Frankie Martinez, New York, NY Videos

It was wonderful getting back to practice and seeing everyone after our travels! Footwork, body mechanics and movement, turn/spin technique, partnerwork, and even armwork are all elements you’ll find us training at #afrolatinfunk Wednesdays! We hope to see you then! Wednesday: 6pm Salsa/Mambo Fundamentals 7pm Mambo Open Shines (open level) 8pm Mambo Partnerwork (open level) h https://www.youshouldbedancing.nyc/group-classes

We’ve got a full week of classes and some special training events starting tonight at You Should Be Dancing...! Wednesday 6:30pm Intro to Shines & Body Movement (Adv Beg/Int) 7:30pm Mambo Partnerwork (open) Friday 6:30-8:30pm Bringin’ Cha Cha Back! (Cha Cha Workshop with Frankie Martinez) Saturday 12pm Beginner’s Salsa/Mambo 1pm Open Shines (Int/Adv) 2pm Afro-Latin Body Movement & Isolations Sunday 12pm Intro to Movement Mechanics (with Lia Robertson) 1pm Turns & Spin Training (open) 2pm Skills & Technique: Cha Cha Cha! (open)

Accompanying a band as a dancer is a delicate thing. Like everything, it has its unique etiquette and unspoken code. We are not there to take attention away from the musicians. Actions that are interpreted that way can offend not just the musicians, but those who are there to observe their gifts as well. There are parts of a standard Latin composition that consist of call and response and improvisation from the lead singer (Pregones and Soneos). It is inappropriate to enter and dance through instrument solos or the lead singer’s improvisation without being specifically invited by the band (like we were in this case). We would be stepping on the musicians toes. Too often I hear musicians comment that dancers don’t understand music. For the most part, they are right. It’s up to us to change the way they see us, and it starts with respect. 🎶 La Charanga Moderna 💃🏼 Simone Canneti 📍 Bologna Salsa Festival, 2012