SalsabyJake.com

Welcome to SalsabyJake.com - Jake's Salsa Dance site for the San Francisco Bay Area...

	Dance Humor...	Welcome to SalsabyJake.com, the home for Jake's Salsa Instruction and information in the San Francisco Bay Area. JAKE has studied and taught Salsa for over 12 years in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has spread the SF style in clubs worldwide. He taught at the original legendary Emeryville Kimball's Carnival, the Bay Area's former premier Salsa Club for over 3 years, and at the Bay Area's longest running nightclub and Salsa Studio, Alberto's Nightclub in Mountain View for over 2 years. Jake and his former partner Techi's teaching methodology, style, and sense of humor became a favorite in the Bay Area Salsa scene over the years. SalsabyJake teaches at several locations around the Bay Area,including Cafe Cocomo in San Francisco, which is now the premier spot for Salsa in the Bay Area, developing a loyal following after opening over 8 years ago. Cafe Cocomo was favorably reviewed in both the 2002 - 2006 Zagat Guides to Nightlife in the S.F. Bay Area, with the "fabulous instructors" being mentioned as well (that's us) - the only Salsa instructors noted in the Guide! . SalsabyJake's Salsa classes are taught with all dancing levels in mind, going into important detail about the patterns taught, and the means for making them easy to dance, and attractive to watch. Classes are kept "light" too, so that even those dancers struggling with new moves for the first time feel at ease and remember that dancing is for fun! Many dancers in the Bay Area started dancing with Jake - class attendance has topped 50,000 people over the years with steady growth. Our experience and dedication to teaching solid dance skills that work well in any dance setting, and their commitment to building the Salsa dance community, make him a clear choice for learning to dance Salsa. WINTER 2007 edition is HERE! A FREE Salsa publication with articles spanning the Salsa lifestyle. Introductory issue contains some features written by your's truly. Check it out at your favorite Salsa venue. Or visit: www.iSalsa.net -Jake . Pick one up from us at the club... FOR A COOL WEB-BASED VERSION OF iSALSA, please visit this link at isalsa.idigitaledition.com Jake's Boot Camp: A new Concept in learning about Salsa dance and music... Check out a new web site where multiple dancers and musicians are contributing content to help you learn their secrets of how to dance to and understand Salsa music. JakesBootCamp.com Click on the image below to access this site and learn more! Jake is planning to produce content for this site as well in the near future... (brought to you by SalsaCrazy) What We Teach... (updated 8/1/2007) Why you're here: (or looking at taking our classes): SalsabyJake has developed great methods for dancing and teaching Salsa. We concentrate on teaching the details and nuances of our technique so that you can develop your basic dancing skills first. Sound's boring, huh? Well not really - when you think about what makes the dancers you appreciate great. By developing a solid skill-set for dancing with a partner, you can focus your attention and energies when you dance on the two most important things: (1) Your partner, and (2) the Music! (rather than always thinking about the dance - "what am I (or they) going to do next?" "Can I lead/follow it?" "Does it look right?") Dancers that hear the music well and let it move them create expression and they are naturally the most beautiful to watch - and have the most fun too. The fun is vital to your presence on the dance floor and if you build your confidence by learning the important techniques, you can free yourself to have fun. What about "attitude"? There is plenty of "attitude" out there in the Salsa scene. Some of it, you don't want! -Like the dancers that spend all of their time showing off, doing acrobatics, or trying to prove they're better than everyone else. Doesn't that show through? The real attitude that is charismatic and makes people appreciate your dancing is the inner confidence you exhibit, your love and appreciation of the music when you're dancing, and your connection to your partner. That shines through much more truly and brightly. In an profile of Kofi Annan (formely director of the U.N.) in the New Yorker (3/3/2003), author Philip Gourevitch describes Annan's interest in dance (yes, he dances) this way: "He loves to dance, and he does so with the sort of undemonstrative panache that draws one's attention as if by seeking to deflect it - through finesse and understatement, expressing warmth while manifesting cool." We're not sure if Kofi Annan dances Salsa, but this skillful description certainly applies to many of the best Salsa dancers too... . How do I learn Style? This is an interesting question that crosses the minds of many new dancers and experienced dancers that are looking to become more competent on the dance floor. The answer is simple: "You don't learn style". Style is an individual characteristic that can only develop when you possess both confidence and competence when dancing. It is an extension of your own personality. As such, you need to let it happen and focus on your dance skills first. It is certain that stylistic influences will play a role when you become more experienced and you try what you see others (role models) doing. But please remember that not all of what you see will work for you! If you force it, you risk looking like a "clone" dancer with no individual style. And bear in mind that a teacher who concentrates heavily on teaching Style to beginning/intermediate dancers is probably not doing a great service to those dancers, since they end up concentrating on superfluous styling rather than good dance skills. Dancers who focus too much on styling too early look mechanical, and very labored in doing a series of motions (you know - holding the fingers out a certain way, shoulder shimmy here, kick there - on every other step, etc...) that don't necessarily even fit them, while having difficulty in enjoying the dancing itself because of their shifted focus away from the music or their partner or movement. Salsa is very special, in that it HAS no particular style requirements - great for innovating dancers developing their own style! Things that don't mix: Oil/Water. . . . Beginning Dancers/Styling Classes! . What we do for you... We focus on social dancing and we believe in the power of the partnership connection.This allows you to communicate through dance with people from around the world and speak (as to Salsa) what is rapidly becoming a worldwide language... We try to teach you skill that will allow you to express yourself to the music, and develop your own unique style. We teach you how the dance ties in with the music. (Jake is also a musician). This also enables you to learn/absorb more from other dancers/teachers, etc. - even for other dances. Add to that a million great and original patterns that are accessible to dancers at all levels, and a deep understanding of the music, and it summarizes *What We Teach...* *For answers to many of the common questions we receive about learning to dance, please read the sections below...* Back to top of SalsabyJake.com M I S C O N C E P T I O N S (Part I) "I'm just a follower, I don't need lessons..." Jake's snide reply: "But do you really follow everything?" Followers DO need lessons, even though they do not need to remember patterns. Following is a SKILL that needs to be learned and our lessons focus on that technique. Styling/ability are also important parts of what you can get out of classes. Just look at the many ways a couple will do the same move (for example in a group class) and you'll realize how much these play a role. By learning technique and developing styling, the men you dance with will know they can do all of their material with you (a lot more fun for you) and you'll be able to enjoy dancing and music more since you won't be distracted by stressing over whether you can follow the leads given. We rotate partners in all of our classes too: a vital part of learning to follow. Some things that leaders do are "fashionable" or current and, some involve knowledge on the part of followers (i.e. not 100% leadable on their own). This is another reason followers need to take classes - to stay current. M I S C O N C E P T I O N S (Part II) "I've been dancing a while now. Lessons are no benefit" Jake's more diplomatic reply: "Perhaps, but have you taken a class lately?" It is absolutely true that you will pick up less new content in class after many sessions, compared to when you just began. But even if you learn the same pattern, your knowledge of dancing will allow you to pick out more detail on the execution and styling that could make a huge difference. There are many dancers out there who are so close to dancing really well, but lack a few really important techniques (they develop bad habits, so to speak). A tune up can go a long way to improve your dancing. Finally, dancing can always get better. My partners and I are much better dancers than when we started, and our classes have become more and more refined as a result. So, we are able to explain many of the subtleties of the moves that can help you tremendously. And we work very hard to explain everything (not common in the dance scene - in fact some teachers think that would be a conflict of interest!). And besides, don't you just love my sick jokes??? . *Why you should consider dancing Salsa. . .* For some of you reading this, the question may seem silly. While some people grow up with Latin music and rhythms, and moving to those sounds is as natural as breathing, others with no background may be drawn in by the look of the dance and seeing others enjoy themselves at a nightclub. Besides the very obvious social benefits and fun of dancing, Salsa, as we dance it is the essence of what is rapidly growing in popularity in the U.S. now . . . . PARTNER DANCING. Many people are re-discovering what we have known for quite some time now. It is great fun to dance in contact with someone else! Our style of dancing is quite technical, and the skills you develop learning it will help you throughout your life for any type of dance. Knowing the nuances of partner dancing will allow you to make that connection to your partner and music that is so satisfying. For some people, it is also a challenge just to LET GO in public enough to allow the expression that goes along with the dance. In that sense, dancing "pushes the envelope" of your personality, and builds confidence. The result is very beneficial as well. (The Zen of dance) Of course dancing can bring you enjoyment for your entire life, and everyone loves dancers. Go to any restaurant, party, or nightclub and get up to DO something when the music comes on, and watch everyone's eyes light up. . . Have I given you enough motivation yet? *What to watch out for...* Salsa is a street dance. As such there are no accredited teachers. So, look for experience in your teachers, and be sure they have the ability to convey to you the important aspects of the dance , so you can learn faster and in more detail, instead of spinning your wheels forever in class. You can learn a lot from different teachers too. So beware of teachers demanding your absolute loyalty because, besides reeking of self-interest, it limits what you can get from dancing, which is inspiration from a variety of sources, a sense of community, and socializing with everyone on the scene. The kind of competition that turns students against one another is very destructive to the dance community. Understand that each teacher will probably teach you what works for them, and that strictly speaking, there is no right or wrong. So, you might be advised differently by different teachers, and you will have to decide what is best for you. All in all, you should look for sources to help you get more comfortable with your own dancing, and promote the fun, social life, and relaxation that dancing provides most of us. And if you're motivated to perform or compete, ensure that you don't leapfrog the basics and go directly to the "flash". The basics enable you to do the hard stuff and they provide you with a longer lasting skill-set than a bunch of show moves... Avoid teachers that let you get away with things like dancing off-beat. That is not in your interest and essentially trains you do repeat mistakes! Finally, look for a teacher that can explain WHY they want you to do things a certain way, rather than simply saying "Do this" or "Do that". There are reasons that make sense for dancing well, just like a coach has reasons for advising an athlete on how to do things well. *Salsa still is THE Partner Dance...* Salsa is one of the most sensual, fun, and exciting forms of partner dance today. So remember: to be a good Salsa dancer, you MUST learn to dance with others! It is quite simple: if you have good dance skills and good partner skills, you can dance with even a total stranger and have fun (which is part of the mystique). HOW TO RATE A GOOD TEACHER: This is a complicated issue, but besides just enjoying their classes - be SURE that you can dance with others when you go out dancing! If you learn skills only applicable to a small group of dancers, then there is a fundamental flaw in what you're being taught! Be sure you can apply your skills to dance with anyone, anyplace. Don't let the "partner"in partner dancing become secondary. *"How long will it take me to get 'good' ?"* The time it takes to learn something is different for everyone, since everyone is different! MANY people ask this question, but there is no set rule for how long it will be until you've "learned"since as with many skills or arts, you continue to learn throughout your life. In terms of the basics and reaching a certain level of expertise, the time it will take you depends on many things, including your previous experience with dance, knowledge of music, how much you enjoy the learning process, how often you go out dancing, whom you dance with and take classes from, and how hard you apply yourself. So, there is no real set answer. But as long as you are learning and improving and having some fun, that in itself usually provides enough enjoyment to keep you highly motivated! And remember, the goal is not to simply learn dance steps/patterns, but to achieve a level of skill that will allow YOU to express yourself and have some fun out there... *"Which timing should I learn?"* If you don't understand this question, let me start with a short explanation. Dancing on the West coast has been mainly "on-1" timing (short for "breaking on 1", the "break" being when your legs step apart)) over the years until recently. This is what we teach in our classes and it is the focus of many of the powerhouse teachers in Los Angeles as well. But on the East coast, things are different. Salsa is really an outgrowth of Mambo and New Yorkers (about 1/2 of them anyway) dance a different step and timing called "on-2". (There are different types of on-2 timing also, but the dominant form is actually the most recent one taught by Eddie Torres in NYC) With the explosion of Salsa popularity in recent years, the world has become much smaller, with teachers traveling all over the globe to spread their styles. This affected California as well, with some teachers adopting the on-2 style here and teaching it (as gospel in some cases) in their classes. It tends to be embraced more by the "serious" dancers than the average club dancer. What should you learn? One downside of the variety is compatibility. You cannot dance on-1 with someone who only dances on-2 or you will be bumping into each other on every measure! Here on the west coast, a typical nightclub will mainly be populated by on-1 dancers, and hence we still recommend that as the best way to learn and find plenty of social dance partners. Even the on-2 teachers (teachers that focus on that timing) mainly teach on-1 in club gigs they do for that reason. Our classes are on-1 timing. If you're looking to expand your horizons to learn the whole gamut of things out there, and have the ability to dance with anyone anywhere, then clearly you will want to learn both timings. How do you learn both timings? The answer to this is personal and it depends on which teachers you follow. One thing that is very confusing about the two styles is that the techniques taught are VERY different, even though they accomplish the same thing (to dance with a partner). Trying to absorb both timings as a beginner can be very challenging and perhaps frustrating to the point of failure. We suggest that you learn one timing or the other well, before attempting to incorporate both into your abilities. We tried on-2 timing years ago and found this confusion too. However, if your dance skills are solid, including having impeccable timing with the music, the transition from one to the other will be very easy. So, "LEARN ONE first and then try the other" is our advice. Patterns vary between the two styles too, but those are much easier to deal with if you are already an experienced dancer. Beware of teachers claiming that one is more correct than the other! This is divisive to the dance community and it simply has no real basis. While Mambo may be on-2, there are scores of wonderful dancers that express the music clearly through on-1 dancing. Another argument is that the "clave is on-2". The clave is the basis of Latin musical styles so it is important indeed. But the clave has two styles too - one starting on the first beat and the second starting on the second beat of a musical measure! These conflicting facts and points of view obscure the basis of all dancing: To express the music well, which can be done with a large variety of timings. For social dancing however, you have to dance what your partner is dancing to communicate. So, keeping the number of these timings to a minimum is very useful! Personally, I view the two dominant timings as two flavors of ice-cream. Both are enjoyable and just taste a little different. For more information on musical terms, see our Where's the Beat page. *Calling all dancers...* While we don't claim to "know it all", we are very confident in our analytical skills when it comes to partner dancing. We also see many dancers that have been dancing for years that could benefit greatly by a small tune up in their techniques. So, while we don't solicit private lessons aggressively, we can't help but notice how we could offer help, and we'd like you to consider a private, whatever your level, to get a fresh perspective and possibly improve your dancing and fun greatly... Jake says: "Give me an hour and I'll change your life!" (Yeah, right. I've heard that one before!) . *Where's the Beat?! ...What is Clave or Conga?* Salsa dancers who are starting out sometimes have difficulty hearing where the beat is, and therefore they have trouble knowing when to step. For more help with this, or just a better understanding of the various rhythms you hear in the music at the club (Conga vs. Clave vs. piano, etc), plus a Salsa Timing Course, please go to the new Salsa Rhythms page by CLICKING HERE. The more you understand themusic, the more fun you'll have dancing to it and being a part of it in the clubs. There are also instruction DVDs available from that page in conjunction with SalsaCrazy.com. For the Latest News about our classes or other happenings around town, Please Click Here: For information on our Salsa Classes, Please Click Here: For information on our Salsa Workshops, Please Click Here: Contact Information and Mailing List: For bookings, private lessons, etc. please email Jake using our web contact form. or email us at : JOIN JAKE'S EMAIL LIST: Just use our simple email signup form to get on the list, and don't worry - we do not send out loads of junk mail! We only send class announcements and special event notifications... Privacy Policy: We do not share email addresses with other promotors. Telephone: 510-652-7443 Back to top of SalsabyJake.com Dance Shoes: You need leather sole shoes to dance Salsa and be able to turn. Street shoes can be used, but they tend to be a little slippery on a good hardwood dance floor. Don't wear rubber (unless the floor is filthy) because it is like wearing brakes! Real dance shoes have a suede bottom, which is a little more grippy, but just right. In many clubs, the floors will tend to be slippery, in which case a shoe with a hard rubber sole is good as well (dance practice shoes or "dance sneakers" have this, but may not be acceptable to the club dress code). You can also take your favorite pair of shoes and put a hard rubber "sole guard" (thin Vibram brand sole- about 1/32" thick) at the local shoe repair, and this will be a good all-around surface for many locations. Plus, you don't need to worry in the rainy season!. Many people mail order dance shoes, and then numbers below represent some of the available outlets for suede bottom dance shoes... Professional Dance Shoes: For others, please refer to Henry's Hot Dancelist, in LINKS , for numerous dance resources. International Dance Shoes: 800-745-4758 (now combined with Showtime below) Showtime Dance Shoes: 800-433-5541 www.showtimedanceshoes.com Champion Dance Shoes: 800-40-DANCE www.championdanceshoes.com SupaDance: 800-888-5429 www.supadance.com (now combined with Showtime above - talk about consolidation!) DanceSport Shoes: 402- 689-9987 www.dancesportshoes.com Elegance Dance Shoes (L.A.) 818-788-3216 www.elegance-shoes.com DanceHappy : www.dancehappy.com DanceDresser: www.dancedresser.net Shoes, Clothes, Accessories 407-774-1106 or 800-774-1106 DanceShoePlus (Miami) - www.danceshoeplus.com or phone 727-447-0589 Dance Shoes Ballroom - www.danceshoesballroom.com or phone (800) 774-1106 -new 2005 LOCAL (S.F. Bay Area) DANCE SHOE STORES: Ballroom Connection , Sunnyvale CA: www.ballroom-connection.com ONLINE SALES: There is a new site called DanceShoesOnline.com that has a very large selection of shoes and sneakers for all types of dance. Check them out, and please let me know what you think of the quality of their product. Port Dance: www.PortDance.pt A newer vendor in Europe. Nice collection and site, have not tried ordering yet. Let me know youre experiences if you do! Please let us know if you have any questionable experiences with these vendors. Some have contacted us and we would like to only keep links that are reputable and good service. Dance Sneakers/Practice Shoes: For some people, wearing practice shoes is just simply more comfortable on the feet. There are a variety of cool "dance sneakers" available now. One of the most popular models is the Dance sneaker by Bloch. You can find Bloch shoes at a variety of sites, including www.Zappo.com and www.DiscountDance.com. Capezio also makes this type of shoe (www.CapezioDance.com) In fact there are 20 different styles available on one of the websites we visited recently. (We recommend against ordering from Dance4Less.com since we had a bad experience with that outfit in Nevada.) Most classy nightclubs have dress codes that disallow tennis shoes or "sneakers". But these dance sneakers come in black and should cause no problems, especially in light of the more casual attire people wear now to dance. NOTE: Dance sneakers provide more padding for the foot for comfort, but they are not as strong structurally as a good dance shoe (i.e. professional non-sneaker shoe). For some people, the structure protects the feet more than padding since it resists twisting forces on the foot. A good professional shoe is therefore our shoe of choice. Foot care/Inserts/Orthotics: Dancing has one price for all of its enjoyment: it is hard on the feet! Salsa is an intense dance and the intensity can take its toll on your feet over the long term. Additionally, most places that offer dancing don't have the best flooring available and a hardwood floor installed over a hard surface (like cement) can be very unforgiving. Since you want to dance for your whole life, then a little thought about foot care early can go a long way to make that a reality. We have worn professional dance shoes almost since we started, since they provide very good support. Now, many people wear dance sneakers too, since they offer more padding and a sole that is adaptable for any surface (and it doesn't wear out or get damaged when wet). Dance sneakers have a split sole, so there can actually be more pressure on your meta-tarsel area wearing them. So, that is a trade-off. I've seen one teacher (and some of his students) wearing a jazz shoe that only offers about 1/16" leather sole between the foot and the floor. This gives a great "feel" of the floor for your footwork, but it also is questionable footwear for long term use. Techi found a great product - an insert that she adds to her dance shoes. This increases the structural integrity of her high-heels by providing better arch support and a meta-tarsel pad. Jake has had some foot problems recently and found that the same insert helped tremendously. Check them out at www.pedagusa.com. We wear the "Holiday" model and there is also a full size "Viva" model. We found these online for about $14. This is a type of "orthotic" which helps your foot maintain a good position and also provides padding at critical joints. Other basic padded inserts can help with shock absorbtion too. See your local shoe repair or search online for such products. There is a good web site (with a Bay Area location) called FeetRelief.com where you can order these great products. Protect your dear ol' feet since you only get one pair! A podiatrist should be consulted for any serious foot pain and experiments with foot care products. Back to top of SalsabyJake.com Dance Music: Needless to say, there is a HUGE amount of music available that is great for dancing Salsa (that's why we're here right?).Many students ask about music that is good for practice. When you start learning to dance, it may be difficult for you to keep up with the tempo of Salsa Music, since you have so many things to remember (leading, following, feet, hands!). So, slower tempo music is great for building your skills. You should ALWAYS count when learning, and maybe beyond.The simplest reason for this is that dancing is an expression of music, and as such it must follow the music. ALL musicians count when they learn music, so we have to as well. As you learn, you can count with the music to keep your moves onbeat. After you get more experience, counting is still important for difficult moves, or when the music rhythms are very complex, and you need to count to stay on tempo through the "rough" spots in the music. Ask your favorite D.J. for selections when you visit the clubs..or listen to stations like (see below) Live365.com .. or ask Jake about the CD's used in class... will try to update this sometime in the future... Having a party and need a great DJ? Ask Jake about DJ and live band recommendaions... Like hot Salsa Music all day long? Check out the internet radio station of the Bay Area's own DJ La Coqui, Ivette Fuentes radio show on live365.com. Click here: Sabor Boricua to listen on your computer... Also, check out Jessie "Chuy" Varela's Latin show on 94.1 KPFA, Sundays 1-4pm. Back to top of SalsabyJake.com last modified: Jan 23, 2008 ©1997-2008 Jake Jacobs This site or any of its content may not* be used in any form without the expressed written permission of Jake Jacobs.*