Okay ladies, so you've taken the lessons, you've got the shoes, the dress...you head out anticipating a night of dancing, and you end up sitting on the sidelines. What's wrong with this picture?
Believe it or not, this has happened to all of us at one time or another. I am known to get my hopes up of a night of crazy dancing, only to sit out all the good songs. Then I go home defeated and upset. How to combat this? How do you keep your card full enough to how much you want to dance?
First off is expectation. Know what to expect. If you don't get to dance much, its okay, enjoy the music and meet some people. Well that's what my partner says :) Do not go out expecting to be the belle of the ball and have a line waiting for her. Do expect to say hi and be cordial to other people at the club and introduce yourself. You may have better luck if you get to know the guys at the club.
Second is all about Attitude! SMILE! Even if your feet hurt, you are hot, cranky, PMSing. Look like you are having more fun than everyone. This will attract people that want to have fun too. Make eye contact. Do not hide against the wall and look down sullenly. DO NOT say no when asked to dance the first time by ANY guy. Other guys see this and will not want to approach to be shot down. Look at it from their point of view, they have to get the courage up to ask you, and you blow them off. Now if you give them a shot and they hurt you, or disrespect you, then you have the right to say no to a second dance.
Third is show them what you have. Ask a guy friend to take you out so the other dancers can see that you are capable. Knowing that you can dance and look good doing it, will make you stand out a bit more than the wallflower. Make sure to dress the part as well. Do not wear clothing that will impede your dancing, such as shoes that you cannot reasonably spin in. This doesn't mean you have to bring your dance shoes, but make sure to test them out before hand. We are all guilty of wearing a dress that doesn't stay put when you move. So test that out too, or tape the hell out of it, or wear shorts underneath even.
Some other things to consider - not all guys are looking for the same in a dancer. Some guys only want experienced girls, or inexperienced girls. You may never dance with ever guy at the club. Also if the ratio is more girls than guys, switch venues. If there are not a lot of girls that can dance, then your chances are higher.
Also - hygiene is huge! Guys don't like girls with bad breath, or I even heard of hair that smells bad. I have considerably short hair, so I don't know about this first hand, but if your hair is longer it will end up in his face at some point. Another important but often overlooked component is alcohol. Do NOT be the sloppy drunk girl, that is no fun to dance with.
The biggest part about social dancing is that it should be FUN! If you are not going out to have fun, stay home. Following these tips should help you to be asked more. If all else fails - ask the guy - take control of what you get to dance. He'll thank you for taking the pressure off of him!
Showing posts with label social. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Congress/Festival Survival Guide
Congress season is upon us, well for some of us! I have already been to 2 congresses and 3 festivals and there is something to be said about being prepared. My first congress, the Orlando Salsa Congress, was amazing, but a disaster. I ended up overwhelmed and exhausted, and then a week later sick.
So learning from that experience has given me a few tips to share with others, and now doing a 3-4 day festival is no big deal. And I try to attend a little of everything, workshops, performances, pool parties and social dancing. Throw in an afterparty even.
These is my survival guide for making it through unscathed.
1. Pace Yourself.
- Remember it is normally 3 full days and 4 nights of entertainment. You won't be able to make it through everything if you attack it "balls to the wall" style. Know your limits and listen to your body. Also do not push yourself into classes that are not to your level, push yourself for sure, but dont jump in feet first into advanced if you've never tried that style of dance.
2. Plan Your Day Carefully
- There are a lot of workshops everyday, pick and choose which mean the most to you. My first congress I tried to take as many workshops as possible, and ended up retaining almost nothing. Also remember to plan in time to EAT and relax. Some congresses allow a lunch break, some do not.
3. Find Downtime/Rest
- Pool party time is a good time to get in some rest. Grab a lounger in the shade and take a rest, or hightail it to your room and get a power nap for 30-45 mins. If you can sleep in - awesome - but if there is a 10am workshop you really want, remember that at the end of the night, there will always be an afterparty tomorrow.
4. Do your Research
- Figure out if the hotel has restaurants or cafes, and check prices. Check nearby restaurants available. Also check your accomadations, Fridge and Micro in the room is a god-send. Is there a cheaper hotel within walking distance, anything to help shave off some of the costs is always a good idea. Can you share rooms with others and bring the costs down.
5. Eat Well/Take Care of Yourself
- The drinks tend to flow pretty freely at most congresses I've been to, and people tend to grab food when they have to. Taking the time to stop and really eat well, will reward you in the long run. Eat a good breakfast, one of my favorites is the oatmeal from Starbucks and a banana. Drink lots of water, and take some Emergen-C every morning. Eat a decent lunch - and make sure to include fruits and veggies, not just burgers and fries. You dont want to crash. I do tend to eat pasta or a baked potato for energy. Pack little snacks in your dance bag to keep you going. This is where the fridge comes in handy.
Hopefully this will help someone get through Congress, especially those who do not know what to expect. It's exciting and hectic, but with a little planning you can really get the most out of the experience.
So learning from that experience has given me a few tips to share with others, and now doing a 3-4 day festival is no big deal. And I try to attend a little of everything, workshops, performances, pool parties and social dancing. Throw in an afterparty even.
These is my survival guide for making it through unscathed.
1. Pace Yourself.
- Remember it is normally 3 full days and 4 nights of entertainment. You won't be able to make it through everything if you attack it "balls to the wall" style. Know your limits and listen to your body. Also do not push yourself into classes that are not to your level, push yourself for sure, but dont jump in feet first into advanced if you've never tried that style of dance.
2. Plan Your Day Carefully
- There are a lot of workshops everyday, pick and choose which mean the most to you. My first congress I tried to take as many workshops as possible, and ended up retaining almost nothing. Also remember to plan in time to EAT and relax. Some congresses allow a lunch break, some do not.
3. Find Downtime/Rest
- Pool party time is a good time to get in some rest. Grab a lounger in the shade and take a rest, or hightail it to your room and get a power nap for 30-45 mins. If you can sleep in - awesome - but if there is a 10am workshop you really want, remember that at the end of the night, there will always be an afterparty tomorrow.
4. Do your Research
- Figure out if the hotel has restaurants or cafes, and check prices. Check nearby restaurants available. Also check your accomadations, Fridge and Micro in the room is a god-send. Is there a cheaper hotel within walking distance, anything to help shave off some of the costs is always a good idea. Can you share rooms with others and bring the costs down.
5. Eat Well/Take Care of Yourself
- The drinks tend to flow pretty freely at most congresses I've been to, and people tend to grab food when they have to. Taking the time to stop and really eat well, will reward you in the long run. Eat a good breakfast, one of my favorites is the oatmeal from Starbucks and a banana. Drink lots of water, and take some Emergen-C every morning. Eat a decent lunch - and make sure to include fruits and veggies, not just burgers and fries. You dont want to crash. I do tend to eat pasta or a baked potato for energy. Pack little snacks in your dance bag to keep you going. This is where the fridge comes in handy.
Hopefully this will help someone get through Congress, especially those who do not know what to expect. It's exciting and hectic, but with a little planning you can really get the most out of the experience.
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