The Modern Dancer Blog
Dance is the truest expression
How to Play Güiro at a Salsa Social: Match Scrapes to the Phrase
Learn a supported güiro hold, long and short scrape…
How to Play Maracas at a Salsa Social: Keep the Pulse Without Rushing
Learn maracas grip, attack timing and counted practice drills,…
How to Play Campana at a Salsa Social: Find the Bell Pattern and Enter on Time
Learn a two-bar salsa campana pattern, mouth and side…
How to Play Claves at a Salsa Social: Hear the Pattern Before You Join In
Learn 3–2 and 2–3 son clave, a relaxed stick…
Why the Viral “Macarena” West Coast Swing Dance Works
Why Jordan Frisbee and Emeline Rochefeuille’s Budafest Macarena West…
How to Hear Bachata Music: Derecho, Majao and Mambo
Hear derecho, majao and mambo in Dominican bachata by…
How to Find the 1 in Salsa: Conga, Cowbell, Clave and Piano
Find count 1 in salsa by hearing the musical…
Bachata Sensual Safety: Body Rolls, Head Rolls, Dips and Cambrés
Consent and movement safety for Bachata Sensual body waves,…
West Coast Swing Jack and Jill Competitions Explained
West Coast Swing Jack and Jill contests use random…
What Makes a Salsa Social-Dance Video Good? Connection, Timing and Floorcraft
Learn to read connection, timing and floorcraft in a…
How to Watch a Ballroom Competition Video: Heats, Marks and Floorcraft
Read ballroom competition videos by checking the event, round…
How to Learn Jazz Choreography When the Class Moves Fast
Learn fast jazz choreography by marking short chunks, naming…
Your First Dance Festival: Workshops, Socials, Shows and Recovery
Plan your first dance festival around a few workshops,…
From Ballroom, Salsa or Country Swing to WCS: Habits to Keep and Habits to Retrain
Bring your ballroom, salsa or country swing skills into…
How Close Should Bachata Feel? Open, Closed and Close-Embrace Connection
Compare open, closed and close-embrace Bachata holds, with practical…
Pachanga, Son, Rumba and Afro-Cuban Movement in Salsa Shines
Hear how pachanga, Cuban son and rumba relate to…