40. A SECOND DANCE?
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Welcome to Episode 40 of the Salsa Kings LIVE podcast
Today Andres wants to help you with something of a sensitive topic for early students: The Second Dance. It’s more simple than a lot of people make it to be. Just ask ‘How do you leave them?’. It’s a question that focuses on the other dancer rather than oneself and it’s something a lot of teachers will skim over too quickly. Techniques and lessons are for a partner, to be the best dancer that you can for them. You’re a good dancer for your partner as much as you are for yourself.
Leads dance a particular way so that the follow can enjoy the dance as possible, while follows maintain their standards to make the job easier for the lead. Dancing is always done for the other, so that they will want to dance again. Often times, dancers will be too concerned with impressing their partner with their skill, rather than considering the needs of the other dancer. It’s more important to ensure your partner is enjoying their experience with you, to make it so that they want to dance with you again.
Intention is key here. Though it is harder to execute than to simply say, so long as your feelings are present, they can be felt. The important part is making it clear that your partner is being considered and their needs are being attended to. The feelings of your partner are just as important as the technique.
At the end of the day, you have to ask what are the dancer’s thoughts and feelings about you? Have you been Chameleonising? Dance is cooperative and if everyone considered their partner, then everyone would be enjoying themselves. Everyone becomes more connected through the fact that they are both being considerate and being considered.
This is a skill much like any other. You won’t be able to consider the needs of every dancer immediately, but as time goes on you’ll be able to understand what the needs of your partner are, and leave them wanting a second dance.
“If you know Japanese so well and someone is butchering the Japanese, you should be able to understand what it is that they’re trying to say and still be able to communicate, not make it a hard time for them, perhaps aiding them in the process and telling them the right way to say it, but still moving the conversation forward. And that goes for whatever social dance that we’re talking about.”