Latin Shades - by Nilesh, N5 Dance Company

then this is the right time to start. Following are some Important points that will help you for taking the first step.

1. It’s all about the MUSIC:

You do not dance to 123, 567! Those are counts, you dance to the Music! Music should excite you....
Counting was introduced to make teaching easier and to help people keep the rhythm. It was never meant to replace the music all together. So, Dance to the Music!

2 – TECHNIQUE, Technique, Technique
Perfect Practice makes perfect. Dancing is an art-form and just like any art-form, you need not just practice, but practice perfectly. So Learn to Lead or Learn to Follow. However, what does it mean to Lead or follow? i) LEARN TO FOLLOW
Women should feel and not think; following in this sense refers to feeling the lead and the rhythm, not thinking what does the man want me to do now? This kind of following requires a lady to be totally receptive. The whole dance is the interplay of opposites but these opposites need to blend together to work in harmony and become one, just like the yin-yang symbol. ii)LEARN TO LEAD

Think of this as learning to drive a car. Nothing beats experience and you have got to pay your dues and learn (Sorry guys, no short-cuts). The more your drive the better you get, same on the dance floor. Now driving just like leading follows the same principles. You do not drive every-car exactly the same even though the principles of driving are set. So a Ferrari is very different experience from a Volkswagen beetle in almost every way. Even though technique remains the same, every woman is different and thus requires a different lead. Therefore, continuously learn how different women move and adjust your lead accordingly.

3 – HAVE FUN:
Having Fun is probably the most important thing on the dance floor. Here are 5 key points that will help you communicate to your dance partner that you are having a good time:

1. Dance together- Dance is a language of communication. So for the few minutes you dance together, make the person you are dancing with feel like the centre of the universe. Forget about how many people are watching you, it has nothing to do with them. This dance is between you and your partner. 2 people sharing a beautiful moment and creating a wonderful experience together.

3. Eye contact – Maintain some form of eye contact, however don’t gaze into each others eyes too deeply.Staring the entire time without blinking comes across as serial killerish. Too little eye contact however comes across as disinterested. So you need to find the balance.

4. Hygiene – It’s kind of hard to have fun when you are pressed up against someone dripping with sweat and smells like they have not had a shower in days and also has bad Breath! Enough Said.

5. Don’t be a creep – Learn to respect personal space. While dancing is in essence a sensual activity, everyone has their limits, and crossing them is the opposite of fun. So hope to see you at the salsa night:
Tiil then, Live, Laugh, Love & Salsa!