The Crofoot
Hello, salseros!
First, I would to thank everyone who has shown support for the Pura Salsa Parties at the Crofoot; specifically the 150+ people who came out on the 23rd and the 90 who came and filled our floor last Friday night. It was a fantastic affair. Jimmy Barrios rocked it until two in the morning and no one stopped dancing until the last tune. As for what comes next... it's tomorrow.
For those of you who weren't able to make it last week, I took a moment to say something in front of everybody that may have seemed unusual for a promoter- but I've decided that it's time to take a new approach.
What did I say? I asked for help.
As many of you may already know, promoting for this new night on absolutely NO budget has been an incredibly difficult challenge. The flyers are homemade, the promoter is her own team, and the competition very stiff. So much rides on our niche dancing groups' support that it is difficult to fill more than one location in a night, let alone in a week. On Friday, I encouraged everyone in attendance to take it upon themselves in the next week and act as promoters. If this night is ever going to get off the ground, I need help. There is no money yet for advertisement, and there is no such thing as a "free ad" or a "gratis radiospot." But let me tell you, if time and energy had a fiscal value... I'm working my hardest to turn stone into gold and make us a million.
What is needed now goes beyond our salsa community - it is crucial that we begin working harder and with more enthusiasm than ever before to communicate our love for salsa to those who DO NOT recognize that it is here and that it is alive in Detroit. And I'm not talking about the salseros here, I'm talking about all your friends who are going to the same places and listening to the same top 40 music every single weekend. Talk to them about what is available to them beyond what they are familiar with; Introduce them to YA Salsa, take them to Sangria on a Wednesday night, show them the incredible crowd at Harem on Thursdays and yes, by all means, bring them to the Crofoot tomorrow night and Pura Salsa Party after that!
It is primarily because we are such a niche group that other nightlife followers in Detroit seem to stray after only a few weeks in a new venue, i.e. the unfortunate trend we have all seen: temporary salsa nights. We have been in one week and booted out the next. Why? Because we rely far too much on what it is that we already have. My new approach to this "trend" is to step outside of the salsa community and entice in NEW PEOPLE by showing them just how freaking fabulous salsa in Detroit is. But in order to do this, I need you all to come and show them just what salsa is!
The Crofoot Ballroom is a gorgeous location with a perfect dance floor and elegant decor. It is not a hotel. It is not a bowling alley. It is not a gym. It is a real ballroom. AND WE DESERVE IT. I want so badly for this night to succeed and for anyone who may doubt my commitment or "weak" promotions, I ask that you please step up and assist me in this challenge. The solution to this problem has little to do with ineffective advertising and much more to do with the determination and persistence it takes to make something like this last.
I ask that you all please join me in this uphill fight for an EXPANDED salsa scene. Come to the Crofoot tomorrow. Bring your friends, bring your ballroom shoes, and bring your smiles. That is all the advertising we need.
Newbie Perspective
I have mixed feelings about the Crofoot and the "expansion" of Salsa in the Metro Detroit area. I'm fairly new to dancing, particularly Salsa. I was first introduced to Salsa in October of 2006 while visiting a friend in Detroit. My first real exposure to Salsa was in March, 2007 where I happened upon my first YA Salsa Social (which by the way is great).
Back to the Crofoot last night...The message I received from this web site is that the Metro Detroit Salseros want to expand the Salsa community and bring in new dancers yet I felt very isolated at the Crofoot last night. It seemed to me the guys all had their favorite dance partners (which is understandable) and didn't make much of an effort to include the new dancers. I also noticed that the beginner male dancers didn't venture out on the dance floor much, either.
So where does this lead all the new Salsa dancers? Certainly not on the dance floor...perhaps at home a thousand dollars in debt in Salsa lessons.
Did you ask anyone to dance?
Sometimes you just have to grab them, and take them!
Did they offer any lessons?
Were there any lessons offered? I mean aside from learning a new move I find that having lessons can be a great ice breaker and makes it a little less awkward asking a complete stranger to dance. I've been dancing for less than a year and I know at first it can be hard asking people you don't know to dance... if it was for places like Harem and even Sangria having the lessons I don't I would've been able to meet and dance with soo many people. If they didn't do lessons then it's a shame, especially if their goal is to bring in new faces and introduce new people to salsa.
new on the scene
Based on prior comments on this website, and having gone out to the various salsa clubs opening and maintaining, unless you know the dancers, you will not be visible and dancers will not take a chance on you fearing they will have to teach you a step or two, instead of just dancing and see what you have on the floor, if anything. You would have to show up with your own partner and show that you dance to be noticed. The dance lesson bit is actually a good idea because it does expose your abilities and if you are friendly enough, then you can ask anyone to dance and you may get the polite one who will take a chance on you. All you dancers out there need to really get off the floor and take a chance on any new face if you really want the dance community to continue to grow. All the new ones need to get brave and take a chance even if rejected or take the lesson if offered. The responsibility falls on both parties to make it successful and I think this dancing community is growing nicely. Just keep showing up to this awesome venues the real dancers offer. Before you know it you will be part of it all and then you can be the polite one to the new ones. Keep the cool cycle going!
Hang in there
Believe it or not, we are actually very lucky here in Detroit to have a salsa scene where you can go to the club alone and find dance partners. In many other cities, there is little hope of finding a dance partner. Even as an experienced dancer, one would be hard pressed to walk into those clubs and scare up a dance without taking a partner. That said, some places around here are better to go when you are new and don't really know the people. The most friendly and open is doubtlessly the social - but its only once a month. Next would be a place like Harem which has 2 hours of lessons and then lots of dancers there. Then I'd say Sangria Wednesdays which have a class a good atmosphere. I should also mention the other socials like Dance Revolution and Troy Dance Studio. Sangria on Sunday's attracts a lot of new dancers and is a very friendly atmosphere.
As suggested in another reply, classes are one of the best ways to meet people as well as learn the dance. When I first started dancing, the only people who would dance with me or that I felt comfortable in asking were pretty much in my classes. Even after going to classes for years and the clubs -- it wasn't till I had been dancing for several years 3-4 days a week before I started to regularly talk to a lot people at the clubs. Most people I see in groups are actually people who take classes together. View studios as both instructional and social clubs.
As someone who generally puts a lot of effort into dancing with new people, I'll just say its more complex than it seems. I rarely will ask women who are sitting down or in a group -- experience says they are 50% of the time going to say no. Ouch. If someone isn't smiling or is holding a purse I will tend to assume they are just there to hang out. Its a royal pain to dance with someone holding a purse. If the club is very crowded I may stick to just partners that I know can dance in tight crazy conditions. If the song is fast or has an odd rhythm, I'll think twice. If I see someone new dancing with someone else, I'll watch not just to see if they can move, but if they are having fun. Nothing is worse than dancing with someone who doesn't smile, interact and look like they are having fun.
In the Detroit scene, it is more than fine for women to ask men to dance - that is one of the cool things here. Other places it might not be the same.
Geo-
You are so right
Your insight is incredibly right on the target. So yes, hang in there!
Sorry did not make it last night
.. I would have danced with you. -Prabal
I think you did a good thing
I think you did a good thing in bringing up your concerns. I've heard for a while from 'newbies' that sometimes they don't get asked to dance, and it's a valid point. I don't believe that this has anything to do with the Crofoot specifically and shouldn't be counted as a mark against this Salsa night. It's a young event that's trying to build up steam, I hope the night continues.
There has been quite a bit of activity in Salsa so far this year and we're only 3 weeks in. Keep attending as many events as you can, this year is building up to be the best year of Salsa Detroit has ever seen!
Glenn
Response
I would like to respond to everyone's generous comments.
Anonymous. No, I didn't ask anyone to dance. I rarely do. Salsa can be interpreted as a sexual pantomine where the guy leads pushing forward (in pursuit) while the lady pushes back (I don't think so). I like to stick with tradition and biology. Guys really should ask the ladies. We don't want to upset the cosmic forces. Ha! Ha!
Sebastian
No there weren't lessons offerred. But you are absolutely right about pre-lessons serving as an ice breaker, if you will. By the way, I believe you did ask me to dance the last time I was at the Harem. You are a very fine and gracious dancer. Any lady should be honored to dance with you.
Prabel
You are a real man! I would have loved to dance with you.
Glenn
OK, I"ll stop whining, suck it up, commit to weekly Salsa lessons and see ya all in about 3 months.
La Vida es Buena!
Why 3 months?
The best place to learn salsa in on the dance floor!
From a girl's perspective,
From a girl's perspective, JUST ASK! If a guy's going to lead a dance, he better be able to initiate one by asking the lady. Remember, women tend to overthink things, so if we're sitting on the sidelines we have all kinds of crap going through our heads. (Why is no one asking me to dance? Do I look ok tonight? Do they think I'm a bad dancer? Are the beginners too intimidated to ask?) Anyway, it's a whole slew of things that drop our self-esteem if we're sitting out for song after song. And it is by no means my place to ask a guy dance. I think one of the coolest things about salsa is that you can have such an intimate connection with a total stranger, and nothing is expected afterward - so beginners, keep asking. It's also great to dance with prior partners because once we have a feel for someone's moves, we can add a lot more style - so those of you who are experienced, keep asking. I apologize for the ladies who turn you down. I never will as long as you don't hurt me: no constant arm yanking, don't insult me, and keep the nails short. Remember too, that "I'm tired, ask me later" means just that, and we aren't turning you down.
...and a shout out to Prabel. I missed you Friday!
~Shannon
The best thing for the new
The best thing for the new salsa goers is to take lessons specially at Harem or other places that charges you for. Lessons at Sangria is a total waste of time. But lessons don't mean nothing unless you practice them on the dance floors. I always like to take ladies on the side and teach them the basic moves but it is also frustrating when I see someone that wants to dance salsa and expects men to ask them but they don't make any effort to learn them before coming to the clubs. Also it is equally frustrating when people (specially ladies) just come out to watch or listen to the music and make the dancing floor very cramped and making it very difficult for serious salsa dancers to dance.
anannymous
Agree to Disagree
On the contrary, the lessons at Sangria are very beneficial (especially for beginners).
Agree to Disagree
The free Salsa lessons prior to regular dancing put on at Sangrias, Harem, Venue and Club TV are instrumental to introducing the "beginners" to the Salsa community. I think we should applaud the instructors and organizations that put on these "free" lessons week after week, because without their efforts a lot of us would never have been introduced to the Salsa world. They were never and still not a "waste of time".
Its just dancing
Every venue, concert, instructor, promoter holds their own style and offering. I think diversity in each group helps to expand the salsa community in the area. Everyone has their own opinion or preference. Some people favor a particular instructor for styling techniques, another for turn patterns and maybe another for mechanics. I also feel that by going to various instructors, it helps to elevate a dancer's skill level.
As I stated, diversity is a bonus. Each salsa night has a different feel and flavor. What I love most is that at each, I am assured a smiling face and warm hug. --Sounds corny but I speak the TRUTH--
And last, I have heartburn when I hear 'serious dancers' being annoyed by other patrons. It's music. We are all supposed to have fun and it is just NOT THAT SERIOUS. Hogging the dancefloor is subjective. As long as someone is not acting a nut and creating a hazard for others, each individual is allowed to enjoy the song, their friends and real estate they claim on the dancefloor.
Just my thoughts...and yes it is 3:21AM....
Cat
thoughts
Dance on!