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Welcome to Episode 112 of the Salsa Kings LIVE podcast
We have been featured as #1 in “Top 10 Salsa Podcasts” on FeedSpot.
Get ready for a wild ride on today’s episode of “Social Dance Essence”! We’re diving headfirst into the world of social dancing, and we’ve got the one and only Carlos Quintero Hernandez, a mambo dancer and instructor from the concrete jungle of New York City. Brace yourself as we unravel the secrets and uncover the true essence of social dancing with Carlos!
Key Points:
The Power of Fundamentals: Forget about fancy moves for a sec! Carlos is here to drop some truth bombs. He’s all about perfecting the fundamentals right from the beginning. No one cares if you can pull off a gazillion moves if your basic step looks like a wobbly toddler on roller skates. Perfect that basic step, and you’ll be turning heads on the dance floor like nobody’s business.
Unleashing Personal Style: Carlos is a firm believer that every dancer has their own unique style. Forget about fitting into some cookie-cutter mold, styling is all about breaking the shell and developing your own style. It’s time to let loose, break those shackles, and dance like nobody’s watching (even if everyone is).
Musicality and Connection: When Carlos says “musicality” he’s talking about diving deep into the soul of the music and letting it guide your every move. But wait, there’s more! It’s not just about the beats and rhythms; it’s about forging a connection with your partner that’s so intense, it’ll make the sparks fly. Once you have a connection with your awesome partner and the intense music, you have officially entered “The Trinity”.
The Art of Dancing Slow: Carlos is here to lay down some wisdom. Sure, dancing to fast songs can make you feel like you’re in a high-speed chase, but slowing things down is where the real magic happens. Take it easy, my friends. Embrace the slow songs, work on your timing, and watch your skills skyrocket. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a killer dancer.
Teaching Connection with Blindfolds: Get ready for an unconventional but highly effective teaching technique! Blindfolds. No, not to make dancers look like they’re auditioning for a superhero movie, but to strengthen that oh-so-important connection between leads and follows. By stripping away the distractions of the eyes, blindfolds force you to rely on touch and feel.
Quotes:
“A dancer who can do a basic step perfectly will look 100x better than the dancer who knows 100 moves.”
“Everyone dances differently, so it is good to see a focus on styling because people start to break out of their shells.”
“Back in the day when I was an intermediate, my teacher taught us cha cha cha because in cha cha cha, you have to take it slow and be with the timing to dance the song how it was supposed to be danced.”
“Leads take a little bit more time to cook than follows do, so there always ends up being a bit of back lead.”
“Blindfolds help dancers concentrate on feeling physically rather than on seeing, fostering a stronger connection between partners and reducing back leading.”
Closing Thoughts:
And that’s a wrap, dance enthusiasts! Today, we uncovered the secrets to becoming a social dance sensation: master those fundamentals, embrace your personal style, groove to the music like it’s your life force, slow things down to level up, and connect with your partner on a whole new level. So go forth, and let the rhythm guide your every step. It’s time to own that dance floor and unleash your social dance essence!
Tune into this awesome interview! Never miss a beat and SUBSCRIBE to receive Salsa Kings LIVE notifications on right here on YouTube or via Text Message: Text the word JOIN to 69922 #SalsaKings#SalsaKingsLIVE