[!!Aaroncheg]

So I went to a salsa class last night (just a 'drop in' thing). I had taken a couple of 8 week courses in salsa a couple years back, but nothing since.

I was suprised how much I remembered after just one session (though I am still very very basic - dancing with an experienced partner at a social outing would be very awkward). And I had forgotten how much fun it is!! Only myself and one other person showed up for the group lesson, so the two of us got some really good personal instruction, too !

Nonetheless, as the instructor was explaining to me about how to properly lead, the connection two dancers have, how they communicate, how to be relaxed yet firm, how the position of the hands/forearms should be, etc. etc., I started babbling something about "center" and "seme" and she kind of looked at me funny. So I said, "one should lead from the hips and body, not from the hands or feet, and the hands are merely and extension of that, right? And she was like, "YES!!" and explained how men who learn dance tend to "push" with the hands too much and leave their bodies out of position, then went into an explanation of how dancing is really just understanding basic body mechanics and movement, to music. I chuckled to myself for being such a kendo nerd.

So then as I was trying to appropriately lead my partner between back breaks, side breaks, cumbia breaks, cross body leads, peek-a-boos, and a few turns, I just kept thinking about seme, maai, kendo-no-kata, etc. I'm glad I didn't fumikomi on my partner's foot out of instinct, hahahaha !

Ok, ok, I know, I have kendo on the brain and should seek medical help, but still - I had so much fun dancing !! Anyone else here like to dance (salsa, but really any of the "structured" dancing, foxtrot, tango, rumba, waltz, east coast swing, west coast swing, cha-cha, etc. etc.) ?

I had so much fun, I think I'm going to start trying to make time for an hour a week or two. Yay !

[jstizzle]

So I said, "one should lead from the hips and body, not from the hands or feet, and the hands are merely and extension of that, right?

This goes for virtually every physical activity that requires moving the body around!.

[ChyFDjfed]

My gf is really into salsa so maybe I'll try go along more and see how it has an effect on my kendo :P.
In a book about a koryu naginata the teacher said its best not to fight your opponent but work with your opponent. If they do this you do that, like if you dance and your partner does one step, you do another step to follow it up.

As with Schmidt said though kendo is a physical activity and so is dancing .

[enteltcheft]

Do they do Kirikaeshi in salso too?

[Futfwrca]

No, no... the slow (and fast) Kirikaeshi are strictly used in the Tango.

Men! men! men! men! --- de-de-de-daaa-daaa

Men! men! men! men! MEN! de-de-de-daaa-daaa

[Kissntell]

I will sometimes carry a rose in my teeth for a tournament.

[streMunford]

I did salsa for a while, I LOVED it!! I wil start doing lessons again in the next few months. Im sure it would help with centre, balance, seme and so on.
If anyone is feeling adventurous, try brazillian salsa!! If ordinary salsa is romantic, brazillian is the soft-porn version. The same moves, but with no space between partners, and faster. Its fantastic fun!! Plus the music is amazing.

[Paladin]

If you are looking for that, try Tango. Funnily enough it's the only thing I can dance without looking like a total spaz.