What you Need to Know About Salsa Styles with Matthew David Parker

You have seen the beautiful sexy dance on TV and would like to try it right away. Yes, salsa is beautiful, sexy and seductive. Matthew David Parker takes you through what you need to know about this passionate dance.
What are the origins of salsa?
Salsa originated from moves in Caribbean dances particularly in Cuba over 100 years ago.

What are the main salsa styles?
There are two main styles of dancing with each style having variations.

• Los Angeles (LA) style – Also known as the in-line style. Couples do their movements while aligned in a straight line. This style is very good for dancing shows.
• Cuban style - Also known as the Casino style. There is no straight line. Rather, dancing couples do movements around each other with hand knots emphasized.

Which style is better?
It is best you learn both styles as you will get dance invites by partners doing the two dances on various occasions.  The Cuban style is more relaxed and casual than the LA style which is more structured to show moves.
Which style is more difficult to learn?
The LA style is more demanding for ladies as they have to learn the “lady style”, and also master fast spins. The Cuban style may look relaxed but mastering making the moves while going round your partner could take more time to master than the straight line LA style.
Are there other salsa styles?
Yes.  Other salsa styles apart from Cuban and LA styles are;

• Rueda - Rueda is wheel in Spanish. Several dancing couples form a circle around a leading dancing couple that sets the pace of the dance
• New York style – Looks like the LA style to the inexperienced eye. The difference is that the first step goes with the second bit of the rhythm instead of the first bit. 
• Colombian salsa – has very fast foot movements in the cha-cha-cha set. It is highly popular in the Colombian city of Cali also known as the Salsa capital

Some dance styles are also associated with Salsa. These include Bachata, Merengue, Kizomba, and cha-cha-cha.

How long does it take to learn?
You can learn the basics within a month or two depending on how regularly you attend dance lessons. Learning the different styles depends on how interested you are in improving your basics. With regular dancing you can be a master dancer within a year.

You can start this exciting journey at Matthew David Parker’s Lafayette dancing studio where he will have you dancing like a pro in no time.

Want to be a Dance Instructor? Learn from Matthew David Parker

Teaching dance as a career or as a hobby is fun and rewarding as you watch your students transform from clumsy self-confident dancers into masters who move, turn and twirl perfectly.  You can become a master salsa dance instructor by learning it from the salsa maestro himself. Matthew David Parker has been teaching salsa dancing at his Lafayette dance studio in Louisiana since 2010. Here is what he recommends for aspiring salsa dance instructors.

Master salsa.
There is much to learn in salsa in footwork and patterns, leading and following, timing and styles.

Get a partner to demonstrate the moves.
Having a partner will help you handle more students. If you are learning salsa so that you can teach others, find a partner who is also enthusiastic about the dance.

Do you want it?
Always reflect on your reasons for teaching salsa. Do you want money, fun, or fame? This can help you focus better on what you need to do and how to do it.

Always refresh your skills.
Keep going back to the dance studio to refresh your skills and pick up new moves from other dance enthusiasts.

Create difference.
After mastering salsa, try improving on the styles to come up with a sub-style or even a new style. You will become a true adept and become dedicated to the dance even more.

Be humble and outgoing.
As a dance instructor, you will handle different kinds of personalities, at a close distance. Learn to handle people patiently and mix with people from different backgrounds.

Don’t forget to have fun.
Dancing is all about fun as Matthew David Parker likes to remind his students every day. Always keep this in mind and you will love doing what you do daily.  

Salsa Dance - Have Fun and Lose Weight Dancing with Matthew David Parker

Dancing has long been known as a way of keeping fit. Salsa dancing is the most exciting dance style and you can have a lot of fun while cutting down on those pounds. Matthew David Parker is one of the foremost salsa dance instructors in the US. His studio is based in Lafayette, Louisiana where he encourages dance lovers to come learn new dancing styles and enjoy the added health benefits.

Workout movements
Salsa movements involve weight changing, tapping and small kicks. The movements involve the lower body depending largely on the hip flexor and gluteal muscles for execution. These movements must be accomplished while the upper weight remains level which improves core movement and conditioning. The legs get a workout as the dancer moves forward, backwards and turn, providing well balanced muscle development.

Major muscles workout
Salsa dancing will work out all the major muscle groups in the body burning more calories. The core, heart, quadriceps, gluteal, hip flexor muscles and hamstrings will get involved in the different movements of the dance. 

Accelerated health benefits

• Calorie Burn - The average person weighing 150 pounds can expect to burn 175-250 calories in 30 minutes of dancing. 
• Muscle development – Muscles become more developed from constant work. You will develop more muscle mass instead of fat. 
• Cardio endurance – Cardiovascular endurance means that your heart and lungs can do more for longer. 
• Emotional balance – Dancing workout releases dopamine, a feel good hormone which will give you a natural high. 
• Better sex appeal – Overall body image and the ability to execute dance moves will generally improve your sex appeal.

Dancing lessons Matthew David Parker are your way of improving your health while learning something fun.

Mathew David Parker on the Best Salsa Dancing Shoes

Salsa dancing involves a lot of feet movement at a fairly fast pace. For the best dancing experience  during dance, you have to choose an appropriate shoe that is stable and comfortable. Matthew David Parker is a salsa instructor in Lafayette, Louisiana. He knows how important the appropriate shoes are in dance classes and in other dance events. His tips on choosing the perfect salsa dancing shoes are;
Fitting shoes
Always ensure your shoes fit snugly like a glove, without any pressure. Always try walking around for about 30 minutes in your new shoes before going dancing in them. Dancing is more strenuous than walking so ensure they are comfortable even when you walk briskly.

Heel height
For those perfect turns, you have to be stable. If you are not accustomed to high heels do not wear a new pair on the day of a dancing event. Begin with a lower heel with a maximum of 1.5 inches for the ladies. For men, 1 inch heel  height is appropriate. 

Heel thickness
Heel thickness determines the way weight is distributed on the foot. Thin heels push more weight towards the front of the foot which is less balanced.  Flared heels combine height and more width to give better balance than stiletto heels.

Closed vs. open toe
Salsa dance movements require pointing the toes to articulate feet movement. Open toed shoes are better as they allow for better toe pointing. However, experienced dancers can choose closed toes which lower the risk of being hurt when the foot is accidentally stepped on in an accident.

Sole material
A shoe should allow for the right slip and traction to make execution of moves like turns better. A suede sole is perfect as it allows for slip which gives more control when turning. If it gets too smooth it can be brush wired to have some roughness.

Shoe straps
Shoe straps should allow for securing the shoe firmly to the foot and allow for more breathing of the foot for comfort. A double X strap is the best as it secures the shoe around the ankle and the foot, feeling just like a lace up shoe.

Shop or online buy
Always try your shoe before buying. This is better done at a physical shop than an online shop. However, if you see something impressive online, pick it up if they have favorable return policy.

Matthew David Parker reckons the shoe you wear can determine whether your salsa night out is fun or horrible. Be careful with your salsa dancing shoe choice.