I know that it can be intimidating to get out there and ask someone to dance or even be asked to dance when your confidence is low... I've been there! I remember the time when you would have to drag me out onto the dance floor still attached to my chair! How nice it would have been to have a few friends from class to go with and help me not to feel so intimidated. That is exactly what I did. I asked my friends Mily, and George, and Nelita as well as some others if they wanted to go out to the clubs and they said yes! So, we had our little group of people that would meet at places all over town and just dance with each other! In the process, we learned a lot, gained confidence to dance with others outside of our group, expanded our social circle, and had a great time.
It is my intention to do just this with L.A. Salsa by giving you the opportunity to have a table just for L.A. Salsa Dance Studios reserved both at the Goldcoast Ballroom on Sundays as well as at Shall We Dance on Wednesdays. As you probably already know, Goldcaost has a social every Sunday from 5:30 to 8:30pm and L.A. Salsa Dance Studios has a Social every Wednesday at Shall We Dance starting at 9:30pm.
Tell your friends and check on our meetup site so that you can get together with other classmates and meet at one of these parties. You can contact each other through meetup by sending your friends messages as you would on facebook or any other social networking site. Use this... I did, and it worked for me. See you on the dance floor!
Rudy Infante
Dance to your heath!
It has been proven the medical and mental health communities that dance has an overall positive effect on the human body and mind. I remember when I first started dancing. In the first three months, I not only lost 16 pounds of body fat but my social circle grew and is still growing exponentially. I have found that dance class was a temporary relief from the pressures that I often felt from work, and sometimes in relationships. The sense of peace and relaxation that I felt for the brief hour that I was in class eventually spilled outside the boundaries of the dance studio. I felt better about myself and in my relationships as well. Somehow, my cholesterol was no longer a concern when I would go for my checkups and I have developed a much greater general sense of well being. This is my wish for you this new year and I hope that L.A. Salsa Dance Studios will be part of your lives in the months and years to come. Thank you all, and See you on the dance floor!!!
Rudy Infante
L.A. Salsa Dance Studios
Ladies and Mens Styling Workshop with Amie and Rudy was a huge success- Those who attended the December workshop now have a stocking full of material to use in their social dancing.Sunday December 2, 2007 marked the first of many specialty workshops hosted by L.A. Salsa Dance Studios. Special guest Amie Archut from Philadelphia and Rudy Infante from Miami came together to bring a powerful training session that showed attendees how to "burn it up" on the dance floor.
"This is excactly what I was looking for," "She is an excellent instructor," "Can't wait for the next one," "This is what what I needed to take it to the next level." These are the comments that have been resounding since last Sunday afternoon.
Ladies were given a workout starting with body movement and isolation excercises followed by spinning techniques and a routine consisting of fancy footwork, sexy body movement, and impressive turns. The men have their work cut out for them as they develop their lead while at the same time introducing body waves, hip movement, kicks, drops, and body styling into their dancing.
Styling is taking something practical and "getting there" in a very cool way. For example, when coming out of a cross body lead with an inside turn, the ladies need to have the left hand up and out of the way in order for the man to "pick them up" into a closed position hold. Instead of just accomodating the man with a mediocre lift of the elbow, why not bring the hand and arm out and up from the center of your body with a flamenco twist into the air high above you head as you accent it with a point of the fingers just before a graceful placement on the mans shoulder. Men, accentuate your cross body lead with a subtle body wave or "latin hips" as she passes by you in all her glory! Follow it with a multiple spin people will start talking!
This is what salsa is all about. Feeling the heat, the excitement, the elegance, and the energy, while having it look GREAT to the crowd who is watching. If you missed out on this session, stay tuned to find out when the next styling workshop is going to take place. It will not be long as many of those who did not attend and are hearing the word round the campfire and are allready asking when and where we are going to do it again.
See you all on the dance floor!
Rudy Infante
L.A. Salsa Dance Studios
L.A. Salsa Dance Studios and Events & Adventures Join Forces - Beginners workshop and after party is a sign of bigger and better things to come. Sunday November 4, 2007 Boca Dance Studios in Boca Raton, Florida was reeling in salsa dancers, students of salsa dance, and those just wanting to spend a Sunday afternoon doing something totally different. The first of many events hosted by L.A. Salsa Dance Studios and Events & Adventures. L.A. Salsa Dance Studios put on a Beginners L.A. Style Salsa Dancing Workshop with the goal of bringing people together and having them learn enough of the basics to be able to go out to a club or social event and carry a salsa song from beginning to end. Included in the Workshop was an evening of social dancing to a latin mix at the world famous Goldcoast Ballroom in Cononut Creek.
Those participating in the workshop picked up the salsa basic step, side rocks, cross body lead, right turn, inside turn, and a really cool dip that they could show off to their friends. The workshop was a success considering that everyone who went to the ballroom after the class was on the dance floor having a good time. For some, the ballroom may have felt a little intimidating, however, it was a great introduction into the fast and exciting world of Salsa Dancing. If you want to do something that is both social and athletic at the same time, it is better than running along on a treadmill or pedaling away on a staionary bike.
The event did draw more women than men. This is probably because of the fact that there was a big football game on the tube. Those of you men who did not come to the workshop don't know what you are missing. We had a group of absolutely beautiful single ladies who outnumbered the men six to one! You know what this means guys? You have to be here for the next event!
Overall, the participation was excellent. Those who came had a great time, and as a result L.A. Salsa Dance Studios has already scheduled the next event that will take place at the same studio on December 2nd, 2007. Come prepared to shine and face off as it will be a sizzling styling class for men and women. See you there!
Rudy Infante
L.A. Salsa Dance Studios
L.A. Salsa Dance Studios hosts its first Salsa Meetup - Sunday night Meetup at Goldcoast Ballroom was deemed a success by all participants.L.A. Salsa Dance Studios reserved two tables at Goldcoast Ballroom in Coconut Creek on Sunday to host its first of many "Meetups". Students and friends of L.A. Salsa had an opportunity to practice and sharpen their skills to the sounds of the DJ's latin mix. For some, this was the first time actually getting out there and asking another person to dance or being asked to dance in an environment other than class.
I was very happy to see that both of our tables were empty... Don't get me wrong, there were cups filled with drinks, shoe bags, purses, cameras, chocolate, sweaters, and sunglasses all waiting for their respectful owners to GET OFF THE DANCE FLOOR!!! Everyone was DANCING!!!
I have always said that the only way to get better is to practice what you are learning. If you only come to class, then you only get half the results. It is so important to dance with as many people as possible so that you can experience many different leads and follows. Experiencing different leads and follows keeps you alert and on your toes! Whether you dance with a partner, or with many partners, the fact that you are dancing at all is noteworthy, and there certainly was a lot of that going on this weekend.
When I first ventured out of the studio and into a club I remember how freightened I was to ask anyone to dance. I was so worried about how I looked and what people were saying about me. I found that most people were so into what they were doing and how they were dancing that they didn't really have the time to be paying attention to what I was doing. They are mostly busy thinking about how they look to the crowd. To you, they are the crowd and to them, you are the crowd. It is all a matter of perspective.
That said, get out there and ask the most intimidating person in the club to dance, and from that moment on every other person will be easy to ask. The same thing goes for the ladies. Walk right up to that man standing there and just take his hand and lead him onto the dance floor.
To all those who did not make it to this Meetup, I look forward to meeting you the next time. Come out!!! You don't know what you are missing!!!"
Rudy Infante
L.A. Salsa Dance Studios
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