Although I've been dancing bachata for two years I have never learned dominican style bachata, a style that is based on a lot of footwork and being able to count the music. I have long admired this style of dance but have been too scared to try it - until Peter Arazia taught a class.
Peter Arazia, co-founder of the LA Influence (LAI) Dance Company based in Long Beach, is one damn good instructor. Peter never messes up counts, he challenges you in the lesson, he is encouraging and he teaches the class proposer manners.
Arazia's class was one of two taught at the Latin Motion Social, a social that is coordinated between the Cal State Long Beach salsa club and LAI. Latin Motin Socials are on the third Saturday of every month at the Long Beach Dance Center and I highly recommend them. The floor is great and you get a variety of dancers.
Peter's class started off by learning footwork all together. Then he broke up the class into two groups (ladies and gentlemen) and Peter would teach the men footwork without a partner and the female instructor would do the same with the ladies.
Now here comes to the best past. After the men and women learn their footwork, Peter would instruct men how to properly go up to a crowd of ladies, ask them to dance and would tell ladies to smile and be nice. I really like Peter for his manners. If you ask him to dance (something I don't really have the confidence to do with most men) he will accept, walk you on the floor, take care of you on the floor and then walk you off. He is a true gentlemen.
Overall I consider Peter a great instructor. His class is challenging and he is able to not only say the counts but also which foot you are stepping on. He can switch off saying the ladies footwork or the mens footwork without any hesitation.
I can't really judge the combination because I have never dance Dominican up to this point. So I'll let you judge for yourself. Comments are welcome!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
PCH Club advanced lessons
Before we start the review I think its important to note here that:
1) I am not an advanced dancer. I am really more of an intermediate dancer. I do however take advanced lessons which is why I feel that I have some kind of authority to review advanced lessons.
2) To me, an advanced class is a technique class. Any class you will take at a club, will not be a technique class.
On Thursday night I took two advanced classes, bachata and salsa, at PCH club. Both were taught by Alex Montilla. I have taken classes by Montilla before, his classes rotate quickly and he is nit-picky that everyone should face the same way as him and his partner. Overall, though when you personally dance with him he is very encouraging.
Montilla likes to teach intimate bachata lessons. The bachata class had about 12 people total. Bachata can really depend on the partner you are with and if you are stuck in a class without a partner you like (like I was)...you're almost kind of hoping the lesson will end.
Overall for the bachata class I liked the combination.
As for the salsa class I though the combination was a good challenge. There was a part in the pattern where the lady would have to duck under her partners arm and I thought Montilla did a good job teaching the men how to lead this move. The class was about 30 people, a good size.
The price for both advanced lessons were $10. If you are a person looking for more combinations to use on the dance floor (especially the men), I would say taking the class is worth it. If you are a lady and would like to familiarize yourself with combinations so you can follow better, the classes covered uncommon moves. Overall though, I would recommend for the ladies to also seek a technique class, which can really tell you how to follow, give your partner tension and where to place your weight.
1) I am not an advanced dancer. I am really more of an intermediate dancer. I do however take advanced lessons which is why I feel that I have some kind of authority to review advanced lessons.
2) To me, an advanced class is a technique class. Any class you will take at a club, will not be a technique class.
On Thursday night I took two advanced classes, bachata and salsa, at PCH club. Both were taught by Alex Montilla. I have taken classes by Montilla before, his classes rotate quickly and he is nit-picky that everyone should face the same way as him and his partner. Overall, though when you personally dance with him he is very encouraging.
Montilla likes to teach intimate bachata lessons. The bachata class had about 12 people total. Bachata can really depend on the partner you are with and if you are stuck in a class without a partner you like (like I was)...you're almost kind of hoping the lesson will end.
Overall for the bachata class I liked the combination.
As for the salsa class I though the combination was a good challenge. There was a part in the pattern where the lady would have to duck under her partners arm and I thought Montilla did a good job teaching the men how to lead this move. The class was about 30 people, a good size.
The price for both advanced lessons were $10. If you are a person looking for more combinations to use on the dance floor (especially the men), I would say taking the class is worth it. If you are a lady and would like to familiarize yourself with combinations so you can follow better, the classes covered uncommon moves. Overall though, I would recommend for the ladies to also seek a technique class, which can really tell you how to follow, give your partner tension and where to place your weight.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The Do's and Do NOT's of the salsa club.
Co-presidents of the Cal State Long Beach salsa club Athena Henderson and Nare Tevanyan have spent their fair time in salsa clubs as well as managing one on campus. Henderson has had many years dance experience including ballet and has been dancing salsa LA style for more than two years. Tevanyan has taught private salsa and bachata lessons and at Sevillas and PCH club.
They have been through the good and the bad. The tips from these ladies can apply to men of all level, because sometimes the worst experiences can come from advanced dancers.
Tips for the Gentlemen
- Be aware of your space, if the floor is crowded do NOT bring your partner in the middle, bring her to the sides
- Respect the drip rule, if you are sweaty do NOT bring your lady in close
- Know your partners level, start with a basic step to see how advanced your lady is
Photo from facebook
Keving Ngo is the founder of the CSULB salsa club. In addition to his experience at both the CSULB salsa team and club, Ngo also teaches bachata and salsa at PCH club.Ngo and Crystal Hernandez dancing before they teach the beginning bachata class at PCH club
Tips for the Ladies
- Be aware of what you are wearing- Keep it as light as possible when it comes to accessories. Remember it's partnered dancing with spinning so think how those accessories will affect your partner. (Hint: avoid long necklaces and large rings).
- Smell nice, make sure you have showered and go light on the perfume.
- Pay attention to your partner, in other words, give eye contact. You would not want your partner to show off and check to see if other people are looking at him.
Tips for Everyone
- Smile, make some eye contact but do NOT stare
- Have fun, dancing is about having fun, your partner should never feel uncomfortable or strained
- Ask people to dance, the worst they could do is say no, and then there are many people in the club.
- Enjoy the dance, do not ask your partner 21 questions (i/e where do you live, what do you do, where do you go to school...etc) while you are dancing, it is a club with lots of moving people and loud music. If you want to know this info ask them on a date, the dance floor is not the time for this game.
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