Salsa vs Latin Ballroom
Disclaimer: this entry shall not consider standard ballroom dances as it is

1) too difficult to excel in,
2) too rigid,
3) takes too long to master,
4) has no established ballroom dancing teachers in singapore willing to impart all dance skills, and in writer's opinion
5) too stiffling for expression of self (no ballet background, marginally appreciates contemporary dance).

In the above disclaimer, i have already stated the main reasons why i prefer salsa.



It is interesting how a few people can actually document the exact same thoughts over the same time. After posting this entry, i realised that YQ posted an email about "salsa = play" in our yahoo groups. I totally agree with her.

I was at YIH copying rag videos from the NUSSU exco (if you want a copy, come to me) when i chanced upon an old photo of a couple i know, in a rumba pose. I thought to myself, yes, latin dance is interesting, especially samba and rumba, each for different reasons. maybe it's the environment, maybe it's the people, but somehow, i don't see the kind of "play" YQ mentioned. Maybe it's because these dances are learnt for performance and competition sake, so the emphasis is on the audience. On the contrary, i agree whole heartedly that salsa lets the wild and sexy side of you express itself.

In the past, when i was a beginner, i laughed at the adjectives used to describe salsa; wild, sexy. However, now when i know "the rules of the game", everything makes sense. The best part of Salsa is the fact that you can pick up anyone on the dance floor and have fun. it really doesn't matter if your partner is your gf/bf/spouse; of course you'll be in a better mood and position to flirt and be sexy if that's the case. I think in this aspect, Xenbar has done a very good job. Unlike a very popular salsa club that we know, the members of Xenbar come with a goal to dance salsa and this makes one comfortable dancing with everyone. It is inevitable, that if you draw a large crowd, you can't control the people who enter.

Coming back to Xenbar, it is really a precious environment to have. (i'm coming to understand it more and more.) The best times would be when all those studying aboard come back, and their other halves miraculously return, then we truly have a salsa party, switching from partner to partner. I miss those times...