TAKE IT ONE STEP AT THE TIME
One of the most important things that should be in everyone's mind when learning or even progressing in
our Salsa learning curve is to only take it as fast as our bodies and mind will allow us to.
When someone starts to get into Salsa, the first thing they get to experience is the visual part of it. They
get to see how cool and fun it looks. What they don't see is that to get to that point one must
go through different stages of learning and sometimes even frustration to get there. It can get even worse
on the frustration part if your goal is to be really good at it.
One thing that I think people should learn when spreading Salsa is that they should also tell them up front
what they will be going through. It is our job to make it sound cool and fun and exciting and
this and that... but one thing that I see happen again and again is that most of those who get into it didn't
expect the other things that are not so fun come with it too.
Now, I am not saying to make it sound horrible... oh no, no, no. Salsa is nothing but fun. But let's be
realistic here, the more you get involved in it, the better you get, hence making you want to know more and
get even better at it. So the more you get it, the more you will want, and that will take more time
and effort, it's simple logistics.
That is why I am making this article. I think that we should also give a little warning next
to our sales pitch when spreading our Salsa gospel. A little sticker with a fine underline text should come
with it, we have to let everyone know that when learning to dance Salsa, is good to know and remember
that it requires some time and effort, so as might as well get comfortable and deal with it, there is no other
way around it.
It doesn't surprise me anymore seeing people frustrated and wanting to get there faster
than what their bodies, mind and soul allows them to. The fact is that you will just get
where you will feel comfortable with... in time! And time has to take it's toll, it
will never happen faster than what it should.
Always remind yourself and everyone else for that matter...
One Step at the Time People!
That is a great line, ain't it? With that line I will try to give the best advice to most of the people
who are getting involved into Salsa and some of those who are already in the very middle of it too.
TIME'S THE BOSS HERE
One thing to remember is that there are things that only time will teach you, there is no escaping from
it. There are things that no instructor in the world or school will teach you. Those things will not come
until time let's you open that door in front of you, and will only happen when you are ready to go
through it, it's a freaky and magical thing really, it's fun and frustrating sometimes, and you have
to be ready for those times, because they are just things that are there and it is no exception to
anyone.
I don't know if some of you have realized this, but the way I see it is that all your
learning is really a bunch of closed doors in front of you, each one has a special key that only time
will give you, but only when you are ready. And when you are... oooh yeah, you will feel so great
because now you know what is behind that door, and it was exactly how you picture it and thought
it would be, but now the bitter sweet part about feeling and getting here
is that there is another closed door in front of you. And now, you will crave to open that one as
well. Sometimes even, that last door that you just opened will give you an entrance to a place where
you will find two or more doors closed and teasing you to open them.
So as you can see, that is something that will happen to all of us. Even the great dancers
out there are facing their own doors as we speak.
ANGER IS YOUR ENEMY
Always remember before anything that no matter who you are, you will
always wish you could get better faster. That is just human nature my friends! You want to be good, and
you want it to happen now. Not tomorrow or the next day, you want it right now!
Because that is our nature, we have to keep our minds focussed on what our goals are. That is the
only way to keep a steady course or even speed up the process of opening the doors in front of us. If
you let anger and frustration get to you, forget about it. Those things are the things you want to
stay away from, remember is a mind game against time. Be smarter than that!
LOOK BEHIND THE PAINTING
A way to escape those feelings is to look behind the painting. This is another human nature reaction when
we contemplate something that we admire or want to have. Most of the people out there do NOT really look
behind the painting, and if you are not understanding what I am trying to say here, here is what this
sentence means.
When people see a painting, they can truly admire how amazing it is, but for some reason they can not
really see what it took to create it. They don't take into consideration
the many hours, days, weeks, months or even years that it took the artist to get there. They
don't seem to think about that at all. They just see that it is good, but don't really
picture the effort on all those other paintings, and practice it took to get there. It is the
samething with Salsa.
Remember people, look behind the painting. It is great inspiration for us all, specially for those who
are feeling frustrated and want to get there faster than what they are accomplishing now. Think that
all those great dancers that you see out there, well guess
what? They didn't get there just by blinking and wishing they were good. They put their hearts out there
to get where they are, and if you want to be just as good, you will also need to work at it, and trust
me - it will come.
IT IS SO WORTH IT
Many people get frustrated and give up, and for some reason this falls more on men that women. Who
can blame them, they have to worry about more things than women do. Hence the faster learning curve
for women.
One thing that also has to be said to all of those who are waiting and working hard at it, is that it
is so worth it. Always remember that good things take time, and Salsa is no exception to that rule, but
what it is cool about it, is that it is just so worth it... way worth it.
So remember, people, keep your feet moving, your head thinking and keep on breaking through all those
doors... just one step at the time folks.
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