Hi Edie,

A few comments about the left-foot versus right-foot forward issue.

It is not true that almost everybody dances right-foot forward in
Holland. In Amsterdam, instructor Ben Bron mixes both styles, while
Jorge Suarez (from Columbia) has a double-back basic. The others are
divided about 50/50 into left/right foot forward. (more info on
Amsterdam instructors can be found on my web page
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ehautus/salsa-lessons.html ).

I think the whole issue is related to the different styles as you have
described them (http://www.salsafreak.com/dance_styles.htm). In the
LA/New York styles, it is important that both dancers start and end
movements on a straight line. In the Cuban style (as found in Europe),
dancers dance more around each other, without the imaginary straight
line.

I think that in the Cuban style, the issue of l/r forward is less
relevant. The basic step is not really that important, it is more for
'resting' than anything else. There are a few ways to break out of the
basic pattern, and after that, anything, can happen in the figures. In
fact, I have been told that in Cuba the Rueda basic step is also used
as the basic in normal Salsa dancing (which would make it a right foot
forward again, at least for the man!).

Dance teachers are, in my experience, very reluctant in changing their
styles, so not much will change I think. I am a 'right-foot-forward'
dancer myself, and I decided to switch after the European Festival in
Haarlem last month: I think the difference is not that big (being a
Cuban style dancer), and I want to be able to dance easily with people
outside of the Netherlands. However, changing turned out be more
difficult than I thought, and I am still working on it.

OK, that ends this little report from Amsterdam :-)

Salsa greetings & keep up the good work,


Edwin Hautus

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ehautus/salsa-amsterdam.html