I’ve been dancing salsa for about 2.5 months now, mostly as a lead. Since starting, I’ve been taking classes pretty seriously, around 10–20 hours a week, and going to socials on weekends, usually taking the beginner class beforehand. I think recently I have gotten to the point where I can social dance pretty comfortably.
But I still think back to my very first social and cringe a little.
Before I had really started learning salsa, I saw a free salsa party on Eventbrite on a Sunday of a long weekend and went mostly because I was bored. I took two beginner classes beforehand, but that was basically my only exposure. At the time, it honestly didn’t register to me that salsa was a real skill with very different levels, etiquette, and culture. I barely understood timing, could barely do a basic step, and definitely didn’t understand how socials worked.
I probably danced with around 20 people and got rejected maybe 3 times, so most people were probably nice about it. But looking back, I realize I did some awkward beginner things. I asked some followers if they could “teach me” socially, not realizing that socials are not really the place for that. I also didn’t realize that repeatedly asking the same person to dance could be a faux pas, especially when you barely know them.
Since then, I’ve been taking classes consistently, learning timing, learning basic etiquette, and trying to be respectful on the dance floor.
But I still feel embarrassed when I think about that first social. I felt like I kind of came across as ignorant lol.
Is this just a normal beginner mistake that I should let go of? Have other people had a similar “I went to a social way too early and didn’t know the etiquette” experience?