Matthew David Parker On Why Coaching Your Partner Is Wrong

You are in the middle of the dance floor when you realize that your partner is doing something wrong and you get this uncontrollable urge to correct them. According to Matthew David Parker, a famous salsa instructor from Louisiana, you should stop right there. If you aren’t qualified to teach salsa, don’t do it. There are several reasons why coaching your dance partner is not a good idea despite your good intentions, and these include;

• It may annoy your partner especially since they haven’t asked for your help. In any case, you may also have your own technical issues and if they aren’t voicing their concerns, there’s no reason you should voice yours.
• You can easily offend your partner, especially if they don’t take criticism well.
• You may provide your partner with the wrong information, making the situation even worse.

Learning a new skill is usually challenging and, if your partner is struggling with timing or movement (or both), commenting on it could quickly turn the situation bad with them projecting their frustration directly upon you. Parker advises students to avoid any form of back and forth coaching between salsa dance partners.

But what should you do if your partner is doing something wrong? The best thing to do when in the middle of a bad dance is to suck it up and try to enjoy yourself throughout the dance. If your  partner is a beginner, try being considerable by nurturing and supporting them through the process. If you don’t feel like dancing with them afterwards, it’s okay, but don’t be rude and walk off the dance floor in the middle of a dance.

If you are in a salsa class and your partner is doing something wrong, you can always ask the instructor for help. If you’re busy, flag them down and hold your question. Don’t correct your partner as you may give them wrong information. By doing so, you may become part of the problem. If the problem is too much of a problem, you can consider enrolling in a private class with your partner.

Teaching salsa is something that should be left to the experts, says Matthew David Parker. And, as such, something like correcting your partner on the dance floor or offering them advice is wrong as it can lead to more problems. Rather than create additional problems, ask your dance teacher for help or suck it up and try to enjoy yourself as much as you can.

Matthew David Parker on the Salsa Turn Technique

While in salsa dancing competing or performing with a dancer doesn’t have to be about perfect technique, the turn technique is very important according to Matthew David Parker. Practicing is important if you intent to perfect your turn technique and what better time to do that than when fresh? The more you practice, the more polished your turn technique becomes. But how can one perfect their turn technique?

There are simple cues that one can follow but you have to remember that the results aren’t instant. If you practice the following consistently, you’ll notice an improvement in your dance technique with time.

Spot forward. Generally, you should spot your turns in the direction you’re moving to avoid getting dizzy while dancing. You should only spot your partner if they are spinning you on the spot, changing directions or giving you an intense dose of multiple turns.

Shift your weight unto the foot you’re stepping on. It may seem like something that should come naturally but the truth remains that as soon as people start dancing, they forget how to walk properly. If you’re stepping on the left foot, be sure to put all your weight on it. The same goes if you are stepping on the right foot. It’s also important to ensure that you shift your weight instantly as this helps propel you forward thus enabling you to pivot or turn any time. Dancers make a mistake of remaining back-weighted rather than front weighted and this hinders their ability to turn properly.

Turn your feet out and step forward. Always remember to turn your feet out when you step. Never ‘pigeon toe’ and turn your feet in. Even when you think you should step forward, it’s important to always step forward when pivoting or turning. Many dancers when moving or finishing their turns forget this and instead land their foot backwards. Correcting this requires pointing the instep of your foot and toes forward towards the direction you’re moving in.

While anyone can practice the above on their own, it’s always advisable to seek the help of a qualified and experienced salsa instructor. Matthew David Parker is one such instructor. He finished his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University in 2009 and proceeded to open his dance studio, Lafayette Salsa Dance Studio, in 2010. He has since helped many aspiring dancers achieve their potential and become great dancers.

Matthew David Parker on the Importance of Grooving Solo in Salsa

In partner dancing, particularly salsa, Matthew David Parker says that we dancers commit to gathering their senses around the music as well as moving together. But while that’s the case, many dancers often overlook the importance of grooving solo in favor of movement techniques and partnering skills. Not to say that this is not important, but in order to master shared groove, both partners have to learn how to bring their groove to the partnership.

Unfortunately, in salsa dancing, people often misunderstand the significance of the ‘leader is the frame and follow is the picture’ ideality. Follows assume a role of just following and don’t think while the leads forget to respond to their partner well. As a result, partners end up not owning to musicality and their movements while dancing. 

There are several effects of trying to groove with your partner when you haven’t mastered the art of grooving solo and these include;

• Dancers don’t know what to do when not following or leading a specific movement and, as such, lose the groove when space opens up in the partnership.Dancers feel the groove in their basic steps but when it comes to more complex musicality or movements, they lose it all.
• Dancers tend to rely on their partners to establish musicality and/or timing. They hear the music but don’t know how to respond as they give little beyond what’s required to movement execution.
• Dancers tend to get bored while dancing as they can neither really feel the music or truly connect with their partners.

When it comes to learning salsa dancing, learning how to groove solo is one of the essential elements one should consider. It improves enjoyment, confidence, expression, creativity, improvisation, musicality and body awareness, thus allowing one to develop better shared groove with their partners.

But how do you start practicing grooving by yourself? There are several techniques that one can take advantage of and all of them can be learned in a salsa dance studio with a professional instructor. One of those places is Lafayette Salsa Dance Studio which was founded by Matthew David Parker. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He founded the studio in 2010, a year after graduating from the university. He has helped many people develop their salsa dance skills and he can also help you learn how to groove solo.

Matthew David Parker on Multidance

As a renowned salsa dance instructor and founder/owner of Lafayette Salsa Dance Studio, Matthew David Parker is quite knowledgeable on the topic of salsa dancing. In this post he explores the question of whether it’s enough to learn just one style of dancing. But here’s the thing, learning one dance is confusing enough without adding one or more dances to the mix. Nevertheless, wherever there’s salsa music you are likely to hear other types of music including kizomba and bachata. The dilemma comes when you don’t know how to dance all the three and someone asks you to dance. What do you do then?

If you intend to enjoy yourself at social events, learning the basics of the three dances is important. It may seem like a challenging and daunting task but the truth is, doing so opens up a whole world of possibilities That said, outlined below are a few tips that will help you avoid overloading yourself with information.

Time management and regular practice. It’s important to have a plan that allows you to practice for a few minutes every day. Practicing for as little as 10 minutes, in addition to your usual class time, can go a long way in improving your dance skills and making you the dancer you desire.

Write down moves. This helps in two ways; for starters, it helps you retain what you learn and, secondly, the notes you write serve as an easy reminder on your notebook or phone whenever you forget something during practice.

Dance with advanced dancers. Asking an advanced dancer to be your partner is a great and effective way to learn timing and how to remember your steps. If you go with this option, remember to tell your partner that you’re a beginner and that you’d like to learn. Doing so will allow your partner to help you with the basics.
Be patient. The important to remember when learning how to dance is that like every skill, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Don’t rush anything, just go with the flow. Enjoy yourself and, with time, you’ll become the accomplished dancer you’re looking to be.

Keep it simple. Learning the basic steps in every style is enough when you are a beginner. First learn one step, practice it for two more dances then learn another one. Don’t worry about your partner, just concentrate on being a better dancer.

That’s all. It doesn’t take much to shine at social events where different styles of dances are involved, according to Matthew David Parker. And, if you’re in doubt, you can always enroll in dance classes.

Matthew David Parker Lists The Salsa Capitals Of The World

If you are one of those die-hard salsa fans, then there are cities in the world that would suit your fancies. According to veteran salsa instructor Matthew David Parker, even though most of salsa has moved indoors and into formalized luncheons and events, it still retains the vigour and relatability of ages gone by. Below are the 8 cities with the biggest Latin salsa dance cultures.

Havana, Cuba. Havana has two of the biggest salsa dancing scenes in all of the Americas. Club Café Cantante and Club Salseando Chevere are full of great instructors, wonderful salsa music and a general ambiance that is inviting and thrilling.

Miami. Club Hoy Como Ayer its arch-rival Mango’s Tropical Café and their erstwhile competitor, La Covancha, are what makes Miami the biggest salsa destination outside of Cuba. The place is chic, raw and unmistakably Latino with English barely spoken at any time of the day or night.

San Juan, Puerto Rico. Based in the alleys of San Huan, Nuyorican Café and Latin Roots make for wonderful salsa venues complete with dress codes, quality drinks, wonderful crowds and a global crowd. San Juan has always been a part of the history of salsa.

Bogota, Colombia. El Candelario, The Galeria Café Libro, La Villa provides a wide variety of spaces for salsa indulgence. Between the three of them you have space for family outings, a serene night out, access to professional salsa performers and a crowd of salsa enthusiasts from all over Latin America.

Salsa instructor Matthew David Parker ranks Dylan’s Tervan and Grill, and Cubby Bear at Wrigley field in Chicago, as well as The Granada LA, Mama Juana and Vasilios in Los Angeles high on that list. The legendary Antilla Salsa, Habana Club and Mojito Club in Barcelona, Copacabana, Bungalo Lounge and Club Cache in New York City complete the list.

Matthew David Parker Lists The Global Salsa Calendar For 1st 6 Months

“For a salsa enthusiast, the tune has now become a global phenomenon”, says Matthew David Parker, a salsa instructor from Lafayette, Louisiana.  There are the global salsa events, competitions, conventions and celebrations that a salsa lover ought to be aware off.

In January there is the Houston salsa congress in Houston, USA/Salsa congress in Tyrol, Argentina/Leids Winter Zouk Festival Leiden, Netherlands/World salsa Meeting Milano, Italy/Bachata Festival, Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic and Sydney Latin Festival, in Australia

In February there is Stars of Salsa London, UK/Amsterdam Salsa Festival Netherlands/Chicago World Salsa Congress, USA/Valentine Zagreb Salsa Festival, Zagreb, Croatia/Nordic Salsa Experience, Oslo Norway/Hong Kong Salsa Festival Hong Kong/Bachata Congress Berlin, Germany and Salsa Addicted Festival, in Romania.

In March there is International Frankfurt Salsa Festival, the Germany/Salsa Congress Deventer, Deventer Netherlands/Tipica Salsa & Swing weekend, Nijmegen, Netherlands/Salsa Spring Break, Warsaw, Poland/Texas Salsa Congress, Houston USA/Viva Cuba Festivals Biezenmortel Netherlands/ Salsa Festival Karlsruhe, Denmark/Super salsa party festival, Brussels, Belgium/Salsa Monaco, Monaco/The Hague Latin Experience, the Hague Netherlands/Scandinavian Salsa Congress, Gothen berg Switzerland/Cyprus Salsa Congress, Famagusta, Cyprus and the Junin Salsa Congress, Bounes Aires, Argentina

In April there is Antwerp Diamond Salsa Festival, Antwerp, Belgium/ Internationals Hustle and Salsa competition, Miami, USA/Salsa Festival Munster, Munster, Denmark/Montreal Salsa Congress, Montreal, Canada/On2 Salsa Congress, Milan Italy/Athens Salsa Spring Festival, Athens Greece/Bordo-Rueda Festival, Bordeaux, France/Sydney Int. Bachata Festival, Sydney, Australia/Dias Cubanos Nordwijkerhout, Netherlands and Mambo City 5 Star Congress, London, UK

In May there is Fanta Dance Fiesta Sofia, Belgium/Limburg Salsa Festival Maastricht, Netherlands/Viliaus Salsa Festival, Vilnius, Lithuania/International Cuban Dance Event Groningen, Netherlands and NZ Pacific Salsa Congress, Wellington, New Zealand

In June there is Haarlem Beach Festival, Zandvoort, Netherlands/Riga Salsa Festival, Riga, Latvia/Washington DC Salsa Congress, Washington, USA/Portland Salsa Bachata Congress, Portland, USA/Saint-Tropez Salsa Festival, Saint-Tropez, France/Summer Sensual Days Rovinj, Hungary/Croatian Summer Salsa Festival, Rovinj, Hungary and the Holland Kizomba Congress in Made, Netherlands

In July there is Leids Summer Zouk Festival, Ledin, Netherlands/Salsafestival Thüringen, Saalburg, Denmark/Salsa Beach Festival, Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands/Summer SBK Festival, Wroclaw, Poland/Las Vegas Salsa Congress, Las Vegas, USA/Cannes Salsa Festival, Cannes, France/Mambo City’s Salsa Splash Spain, Caple Alicante, Spain/International Festival Hamburg, Germany/Salsa Beach Splash, Sibenik, Hungary and Puerto Rico Salsa Congress, in San Juan Puerto Rico.

Top 5 Salsa Songs For Beginners By Matthew David Parker

“Dancing is part science, part art, part talent and part skill. Mastering the moves takes time and grit. This truth is much more important for great and renowned dances like salsa”, says Matthew David Parker, a salsa instructor from Lafayette, Louisiana.

When you are a rookie you need songs that are slower and more rhythmical, yet captivating to train with. Salsa by nature is a teamwork dance that requires you to sync your moves with those of your partner. Whether you are the leader or follower, the intuitive moves that come with training are easier to master with fun, salsa tunes.

These are the five best salsa tunes to train with as a beginner:

• Rumbn Meln by Joey Pastrana - This 1967 tune from the album, Lets Ball is a simple yet elegant salsa tune with a seamless feel when dancing salss.
  
• Rico Guaguanco by the late Puerto Rican singer Chivirico Dvila delivers a slow tempo combined with syrupy tune that responds well to salsa taps.
  
• Nieve con Sal, by Frankie Morales is a Latin hit that inspired a remake by Frankie and American singer Lil Kim. It is one of those songs that gives you a simple way of changing your steps artfully as a beginner.
  
• Perdoname is a 1990 hit by Latin singer Gilberto Santa Rosa from his Album Punta De Vista. This salsa hit from the moustached Gilberto is a beautifully serenading hit that inspires simple salsa tap learning.
  
• Yamulemau -This powerful 1987 hit features the best of Joe Arroyo’s vocals. It features Colombian rhythm with a general afro-Cuban style that is captivating to any leaner.

According to salsa instructor Matthew David Parker, other great salsa tunes for beginners include Lady by Orquesta La Palabra, Juliana by Cuco Valoy, Me Imagino Que by Pedro Conga and Sabrosso by Wayne Gorbea.