Costa Rica
by While I could spend a lot of your time telling you all about the great time you missed out on in Costa Rica, but... I will get straight to the point. I missed out on some good times. I've come to realize that if you want to have a good time, you need to know how to dance. Girls love to dance. Spanish girls LOVE to dance to salsa and merengue. So, who'd like to help me get good at these? What about swing dancing, it's not all the rage anymore, but it's still fun. I would love to know what the heck I'm doing next time I'm asked to dance to these kinds of music, and that way, I won't miss out on good times.
Requirements: Teaching me some moves, and helping me practice.
My goal: Many more good times wherever I go.
So...are there any volunteers?
PS: Am I looking for dates? NO! I just want to have some fun. Plus Ezabel isn't a dating service. That's why there's JWMATCH.com.(joke)
AI Summary
85 Comments
me me me! i volunteer! im a good teacher. i have taught many folks how to salsa. as for my creditials: i came in second place in a swing dancing contest and third place in a salsa contest. but im sorta far away.
ps: the most important thing about dancing is having fun. skills is far behind that.
this is true, but I'm a little too proud sometimes to look like a loser. Um, I'd love to dance it up sometime, not right away, because I have a lot of little things going on. New car to finish paying for, hours to make up in service, and snowboarding pass to get (maybe...maybe not). Once I've got these things squared away, I'm totally down!
thats great. things are crazy busy here as well. our move in date is 11/25 (the day after thanksgiving) and well that a big deal. we havent moved in over 25 years. ive been living out of a suitcase at my grams since august. i am looking forward to something more permanent.
however, i am a really good teacher. i will ezmessage you with my idea.
im debating on a season pass myself.
i was at that spanish dancing contest where you came in third! (i think?!?) that was good times. i danced a LOT that night
yes you were! we rightfully should have come in second if it werent for the homostyle dancing of two of nys finest.
Merengue is fun and easy. I can't salsa to save my life. Just don't have that rhythym.
I've got one volunteer, so far, thanks summer. Who else?
i can help you buddy. just let me know when.
oh, you're really good with swing, right? Definitely would love your help. Do you do salsa and merengue, too?
si senor, puedo bailar la merengue y salsa un pocito
que bueno, mi amigo. No puedo esperar!
Ok todd, you bring the women and i'll bring the moves. No really, i'll get you started...
I don't know that I trust you on this one... (you just sound sneaky) :p
hahaha. pat is a sneaky one but he is a really good dancer of the spanish music. i'm sure he could show the moves off. well...moves he thinks he has ;)
ok todd this is what we're going to do, I'll bring ally, cuz she's a really good dancer and you just need to bring your own partner...
okay, so who wants to be my dance partner? (preferably someone who can already do this stuff. We don't need to have 2 beginners.)
i might be avaiable. depends on when and where.
I love this journal! the last sentence is funny!
& your right we spanish woman love to dance it is in our veins!
I LOVE swing dancing and wish i could do it.
you also should get into country line dancing its beyond awesome, and fairly easy.
um, I'll continue to pass on country line dancing.
that may be the smartest statement I've ever heard you make.
ha ha, no its actually really awesome.
i've spent enough time at the colorado cafe to know it's not for me. :)
ha ha, yeah its definatly not for everyone. its like swing dancing, just not for everyone.
I kinda want to learn how.
it's a dollar and all ages we can go
It's a dollar?? For what? Not for a lesson? Did they always charge for that?
Yeah what's the dollar for? I saw this and wondered where there could be such a great deal...
cover charge-but i just looked at the website and it looks to me like its $3.
there isnt really a "lesson". its more like an aerobics class, i think. like all line dancing, you just follow the group. i think they did teach one new dance when we went but i dont really remember.
ouch, should I take offense at this? haha?
I'm shocked you went to this country and didn't brush up on your moves FIRST! You coulda brought home a Costa Rican wife.
you have a point. But everyone who knows me well, knows that I've been far too busy to brushup on anything, really. Besides, doesn't hurt to platonically adventure in Costa Rica. Nice place, great food, great people!
you serious? i thought you knew how to dance? seriously if you cna swing you can salsa. some of the moves are the same, but different beats.
i'll teach you what i know.... :P
so true! the "figures" are all the same, but the lindy is onesided and salsa is symmetrical.
yay! I do know how to dance a little bit. But I want to be fluid, and ...great. haha. I like dancing, when I'm not embarrassed about how silly I must look. Anyone who has seen me dance knows that I'm not ALWAYS embarrassed about how silly I look. I just need to feel comfortable enough that I know what I'm doing, and what to do next.
I've realized two important things:
1st: I know that to get good, I'm going to have to practice what I know.
2nd: Getting some salsa/merengue music to listen to so I at least know the "hip" songs to dance to, and know what's coming up in the music would help me immensely. What I mean is, I need to get familiar with specific songs.
i learned to swing by watching my grandparents. but i learned latin from doing it. i was going to my first "spanish" party and my "friend" informed me that they wouldnt play american music so i wouldnt be able to dance (read: dont bother coming). i asked her grandma to help me and after one evening i could salsa. she set me up in the living room with the radio on while she was cooking dinner and started me off and came out to check on my progress every once in a while. "no no stop moving your shoulders. you look american." so for the longest time i danced salsa like a grandma. but after i started going out to parties and clubs more, i loosened up again.
in theory, girls who already can follow dont need to learn merenge, but guys need to learn how to lead turns.
at first, i bought some latin music to practice with but now i just dance to whatever the dj plays. im not so dependant on knowing the song bc im more comfortable with the steps.
very interesting.
I think getting familiar with a few of the songs (to begin with) would be a great idea. I don't plan on being stuck to a routine or only having a few songs that I know, and that I can dance to. But at first, I need something solid to build with: familiarity with a few songs.
Also, I recognize the need to lead. I can kind of do it, but, I definitely need to get better. I had this one friend of mine trying to show me how to salsa, and his lead was amazing! I knew what to do, without knowing how to salsa! I can't explain it, but I want to be like that.
But here's a problem: in the beginning, I will have to allow the girl to lead me, so I learn what the moves are. But, I'm adventurous, and willing to try things out, so I'll start taking the lead. SOMETIMES, though, the girl I'm dancing with doesn't seem to want to relinquish the lead. What's up with that?
its hard for some girls to totally follow. sometimes, they are used to dancing with one person. i once had an opportunity to dance with a professional swing dancer, who spent most time dancing a choreographed routine with his partner. when i danced with him it was really comical, bc i wasnt going to lead and neither was he apparently. it was still fun.
i can lead a little, like helping my lead to stay on beat. some guys seem to have big problems with this. but i dont like to really lead. part of the fun of dancing for me is the surprise of not knowing what is going to happen next. plus, id rather spin -alot- and know someone else has my back.
ok seriously, now you're taking the fun out of it...
wait, Pat, why!? what did I do?
HAHAHAHA! Todd i'm kidding, it's just dancing, don't think, just dance...Listen to the rythm..
ooh, miami sound machine?
um it was that australian dance movie. Strictly ballroom..
definitely watch it. its super funny!
just watched that for the first time recently. it's SO early 90s.
"last night i dreamt you called from costa rica, yea the place you spent the last two weeks, said i missed you oh sweet boy, won't you come on down, woke to my cold sheets and the smell of New Jersey..."
WHAT THE?!? @* Where is this quote from, who said this? 'Lana dish immediately!
saves the day - you vandal
He he, thanx I was dying to know.
weird...
I don't really listen to them, but good quote!
shanks - i've been in the saves the day mood lately. it just fit.
I could teach you, but I'd have to charge.
hehe I just had to.
i dont think todd wants to bring all the boys to the yard.
HAHAHAHAHA, man i was soo thinkin that song... lol... aw man, i just started cracking up.
I don't know..I think it's a plan to "get wit" Patrick. The poor unsuspecting hunk...
Hey, so I've only got 2 volunteers to help me out? Janine and Summer, thank you. We'll definitely dance it up.
i can help you step on peoples feet, im pretty good at that.
ill help, but i have to take off my shirt i sweat a lot, and sometimes i get hives from that
this journal has just taken a horrifing turn for the worse.
what i don't count buddy? All right, learn them moves by your self. But when a women goes, did a girl show you those moves? Don't come crawling to me for lessons...
LOL, Oh, I meant girls--only 2 girls would dance with me, sorry, Pat! I should have been more specific. please forgive me. I need the lessons, my costa rican friends have emailed me to come pioneer there...
costa rican "friends", eh? thats fab. i would love to get an opportunity like that someday. my old pio partner is need great-ering it up in tobago with asl right now. alas, my language skills are not impressive. how about someplace english is spoken and there arent any scary bugs or parisites?
there's a big need for english speaking brothers and sisters in San Jose, CR. I'm seriously tempted. In that "city" you could get by with just english, and you'd be forced to learn SOME spanish. Yes, there probably are parasites.... Yes, there are bugs, but nothing too bad. And in the "city" it's much less likely.
in italy isn't there needed help in the english congregation? i believe that is your heritage.
That's what Rachel was just telling me today. Maybe once we're done in Greece we just won't leave and move to Italy instead.
and meet up with sarah? rent an apartment in rome?
Yes..that sounds good to me.
Toddy, let me explain how it works, get the moves and the women will come-a-runnin...
IAN SAYS THAT MY PICS WILL BE UP ON MONDAY!
WOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! i cant wait!
please move to the macking forum... thank you.
lol, WHAT?!
i cannot explain it. i was excited to see the rain forest, not you. (no offense.)
none taken. I wouldn't want to see me either. I was only at the rain forest for 1 day. Then I was near another one for a while, but I don't have many nature shots.
aww todd! i would love to see you in pictures or otherwise. the woo-hoo was a rainforest oriented one bc i dont expect anyone except me to have vacation pics ft themselves as the primary subject.
RUDENESS. You've made Todd use self deprecating humor, in a public forum no less, so as to mask the humiliation you've heaped upon him. For shame, Summer.
i am ashamed! todd is a fine specimen of a man. no doubt.
Yes, he is.
You're making Todd blush right now.
this is very much making me laugh.