The Benefits of the AC Exams
After all the buzz of the Hong Kong Fest and the New Year, I finally have some time to conduct some examinations for our students. These exams are important for them to keep track of their progress. Starting with the basic level 1 exam, I plan to guide them through to at least 3 or 4 levels eventually (hopefully by the end of this year so that they can go on to higher level next year). I think the Salsa aspect of the AC Dance is not too difficult to clear so long as the students are familiar with the basic techniques. What's more difficult is the other dances they have to clear, like rueda, maerengue and bachata, coz some of them are not very familiar with these dances. Still, the dances are not that difficult, and if all goes as planned, my semi-pro darlings will have completed their basic level exams, together with the rueda, bachata and merengue aspect of the exams! Yeah!
The good thing about the exams is that we can all keep track of what we have completed and what we have not done. This ensures that those who take the exams are well-rounded and know enough of each aspect of Salsa (and its related dances) to dance it, whether they actually do it or not. Eventually, all our students will be made to go through merengue, bachata, rueda, hiphop, chacha, afro cuban rumba, Argentine Tango, rhumba, jazroc and more! And the conditioning classes will train them up for the demanding body isolations, spins and flexibility these dances require for them to look good when they dance!
Of course, Jaztin amazingly drafts out all the modules for training. Sometimes I'm amazed by just how far into the future he can "see" and how well he can read minds. Because of his planning, everything somehow alwiz falls into plan. Take the conditioning classes he planned for instance, it seems boring right now as the steps repeats itself again and again, but I think everyone who regularly attends the classes will be amazed by just how far their isolations and spins have improved when we do our choreography! The thing about dancing is that you never quite realize how much you've improved or deproved unil you compare your dancing now with that of a few months back.
And I can't wait to show the students their video next time as compared to now! Hee hee...
Tuesday, February 27
Thursday, February 22
On the Importance of Attending Classes
Social dancing is important as it trains you to react and perform in a spontaneous environment. It also really forces the gal to follow the guys and she has no idea what variations to expect. However it's still important to go for classes and check that the steps look nice. We all need some 'quiet time' in front of the mirror from time to time to re-acquaint ourselves with our body and how it moves. Too much social dancing and no 'quiet time' makes me feel weird and insecure coz I forget how I look. I'm a pretty visual person and I see in my mind how I want to look when I dance so I know how to project my body when I dance... I guess that's the result of staring at my reflection every week since 6 years old. It's become a habit to me, and that's the way I visualize my dancing...
I feel that classes are important as it doesn't have the distractions of the social dance floor and the pace is slower and more predictable. In class, I have the time to just take care of the way I look and make sure it's nice. I have the time (unlike social dancing) to see if my move or my pose looks good coz the teacher repeats the steps over and over and over again and I can try out a hundred different poses until I'm satisfied that the one I eventually choose is the nicest. It also gives me a chance to reflect on my lead or following... coz I don't have to worry about what moves to do next or who is watching at me dance (in the social arena). That's why I love to go for classes! Haha...
Of course you have to know what to look out for while you attend the class. I find that many people overlook simple things like posture and arms in class when they focus too much on the legs... However, I'm quite particular about the arms and posture. After all, it's the first thing you look at when you watch people dance. Who stares at people's legs when they dance unless the person launches into some awesome crazy leg-stunts... Most people look at the faces or upper body (especially in a crowded dance floor) and that's where the posture and arms are noticed. Moreover, the air of confidence about a person usually has to do with 1) how precise he/she executes the steps and 2) the posture...
But the most important factor of all in Salsa is............... the SMILE! The joy and laughter is what attracts people to Salsa. They are there to have a good time, to smile and to have loads of fun! And I think that's why people of all standards can enjoy and dance Salsa. It's the fun they have while dancing. It doesn't matter how good you are, what matters more is how much fun you're having. People are, after all, attracted to laughter! So dance, enjoy and laugh lots! Hee hee
Social dancing is important as it trains you to react and perform in a spontaneous environment. It also really forces the gal to follow the guys and she has no idea what variations to expect. However it's still important to go for classes and check that the steps look nice. We all need some 'quiet time' in front of the mirror from time to time to re-acquaint ourselves with our body and how it moves. Too much social dancing and no 'quiet time' makes me feel weird and insecure coz I forget how I look. I'm a pretty visual person and I see in my mind how I want to look when I dance so I know how to project my body when I dance... I guess that's the result of staring at my reflection every week since 6 years old. It's become a habit to me, and that's the way I visualize my dancing...
I feel that classes are important as it doesn't have the distractions of the social dance floor and the pace is slower and more predictable. In class, I have the time to just take care of the way I look and make sure it's nice. I have the time (unlike social dancing) to see if my move or my pose looks good coz the teacher repeats the steps over and over and over again and I can try out a hundred different poses until I'm satisfied that the one I eventually choose is the nicest. It also gives me a chance to reflect on my lead or following... coz I don't have to worry about what moves to do next or who is watching at me dance (in the social arena). That's why I love to go for classes! Haha...
Of course you have to know what to look out for while you attend the class. I find that many people overlook simple things like posture and arms in class when they focus too much on the legs... However, I'm quite particular about the arms and posture. After all, it's the first thing you look at when you watch people dance. Who stares at people's legs when they dance unless the person launches into some awesome crazy leg-stunts... Most people look at the faces or upper body (especially in a crowded dance floor) and that's where the posture and arms are noticed. Moreover, the air of confidence about a person usually has to do with 1) how precise he/she executes the steps and 2) the posture...
But the most important factor of all in Salsa is............... the SMILE! The joy and laughter is what attracts people to Salsa. They are there to have a good time, to smile and to have loads of fun! And I think that's why people of all standards can enjoy and dance Salsa. It's the fun they have while dancing. It doesn't matter how good you are, what matters more is how much fun you're having. People are, after all, attracted to laughter! So dance, enjoy and laugh lots! Hee hee
Check this out for my Salsa video! Hee hee... One of my best so far I think. =) I can't wait for HK Salsa Fest one to come out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45X87eHOKeY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45X87eHOKeY
Friday, February 16
After coming back from the Hong Kong Salsa Fest, I'm full of energy to try new things, mostly inspired by watching the many different dancers in the Festival. It's cool to see the different flavors of each country. And I can tell that our students have the potential to be world standard, but they have to be sharper, better and faster. Similarly, I've gotta be even faster, sharper and quicker to be better! We still have so much to improve, and that's what make dancing incredible... There's almost no limits to it!
Now I need the human beings to produce the stuff... They seem to be taking a break, I guess it's time to do a killer choreography and bring them all back in! Hee hee... All the stuff that's in my mind will be fabricated soon. Hmmm this is so fun! I can guess what I'll be doing over the New Year!
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