Why Learn To Dance?

Many men are resistant to the idea of learning to dance – even if they secretly would love to do it.

They have the impression that dancing isn’t masculine, might make them appear “soft” or leave their sexuality open to question.

However times have changed.

More and more men are now realising that being able to dance sets them apart in a way that makes them the envy of other men and extremely attractive to women.

More and more women are pursuing their desire to dance and are actively seeking confident, charismatic men to partner them in classes and at social dance events.

In a crowded room when the music plays, the guy who wins is the one who had not just the confidence to  ask her to dance in the first place, but the skill to turn that opportunity into an unforgettable experience.

It’s Not A Level Playing Field

The idea that we are all created equal is a myth.

We are not.

There are many social situations where you will be outclassed by other men.

There will be guys with better jobs, better looks, better jokes, better cars and better conversation.

Guys with more money, more confidence and more charm.

Guys who own the room and attract more than their fair share of attention from the opposite sex.

Guys who excel in triathlons, on tennis courts and in boardrooms and bedrooms.

But all of these attributes can be negated in under a minute by the guy who owns the dance floor.

Why Salsa?

Salsa is a fast moving, exciting dance which can be elegant and classy, soft and romantic, or sexy and dramatic, depending on the music and your mood.

It has influences from other dances such as Argentine Tango, Ballroom, Theatre Jazz and American Tap so there’s a flavour to suit everyone.

It’s a social improvised dance rather than a performance based dance, so the complete opposite to stuffy ballet and ballroom classes where broomsticks often appear to be firmly up people’s backsides and noses up in the air.

In Salsa, once you learn the standard moves and footwork you can let loose and let yourself go.

It attracts people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Salsa dancing can fit to many different styles of music so will work in most social settings – weddings, parties, nightclubs, barbecues, work functions and dinner dances.

Even the kitchen and the bedroom!

What Men Can Learn From Latin Dance

The rise of feminism and the current political climate in the UK has demonised many of the traits that traditionally have made men attractive and desirable.

This has created confusion amongst men who now worry about their natural drives being perceived as toxic masculinity or misogyny.

Latin culture places a high value on masculinity, and dance is one of the ways that this is expressed. 

Salsa has a very specific masculine/feminine dynamic which requires the man to lead the dance and the lady to follow.

Learning to step up and lead with authority and assurance, but in a manner which is respectful and considerate, is one of the most powerful things a guy can learn when it comes to relating to women.

The Inner Transformation

Being confident on the dance floor means showing up differently in the world.

• More assertiveness
• More skill
• More courage
• More audacity
• More persistence
• More determination

For many guys this entails a complete reinvention of themselves.

In a roomful of people – regardless of how well you know them – we tend to revert to our comfortable and familiar behavioural patterns.

So even if you have all the dance moves under the sun, there’s a very good chance you won’t have the front to use them when it really matters.

Salsa teaches you to show up differently everywhere. You develop the inner resilience and confidence in tandem with the Salsa dance skills.

This is not about “faking it til you make it” – it’s about actually BECOMING that version of yourself.

The Struggle Is Real

The problem with learning any dance is the initial steep learning curve.

This puts most men off from even starting.

This is rarely a lack of rhythm or two left feet problem as most people like to believe. It’s just easier to call it that than admit to the fear of messing up or failing even momentarily.

So it’s really a mindset thing.

Because no one starts out great.

And this is where most traditional dance classes fall down. It’s why many guys give up in the first few weeks.

They have a one-size-fits-all approach and only scratch the surface of what a guy actually needs to learn in order to become a really good dancer.

The Pursuit Of Excellence

Men have an advantage over women in the way they approach learning Salsa and I’ve seen this play out time and time again.

Men typically have better spatial awareness and love the challenge of mastering a complex and difficult physical skill.

Once they decide to do something they just get on with it and don’t wait for validation or permission – unlike women who tend to put everyone else ahead of their own dreams and desires.

However they are often knocked back mentally by perfectionist tendencies and struggle when they don’t meet their own high expectations.

This is why private lessons are a great solution – you can learn the basics behind closed doors and build your confidence much faster without the pressure of being in a big group.

The Real Challenge For Men In Salsa Dancing

The biggest challenge guys think they face is learning and remembering enough moves.

But what if I was to tell you this:

1. Relying on memory is the most inefficient and least fun way to learn Salsa.
2. Ladies don’t care about the moves anywhere near as much as you think they do.

They care about the quality of the EXPERIENCE they have with you.

They care about connection.

They care about how your lead feels to them.

They care that you don’t ruin their favourite song.

What Followers Really Want In A Dance

They mostly want the following:

Just the right amount of challenge

To feel safe and connected.

A smooth, clear lead which isn’t forceful or jerky.

To have their boundaries respected.

To feel like the dance is spontaneous, unique and that you’ve created it especially for them in that moment – not the same routine you’ve danced with every other woman in the room.

And trust me – the good female dancers will know!

Routines Are Not Really That Helpful

Remembering moves, combinations and routines by rote is the LEAST effective way to operate on the dance floor as like computer RAM, your brain simply does not have the capacity for long chronological sequences.

Trying to remember routines is what gets in the way of you dancing freely and spontaneously,

It’s also the least fun and the most stressful for you.

It stops you responding to the music and paying attention to your partner.

You’re either panicking about trying to remember what comes next, and if she’s actually going to do it.

Or you are going on auto-pilot, churning out the same tired old sequence that you’re completely bored with (and she probably is as well if you dance with her regularly).

But there is a better way.

The True Role Of Muscle Memory

Developing muscle memory is a huge part of learning Salsa for guys. It’s what will enable your lead to be smooth, consistent, and safe.

You can think of muscle memory as being a movement repeated often enough to create a habit.

But it’s really easy – if not easier – to embed bad movement habits in the early stages of dancing as you have less body awareness and control over your muscles.

ESPECIALLY if you are taking classes with a few different teachers and going social dancing as well.

And once those bad habits are in place, they take even longer to unravel.

This is why I spend quite a bit of time working on the fundamental moves and very short combinations as this is where those muscle memories are created.

And these will form the foundations for everything you do on the dance floor so it’s important to get it right!

The Secret Of Smooth Leading

Rough and jerky leading comes from panic.

Panic comes from not having a good muscle memory for that particular move – a result of one or more of the following:

• From attempting moves above your level.
• From trying things fast before you can do them slow.
• From being out of position or off balance.
• From not being able to transfer your weight efficiently.
• From not understanding the mechanics/timing of the move or combo.
• From not knowing what good technique looks or feels like.

So all these skills have to be built through slow repetition first before increasing speed.

If you can’t do it slow you’ll never do it fast.

Smooth leading is nuanced – with micro adjustments made for every different partner and song.

Mastering Salsa One Chunk At A Time

My structured programmes will take you through the steps needed to get you creating your freestyle dances as you go along, smoothly leading a constant flow of cool combinations without having to rack your brains about what’s coming next or worry about running out of moves.

This is because you’ll learn how the best dancers improvise in real time, and how to link moves together in different ways.

It’s a different approach that will enable you to become technically AND creatively a much better social dancer and have a lot more fun as you enjoy more connection with all your partners.

And you won’t be beating yourself up for not remembering long sequences or having to drill them into auto-pilot mode so you do.

Who Is The Programme For?

• Beginner to Intermediate Men
• You want to learn correctly with emphasis on technique and improvisation skills.
• You want to up your dance game – skills, confidence, and creativity
• You want to develop an excellence mindset.

Price of the Programme

My Social Dancer Packages are going up to £395 on 1st January 2025.

You can beat this price rise by paying in full for your package now even if you don’t start your sessions until the New Year.

Step 1: Application Form

I have very limited availability for private lesson clients, especially in the evenings.

To apply, use the form below to send a message with your preferred days/times, current level of dancing and lesson goals/reasons for learning.