Let’s talk about white girls dancing that’s much funnier…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIs1F6_BP14

In my head I’m a great, sexy dancer. I’ve never tried in reality, though, because I’ve seen you dance.

j/k
j/k

I am personally committed to learn the dance that Gina Montes did at the beginning of La Carabina de Ambrosio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyC_VxW6VA

ah yes, but fíjense, have you ever been to a nightclub in mexico? Where they blast god-awful house music they bought in the fayuca? Not hating, but i’ve witnessed crazed fist pumping and not-so-sexy full body gyrations of cataclysmic proportions.

mi novia likes to salsa, merengue, and all those things where you need to know steps, be fluid, and be able to improvise.

i tell her, my dancing is a lil different… uncontrollable, uncoordinated, and unpredictable.

when i was 16, i did the obligatory 4 backtoback quinces. i was nerviosisimo! no one had ever taught me how dance or what to do, and after the choreographed parts all the familia expected me to bust a move.

i’m crazy jealous of people that can dance, especially when it comes naturally. i saw maria costa’s “macho men…” and immediately wanted lessons.

Here are a few things that affect your dancing:

- If you grow up dancing and are in an environment where you dance often then you are more likely to be a better dancer regardless of ethnicity. Most latin americans grow up in this environment; most white americans don’t

A sub-set of this what type of dancing you are exposed to. A cuban from the island is more exposed to salsa (or timba, son, guaracha, guaguanco, etc as they call it there) than say a Mexican typically is to this type of music. This can be applied to many countries and many rhythms.

- The more type of dances you are exposed to, the more likely you can become a better dancer. The reason most Cubans from the island can dance circles around people from other places is because many get exposed to their afro-folk dances like rumba, danzon, cuban mambo and the numerous rhythms/dances they do there. Same as in a place like Colombia.

- If you are a confident dancer, it can cover a lot of deficiencies i.e. if you look good and talk a good game, you can fool a lot of people into thinking you are a decent or good dancer. I see a lot of latinos faking their way through dancing and pull it off nicely just because they look and act cool.

All that said, raw natural talent is the biggest factor in my opinion. A natural talent has the ability to be a great dancer if he or she develops it with the factors above.

Just throwing this out there but, does this apply to non-Latina exotic dancers? Because let me tell you ‘mano, they really know how to dance…just saying!

Oh wow.

Nah, you gotta use your whole body if you’re dancing to cumbia (cumbia villera specially), merengue (ripeado) or good ol’ salsa.

Given that I am a metalhead at heart, I do know how to throw down when there’s a party at my tia’s house and it’s time to dance.

Now, If I could only dance with her:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dzKW8zW7ZHo

@ Quique: Isn’t exotic dancing more about tantalizing customers than keeping to the rhythm, though? Also, exotic dancers have the advantage of distracting you with their boobs which, um. Does not work for all of us.

@ Dan. You know, I dance just like that girl when the tanga migrates to places it shouldn’t.

it doesn’t matter if they are latino or not …some people just cant dance because they have no natural rhythm.

When I danced ballet folklorico one of the guys in the group danced beautifully, so gracefull but when it came to the party and club scene he couldn’t dance for shit.

In my experience people from countries or towns close to the Caribbean tend to dance better when it comes to “latin” rhythms such as salsa or cumbia. Those places also tend to have a greater African influence.
To keep your upper body stiff enough for Tango, you need at least one recent European ancestor ;)

@ Janie: Places it shouldn’t? Isn’t it supposed to stay in one place only?

@Dan Piensale!

Girls can get tanga wedgies too, ya know. Is there an elegant solution to “sacar el perro” as my mother would say?

Sometimes you’ve got to shimmy and shake to put that tanga back in place!

Who is up for Tango lessons at the Argentinian Club?

@ Janie: Ay hija de tu….

Si quieres te la pongo de regreso…o te la quito del todo.

@ Dan. -when I need a daylaborer for the job, I will keep you in mind =P