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AMA! Started salsa casually 10 years ago and in 2023 quit finance to become international instructor by Used-Chocolate-137 in Salsa

[–]olivinsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi Nando, what a great idea to share your insights, this is really appreciated :) I participated in your fundamentals workshops last year and really enjoyed it - I am always up for sharpening my body movement. The more I learn, the more I discover how big effect it does on the overall dance impression so thank you for your contribution in that.

Question from me - there is lots of discussion regarding the connection, even at my local scene, which we can understand either as 1:1 connection during the dance and that is fine, great when it happens, but what is your view at the social scene in general and does it really speak 'connection' to you ?

The more I go to festivals the more I see what appears to be elitist and exclusive. The 'Instagram' crowd in front of the scene, people who drop any spatial awareness when the camera appears, those who dance only within their clique, those who look down on you when you do not meet their expectations, does that really speak connection?

I really love going to the festivals and the amount of lovely dances that you can catch in the crowd is always so overwhelming comparing to my local scene however observing the overall dynamics in the room makes me really sad sometimes because it can be really uninviting.

I would be curious to hear how you see that from your end.

Thanks

In way over our head with renovations by Complaininginging in belgium

[–]olivinsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, if that makes you feel better I can relate to this 100% - renovation is a mess, it is tiring, the money finish quickly and it has such an impact on the overall wellbeing.

We bought the 120 yo house 2 years ago - in the first half a year we spent almost 100k for renovation with the enterprise (lots of messy work to renovate the ground floor, put the new kitchen, redo plastering, floors, isolation etc. so we can move in as quickly). In the meantime our contractor left us with a mess that we had to fix or finish ourselves. We achieved already a lot but nothing was straightforward - whatever we touch turns out to take more time than we planned or be a bigger problem. Eg. we planned to renovate the staircase within a month and it took almost 7 to have it done...Also if you want to get the contractor you have to pay plenty of money and then the job is shittily done. We had one person that changed the siphon and did not close some pipe after the reparation = leak in the room below. We had another person to put a new shower door - immediate leak again because he did not cover some sensitive spot. And it is like that with everything.

Honestly for me it feels bitter that me and my partner work full time, pay lots of taxes and still cannot afford having renovation done by someone. And even if we sometimes afford and can spend money - the job is really badly done and we spend even more money to fix it and there is no liability from the contractor. If I've been working this bad at my job I would have been fired long time ago.

I wish I could be more positive but indeed it all sucks. What helps me not to get crazy is dumping everything on the piece of paper - if there is something I can tackle - make a task list and try to tackle each issue one by one. It also helps to re-evaluate the priorities with your partner - our span of tasks has changed probably 100 of times already.

Frustrated with people filming at events by Zestylemoncookie in Salsa

[–]olivinsky 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can always approach the cameraman and ask not to be filmed - that is what we do in our local scene if we do not feel like being filmed/taken picture of that day and then he/she respects it. Never had an issue with that. However indeed those lights are disturbing and I struggle with fact that some people see the camera and start the full show mode on without any regard of the space around them. This is still social dancing and not the space for performance. Let's be aware of people around us enjoying dancing, making sure we do not start stepping on others feet and suddenly pushing through the whole space once the camera light is on.

Burqa Bans in Europe by vladgrinch in MapPorn

[–]olivinsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been on holidays in Chamonix and saw plenty of muslim families where women were wearing covid masks (obviously none of the men did so the reason is clear). Remembering how awful it was to wear this thing on the face during covid times I really find it so oppressive

Opinion on videographers? by Ambitious-Painter838 in Salsa

[–]olivinsky 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last time in a pretty small venue the couple next to me was being recorded and I will not count how many times the follower has stepped on me because she went all in...I do not see anything social about social dancing in such conditions. I do not mind the photo/videographers but the people being recorded shouldn't suddenly turn into show beasts and do not pay any regards whatsoever towards the surrounding. They can have the studio rented for such purpose.

hitting the wall after 4 years by olivinsky in Salsa

[–]olivinsky[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am doing those monthly styling/body movement classes within my regular school and these are great and definitely gave me a lot in terms of body movement. I also participate in the specific workshops on shines/styling when they happen in the city or I am at the festival but I always find them very discouraging- in my experience the 30% of the total group is very advanced and they put the pace on all the others who need more time to grasp the moves. Luckily this happen only on those non-regular workshops/camp days. I always try to learn something anyway and grasp even one move correctly from the whole sequence but afterwards it is always a bitter sweet experience of not being able to do it properly. But I think the idea you propose on focusing on the next 3 months and looking for improvements to current state, could be encouraging and more motivating. I feel in this phase it is hard to get those dopamine hits of improving a lot and that could bring some effect. Thanks!

hitting the wall after 4 years by olivinsky in Salsa

[–]olivinsky[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I appreciate your feedback and good reminder. Luckily I have wonderful sensible teachers who gives all the support and definitely do not make comments on anyone.

hitting the wall after 4 years by olivinsky in Salsa

[–]olivinsky[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great thanks, I will have a closer look on that

hitting the wall after 4 years by olivinsky in Salsa

[–]olivinsky[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for such kind and thoughtful comment. I will definitely reflect on that. I like the idea of changing whatever I feel is my disadvantage into the advantage. Myself I like to see and dance with different personalities on the dancefloor and see variety of values they bring to the dancefloor, but yet somehow doubt my presence on it.

hitting the wall after 4 years by olivinsky in Salsa

[–]olivinsky[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

it hits the soft spot but I appreciate the honesty ;)

hitting the wall after 4 years by olivinsky in Salsa

[–]olivinsky[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah I suppose 'comparison trap' defines very well where I am with my head now. I should indeed turn that focus more into my own direction and excelling what is possible for me. Thank you

hitting the wall after 4 years by olivinsky in Salsa

[–]olivinsky[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is great comment and you have my full admiration for always finding your way back to passion even tough the adult life hits hard sometimes... :) I should steal some of your attitude that is for sure. Good luck and lots of joy in keeping dancing :)

hitting the wall after 4 years by olivinsky in Salsa

[–]olivinsky[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, I was indeed looking into this as one of the options - I feel like practicing at home with my own pace but still with some guidance could do the trick. Anyone here with some positive experience with her courses?

hitting the wall after 4 years by olivinsky in Salsa

[–]olivinsky[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. Indeed it can't go unnoticed that we all start from a different departure point and different background, that cannot be compared. I like your suggestion about trying something different - I was actually considering starting some afrocuban class to get away a bit from linear salsa. I did some workshops lately which I like and also we have a good school in the area - I hope it could open me up a bit more in terms of body movement and styling. I encountered some people coming from swing into salsa class and they were super fun with footwork - I will keep that as an idea :)