Yesterday I had been to Zenzi Mills, for the Pre-New Years Bash. The party was at the Ist floor instead of the the usual ground floor, that meant a large place to dance and place for beginners like me to get indulged and practice my moves.
It was a great party, the crowd usually coming in very late and there wasn’t much of a forum for the tango lessons as I was told. But slowly and surely the crowd trickled in and it was getting to one of the best parties I attended especially because of the number of new comers.
Except for a few downers, like a bunch of Australian women out there, who were indulging this young unruly kid who was buying them free drinks.I must commend Santosh the Instructor from Salsa India for doing his job so well, he kept a very kool head and asked the guy to take the walk with the Australian women who he was trying to buy out.
I can understand a complete newcomer to the Salsa scene misbehaving, but what I cannot understand is regulars to the Salsa party who misbehave. I was particularly shocked to see a guy who is almost at all the Salsa Parties,forcing a kiss on a girl, after dancing K-style bachata on the dance floor. After being reprimanded, he explains, this is how things work and beginners should know.
As per the usual customs of social dancing, girls generally don’t refuse anyone for a dance, and if that is taken as a consent to molest her, I can predict that Salsa dancing as a social activity in clubs would die a premature death,and we would be restricted to hold dance events in school halls, where the deadline would be 9pm.
what do you ladies think? If any of you feel you have been abused in the name of power or dance, and want to warn these predators, write to me at manoj@mumbaisalsa.info
P.S For people who are wondering what’s K-Style Bachata is, “its a sensual form of dance, where the guys right leg are essentially(well most of the time) between the girls legs” still don’t get it, check out kaytee dancing in this video
December 28th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Hi Manoj,
Well good to hear the you are also getting addicted by salsa dancing
I’m Donnie from Holland and I’m dancing a lot of styles of Latin dance for many year.
I have some comments on your blog,
1st: Bachata Dance
Dancing you always do with two people, if a girl of boy doesn’t fancy to dance with the other than this is her/his choice. Everybody has a choice to dance with someone if she of he is asked to dance and so also with Bachata.
If you Google Bachata than you will find out that this dance/music comes from Dominican Republic. It is a warm, passion able dance. Which also can danced very sensual if both dancers allow this!! But as a dancer Bachata is not the only style which can be danced sensual. If you are creative enough than almost every dance can be danced sensual. So about this K-style Bachata this is nothing new or special. It is just a creative way of dancing and if Kaytee wants to called it K-style, well than it is his choice if haven’t seen anything new what made me call it a new style. If have seen some other youtube movies about him and he has a nice hip hop flow and he plays that flow into salsa and bachata, which I think is great…
About bachata just check these links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cehkSxOLNA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GKzbyaEPGY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEH8dXEr2iI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM5IsLETsuw
And also google “bachata tango”
2nd Abuse
For the girls: if you don’t want to dance to close with male just put the palm of your right hand on the front right shoulder of the male, so now he can not come close during the dance. And if he still doesn’t understand the hint, just say it !! And if his IQ is below 5 than just quiet the dance… And if his male ego didn’t understand that and he keep on bugging you, just go to the party organisation and complain about him. The organisation must take care of guys who are having trouble with understanding when to stop.
Manoj the guy who told you that this is how things work, should be banned from the scene. If you can not control himself then he should go to other places where these things are normal.
December 29th, 2009 at 2:01 am
Hi Donnie,
Those You tube videos links are amazing, had seen some of them before, and saw some of it for the first time.
Its a priviledge to get an expert opinion from you, such is the magic of dance.
I hope the girls take your advise.
Cheers
December 29th, 2009 at 3:18 am
Hi Manoj!
I absolutely agree with Donnie. I have been dancing Bachata for plenty of years to know that there’s no K-style Bachata. It’s simply Bachata which, by the way, is danced in a very close hold.
Thankfully, I have not been misbehaved with too much. But, yes! This is the first thing instructors tell girls that if they do not want to be too close to the guy, they should put their left palm flat on the guy’s right shoulder. If the girls are aware enough and if they REALLY don’t want to get too close, they can totally command the situation.
I personally never decline anyone for a dance. But if they are trying ‘things’ out on me, I take charge and get out of the dance sooner by simply saying a sweet ‘thank you’ and ‘Í need some water’.
Priya
December 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am
can u please tell the name of the guy u r talking about?
December 29th, 2009 at 11:01 am
i don’t think it has anything to do with K style Bachata. it can happen in any dance anywhere and if the girl is comfortable with the guy nobody can do anything but, if the guy is forcing the girl he can be taken to task. So, again please don’t try to give bad publicity to K style bachata for that matter
December 29th, 2009 at 11:28 am
@Priya thanks for sharing your views.
@pk are you going to be India for sometime? or heading back to boston?
December 29th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Hi Manoj and Priya,
First of all, I am not an expert just a guy who loves Latin music and dance. I must say in Holland there are also boys who are hunting like preditors as soon as they hear bachata music. Well these loosers dont think by using there head but by using their……
ANd most girls know these type of guys so they are mostly rejected and once in while they are lucky to catch a beginner or they are fed by a girl who is charmed by them.
But watching from Holland seeing you guys dancing salsa, bachata and merenque, makes me think to come to Indian soon and join your salsa party’s.. Hopefully soon..you never know.
By the way of you talk about expert of salsa/mambo than I think of, Frankie Martinez, Adolfo, Super Mario, Santo Rico and so on….
And Priya, Bachata comes from Domincan Republic these guys dance it but without the close hold. The close hold is just a way to dance….
Best
Donnie
June 14th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
he he ….so typicalindian mentality!!These kind of comments happen in india only.social dancing happens teh worldover and no bigeal.
August 6th, 2010 at 10:37 am
What a cool dance? Whats wrong with dat ?