BY:
Observations in the Salsa: Technical Complexity Over Musicality and Connection
First, I will explain an important problem that I see in the scene, and then I will provide what I believe is the solution.
I believe that the essence of dance has been lost, or has been significantly weakened. And the effect that this has in the dance scene, interestingly enough, manifests different issues between Salsa and Bachata.
For Salsa: People think that a good dance is determined by complex turn patterns, triple spins, and pretzel tricks.
Complex turn patterns, triple spins, and pretzel tricks are actually nice and solid skills to have. But they are not remotely at the core of a good dance, and the problem here is that when I watch a lot of Salsa leads, I see them trying to execute and complete these patterns and movements with zero connection to the music, or even trying to connect and listen to their partner, such that you can switch out the music playing for another and that won’t impact the movements or turn styles that they do.
What’s worse is that their basic movements are significantly lacking, such that if I watched them attempt to do a basic step by themselves, I personally wouldn’t even call that dancing.
Observations in Bachata: Prioritizing Partner Connection Over Dance Quality
For Bachata: It’s actually incredible to me to hear a lot of follows talk about some leads being amazing dancers, and then I watch those same leads attempt to do a basic movement by themselves, and it’s not just bad but their basic movements actually look infirm, like it’s worse than a ‘ham biscuit brickle brackle and beans with fizzy wickets…’ (not hating on British food, referring to a meme).
And then I scratch my head and ask: ‘HOW?’
I am happy to know that there are leads that make follows feel safe and good about themselves through music, but being able to do that without proper body movement from a lead is not dancing in my opinion.
This is part of the reason why sensual Bachata is drifting further away from Dominican Bachata. Because lots of Sensual Bachata dancers have placed connection and making the follow feel good as a priority over everything else, including good movement for the lead.
So if the lead cannot move well or at all, and the dance overall looks to be lacking in (feet movement, hip movement, traveling, syncopation, good body control and mechanics, even basic rhythm), but the follower is made to feel on cloud 9, then it is considered a good dance.
Root Cause: Misunderstanding the Essence of Dance
The root cause of these two issues in both Salsa and Bachata is a lack of understanding of what the essence of dance is.
What is the Essence of Dance?
Answer: Essence of Dance = Beautiful Expression.
Before there was partner dancing, there was dancing. And the key component that was used to define dance was: ‘Expression’. Someone who cannot express themselves through on their own, dancing well by themselves is not truly a dancer.
Dance is a physical language, and just like verbal language requires subjecting oneself to rigorous study and discipline in pronunciations, intonations, conjugations, and sentence construction, one cannot be a good dancer without excellent expression, which requires subjecting yourself to study and perfect:
- Feet movement
- Hip movement
- Traveling
- Syncopation
- Rhythm
The Role of Connection
Obviously, connection is important too in partner dancing, but it’s not the essence of dancing, and putting that as a priority makes everything collapse on itself.
Examples of True Expression
In Salsa, there are dancers (leads and follows) that give me goosebumps just watching them do the basic movements by themselves or with a partner because their expression is beyond impeccable. And these dancers also have good connections with their partners.
In Bachata, ironically, I have the best connections with follows who are able to express themselves through their investment in studying and increasing their dance vocabulary in that dance style.
In fact, when the follow also knows how to connect the connection is even levels upon levels higher.
Personal Example
I once danced with a follow who is a teacher in NYC, and her basic was so good that I actually didn’t want to do anything else.We actually ended up doing the basics the entire dance. She wasn’t expecting me to just do the basics the entire dance, so I apologized and then thanked her for having such beautiful basic movements, and we had a second dance which was splendid as well.I can go into more depth on expression and the components of an excellent dance another time.But yes, this is my spill for now. It is with respect and admiration for the scene that I am putting this out there.
