How to Keep Up Latin Dance: Signs of Progress and What to Do When You're Stuck

This page is a reference translation of the Japanese original (日本語の原文). It has not been checked by a native speaker. Please confirm details with each organizer.

The short answer: the key to keeping up Latin dance is not “getting good” but “keeping a way of dancing that makes you want to come back.” Speed of progress differs from person to person. There is no fixed standard such as “you will be able to do this by this date.”

The writer discovered salsa and bachata in 2019 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where I was living for work, and now lives in Sapporo. I still dance, but I am not good at it, and I am not a teacher. At socials, there are days when I am too shy to dance. So I do not teach here. I put the ideas in order from the same level as you.

Measure progress by what you can do, not by time

How fast you progress changes with the age you start, your experience with exercise, how often you go, how your school teaches, and more. Here, instead of measuring by time, it is easier to use “what you can do” as a guide:

• You can keep the basic steps going to the music without stopping
• In pair practice, you have a little room to try to match your partner’s movement
• You feel a little less nervous than before
• You can say hello even when you pair with someone you don’t know
• You notice more often, “This is that rhythm,” when you hear a song

All of these are changes that are hard to see. Rather than comparing yourself with others, compare yourself with yourself a little while ago. That is easier on the mind.

How to think when you feel stuck

When you feel you are not moving forward

Progress does not always rise smoothly. There can be a stretch when you cannot move the way you want. Then, instead of forcing more practice, you can rest a little, or just listen to the music in a light mood.

When you compare yourself with others

It is common for other people to look good. Everyone started at a different time and goes at a different pace. Choosing yourself a little while ago as the one to compare with makes it easier.

When you are too nervous to dance

Feeling shy at a social is natural. I wrote some ideas in When You’re Too Shy to Dance at a Social. If you are unsure about asking or saying no, see also How to Ask for a Dance and How to Say No.

When the dance does not seem to suit you

Salsa, bachata, kizomba and Argentine tango differ in music and mood. If one does not feel right, you can try watching a different one. You can compare them in Which Dance Suits You? Choosing Among the 4 Dances.

When the school or the place does not suit you

Each school and venue has its own mood. If it does not suit you, you can look for another place. Steps for searching are in How to Find Latin Dance in Sapporo.

Tips for keeping going

1. Set a small goal. “One song is enough today” or “just watching” is fine.
2. Don’t fix your schedule too tightly. Rest when you are busy, and come back when you can.
3. Don’t blame yourself for a break. Even after a gap, you can join again.
4. Don’t build up tiredness. Care after dancing is in Taking Care of Your Body on Dance Days.
5. Don’t keep it all to yourself. Ask people at the same place, or the organizer.

Related articles

• Latin Dancing in Sapporo: How to Start
• Your First Latin Dance Lesson
• Is It OK to Go to a Latin Dance Party Alone?
• Party, Lesson or Workshop? The Differences

FAQ

How long does it take to get better?

It differs by person, so I can’t say. Many things are involved: how often you go, how your school teaches, how used you are to using your body, and more. Instead of time, I suggest checking whether the things you can do are slowly increasing.

I feel I am not improving at all, and I want to quit.

It is not strange to feel that way at some point. You can also rest a little, or visit a different dance or school. Please put your own feelings first when you decide whether to continue.

I’ve had a long break. Is it OK to go back?

Many schools and events welcome you back, but how it works differs by school. If you are unsure, tell the organizer, “It’s been a while.”

As a hobby class, do I have to go every week?

There is no rule. You can decide how often to go to suit your life.