So you took the plunge and decided to learn to dance Salsa On2!  Welcome ? The Salsa On2 community is HUGE, not just here in Toronto or New York (home of salsa on2), but all around the world!   As an On1 dancer learning to dance On2, you can take advantage of the familiar as you overcome the challenges.    THE FAMILIAR  Whether you're dancing salsa on1 or on2, the music is the same.  The rhythm of salsa (quick-quick-slow/1,2,3, 5,6,7) is the same. General "moves" including the basic steps are the the same (shines and partner work).  The difference is ..read more

iFreeStyle.ca students in downtown Toronto, Canada! Have you ever asked yourself this question?  Seems like common sense, right?  Show up to class, learn some moves, meet some people, feel awesome!  A great experience needs some self-awareness and awareness of others. Let's look at this a little closer. Firstly, why do we even learn to dance? 8 REASONS WE LEARN TO DANCE (VOLUNTARILY) There are umpteen reasons but here are 10 common ones. Learn to dance (duh!) Meet new people (for friendship or perhaps more... but don't be creepy in class) Escape from the daily grind an ..read more

If you’re a Latin danceaholic, your first few experiences watching two people tear it up on the dance floor probably got you hooked.  You might have been enticed by the sensuality, the rawness, the fun, the partner connection, the music, or simply how cool they looked… “It looks like so much fun!” “I love the music!”  “I NEED to know how to do this and impress my friends”  “If he can dance with so many hot girls, so can I!” “Look at those awesome shoes! I want to dance in those shoes!” So you started taking classes, picked up some moves from YouTube, tried club classes and ..read more

(repost from 2014) Many of us have been there before… when you’ve been dancing a while, it’s not uncommon to suddenly feel uninspired, unmotivated, almost empty inside.  It sucks.  Maybe you feel like you’ve plateaued, or you just don't enjoy it the way you used to .  It feels like someone threw a bucket of water over the fire that has kept you dancing your heart out all these years.  You feel lost because you can’t remember life without dance ?… What happened?  And what do I do now?   At this point there are a few common reactions: You second g ..read more

​Latin Dance festivals have been around for more than 20 years now.  In that time, they’ve grown from one festival every few months for the whole world, to 4-7 festivals every weekend in different cities around the world, at the same time.  Our dance communities have exploded into an international network with dancers demanding more - it's a "buyer's market" with so many options out there.  Festivals must meet or exceed those expectations in order  thrive, or even just survive. Some events deliver on expectations, the great ones over-deliver, but unfortunately many have no ..read more

We’ve all heard the saying “the follower is at the mercy of the leader”, and to a great extent it’s true.  We’re supposed to follow his choice of moves, how and when he wants to do it.  And when feels good, it’s oh sooo good – it flows effortlessly, it’s musical, it’s playful and she can’t wait for the next dance.  As followers, we seek those leaders who we connect with, who adapt to our skill level but can challenge us, those who share a similar groove, taste for musical style and enjoys interacting with us, not just dancing AT us. Every follower has her own special mix of tra ..read more

Ladies… so you think you had a super fun dance with a great dancer.  But you wonder why he never asks you for a second dance.  Most guys won’t tell you why, but here are some common reasons…   FINGER SQUEEZING Unfortunately, leaders are subject to the dreaded “finger squeeze” by women supporting their weight and balance by squeezing their partner’s fingers like they’re milking a cow.  If you’re a finger squeezer, you’re a potential source of injury for your partner.  Make it a priority to improve your balance and own your steps to avoid benching him.  Injured me ..read more

(repost from 2014) We live in the era of instant gratification.   We want to see results ASAP, right now… yesterday even.   We like challenge, but don't let your ego get in the way of your own growth. When it comes to dancing, it’s a bad idea to skip or rush through learning the fundamentals.    If you want to know why, READ ON.  While the reasons can apply to dances in general, we’ll focus on the Latin street dances – salsa, bachata, cha cha. 5 REASONS WHY INVESTING TIME IN LEARNING THE BASICS IS A GOOD IDEA The basic steps, timing, and techniqu ..read more

Some of you were probably hoping that this wouldn’t be on the list of “HOW TO A BETTER DANCER”.  Pero si, it’s definitely on the list.  Some of the most admired Latin dancers in the world can throw down and burn the floor with funky, sexy, playful and always musical footwork (otherwise known as "shines" in salsa and cha cha).  Needless to say, their talents go beyond just turn patterns.  While partner connection is the essence of the Latin dances, evolution has brought other elements that allow for individual freedom of expression.  If you’re thinking “I hate shines ..read more

This blog, originally posted back in November 2007, is dedicated to an iFreeStyle student and friend who, like many shy intermediate salsa, bachata and cha cha dancers wanted to know how to “crack the code” on how to get more dances… This one is for you! Enjoy my friend and I hope it helps! If you’re SHY or NEW to the Latin dance community in your city, it may be scary to ask complete strangers to dance.  You might be a beginner (stay tuned for more on that), or you may have been dancing for a while and you don’t understand why experienced dancers aren’t asking you to dance. W ..read more