I recently read a comment from someone (salsa gigolo was it you?) that they had put learning tango on hold indefinitely to make way for their salsa addiction. It got me to thinking, can you effectively be addicted to more than one type of dance style at the same time? I would say that currently I am totally addicted to both salsa and modern dance in equal, yet different measures. How did I get to this point?
Development stage
I think your stage of development within a particular dance style is going to be the most important factor in your ability to get the most out of more than one at the same time. I do modern dance and salsa dance in equal measures, but this is a recent development. I’ve been doing salsa for many years and when I recently started learning and loving modern, I had to put salsa on the back burner to focus my energies on the demands of learning a new discipline. My body was exhausted from all the new things it was doing– I simply didn’t have the energy to go to the club on non-class nights. Also, I was at times mentally and emotionally overwhelmed from taking on such a new and unknown challenge that often shook my confidence in myself. Now that I have gained a lot more confidence and ability in modern dance, I am no longer exhausted or overwhelmed. I can devote myself equally to salsa and modern. This is a very exciting place to be!!
Culture
Different dance scenes have difference cultures complete with the way people greet each other, style of dress, “in crowds”, etc etc. Whether you can really immerse yourself in both those cultures simultaneously depends on your social aptitude I guess. I’ve never really felt very cool in any crowd and I guess I will never be in the “in clique”, but I don’t need to be because I’ve made very good friends in both worlds and love just being the unique person I am without trying to conform to some sort of groupthink. As for dress, I might look hot in one of my little salsa dresses, but I will never make a leotard and legwarmers look cool!
Technique
I am not sure if I am sacrificing one technique for another by doing both salsa and modern simultaneously. In all styles of dance I’ve learned, the core is very important so I think the two styles can only help each other in strengthening the core. The way feet and legs are used is another story. I generally wear heels and keep my legs bend in salsa. That means my center of gravity is low and my feet are always flexed. In modern, I am barefoot and the legs are bent only in plie`. Turns are so different– it was tough to learn to turn on a straight leg in modern! At the same time, my ability to center myself, to spot, and to originate turns from the core (which I learned in salsa) have made me a good at turns in modern dance once I developed the proper strength in my legs. I’ve also had to develop greater strength, flexibility and articulation in my feet for modern since the feet are always pointing and flexing.
Schedule
This works out well for me. I can take modern dance classes in the early evening or during the day on weekends, leaving my nights free for salsa. Tango and salsa would be a different story– you’d have to alternate your nights. A true addict goes out every night. I guess I haven’t ever been a true salsa addict by this standard because I’ve always kept a reasonable balance with my personal life.But by my standard of addiction this is totally doable.
The bottom line
It is possible to devote equal time and energy to two different style of dance if you are at the right development stage in each one. My addiction is dance, but I guess you could say I’m a multi-drug user. I get my fix from different substances, but they all meet the same craving at the end of the day.
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September 20, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Carl
I have been almost singly dedicated to Lindy Hop and other vernacular jazz dances for most of the past five years with the occasional interspersion of waltz, hip hop, popping, etc. Recently however I have pushed myself into two whole new domains of dance while pushing my Lindy Hop even harder. While I would not consider myself an addict to either of my two new outlets (tap and contemporary) I invest a great deal of energy into both of these forms.
The dance technique of both are quite different from Lindy Hop in a lot of ways. Contemporary is a drastic change from lindy hop, however the body awareness, strength and ability to learn visually has helped a great deal. Tap is a rhythmic dance, which I can attribute some of my musical understanding and improvisational skills, and I can pick some of the steps up in probably shorter time than other people, however it is an exceptionally difficult experience as it is so much more about being a musician than just a dancer.
In the end, I believe both of these two other dances will greatly improve my understanding of dance as a whole and my lindy hop in its own right.
September 20, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Bernadette
I think that learning different dances ultimately enriches your experience of all of them. I’ve been addicted to Lindy for about two years now, and currently dance at least four nights a week. I got a taste of West Coast Swing about a year ago, and would have happily quickly gotten addicted to that, only the closest really active scene is two hours away. Even so, I’ve done some crazy things to be able to dance Westie.
Currently I am in the midst of adding a Ballet addiction. I’m taking a class twice a week at the moment, and seeking out another adult class to join when this is done. Already I can feel how the Ballet is affecting my Lindy. My balance has improved dramatically, and I’ve noticed that some of my leg stylings have taken on a more ballet-like feel. I’m hoping that Ballet will also improve my posture and appearance of confidence on the dance floor.
I think any discipline which teaches you how to hold your body and move it to music in a controlled way helps with any kind of dancing. It is the same body no matter what knd of dancing you’re doing. So anything that trains the body will help you improve as a Dancer, period.
September 20, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Maria
Carl and Bernadette, thanks for your thoughtful comments! It’s so great to have some readers from the swing dance world… I love the diversity of visitors to my blog in terms of dance styles.
You both make the good point that different styles of dance can enhance each other. I’ve definitely found that modern has increased my strength, balance, alignment, and core. It’s also trained me to pick up choreography quickly and to be able to reverse all movements (something we don’t do in salsa). Very good for those left/right brain connections.
However, there’s a difference between cross-training and becoming fully immersed and addicted. I’m wondering if it’s possible to exist in two worlds at once– I think it is, but it’s pretty much impossible to develop them at the same time without sacrificing the other one.
September 21, 2007 at 9:24 am
Dancing Drug Interactions « Just for the Halibut
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September 21, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Terpsichore
I have had the worst time balancing my two (well, three actually) genres. Bellydance is my first love, the be-all-end-all addition that got me dancing again, but I’ve had to put it aside (because I can’t NOT be be-all-end-all about it) in order to work on both smooth and rhythm ballroom dancing. And even within ballroom, I fall for certain dances and want to sacrifice my well-roundedness for expertise in particulars (Hustle being the new obsession). Sometimes I think I’d rather have one thing I’m great at than a bunch of dances I’m decent/good at, but I’m not sure that’s the most effective mindset.
September 21, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Maria
Terpsichore, I hear you. It feel great to be really good at something rather than kind of mediocre with a bunch of things. I think sometimes you have to make temporary sacrifices in one thing to strengthen the other. It is fun to learn new things, though, isn’t it? I’m always talking about trying new styles and revisiting old ones– tango, lindy and flamenco, plus more intensive work in ballet are all on my list. Too bad I have to work a day job to pay the bills (and for the dance classes!).
December 12, 2007 at 11:14 pm
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