The Baila-Mobile has been sold! Our Worm pets have started composting! Documentary nights have been a great hit and 3 of our Baila Instructors have signed up for  permaculture farming training.

To view full curriculum of Permaculture course please see attached file ( 3 spots left, contact Nina Perez for more information at info@bailavancouver.com)Permaculture INFO

So for example, let’s talk about a common move and mistake  ” Giving a signal”

1st Attempt at Signal: Student might give a signal that is not very easy to understand or in the wrong way. You are processing the new information so be easy on yourself.

2nd Attempt at Signal:  This mistake is usually a  delayed response…so they do it kinda right but a little too late or something is not quite right.  The brain is still processing and they might be thinking too much.  So I will usually offer a new analogy or tip that will make it more clear in the mind.

3rd Attempt at Signal: This time the student made the same mistake as before but was aware of the mistake or what he/she was doing wrong. ” I know what i did wrong”  or ” I knew I was doing it wrong as I am doing it but could not stop it” are comments I usually hear.

4th Attempt at Signal: This is when it actually goes pretty smooth of course not perfect but huge progess has been made.

I have observed that when people are learning any new element the body usually goes through this process, time and time again. 

When I now request the student to try the signal and the feet we go through the same process again. When I strike up a conversation while doing the move we go through the same process again and so on…so it is quite fascinating that most people try to avoid making mistakes while from my teaching perspective you need them to bring awareness to the situation and allow your body to assimilate and pass the bridge from understanding to knowing. 

I have not met a successful person in their endeavour who has not admitted to making more mistakes than anybody else in their field and attributing their success to that.

“Mistakes are for the ones who really want to reach extraordinary levels of success not available to the average perfectionist”  ~Nina Perez~

Written by Nina Perez director of Baila Vancouver Dance School. Expert Dance Instructor in Argentine Tango, Salsa, and all the latin social dances. For more information www.bailavancouver.com

Follow Me on Twitter: @NinaPerezDance

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The Grouse Grind is a Vancouver Jewel! It is a very hard and beautiful hike that I recommend to everyone, especially for a nice heart rate workout. How does the Grouse Grind help my dancing?

Here are 3 ways that you need to have as you are climbing the grind and as you are learning to dance.

1. Get Started. A lot of people talk about wanting to dance or learning a new skill, or doing the grind but rarely ever do it because they don’t get started by setting a time, scheduling it in and showing up. Showing up is half the battle! Sign up for a class. Go to the dance club, or go to watch a class. Just get yourself there.

2. Take it Step by Step. You really do learn this with the Grind specially if you do this regularly. It is all about continuing your pace and taking each step full heartedly and before you know it you are at the top. So taking it step by step with your dancing, will lead you to success. Take a class, practice your basics at home and keep at it, at your own pace is the best way to do and learn any new skill.

3. Celebrate and Raise The Bar! Many of us are driven by the pleasures of life and if we don’t take the time to reward ourselves, do we ever really get motivated to do things in the first place. The Grind really rewards one’s efforts with the beautiful views and the wild life, but once I have finished I set the next goal with it, better timing or finding the most beautiful spot for a short meditation. With your dancing you want to periodically treat yourself to a dancing reward. You are among the few that take your wellness and lifestyle seriously and learning to dance deserves celebration. Then Raise the bar and set a new goal for your dancing i.e. “I am going to dance with 3 new people tonight” ” I am going to try that butt roll tonight!”. ” I will practice my tango sacada with 3 people tonight”

What we all are really after is progress. So set up your mini step by step goals, do them, and reward your self!

Written by Nina Perez director of Baila Vancouver Dance School. Expert Dance Instructor in Argentine Tango, Salsa, and all the latin social dances. For more information www.bailavancouver.com

We are talking about Forgiveness. Not correcting our partners when they are making mistakes is probably one of the hardest rules to learn when you are dancing. I see most often two scenarios:

Women/Followers tend to correct their male leads when something is not done right on the first or second try.

Men/Leaders tend to correct partners that are a different dance level than themselves.

In both instances I would encourage you to have a new approach:

Don’t Correct…Forgive. What could this look like:

1. Smile
2. Give encouraging comments
3. Seek instructors help or advice

We all learn at different paces and understanding is the key to creating positive results.

Written by Nina Perez director of Baila Vancouver Dance School. Expert Dance Instructor in Argentine Tango, Salsa, and all the latin social dances. For more information www.bailavancouver.com

Here are my Tips …
1. Go take a dance class with different instructors, expand your horizons and it will help your dancing to hear things explained in different ways
2. In class make Practice Meetups with your new friend. Come earlier to practice what you are learning to the dance nights. Don’t confuse this with a date, as it should be all about the dancing!
3. Go out dancing and make it a point to ask new people to dance. Get out of your comfort zone… the No’s will build your character and the Yes’ will build your relationships. No way to lose.

Written by Nina Perez director of Baila Vancouver Dance School. Expert Dance Instructor in Argentine Tango, Salsa, and all the latin social dances. For more information www.bailavancouver.com

Follow Me : NinaPerezDance

Facebook: ninaperez@live.ca

Great activities happening all day long and this one will let you enjoy the Olympics with a Latin Twist.

Rumba Calzada a Juno nominated band will be playing at Live City Vancouver! Cambie at Georgia Street 9:30pm-11pm Free Non Ticketed Event !

Last time I saw them they were playing at Robson Square, they were great and the experience of ice skating to one of my favourite bands was phenomenal!

They will be back at Robson Square on Feb 20th as part of ” Experience B.C. at Robson Square”
10:00pm (Free Show).

With the sunshine beaming it is almost easy to believe we are in a hot Latin country. You don’t want to miss this. They are one of the best bands that Vancouver has to offer.

Nina Perez is Director of Baila Vancouver Dance School. Bringing all the Latin dances to you in group and private lessons. No Partner? No Rhythm? No Problem!

www.bailavancouver.com

Twitter ninaperezdance

I had the pleasure to hear The Dalai Lama  in the Peace Summit in Vancouver.

As dancing is my life I always like to see if I can apply what I am learning in any area to my dancing or teaching. So I can help my students learn faster, have ease of movement and dance with more enjoyment.

The Dalai Lama said many wonderful things that if applied would make our world a better place but one comment stood out in my mind and I believe can be very helpful to dancing and our Salsa Community. (paraphrasing) He said:

” Treat others as a part of you”

So I would reccommend you apply his beautiful advise every time you are dancing and …

1.Treat your partner as an extension of yourself.

2.Treat the couples beside you as an extension of yourself.

3.Treat the people standing around who haven’t been asked to dance lately as an extension of yourself.

If we all did this we would have…

1. Better Leaders and Follows

2. Less Collisions on the dance floor

3. More people dancing, less people standing!

No matter what the level of your partner, it is always more enjoyable when dancing with someone who puts you above the dance moves and makes sure that having a good time is a priority :>

check it out www.blog987.com

Many of us forget to make sure we are both having fun because we are too concentrated or engulfed in perfection.

The quickest way in my opinion is to SMILE. Not only when asking your partner to dance but specially DURING THE WHOLE DANCE . Often when people start concentrating they are serious and do not have a friendly smile and a lot of the times their dance partner starts thinking that they are not doing a good job.

A simple smile will help in at least these three areas instantly and help you build a dance connection that you will consistently start feeling in every dance.

Benefits of smiling during the whole song:

1. You partner will start feeling at ease with you and start relaxing and enjoying the music, the connection and specially your energy.

2. After 12 seconds of smiling your body starts releasing endorphins that make your body be in a relaxed “feel good” state improving body coordination.

3. Smiling is very uplifting, attractive and contagious. You will have people waiting and wanting to dance with you.

So how do you go about implementing this technique of well being and good dancing ettiquette? PRACTICE. Become aware of your facial expression while dancing and then make a conscious effort to change in that moment