the cuban salsa blog

First, leads learn to speak and follows learn to listen.

In the beginning of learning Salsa the Cuban way, it’s very important for the lead to learn how to speak to their partner with a very clear and deliberate “voice”.

During this first stage, I think the follow should concentrate ONLY on listening and doing exactly what the lead compels them to do.

You can’t just overlay interchanges of faux styling between partners to make it appear as if there is dialog going on! This is simply each person taking turns reciting what they memorized.

Second, leads learn to invite dialog and follows learn to recognize and respond to the invitation.

This is where leads begin to understand the subtle unspoken language of dance. In a practical sense, giving their partner room and inviting them to participate in a conversation of the body.

Follows, at this point you begin to not only listen for direction, but for the invitation to “talk back” with movement.

Last, dance becomes a conversation between you and your partner. Nothing else matters.

Here is where things get fun. You won’t give a damn about what’s going on outside of this dialog and the music that drives it. Lead initiates dialog and follow responds.

Follow initiates dialog and lead responds.

There is no lead and follow at this point. Remember this.

In essence, you are dancing with each other, around each other, and into each other. One long sentence that spells out the music beautifully.
No smoke, no mirrors, no bullshit. Just music and conversation. But not one word is ever uttered.

Raw spontaneous dialog that visually reproduces the music being played.

This is Cuban style and this is what makes what we do different.

Related posts:

1. oversteering vs understeering
2. is cuban salsa just a lead’s dance?
3. But I couldn’t find a partner who could dance X style..
4. damage avoidance