Keep To The Beat
I think I figured out part of my problem with salsa.
Salsa is a 7-count dance. New York style salsa is kind of an 8-count version because it starts on the 2nd beat and mixes things up a bit, so I like it better, but almost no one dances New York salsa unless your in New York. In fact there isn't even a regular place in Boston to take lessons in this style. There are only short workshops - which is what I was doing on Saturday when I lost my shoes.
Anyway, so swing is either on a 6-count or 8-count beat and I LOVE it. It is easier for me to pick it up without lessons. I even feel a little more comfortable improvising and having fun with the spaces between the beats. However, there are not as many places in Boston to do swing, and especially not West Coast swing, which is what I'm learning now.
I think the difference is that I am more accustomed to 3,4,6, and 8, beat rhythms. These rhythms are very American, or at least according to one of my drumming teachers, they are the premise of most American music. From my limited understanding, other areas of the world, such as the Middle East, South America etc have more complex rhythmic dance beats such as 7 and 9.
When I was a little girl, my dad always was playing big band, jazz or blues music. These styles are almost always on 4,6, or 8. It didn't hurt that he also loved swing dancing and used to teach me steps when I was tiny, swinging me around his shoulders and through his legs. It was a blast!
So perhaps this contributes to my frustration with salsa. I will just need to listen to it more to grow accustomed.
Salsa is a 7-count dance. New York style salsa is kind of an 8-count version because it starts on the 2nd beat and mixes things up a bit, so I like it better, but almost no one dances New York salsa unless your in New York. In fact there isn't even a regular place in Boston to take lessons in this style. There are only short workshops - which is what I was doing on Saturday when I lost my shoes.
Anyway, so swing is either on a 6-count or 8-count beat and I LOVE it. It is easier for me to pick it up without lessons. I even feel a little more comfortable improvising and having fun with the spaces between the beats. However, there are not as many places in Boston to do swing, and especially not West Coast swing, which is what I'm learning now.
I think the difference is that I am more accustomed to 3,4,6, and 8, beat rhythms. These rhythms are very American, or at least according to one of my drumming teachers, they are the premise of most American music. From my limited understanding, other areas of the world, such as the Middle East, South America etc have more complex rhythmic dance beats such as 7 and 9.
When I was a little girl, my dad always was playing big band, jazz or blues music. These styles are almost always on 4,6, or 8. It didn't hurt that he also loved swing dancing and used to teach me steps when I was tiny, swinging me around his shoulders and through his legs. It was a blast!
So perhaps this contributes to my frustration with salsa. I will just need to listen to it more to grow accustomed.
posted by El @ Monday, October 02, 2006
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