Inviting to Dance I know of one dance that is quite different from what I am going to talk about here - tango. In tango traditionally you invite using the "Cabeceo". The translation is "nod of the head", and it is a non-verbal invitation to dance. This is an excerpt from one of my books - "The Secrets of Social Dance - How to Become a Popular Dancer" which you can find on Amazon.  Basically, it works like this: The man looks at the woman, and when she meets his gaze, he nods with his head to indicate he wants to dance. If she accepts, she will move towards him, they meet an ..read more

If you are a social dancer I believe you are very smart! It's one of the best decisions you could make. Social dancing has so many benefits, but besides being an exciting and rewarding experience, it can also be very challenging or even frustrating. For follows, and maybe even more so for leads.  As a new dance lead, you may face a number of challenges that can make it difficult to progress and enjoy the experience. Here are five common challenges that a new lead may face when starting to dance, and also how to make it all easier.  Learning the Basic ..read more

In this post I quickly share 10 ways (in no specific order) you can make your dance partner happier when they dance with you. It is not all you can do, just a few pointers. You can read muuuch more in my book - "The Secrets of Social Dance - How to Become a Popular Dancer" which you can find on Amazon. Be attentive and present: Focus on your partner and be fully present in the moment you share together. This will make your partner feel appreciated and valued.  Maintain good posture: Maintain good posture and body alignment, as this will make it easier and more comfortable fo ..read more

No matter if you dance salsa, bachata, tango, kizomba, urban kiz, west coast swing, foxtrot, lindy hop or any other social dance, here are 10 tips on how to improve your dancing! Let's get to it! Practice: There is no substitute for practice. If you want to become good, you have to dance a lot. Regular practice will help you to refine your movements, build muscle memory, and become more confident on the dance floor. It also gives you an opportunity to try new techniques, experiment with different styles, and work on timing and coordination with your dance partners. How much you practice depen ..read more

  Let's clear up some misunderstandings. Here are some short answers to common questions about Kizomba Is Kizomba an African dance? Yes, Kizomba is definitely an African dance. It has origins in Angola and other former Portuguese colonies in Africa, such as Cape Verde, Mozambique, Guiné-Bissau, São Tomé e Príncipe. On the link you can read more about where Kizomba is from. And learn even more about the history of Kizomba.   Is Kizomba a Latin dance?No, Kizomba is definitely not a latin dance, even if it in many countries co-exists and is danced at the same events as S ..read more

 Some of the most common questions about Kizomba is where it comes from? Where did the dance Kizomba originate?  The Dance There has always been a bit of a debate around this. When I started dancing Kizomba in 2011 some teachers (the Angolans) claimed Kizomba was from Angola and others (the Cape Verdeans) claimed it was from Cape Verde. It seemed like it was a struggle to claim Kizomba for their own country. Now it seems to me that the general consensus favours Angola. I hear most people say the dance is from Angola. And it is clear that the word “Kizomba” is a word from Kimbund ..read more

We are in the 2020s. The world is more and more equal and open-minded. Even if traditionally there was the rule that men dance with women and that men invite to dance, now we increasingly see women dancing with women, and also men dancing with men. And it is very common that women ask men to dance, no matter what role they take on the dance floor. This is an excerpt from one of my books - "The Secrets of Social Dance - How to Become a Popular Dancer" which you can find on Amazon. I know that some women still struggle to invite men. They feel that they shouldn't have to, or that ..read more

First of all, it makes the dance technically better. When we dance couple dances there is always leading and following. The leader sends a signal and the follower has to interpret that signal. This is an excerpt from my book about musicality - "The Secrets of Musicality for Dancers - Learning Nine Essential Skills for Musicality in Dance" Just click the link.  With better technique, the leader will send a clearer signal so there will be less guessing and back-leading. And the timing of the leading will be better. The follower will be better at listening to and reacting to the si ..read more

Previously I wrote about the Positive Effects of Social Dancing. Even if I would like to talk only about the upsides, there are some downsides to social dancing too. Not that many, but some. This is an excerpt from one of my books - "The Secrets of Social Dance - How to Become a Popular Dancer" which you can find on Amazon. If you have spent any time in the scene, I think you know that it is almost addictive. People who don't dance can have a hard time understanding this feeling. We might start with a class per week. Then we start going out to dances. Maybe once a week at firs ..read more

Nice to have you here!  In this post you will read about confidence and why it is important on the dance floor. This is an excerpt from one of my books - "The Secrets of Social Dance - How to Become a Popular Dancer" which you can find on Amazon. Dare to Invite If you want to be in the dance scene and really make it pay off, you might need to invite yourself. No matter if you are a man or woman, these days, you will often have to stand on the sidelines and watch other people enjoying themselves if you only wait for others to invite you, if you expect always to be asked ..read more