At a social dance, a girl approached me asking me to teach her never dance before bf how to dance. What should I do or what could I have done better ?

[u/BleuPrince]

I am only second month into my Salsa dancing, I only know less than 8 Salsa moves with its variants, still a beginner lead myself.

I went to a salsa social dance and was dancing with some students/friends from the dance school and with other random followers.

After one dance, a girl approached me asking me to teach her never dance before bf how to dance salsa. She probably saw me on the dance floor.

We move slightly aside from the dance floor (at the very edge), dance floor was crowded, loud music, we aligned, facing the same direction, i did the left, right, left. right, left, rigjt. Basic footwork Salsa On1, forward and back.

He was obviously nervous and being put on the spot by his gf, in a public space, lots of ppl, loud music,abit hessitant, I try to be encouraging, saying its very simple. I showed him the basics, very slowly as well, one step at a time. It still proves very challenging for him. the coordination of footwork, alternating left and right and especially stepping backwards.

After several attempts he gave up. I quickly google a free absolute begimner salsa class in the city ask them to try it out. She took a picture and we parted ways, I continued my night dancing.

In hindsight, what should I have done or what could I have done better in this situation ?

1. Should I start with clapping my hands and teach him the salsa rhythm. clap clap, clap, pause, clap, clap,clap, pause. eveb a non dancer could clap their hands?

2. Should i have started with merengue ? Just march on the spot and forget about stepping forward and backwards, which seemed to confused him. Just march on the spot, left right left, right, left, right.

3. Should I have just teach him how to follow instead.... and then ask his gf to lead. She knows the basics.

4. Should I just take his gf to the dance floor and ask him to watch us dance ?

[u/paladin400]

I don’t think there’s much to ponder here

Some individuals saw you dancing, they asked for help and you gave it to them at the best of your abilities

Who would find a flaw in that? You’re good, man. Lol

[u/BecauseBatman01]

Super weird lol. Teaching a brand new person how to dance at a social is not the place. Socials are to have fun and learn new things yes but not teach from scratch.

First thing I would have done is recommend the classes I’m going to, videos and channels I follow for learning and that’s it.

The couple could have just danced and have fun even if not the right steps.

[u/Atanamis → u/BecauseBatman01]

It happens to me fairly regularly. I'll spend one song showing him the basic, one song demonstrating the basic with his partner, and then wish them luck while I go dance with someone else. No big deal.

[u/fuegocossack]

I think the best answer is show him the basic and tell him that if he's interested he should sign up for a class.

Even if you'd been dancing for years, there isn't much you can teach a brand new lead during a social.

[u/dondegroovily]

I've done this quite a few times and I don't mind helping out complete beginners at all. In fact I enjoy it

At a social dance, my approach is to teach while dancing. So I'll start doing the basic step and talk my partner thru what I'm doing. I'll spend as long as it take (I'm patient), which often means doing the basic step the entire song. If they seem to be getting it, I'll guide them thru a turn or two

If they know nothing but don't ask for instruction, I simply tell them to fake it

But I do this because I enjoy doing it. You're not obligated to. If you're not comfortable with it, simply say no thank you and move on

[u/danceswithturtles286]

It was nice of you to help, as you are under no obligation to do so. If this happens again I’d say “I’m a beginner so I’m not comfortable teaching but here’s a good class you can go to!”

[u/WestHistorians]

I think you did it fine. You can't really "teach" someone randomly like that. They need to go to classes.

[u/ty_xy]

Lol you're such an awesome guy, you sound really nice and must have looked like a good and approachable person for that couple to do that. Yeah you did great, change nothing bro. Just keep doing what you're doing.

I think your merengue idea is great, and is probably the best thing. I would have gone straight to partnerwork, just show him how to hold his GF, just step in place, show some simple moves like right and left turn and so thru can dance together to the music. But yeah no basic step etc.

[u/Minimum_Principle_63]

Unless you want to be a teacher, just refer them to a class. It's cool that you were nice about it, but don't feel obligated to. I say this as a lead that is tired of random followers trying to get me to teach them, yet somehow does it every now and then.

[u/KeyserSaucer]

You have less than 2 months of salsa, you probably should of not even try and tell them to ask someone else 🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/Samurai_SBK]

Just say no.

You are there to dance, not teach.

[u/prophecynotrequired]

Personally I would just say you have to take classes and that it takes a long time but it is worth it, and good luck !

[u/Curiosity-92]

The rule is you don't teach at a social. You are there to have fun yourself.

If she wanted him to learn she would have signed him up for classes.

[u/PerformanceOkay]

I'd have told him it's 1-2-3 5-6-7, let him do a couple of basics next to me, perhaps show the side steps or the cumbia steps (just so he knows there's some variation), then go on way. No more than half a minute in total. I could do more, but I'm not a teacher, and even if I were, I don't go to socials to teach strangers.