Monday's Musings and Music!

So this is my new idea to make me more responsible and updating more often.  Random things that pop in my head or experiences will pop up, along with a new artist or song that is making my feet burn up the floor.

So my latest grievance I guess you can say is dance floor etiquette.  I know I've talked about it before, but recently Ive noticed some HUGE issues that have made my nights out extremely uncomfortable and almost undanceable.

First off....no one seems to be learning how to dance in a slot. AT ALL.  The only people that seem to be dancing in a slot are the more experienced or "professionals" if you will.  How are you supposed to protect your girl or get her to be able to follow if you don't stay in a fixed slot?? I understand having to adjust, but I see people starting on one part of the floor and then I turn around they are in my face and I get stepped on. I'm still in my "slot" that my partner have staked out and now I'm being bumped around.  It's almost like a foreign concept to many of the newer dancers I see, staying in the slot.  I think this also helps the follow know exactly what you want her to do or go.

Next, tricks on the social floor.  Big no no, especially if its a crowded floor. I had both of a girl's feet slam into me from behind, because the guy thought it was okay to throw her between his legs. This same guy does semi lifts, neck drops and also does not dance in a slot.  Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should do something.  I was always taught that  tricks were not designed for the social floor at all, more for choreography. I mean you cannot really expect those types of moves to be "followable". That poor girl was flung so hard, she slid into me and hit me full force.  Good thing she was wearing ballet flats and not heels.  After that occurrence, I continued the song, until he tried a neck drop and scraped the back of my calf and ankle.  I had to stop dancing for fear of injury, and no apology given.

What in the world is going on? I mean seriously?  Even at socials I am finding it harder to find a safe slot that I can enjoy the song without a guy throwing some girl into me. With how serious I take my dancing, not to mention my job, I cannot afford an injury that sidelines me. I remember amazing advice that Griselle Ponce gave a group of us in Tampa a couple of years ago about etiquette and how to be careful when stepping to not throw your weight into your heels to prevent stepping on someone, its good advice, as well as good technique.

I hope that more people realize how uncourteous they are being and start trying to be aware of other dancers around them.  I want to enjoy my nights out, and not end up leaving bruised and frustrated.


Now onto the next part. Music.  I am always in search of new or new to me music that really speaks to me.  One of my all time favorite musicians, is Willie Bobo.  I had never heard of him before the Orlando Salsa Congress in 2009.  I took an awesome cha cha shine class with Shaka Brown and he always lets us know the artist of the song.  He introduced me to the song "Juicy". I then looked it up to have it, and found a plethora of other good songs.  He's most famous for "Fried Neckbones and some Home Fries", but one of my favorites is "Trinidad"  If you like Latin Jazz, you need to check his stuff out.  It has some awesome grooves and I cannot sit still when his music starts playing.  Cha cha aficionados definitely need him in their rotation.

That's it for this Monday. Next week I'll give you all a breakdown of what's going on in the Orlando dance scene.

Ciao for now,
White-a-Rican