Thursday, January 11, 2007
The Salsa Stragglers
Yday was my 2nd R3 class and i think it was quite difficult.Because there were more ladies than guys in the class, I occasionally had the chance to watch my classmates do their thing.
My observation is that there are some people who just can't make it.
I don't really think it is due to a lack of effort...but rather an innate inability to get the hang of the dance. It's like their body is working against them or something! Maybe the move is too complicated.
I donno..but at this point, I think it will be rather difficult for such individuals to progress.
Most of our counterparts are currently at intermediate level, some moving onto advance. Majority of the people now have no problems identifying beat, no problems landing on the correct foot and no real problems in terms of turning and following/leading.
Most will be more interested in perfecting their turns, their styling, their musicality and their lead rather than still spending time trying to figure out how to do a turn or how to lead a girl.
Not that I am trying to be mean, but tt's like 2 ends of the spectrum, you know.
I was dancing with this guy and we were trying to execute the La Jenny command. There's this part of the move where the girl and guy face each other, rest their hand on each others' shoulder and walk in a circle.
The silly guy i was dancing was like pressing his hand down on my shoulder with all his weight. It took all MY strength to stand upright and not let my knees buckle.
OMG.
It was one of the worst and most confusing experiences ever.
Don't believe me? You go and try lah! And make sure u get a bigger person than yourself to push you down while you try to walk.
These people should really go and do some refreshers or at the very least, practice their basics before they come and attempt something complicated. Least they would be more aware of their body, and have more control over what they are doing rather than anyhow whack.
It's not that I'm not giving these people a chance - everyone needs to start somewhere - but it's so weird/terrible that these people do not realize their own limitations. It's like a S-League footballer trying to score a goal when the goalkeeper is from Arsenal.
And because these people do not practice with people of their own league and want to practice with others of higher level, they simply do not get to practice!!!
Which is very unfortunate because they will improve at a snails' pace and risk killing people in their path in the process.
I would love to help these people out by dancing with them...but they keep trying to do complicated advanced moves which are way out and over their head. Which makes it dangerous to dance with them.
And how the hell am I supposed to say "Hey, your body coordination sucks. Pls work on something simpler for now before trying out that nifty pattern."? I'd probably get slapped.
I do not think i am a fantastic dancer. I do not even think i am a good dancer. But I do know that I am a dancer who tries to improve her dancing all the time. It's not difficult; one just needs to be conscious of what one is doing and to correct bad habits when they are told to you.
I just wish others would try to do the same so that Union will be a more pleasant and safer place to dance. I have already sustained 2 dead toes (yes, the other one has died as well) and a million bruises thanks to thoughtless and careless dancing so I think I am in a good position to talk.
And trust me. I speak for the people who think the same but do not say it out majority.