It's time for a long-overdue update to the website.

I've found this, while searching around for events to goto in Melbourne, Aus, when I go visit my friends. The site was a friendly one, so I thought I'll share it..

http://www.melbournesalsa.com.au - Seem to have the "where to" for all Melb salsa. Classes, events, etc for those who wants to check it out.

Though for me, what I thought would be worth sharing for the blog, was their "tips", seeing what I've covered so-far.

So here's what THEY have on their site - Courtecy of the Melbourne Salsa community.

Together is better

The principle aim of all basic step patterns, and all figures, is to allow two people to coordinate their movements to music without any other communication. So long as the people are moving in sync with each other, it doesnt matter on what beat they are dancing, whether the figures are executed according to routines, or anything else. Grace and connectivity are what dancing is about.

Know your role

The aim of the lead in a partnership is to create a frame of movement in which the follow displays their musicality. It is not for leads to detract from the follows efforts by grandstanding or showing off, leaving their partners doing nothing. In the case of less experienced follows, the lead facilitates the movements of the follow by extending their range of movement, teaching the follow to realize their capabilities. When the follower is more experienced, they can take more initiative as distinct from back-leading and provide the leader with more options into which the couple can move.

Melbourne Salsa offers great salsa dancing classes at various venues in Melbourne at reasonsable prices. We are focused on providing you a fun enjoyable experience. Many of our dancers continue to refer their friends and family to our services. Try out your first salsa dance lesson today.

Less is more

Unless performing, use styling only to accentuate points in the music, not points in a figure. When best executed, these will coincide, but frequently, parts of figures suited for accent do not match the music, so leave the head/arm-flick out until the time is right for it.

Be Happy

No matter what their level of skill, happy, joyful people are much more fun to dance with than over-focused, unhappy or attitude-ridden people. You will have more fun, and so will you partner, if you relax and enjoy the experience, than try to force it to conform to your expectations of what it should be.

Minimize thought

Dancing is more about feeling intuitive, spontaneous response to music than about thought. While learning a figure or working on something in a class, thinking is all to the better understand what you have to do, so you can remember it to practice later but once the foundation is laid, you will enjoy it more if you let it flow than spend all your time trying to remember while dancing (as opposed to practicing dancing). If you think too much, you will forget to breathe, and to enjoy yourself.

Create your own style

Many students/dancers get caught up in trying to copy or become the carbon copy of their instructor. Whilst it's great to be inspired by others and have a mentor, it is more satisfying to know you have created your own style or your way of dancing. To do this, watch others around you. When out social dancing look around at the styling other dancers use, something some one does will catch your eye. Watch salsa videos of congresses from all over the world and then practice, at home in front of a mirror or in your dance studio, with a dance partner. Try new things and keep trying until you think you've got it right, if it doesnt work for you go onto the next thing.
Keep trying until something fits with you and in the process you may come up with our own way of rolling your shoulders or flicking your head. The way you sway your hips or the shimmy or body roll. Trying to fit into someone elses mould may take you years or a lifetime, wouldnt you prefer to dance like YOU for a lifetime.

Practice Patience and Perseverance

Dont expect to be the best Salsa dancer overnight! That just won't happen, for some it takes months and for others years. The way to make it happen for you is to practice at least 3 times a week or more, to be patient with yourself and to persevere even when it gets tough and you think you'll never get it. Try private lessons, as one on one with an instructor can catapult you to becoming a better dancer faster. Also after group classes stay back and dance to the music. Get used to dancing and practicing with out the voice of your instructor. See live bands as well, feel and hear the music. The more you dance and listen to the music the more you will connect with it and your partner and the better dancer you will become.


Points 1-5 were generated by Clem Stanyon...Salsa dancer/performer & friend.

Points 6 & 7 by Gabby Torrisi.

Credit to Original Uploaders.