
confident and strong lead becomes a must for the man. A good male lead can often improve the appearance of an average female; the reverse is less common however. I’ve heard several good teachers say that this puts the male dancer several months behind the female at the very beginning (I’m assuming a man who has had no prior partner training at all, salsa or otherwise). This is unsettling for the beginner who goes to his first group lesson and finds the women kicking his tail around the floor with the intermediate movements! Just a friendly warning.
That’s the bad news. Now for some good news. It usually takes just a few
lessons, private preferred, before a man gains enough experience to attain a beginning feel for leading a partner. At this point you are way ahead of the man who never partner dances, and never takes a chance to try. A few weeks of practicing and you could probably lead a female dancer quite well. Nothing impressive just yet, but enough to really start to enjoy the salsa sounds. A worthwhile beginning goal I believe. Which leads us into the next topic.
GOALS
What do you expect from your dance experience? How good a dancer do you want to be? Are there dancers that inspire you (if so, talk to them. If they’re friendly, they might give you some valuable advice and instruction)? How much time are you willing to invest to make your dancing better?
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Finally, determine what amount of time you can and will invest to learn
salsa. Forget people who brag that they are naturals. ALL GOOD DANCERS
PRACTICE. They practice with their partners, with other partners, by
themselves, and at different clubs and venues. This is exactly what makes
them so good. So taking the time to practice is a must if you are going to
improve.
How much time you spend depends on how quickly you want to learn. Some dancers spend several hours practicing for every hour of instruction they receive. At this rate, it won’t take but a few months before you’re in an intermediate group class leading the women quite nicely. I wouldn’t take less than one group lesson per week for the first two months to attain this, and at least two or three privates to tighten things up. If you can’t manage this kind of time investment, do what you can, but set the time goal nonetheless.
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