The turning technique by Matthew David Parker

According to Matthew David Parker, in most salsa dancing competitions, the method applied does not have to be a hundred percent, but judges are very focused on the turning technique. Practice is essential when planning to perfect your turning technique; it gives the dancer the chance to polish their moves. However, the question remains; how can we develop our techniques?
Spotting forward
Spotting is an important aspect of salsa dancing. When spinning your partner, changing or giving intense multiple turns, ensure that you spot them well. This guarantees that they do not end up falling off their feet but instead get to have the perfect landing. 

Weight Shifting on the desired foot
Many dancers usually take for granted the fact that, as they start dancing, they are bound to lose stability and forget how to walk. While stepping on the left foot, ensure to place all your weight on it. The same applies to the right foot.

Turn your feet out and step forward
Keep in mind that every time you step, you need to turn your feet. Avoid turning in while on your toes. When stepping forward ensure that you always pivot. Many dancers are forgetful when it comes to finishing their turns while turning the feet as this causing them to land their foot backward. You can correct the landing by pointing the insteps of your feet and toes towards the intended direction.

Even though you can practice the above on your own, it is wise to seek advice from an expert in the dancing field. If you are in Louisiana, Matthew David Parker and Lafayette Salsa Dance Studio can help you master the dance in no time.

Clues to a perfect salsa dance by Matthew David Parker

Salsa is an amazing dance style that many of you wish to learn. For you to reach the levels of the greats like Matthew David Parker, you need to have a mastery in the number of steps and moves that make up the salsa dance. Matthew David Parker is Louisiana’s leading salsa dance instructor with vast experience in the dancing world. In his view, whether you choose to be the lead or the follow, you need to have an understanding and grasp the necessary steps when it comes to the dance. You can begin with amateur steps progressing to the advanced class. For every beginner, here are the four basic things you need to know when dancing salsa.

Grasp the closed dancing position
For you to achieve the closed dance position, the lead should hold her partner’s hand in his left hand and place his on her right shoulder blade. For the follower, she should put her left hand on the right shoulder blade of the lead having her arms over his. This will enable the two to have a firm close dancing position giving room for movements such as turns.

Keep a right posture
If you do not keep the proper posture, you are bound to have backaches. The correct position entails having your chin up with your chest pulling out while your shoulders are hunched back.  Remember always to look up with your neck tilted at an angle. Looking down on the movements of your feet only makes you more of a beginner. For easier coordination, remember to keep your elbows bent with your arms horizontal positioned while your hands are clasped together.

Check Your Hip Movement.
Most salsa moves incorporate the use of your hips. Remember to keep your hips free and flexible to include a hip movement whenever the legs and arms move. Just take in a deep breath and relax for you to sway and move your hips to the rhythm of the music. 

Pick A Salsa Song
A song is a great motivator when it comes to salsa dancing. Matthew David Parker insists that having the right type of music is equivalent to mastering the moves. Before beginning, choose a song that has a range of approximately four beats to the bar. Internalizing the beats and tempo will make you have a better understanding as to how you should move your steps. An ideal song consists of 180 beats per minute. 

With these few ground rules, you are set to begin your journey as a salsa dancer.

Matthew David Parker on the reason why salsa is not as popular as before

“Where is the scene of hundreds of Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans Latin dancers on the tunes of Barretto and Lavoe as in the 1970s?” This is a question weighing heavily on Matthew David Parker’s mind, a well-renowned salsa instructor from Louisiana. He claims that salsa is experiencing a tremendous transformation that doesn’t come close to the good ol’ 70s.
Matthew David Parker talks about why young zealous Latino dancers are drawn towards other dancing techniques other than their native salsa dance. Here are some of his findings.

Hip pop movement
The new hip-pop movement seems to be taking the world by the storm with many Latino dancers shifting towards it. This dance culture that has grabbed both the local and international attention is a force to be reckoned with. It is considered the new and cool kid in town. Failure to join in on this fast moving train will quickly qualify you as an outsider in the social community.

Incorporation into ballrooms
Salsa dance has been stripped of its informality practices. These days, ballrooms are incorporating salsa as part of their musical scenery giving it the official vibe that doesn’t attract most youths. On the brighter side, this is making salsa dance expand globally. Salsa is being adapted into many choreographies and dance techniques, making its reputation and stature to be apprehended among many music lovers. This helps in the keeping of the salsa dance legacy.

Lack of inspiration from the forefathers of salsa
Most of the pioneers of salsa dances feel like the new generation lack the nostalgia of salsa dances. They feel that the new breed of salsa dancers lacks the cultural knowledge and intuitive appreciation that was the driving force of the salsa dance movement. This perception is making many Latino youths grow up without the salsa dancing culture instilled in them.

However, some beg to differ by saying this lack of cultural passage from the elderly to the young is more positive than negative. They embrace the positivity that the modern salsa dance has brought regarding the lack of involvement in the club scene. The youth of today gets to dance salsa free of the associated drinking and sexual exploitation scenes, which many see as a positive change.

Matthew David Parker comes to the agreement that the new salsa type is overall a positive change to the salsa world after decades of general deterioration and neglect. “My job is to keep the salsa legacy alive and I shall do so while maintaining the dance’s positive image and respecting its history”, he concludes.

Who is Matthew David Parker?

Salsa Dancing Instructor
Matthew David Parker has always been a lover of salsa dance. He started his dancing journey at a young age. Over the years, Matthew David Parker has worked on his art to become the king of the dance floor. With this mastery in the New York based dance, he has grasped all the different steps of the salsa dancing styles. This salsa master is known to the people of Louisiana as the city’s only salsa instructor. Matthew’s reputation far precedes him. Barely in his thirties, this guru of the dance flow, has been able to start his studio in 2010.

Salsa has many different genres that are based on their geographical origin.  From L.A. style, New York style, Cuban and Miami style, Matthew David Parker can teach his students all the moves. Matthew David Parker has managed to incorporate groundbreaking moves and dance techniques in his teaching methods. He helps individuals train for competition or just for the mere enjoyment of dancing.

Family man
Not only is Matthew David Parker a popular dance figure but a family man as well. His success seems not only to be in his business but also in his personal life. He lives a happy life with his two sons and lovely wife despite his busy schedule. He is a believer of succeeding in all areas of life, and that is why he preserves time just for his family.

Businessman
Matthew David Parker has a degree in Fine Arts from the prestigious Louisiana State University. He graduated with the class of 2009. His mastery in the art of salsa dancing has motivated him to start his own personal business as a salsa dance instructor. Lafayette Salsa Dancing Studio is located in Lafayette, Louisiana.