latin

7 things all Male Salsa Dancer’s should know

1. Listen before you speak Something I heard once in a Frankie Martinez Salsa class that I took… this goes a long way if you try your best to be sensitive to your partner.  Feel out how she reacts, how she does her basics, what level she is… before starting your moves. 2. Candles are better than fireworks Don’t be too concerned with the amount of moves you can pull off, what your dance partner really wants is a smooth and cool dance. I often hear ladies say " he almost ripped me apart doing tons of moves more than anything else". So remember, small precisely led simple moves go a long way. 3. Don’t get discouraged after your first no    We all go through this.. we walk up to a girl and she turns us down… we all handle rejection differently… some are more sensitive than others but not to worry… keep the big picture in sight : you love salsa dancing then keep on going to socials and ask away… It’s not a sprint it’s a marathon! 4. We are not saving the world Don’t take yourself too seriously.. at some point you’ll get real good and a bunch of ladies will want to dance with you… so keep your head in check… its not brain surgery and were not saving the world. It’s just dance… 5. Smile As simple as it sounds, many dancers don’t do it because they are shy, nervous maybe or worse snobs…not smiling almost always gives bad vibes to your partner… she might think that you’re not enjoying the dance... therefore you should always have a bit of eye contact and a smile… this relaxes your partner and [...]

By |2017-02-17T12:15:37-05:00February 24th, 2015|articles, Tips|0 Comments

What makes a great dance teacher?

For me a great dance teacher is someone who studies teaching like a science… do things that work to assist your students get through and find solutions. The art of teaching becomes very complex when you think about all the different kinds of personalities out there and all the kinds of ways of learning. Teaching is a mind set, a vocation. You have to do it with passion. I always said that for me Salsa is just the vehicle. I could be teaching pottery classes with the same passion and energy. I always try to find for my students the shortest path to their learning challenges without giving them the solution all cooked up ready to go. I try to understand how their brain works.  Also one main aspect in our school is that we approach teaching as a feel good science. Our goal is to make you feel good while you learn a couple of salsa dance moves. No need to be an olympic athlete ;)  I always attend to students learning frustrations with care, compassion and jokes. To make sure the brain is well aligned I make certain that the person feels good first then I transfer the knowledge… working like that is way more demanding but way more effective because people have fun while learning and therefore continue to love Latin dances longer. Ultimately, I believe that a brain learns faster when there’s fun and smiles rather than whips and frowns. And on that note, I salute every teacher from every field for their passion and dedication in making people move forward. Ilias Benz Baila Productions Director West-Island - Laval - Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue (Photo Jerry Joseph)

By |2017-02-08T13:50:21-05:00January 20th, 2015|articles|0 Comments

Her friend had been ditched on the dance floor in the middle of a song!

Once again this week, a student came to see me and told me that her friend had been ditched on the dance floor in the middle of a song. C’mon, fellas! Her friend was humiliated, and she refused to dance for the rest of the night. It’s understandable. Just imagine what she felt like. Of course, she was a beginner and you know as well as I do that a beginner’s self-esteem is fragile. You have no idea how many people I had to comfort after such a situation. It’s a steep mountain to recovery, and sometimes it is simply impossible to climb. It’s a shame that she will never dance again. So, I’d like to send a message to the person who left her hanging on the dance floor: “What gives you the right to take someone and leave them high and dry without the courtesy to even finish a simple song? Why are you so special that you allow yourself the right to deny her valiant effort to dance for the first time with you? Maybe it’s because she would not allow you to show off your best moves to the crowd? Did you forget to ENJOY and share this musical moment? You probably think that not everyone deserves to dance with you, Your Highness. I think you have forgotten the basic rules of courtesy and respect. Since you seem to have missed that one, I invite you to a lesson in ethics on our Latin dance school’s dance floor. Divided into several phases, this class also impacts positively your manners and your relationships with others, and makes you realize your true value. Of course, some people underestimate themselves, but others become big-headed [...]

By |2017-02-08T13:50:22-05:00November 5th, 2014|Non classé|0 Comments

GoPro: Virtual Salsa dancer – First Person View – How it feels to salsa with a great dancer

A while back I was watching videos on Youtube filmed with GoPro Cameras. These cameras are small, light weight and can go where no other camera can. I thought that it would interesting to film a Salsa dancer with a GoPro perspective. With the help of my good friend Audrey Gaussiran we tried to answer the following question : How it feels to salsa with a great dancer. (Filmed in our Laval latin dance studio. Special thanks to www.felixrioux.com for the camera) More Videos on our youtube channel Ilias Director -  Baila Productions More than 1 000 000 views on our  youtube channel Baila Productions Salsa School http://bailaproductions.com/en/ West-Island Dance School: 450-238-1435 13950 Boul.Gouin Ouest Pierrefonds, QC, H8Z 1Y1 Laval Dance School: 450-663-5278 1555 St-Martin EST, Laval, H7G 4R4 À l'intérieur du Complexe Sportif Val-Des-Arbres Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Dance School (Vaudreuil-Soulange Sector) 450-238-1435 Peter-Williamson Chalet (Aumais Park) 300  Cypihot, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 4A7

By |2017-08-06T19:26:47-04:00August 21st, 2014|video|0 Comments

Latin Music Suggestions : Salsa, Merengue, ChaChaCha and Bachata

One of the most common challenges beginner Salsa students meet is the ability to dance to the beat of the music. Not only must they follow the rhythm, but they also have to find the beginning of the musical phrase. In my classes, I often compare music with a conversation that starts and stops. Some pick it up early on, whereas others will need to train their ears. One thing is certain: you are not alone! Here is a list of Latin songs that I play during my classes. The beginning of the musical phrase in these songs is well-punctuated. It is perfect for beginners. You may also read the article Does Latin music sound unfamiliar to your ears?which goes more deeply into perceiving Latin music and listening to it. 1. Yamulemau - Joe Arroyo 2. Acid - Ray Barretto 3. Mademoiselle je vous aime - Haitiando 4. Como Baila Marieta - Orestes Vitalo 5. Sway - Michael Bublé 6. Fragilidad - Milagros Pinera & Sanmera 7. Obsession - Aventura 8. Dimelo - Marc Anthony 9. Vale la Pena - Juan luis Guerra 10. Micalea - La sonora Carruseles Ilias Director (image: The Best Latin Band in town Groovetown) Ilias Director -  Baila Productions More than 1 000 000 views on our  youtube channel Baila Productions Salsa School http://bailaproductions.com/en/ West-Island Dance School: 450-238-1435 13950 Boul.Gouin Ouest Pierrefonds, QC, H8Z 1Y1 Laval Dance School: 450-663-5278 1555 St-Martin EST, Laval, H7G 4R4 À l'intérieur du Complexe Sportif Val-Des-Arbres Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Dance School (Vaudreuil-Soulange Sector) 450-238-1435 Peter-Williamson Chalet (Aumais Park) 300  Cypihot, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 4A7

By |2017-08-06T19:26:46-04:00June 2nd, 2014|articles, Music|0 Comments

Does Latin music sound unfamiliar to your ears?

When I took the first steps towards learning Latin dances, I couldn't even distinguish Salsa from Merengue.  Although I spent 20 years playing different instruments, Latin music was unfamiliar to my ears. I'm therefore quite able to understand the rhythm-related problems that my students experience. Before going into further technical details about music, I often tell my students to start by listening to a lot of Latin music. Whether it is at home, at the gym or in the car, you need to immerse yourself in this new musical world in order to train your ears by subjecting them to the new sounds and instruments. Our musical culture in North America is mainly influenced by Pop and Rock. The distinct rhythms often accompanied by regular percussions characterize modern Western music. When we first listen to African or Afro-Cuban music, we are unfamiliar with the instruments used, and even less accustomed to the new different rhythms and musical structures. In other words, before exploring the matter in depth, you need to have a brief glimpse of the dance and accustom your ears to the flow of this wonderful music. Here are some of my favourite songs Spanish Fly from Eric Benét is a smooth and groovy cha-cha with a hint of sweet sauce. A wonderful discovery! Salsa's extensive family tree encompasses Timba that originated in Cuba. It a musical style characterized by growing percussion and drum sounds. The song Cana Quema from Son de Madre will leave you breathless. Simply great to listen to by the pool, the song Como Me Duele Perderte by Gloria Estefan is perfect for beginners, for professionals looking for a slow-paced song to practice, and also for teachers who want [...]

By |2024-04-12T08:37:47-04:00March 26th, 2014|articles|0 Comments

Advantages of buying latin dance shoes

In this video Sandrina covers the advantages of buying a good pair of latin dance shoes. In a nut-shell dance shoes provide a good compromise between grip and spin. Check out this clip... If you live not too far of the greater Montreal Region check out these places: Ballo http://balloshoes.homestead.com/Index... In Laval: http://www.artisteclaude.com/ Rive-Sud: http://salsastyle.ca Ilias Director -  Baila Productions More than 1 000 000 views on our  youtube channel Baila Productions Salsa School http://bailaproductions.com/en/ West-Island Dance School: 450-238-1435 Laval Dance School: 450-663-5278 Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Dance School (Vaudreuil-Soulange Sector) 450-238-1435  

By |2018-04-03T11:48:49-04:00February 26th, 2014|articles, video|0 Comments
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