Comments on The Unlikely Salsero - Don Baarns: Rich Basic? Chunky or Creamy Matches the Music

Good article! You're on the right path. I've been ...

2007-10-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

Good article! You're on the right path. I've been working on my rich basic for the last few years and it's come a long way.

Enriching the basic is a concept that any good Cuban instructor will teach you. Using a combination of 'variation' in your basic steps that you use, Cuban motion and Rumba (for feet, shoulders, arms and legs) you can create a wide array of effects that reflect the music.

An LA instructor of mine also used to teach the concept of 'clarity' of basic. Don't put too much noise in your basic or you will drown out what it is you want to say to the music.

I'm always going through a cycle of enriching my basic then cleaning it up to get the quality there.

--Azzey

Hmmm... I'm not sure, so I'll check it out and let...

2007-10-04T16:14:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... I'm not sure, so I'll check it out and let you know what I find. I'm going to a class this evening, then going dancing so I won't be able to respond until tomorrow.

I have that tune in my car, and I'll listen on my way to the club tonight.

I can say I don't remember the time changing in that tune (meaning the 1 & 5 switch at some point), but it's possible.

Peters comment about when the break happens may not apply to this tune, because it's not normal to have a long introduction, where each instrument is introduced by the singer. While Peter provides a generalization, those darned musicians are free to break any guidelines, just like dancers.

Let me know if you hear something different as you listen over and over. I'll report what I find.

We just got Edies & Peters DVDs, too, and sinc...

2007-10-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

We just got Edies & Peters DVDs, too, and since Peter said one could count any song into basic steps I tried with Susie Hansens 'la salsa nunca acaba'.

Funny think is, I got the distinct feeling that after 26 or so basics the music got a break or something, like I missed four beats and instead of being on the 1 I'm suddenly on the 5 - not because I messed up, but because the music changed, made a stop?

Has the song really a break or am I just getting confused on this disctinct spot in the music?

You're absolutely correct. If I give a lady a free...

2007-10-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

You're absolutely correct. If I give a lady a free spin and the mood is romantic, I wouldn't expect her to do a triple. A nice stylized single or double OR a very slow sexy single that fits the music is much more fun.

I also have to say gracefully dancing slow is one mark of a more mature dancer. Slower dancing exposes some of my weaknesses that are not obvious at faster tempos.

I believe we are saying "all your moves should be in context of the music."

Good one! I've heard this one before but only from...

2007-10-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

Good one! I've heard this one before but only from one other source. You don't want to dance at level 11 all the time. Things are absolutely more dramatic if you can turn up and down the volume at will and matching the music. In my opinion same could be said about spinning too. A lot of people seem to think spin as fast as you can all the time and as much as possible. I much prefer dancing with people who can spin slow as well as fast with good control.