Every one has a horror story about how they went salsa dancing and got stepped on/trampled/smashed/etc by another couple on the dance floor.
Apparently one Los Angeles Times writer had a particularly “memorable” experience recently when he went salsa dancing with his wife in Los Angeles. Augustin Gurza’s article points out that sometimes salsa dancers can get carried away with different moves, spins, and flips on the dance floor. Although I don’t think it was wise for Agustin to write an article basically focusing on one particular dancer, Alex Da Silva (see the picture in this post), the article does point out a problem that many of us encounter on the dance floor.
After reading the article feel free to write a comment on my website about your horror stories with salsa dancing mishaps or thoughts about the article. I look forward to see what you veterans of the dance floor have experienced.
Horror stories abound for any type of dancing, whether Salsa, hip-hop, or ballroom. Dancers throughout this universe are bound to hit, collide, or be trampled upon and vice-versa.
Maybe I should trash Sandra Bullock for back-stepping onto my left shoe at El Rey 15 years ago? Or Ismael East Carlo for back-flipping his dance partner between mine?
Augustin, usually a fine gentleman, didn’t really trash Da Silva, per se; it was just a questionable means of acknowledging Alex’s embellished form of expressing himself on the dance floor!
To paraphrase Mr. Rodney King: Can’t we all just Salsa together?
Hector “La Voz” Resendez, “Canto Tropical” 90.7 FM, KPFK, So. California http://www.KPFK.org
I believe the article hit on some very relevant points to the salsa dancing scene, and would only add in fairness to LA,that it’s a problem in many parts of the country, including San Diego. And as a recent import from Atlanta, I witnessed it there too. That said, I support the article because 1)I believe it’s accurate; and 2) it raises a fundamental question of social dancing: why can’t salsa dancers simply use a little common sense (and consideration) toward their fellow dancers and keep their dancing to themselves, i.e, without recklessly colliding with the couple next to them? One of the rules that older dancers swear by (and let’s face it, older folks consistently prove you don’t have to perform gymnastic maneuvers to dance great)is that the man must always be on the lookout to his surroundings to avoid collisions, and to ensure that his partner is protected. Seems like this point isn’t emphasized enough in dance studios these days. As someone who’s been trampled, shoved, and elbowed way too many times and unnecessarily, I encourage all of us to just be a little more careful. Gentlemen, look out for the couples around you before you thrust your partner four feet away from you to execute a gravity-defying spin/turn, because on the other side awaits an unexpecting man or woman who’s about to get poked with your partner’s 5 inch stiletto. Dancing salsa is too great an experience to ruin on the dancefloor for want to show off. To second Mr. Resendez’s closing, can’t we all just salsa together? Thanks!
Vidal L. Cordova, Jr., Esq., San Diego, CA
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed