A Long Break

Finally, I’ve successfully completed beginner 1 Latin ballroom class. It has been great fun dancing the Cha Cha, Rock N’ Roll and Waltz. In beginner 2, the dances that will be taught comprises of Samba, Salsa and Rumba. Yeah.. completely Latin! I’m starting to wonder if I’m cut out for Latin dances. I’m afraid.. I’m deadly afraid!

Actually, Royce, my dance instructor gave the class a brief demo on the basic of the 3 dances at the end of the last beginner 1 dance class and I have to admit, it looked difficult, especially Samba, the dance with the most movement from the waist down. The way he moved was so PRECISE and PERFECT which has made me doubt if I can ever do what he did, ever! Also, that will be the first dance that I’m going to learn in beginner 2! Salsa came next but I’ve already learned that in college last time. Last but not least, Rumba, the dance of love.. That’s another dance I’m worried about as I have not learnt it before in college, like Samba. But I had a crash course on rumba before, I mean, really a crash course. It lasted for about 10 minutes where William taught the class the basics of rumba because one of my college mate ask about it. Thank goodness for that!!!

So during the 2 weeks of break before starting beginner 2, I bought few VCDs on Latin ballroom to watch and maybe get some moves from there. The first 2 CDs I bought was on professional Latin ballroom competitions. I was in awe when I saw them dance and my jaw literally dropped to the floor. Hmm.. I wonder if I will every dance like them. Well, I doubt it.. as for now. The other 2 CDs was on Samba, the dance that I’m destined to learn. Actually I bought it because I wanted to learn before the class start so that I could get familiar with the moves and also I wanted to prove to myself that I could shake my butt like Royce did. To be more precise, it’s the shaking of hips and not the butt. But the word ‘butt’ sounds nicer. Both CDs on Samba was great as it teaches more technique than steps which what I’m aiming for. Unfortunately, there are 2 disadvantages of learning through the CDs. First, although I’m getting a head start compared to others in the class, I’m not sure if how I move is the correct way. There was once I tried to samba walk to the front and it feels like a Rumba walk. Second, the whole CD is in mandarin and I can only understand about 20% of it. I’m just trying to follow how the instructor moves in the CD!!!

Anyway, I’m prepared to forget everything I learnt from the CD and start off with a clean memory when I go for my first Samba class. Wish me all the best! I hope I can shake my hips like a pro during the class! LOL!!!