Quique El Humilde's Story...

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, I used to listen to heavy metal
(still do…), sometimes some old school salsa, but I was not
bothered to learn to dance it. I did not cared I guess. When I
moved to New York in 1996, I started lacking something. My
cousin introduced me to Raulin and his music really impressed
me, those trombones without a trumpet really sounded so cool.
I started listening to Raulin and some salsa like Angel Canales
and Los Adolescentes, but to that point I was not interested in
learning to dance it.

My salsa story started on November 1997. A friend of mine
invited me to Latin Quarters, in NY. My first time in a Latin club.
The excellent dancers impressed me. I said to myself: I want to
be like them. She was trying to teach me the basic step. Next
week I am going to take classes. But next week turned in
months. In March 1999, my cousin invited me to see my
favorite artist Raulin in Latin Quarters. I saw the dancers, who
later I will find out they were Pro's who danced in one of the NY
dance companies doing their stuff. I said, that's it, next week I
am starting. Somehow I stumbled in the Salsaweb web site and
found info on some instructors in my city. I chose one of them.
I started on March 22, 1999. I was a mess, the basic step
seemed so awkward, then the turn pattern and the cross-body
lead (which would become my favorite move…), plus the
counting. But from that time on, I was hooked. I started taking
class 5-6 days a week, plus practicing by myself. I used to do
the basic! seated on the train, going backwards, side to side,
walking, and with my eyes closed. I started writing down
everything I learned, open shines and partner work. I remember
my first practice party. What a mess, I could not even lead a
simple right turn and get lost with my timing. I decided that it
was really essential to practice dancing to get the feeling of the
music and link it to my basic step. After a while I was feeling
the pulse and I began enjoying it more and more.

My second practice party went much better. In six weeks (mid
May) I was graduated to the intermediate level. I was really
excited. I started doing only 2 days of intermediate level and
the rest of beginner level. While some people wanted to
advance to intermediate because they found beginner class
boring, I wanted to work more on my fundamentals. It is a
shame when ego gets in the way. At this time I really felt I was
improving, until I started taking that intermediate class. Oops,
seemed like a new world! for me. It seemed like what I had
learned to this point was not enough. It seemed like I did not
learned nothing at all. Think of it as if I was humbled. Then the
syncopation's, the multiple turn patterns, the specific turn
footwork started frustrating me. In beginner class I thought I
would only make my turns on 5-6-7, I found that the axle left
turns starts on 1-2-3. I found that the backspot right turn also
is done on ladies timing. I was really bad, everything seemed so
confusing, so difficult. Plus I found a couple of intermediate
women, who were not as understanding. I remember when they
said, "I'm so tired", or "I have to go", because I sucked. Then 2
minutes later you would see them practicing with somebody
else. Like everything, in life, you will find good and bad people.
I wanted to quit, but at the same time I was really motivated to
prove them wrong one time or another, that was my driving
force. I kept practicing, dancing alone, and practicing the turn
patterns al! one. Two months and a half, the instructor said that
I should not do more beginners anymore. From that point on it
was all intermediate-advanced for me. Little by little, I felt the
improvement. In three months I sensed that everything was
coming together. I did not needed to count anymore and I was
feeling the music. My fundamental work was paying off. In 4
months I was able to hold my own dancing. In 4 and a half
months everything came together. Now I have a more relaxed
attitude towards learning, if I don't get a step today, I will get it
tomorrow. It has been a bumpy ride so far, a lot of ups and
downs. But I have enjoyed it to the fullest. The only thing I
have to say, PRACTICE and find a partner, there is light at the
end of the tunnel. I feel that I could be better if I had a practice
partner. Also give time to yourself to develop the proper
fundamentals, don't spend time on learning styling, or
complicated stuff if your fundamentals are weak, it will hurt you
in the long run. There is nothing worse than seeing salsa being
danced as if it was hustle, or the common syndrome called "foot
paralysis"…

There is nothing better that to dance salsa outdoors and a crowd
of people starts gathering around you. Makes you feel special. I
still have a long way to go though, always in the search of that
ultimate step, or turn pattern. Always a "beginner"...

At this point I have not danced with someone in a club, I am in
no rush. I gave myself 6 months to start dancing in clubs after I
correct some minor details. I still have 6 weeks left. As for my
friend, I haven't seen her since March but she is going to be
surprised. She changed my life and she doesn't know it. I owe
her one dance. I know I am going to see her again one
Thursday night at Latin Quarters…

Quique El Humilde

Ps. Salsa has made me realize that there are things more important than money in life. It changed my life for the better. I hope my story helps the budding salseros out there.