BEST TIPS for EASIER Leading & Following in SALSA & BACHATA Marius&Elena

[@MariusElenaBachata]

If you want to meet us, here is a list of international events we attend in the next period. Come join us : docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e1yEn1Kg8B6EuFB3JNIsQc_7VEKHl5c42cmNd9ZyW00/edit?usp=sharing

[@mralexgambler]

Hi guys! Which date's you'll be at Sunny Bachata Week?

[@MariusElenaBachata]

@@mralexgambler Hello. We will be all week :P

[@charlottep.4843]

Can you add a column with location info too? :)

[@MariusElenaBachata]

@@charlottep.4843 heeey, if you click on the link of the event you will get all the information (location, price, etc...). Hope this helps.

[@charlottep.4843]

@@MariusElenaBachata Sure, I am just lazy :D

[@Shivvn]

Thank you so much for giving so much encouragement to 'new' leaders telling them not to blame themselves if the dance go bad👍👌

[@natpeer2924]

I learned a lot from this short class ❤ and the advice at the end is so valuable because this happens to me at every social after class and you encouragement is assuring to continue learning; thanks 🙏

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Never give up. Dance is wonderful but as any thing worth enjoying, it has it's bad moments :D

[@charlottep.4843]

Such a good discussion about not feeling ashamed when moves go wrong! As a follower, I am much better at relaxing and being in the moment when the leader has a positive attitude and just smiles and continues if there is an error. If he looks embarrased, I get nervous and start to anticipate or worry what else could go wrong -> everything becomes a mess :D I am sure the same is true in the opposite direction. We all make mistakes and it is nothing to get stuck on

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Indeed it's more important to be human and create a good connection rather tham try to impress.... nobody wants to be impressed with bone fractures🤣🤣

[@SoulMoves44]

Tanks a lot for the tips 😊

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Our pleasure :D

[@emilytaylor1001]

❤❤❤

[@azucarweber2456]

7:18 this rules save lives 😂😂😂😂😂… love you guys

[@foxxycleopatra615]

This is really helpful! I’m just starting to learn salsa and bachata and have messed up moves MANY times bc I didn’t know what was happening and, as a follower, I was trying to anticipate and would stop when I got confused. Learning to follow is an art and takes time! Luckily people are very patient and gracious when I make a mistake bc it’s a huge leap going from dancing w your friends at the club to partner dancing! 😅

[@נדבנחום-ו7ז]

Great lesson and very important. Thanks ❤

[@matthiaslorber4271]

Top content, thank you for sharing!

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Much appreciated!

[@viktorijaopacak2544]

Great tips, thanks 😊

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danandrei7268]

My thoughts exactly.

[@marcg6226]

I think this is why it's important for beginners to go to socials and dance with many follows. That is how I calibrate. If I give the same signal to 5 different follows and it didn't work, I know my signal needs work. That is the best feedback you can have.

[@MariusElenaBachata]

True, true, true. That is one very healthy mindset.

[@marcg6226]

@@MariusElenaBachata it's not even a mindset. It's statistics. Dances are data. If the repeatable result from your sampling is "this signal doesn't get the result I want", one should set their ego aside (which is hard for some) and adjust. For me it's usually a detail.

[@MariusElenaBachata]

@@marcg6226 You said it .... setting ego aside is hard for some. I agree with you. Dance is also "data". If you know how to work with that data you will do wonderful things.

[@victorcalvilloperez2889]

You guys are awesome 👌 thanks for the knowledge

[@claytaylor63]

This "talk" was awesome! Would love more.

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Will do :D

[@ggoulid]

Thank you so much 💙♥️

[@harshardkm285]

Wow... thanks for the tips. 😍 who ever wants to be a better salsa or bachata Marius and Elena is the best instructor you can find on the net. Today I learnt most important tips from them. Love you both god bless you 💙

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Thank you! 😃 This comment made my day :D Big hug.

[@mikemike5732]

Nice video,I am waiting also for a video with some breaks move on the musicality for both of them. Thanxxx a lot for your help with videos.

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Sure 😊 Coming soon! :D

[@latina_club]

Thank you ❤️

[@shalinisen]

excellent!!

[@apolo_182a1]

Son lo máximo desde que encontré su canal hemos avanzado demasiado con mi esposo en salsa y bachata mil gracias por favor sigan adelante 🥰💓🙏

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Gracias. Nos vamos adelante :D

[@alexanderv4609]

I am learning bachata for one year and with really good teachers, but have never heard about the middle between the leader and the follower 6:04. Its interesting

[@latina_club]

That's what I am waiting for!

[@maryanalutsyshyn8558]

Thank you! It was very informative 👍 👌 👏

[@anil.3899]

I always have issues with my grip and let go :(...thanks for the video!

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Happy to help!

[@danandrei7268]

What about the elbow position, up (follow moves/turns), down (lead moves/turns/caricias) or the palm of hand up (lead moves/turns/caricias) or towards her position (follow moves)?

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Hmmm.... let's say this might help on top of what we said, but taken separate... they might confuse because in all the positions you mentioned, you have moves for the leader and for the follower as well.

[@waynehou1298]

What you said at the end about how less dances are amazing as you become better is really interesting! Since I’ve just started learning salsa I’ve heard advice to focus on the journey instead of the destination-it makes sense now bc of what you said. Do you two have salsa social dance videos with simple moves and focus on musicality and connection? As a beginner I find a lot of inspiration from those kinds of videos and I would love to see something like that from you two! You already inspire me, of course :)

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Hello :D I don't know if we have a salsa social dance... I will search something in our archives. We are generally booked for Bachata and at socials we don't get to dance with each other too much because dancers wait to dance with us so we need to accomodate as many of them as possible :D

[@tmeech]

Great topic thank you guys - ps. Marius, your English is almost like your first language now ✨ Elena may not have to be your dictionary or translator in future, hehe. Love from Australia 💖

[@MariusElenaBachata]

She will always be my translator :))) Sometimes I get lost in ideas... she's the one that gets me back on track... but don't tell her that :))))

[@yamatoyukihiro]

Now I understand this is what I am missing as a beginner. The concept of changing tensions for leading a turn or a caress was excellent advice. I feel like I should focus on dancing slower songs so I can better work on my leading and tension. I have one question and I really don't know if it makes sense. When I danced during socials I could flow through the first minute easily. After that point however I feel that I suddenly don't know what to pull off next. Are there any exercises or tips so that I can visualize or structure my dance better during socials?

[@MariusElenaBachata]

The short answer is practice. Because you need your mind and body to go through hundreds of moves in order to be able to know what you can do. But the long answer, or the tips : 1. Have 4-5 longer "signature" combos. You CANNOT remember 30-40 combos. It's not possible. Have 3 or 4 longer ones that you keep repeating. You can do them even twice in the same dance. 2. Have some footwork, sensual moves (waves, headrolls, isolations), some hands moves, and change directions. This don't have to be combos, just play around with each category. This will help you fill the blanks. 3. IF you want to respect the music. On the intro do small stuff, fluid, on the verse and chorus go crazy as you consider (sometimes the verse is stronger then the chorus and vice versa, adapt), and on the mambo part (the guitar, crazy instruments part) do footwork (not shines, not solo) and the outro is the outro, again it can be fast and strong, or long and fluid as the intro. Hope this helps.

[@yamatoyukihiro]

@@MariusElenaBachata This is extremely extremely helpful and exactly the answer I was looking for! You guys are my bachata heroes. haha

[@MamboManic]

That was a good video. What if girls don’t seem to have problems following my lead, but I want the connection to feel amazing? Any suggestions?

[@MariusElenaBachata]

That depends only on the level of emotional connection that you create. For that I recommend slowing down the train of thoughts, and focus on the feelings of the present... you will get a lot of non-verbal feedback from your follower, and you can act on that to create an amazing dance.

[@alfacentauri3686]

Thanks for these hints. Now, can you help me getting started in bachata socials? I've been taking classes and know enough moves, but due to Corona never attended a social until recently. And after a few moves my brain went all blank. From what I've understood this is quite common for leaders. How do I go from here to manage one or two songs without being too repetitive. The combos we learnt in class only lasted for 20-30 seconds.

[@charlottep.4843]

I don't mind dancing with a beginner that only dances a few moves. As long as we are somewhat in rhythm with the music and the lead is soft. And U smile and look me in the eyes 😊

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Heeeey... We will do some separate video "talks" about this and other topics. Coming soon. Also @charlotte P. is right. It's better to focus on a few simple moves and make your partner enjoy the dance rather than 100 combos without enjoyment.

[@djordjepejic864]

Marius, is there a chance we get a man styling video or something like that? There aren't many men recording men styling videos and I'd like to learn it

[@MariusElenaBachata]

Sure, but it really depends on what you think of "men styling". For me that is simply footwork and body movement. Men styling as a name is just marketing. Of course, just doing the moves in a "manly" way could be considered men styling. Sooo... let me know what you think and I could do some videos.

[@djordjepejic864]

@@MariusElenaBachata Thanks for replying! Body movement and footwork sound amazing! I need to work on both of those. Moving in a "manly" way sounds awesome as well. I've been watching your videos for a long time, your musicality videos helped immensely when I started dancing, so I am sure you'll make something amazing!

[@MariusElenaBachata]

@@djordjepejic864 will do some videos :)

[@djordjepejic864]

@@MariusElenaBachata Awesome, thank you so much!!!

[@LeaLittleDanishGirl]

1:33 This is so hard! 😂😅

[@gabopython]

i love your 🐓🐓🐓🐓

[@mydestination123]

Men are Always Leaders and women Always follow them, they expect only the signals while dancing...Am i right??

[@R0CK0Nbaby]

No, I've danced with plenty of amazing female leads and also seen incredible male followers in bachata dancing