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Es La Musica - Massimo Scalici y Fito Gress, 10th Ainnivserary Salsa.IT Added by salsacrazy
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Salsa Europe - More Salsa played in Europe Added by salsacrazy
Salsa Song out of Europe Added by salsacrazy

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San Francisco Singles Party Golden Gate Yacht Club w/ salsa lesson
May 16, 2008 at 8pm – Golden Gate Yacht Club

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Unlikely Salsero: Great Salsa Blog

Left or Right Brain? Should I Care?

Most people spin better in one direction. One side of their body learns motions faster than the other. Stronger dancers invest untold hours working on their weaker side, both in spinning and other movements where body symmetry is helpful, expected or required. A styling move may require both sides to work perfectly together, but most people start with one side ahead of the other.

In this two-part series, we’ll explore some ideas and concepts for growing your weaker side, working toward additional mastery for both sides. The side effect is you’ll be a better dancer, without directly using your dance practice time.

Before doing that, let's confirm your dominant side by looking at this fascinating graphic. (Most of you probably looked at it already, because it does catch the eye, and using a female silhouette provides endless fascination for most guys.)

turning dancer

Which way do you see the dancer turning? Most people will find that a silly question, because the answer is so obvious. Show this to a few people, though, and you’ll be amazed at what they say. It’s a great conversation starter!

Some people will note she’s turning clockwise, some counter-clockwise ('anti-clockwise' for our international friends). The interesting thing is the graphic never changes, but different people will see her differently. A few will say she never changes and others who see a change will swear that the graphic itself changes every so often. By design, the graphic plays to your strengths.

Your first impression answer to the “which direction” question provides an insight into the way your brain is wired; either right or left side dominant. If you return to this graphic a few minutes, hours or days from now, you’ll notice that your first impression of her spinning direction is consistent each time you look again.

The interesting thing is many people (not all) can see her spinning the other direction after staring at the dancer a while. I look at her standing foot as it meets the shadow foot for 10-30 seconds or so, with a soft focus, and can see her start turning the other direction. Others will notice her change direction while they are reading this text, without directly watching her. Initially it took me a few minutes to change her rotation, then once I knew it was possible, the time reduced. Now I can regularly change her direction within a few rotations.

While I find this concept fascinating, as dancers we want BOTH sides of our brains working together. Knowing your starting point is helpful. Most people spend their whole life as right or left handed, then when dancing work toward both sides being equal.

Stronger dancers work to improve the symmetry of their movements, and there’s plenty you can do off the dance floor to accelerate this process.

Please let me know which direction you see the dancer spinning first via the comments, and if you can get her to change directions easily.

Part 2 of this article outlines some ideas and exercises for improving your weaker side. I’ll have that article up ASAP.

For more details on the right/left brain dominance implied by this graphic, check out the original article from Perth Now. This article has appeared on multiple websites. My source is the PerthNow version from Australia

Love is staying awake all night with a sick child.
Or a very healthy adult.
--David Frost

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Forum

San Francisco: Orq. Guayacan or El Gran Combo Reviews?
3 Replies

So, two big name bands in town, and I didn't make it to either one. :( Anyone else make Guayacan at Roccapulco, or El Gran Combo at Cocomo last night? How was it?

Started by salsacrazy. Last reply by tony I 46 minutes ago.

World Salsa Championships on ESPN This Month

(Just received an email telling me.......) May 27 is the air date for a one-hour telecast of the 3rd Annual WSC to be broadcast in the United States for the first time on ESPN2 at 9 PM EST..6 PM P... Continue

Started by DMambo 4 hours ago

Best salsa club?
4 Replies

So recently I got to see Dakin and Kayono perform at the Mayan, go D/K!! They were hot! And it was my first time dancing in L.A. and my first time seeing the Mayan. But I have to say, this was the ... Continue

Tagged: club, best, salsa

Started by Muffin. Last reply by Muffin 11 hours ago.

Salsa Chemistry
5 Replies

I think everyone has, at some point, had to face that some people have fierce salsa chemistry and others are severely lacking. I have had students of mine ask why they had amazing chemistry with so... Continue

Started by Shannon. Last reply by Muffin 11 hours ago.

Salsa Dancing this Month, San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond!
2 Replies

So, I'm back in the Bay Area, for the first time in a while, and I'm ready to dance. It looks like there's an amazing line up of events, with major acts in the big clubs this week (Guayacan and El ... Continue

Started by salsacrazy. Last reply by salsacrazy May 6.

Salsa Dancing in Eastern Europe: Prague, Budapest and Krakow
2 Replies

Ok, as I prepare my full on trip and travel report for posting laster this week, I just want to see if anyone else out there has danced in Eastern Europe (or, excuse me, Central Europe). How about ... Continue

Started by salsacrazy. Last reply by salsacrazy May 6.

salsa in puerto vallarta
8 Replies

hey salsa crazy people! i'm planning a trip to puerto vallarta in may. just wondering if anyone has checked out the dancing scene there... where to go and what it's like. i will more than likely be... Continue

Started by roxy bowerman. Last reply by roxy bowerman Apr 29.

Cuban themed event at UC Berkeley with live salsa music - Need someone teaching salsa during the event

Hi, The Latin American graduate student association I preside has organized a Cuban themed event designed to raise cultural awareness at our school. We will have a band playing salsa music. We ar... Continue

Started by Sergio Apr 29

Israel "Cachao" Lopez dies at 89
2 Replies

link Israel "Cachao" Lopez, the Cuban bassist and composer who is credited with pioneering the mambo style of music, died Saturday at a Miami-area hospital. He was 89. Known simply as Cachao, the... Continue

Started by Bad Boy Berto. Last reply by Dr. Andy Woodz Apr 23.

Salsa for young adults
5 Replies

I love salsa...it's in my blood, just listening to it or dancing it, I love it. What is weird to me is how adults my age don't really appreciate salsa as much as I do and it's really sad. In this s... Continue

Started by Brian Valencia. Last reply by Alicia Apr 22.

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Blog Posts

Magic, electric, rare moments on the dance floor.

I've tried to create a positive blog where we can express those special moments that keep us coming back for more dancing. Like the surfer who gets locked in the tube. I had a special moment when dancing in Mountain View. I was dancing with the teacher, Pantera and she was giving me some pointers.on timing so I let her lead herself into some moves and just felt her rhythm interacting with the music and instantly got the timing then I led her through the moves. It wasn't love but it was two peopl… Continue

Posted by Ay Karamba on April 29th, 2008 at 11:32pm — No Comments (Add)

Where is SalsaCrazy Now?

Have you started your blog on SalsaCrazySocial.com yet? Don't know how? Just look under the "My Page" Tab, and you'll see a feature for "My Blog" Oh, and by the way I have a SalsaCrazy Blog located here: http://www.SalsaCrazy.com/salsanews/ I am currently...Nope, not in New York...any more... Where oh where? It's a tough one. It's Krakow, Poland (or it was until Today), when I arrived back in Budapest! Salsa Prague, Krakow an… Continue

Posted by salsacrazy on April 22nd, 2008 at 5:30am — No Comments (Add)

Dancing Pet peeves

Ok, so I have been in New Zealand for the last two years. Its a bit out of the direct salsa dance scene. So coming back to S.F. I was unprepared for some of the dancing styles or techniques. One thing that I believe every teacher points out, is the follower is the picture, and the leader is the frame. With that in mind, it drives me extremely nuts when leaders don't know where their follower is at all times. And what is worse is when leaders look the other direction in an attempt to look "too c… Continue

Posted by Shannon on March 15th, 2008 at 2:05pm — 8 Comments (Add)

New York Salsa - I'm off to New York...Ready for a New Website covering New York?

Oh my lord, I just finished shooting for THREE days the SalsaCrazy Advanced Series (and an as yet, uber new business project series), and now, barely able to sit down for one second, I'm considering bolting off to New York?! Who lives like this... :) Ready? We're gonna launch, http://www.SalsaCrazyNewYork.com, any day now! Stay tuned. News, Reviews, and comments on the New York Salsa Scene. The SalsaCrazy Party is just one week away! Get your tick… Continue

Posted by salsacrazy on March 14th, 2008 at 1:52pm — 1 Comment (Add)

Create your Own Blog...

So, I'm writing my blog, and SalsaCrazySocial continues to grow, and I'm noticing... No one else has a blog yet? Ya' know, it's easy to have your own (just click on Create your Blog, or Add a Blog Post). Likewise, you can comment on anyone's blog posts, as long as they set that option to "Ok".

Posted by salsacrazy on March 9th, 2008 at 1:17pm — No Comments (Add)

SalsaCrazy's Mega Salsa Dance News Blog!

SNN: SalsaCrazy News Network, Local San Francisco Bay Area Salsa Dance Edition (test)

Salsa Dancing News and Information in our first ever video podcast! (...)

Salsa Dancing and salsa music out of Europe…Massimo Scalici, Eurocuban Project, El Berna Jam

Massimo Scalici, Eurocuban Project, El Berna Jam - Ever heard of them? (...)

Three Salsa things, you'd be crazy to miss… SalsaCrazy is Back and Dedicated to Some Absolutely off the Hook Salsa Dancing.

Wow, what an epic tour of the Eastern Europe (darn, I mean central Europe). (...)

Salsa Dancing in Italy: Salsa Dance in Rome is off the hook…

Ok, I'm going to share with you a secret you may not know. Salsa Dance in Rome is off the hook. I mean, it's simply amazing! (...)

Salsa Prague, Salsa Budapest and Salsa Krakow: Salsa Dance Update from Central (not Eastern) Europe

Salsa Prague, Budpast and the start of Krakow I felt I had to take a break from all this traveling, and salsa dancing, to at least briefly update my salsa crazy blog with word of my travels. (...)

Salsa Dance Travel: Salsa Dancing through Eastern Europe. Salsa Praguue, Salsa Budapest, Salsa Krakow

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The Three Secrets of Salsa Dancing: Salsa Dance Tips for Success that Masters Know, and Rarely Share

The Three Secrets of Salsa Dancing: Salsa Dance Tips for Success that Masters Know, and Never Share… SalsaCrazy of SalsaCrazy.com blows the lid off Salsa Dances Least Discussed and Oft Misunderstood Secrets to Success Never discussed in any salsa lesson, rarely if ever covered during your thousands of dollars spent on private lessons, and never whispered about in any salsa competitions you have ever been to, there exists three secrets to salsa dance success that elude all but the elite. (...)