One really small thing that could help the scene a lot would be if everyone who attended a club night spent at least five euro at the bar - the salsa community has a very bad name amongst landlords and pub owners for filling a bar and spending nothing.  If everyone spent a small amount more bars would be willing to take them in.

A better male to female ratio.  The only way I can think of doing that is if more women drag their male friends and spouses along, and for teachers to actively encourage their ladies to do so.

Also for people in general to behave less like morons to people who DO like dancing .  I can see why some men actually hide their Salsa addiction and why many need to develop tough skins as well as their lead. 

Evolution.  Salsa needs to adapt and evolve, or it will like other pastimes die off.   Had my first taste of Zouk a few days ago - its a prime example of dance mutation afaics.  Interesting space to watch.

A greater emphasis on practical dancing and .... above all else: craic.   Had a class recently with a NI instructor - move was very basic,  very basic but the instruction was so playful and the emphasis was so directed, not on the perfection of the move, but on having fun with your partner - as Salsa sometimes seems to be directed as about the search for perfection, the perfect lead, the perfect frame, the perfect (whatever ), and I forget that that road is a far too lonely one, fun is the reason I'm still with this hobby, once it no longer becomes fun - I'm gone     Good if the fun factor was focused on a little more in general perhaps

More of a social scene - e.g. yes, everyone meets for Salsa , but do they meet any other times as a larger group e.g. for a few beers or what not?    The club I'm currently with sometimes decides to go out as a group to a pub just for fun not for dance - the craic can be mighty, but afaik thats rare enough?

More people on this site, giving opinions and getting involved in chatting, instead of just reading . I know a good number of people read this site - why not post and give a greater depth to the site + a balanced view of the salsa world??  Whats the worst than can happen?      

MTC/H.

- Edited by Hugh1a on 25/06/2010 at 12:11

Thanks Hugh and Ciaran! Those are just the perfect kind of posts I was hoping the thread would attract! Thank you for taking the time.

- Edited by Jak on 24/06/2010 at 19:47

Good to see a positive thread and way of thinking.

I'd endorse something from Hugh above re being social beyond the dancing. One of the really great things about Salsa School for me was having the time to have lunch, dinner, time with dancing friends and to get to know them a little better as people as well as three minute fun dance partners. Dance project have it buttoned in Galway by arranging pre dance dinners and non dance get togethers. Building a community.

Another great thing is when Cork or Limerick or Galway dancers go on tour, gathering a posse, sharing cars, road trip and a night of dancing in a new venue. Brilliant energy shared. All welcome in Limerick Thursdays the Sin Bin from ten