Interview with Salsa teacher Jim Chow
Jim Chow Salsa
Here’s the second interview, with Jim chow, who runs the Seattle Salsa Meetup, and runs the Belltown dance studio. The audio wasn’t great so I just did a transcript. Let me know if you guys prefer audio or text. Lots of videos and content, so check out more after the jump:
E: Hi everybody this is Eric Siegfried founder of DanceHop.com, and I’m talking today in the DanceHop interview series with Jim Chow. Jim, how’s it going ?
J: Going great, how are you doing Eric?
E: I’m doing awesome, I’m glad to be here.
So first off, could you tell us about yourself, your dancing background, and what you do.
J: I discovered salsa over 10 years ago, almost 11, and it’s been a love at first sight. I first started at CB and have been at it ever since. I’ve been in love with it the same as the first day I started. Totally addicted.
E: That’s interesting, because a lot of people who dance haven’t been able to keep that same feeling going.
J: Oh yeah, that’s never changed. I’m passionate about it the same as the first day I saw it.
E: Why do you feel like that’s happened for you?
J: It feels good to have that kind of chemistry and connection with someone without any verbiage, it’s just like a roller coaster ride.
E: Ok, so earlier I was talking with Jim about his work as a commercial artist, before he got into salsa, and he was saying how salsa as a dance …
J: Is just another form of art to me, another way of expressing yourself.
E: what’s it like for the average person who’s just starting out? maybe they just finished 1 class, and they want to figure out the point of dance
J: Well I think it’s like anything else, you gotta put in more than a trial effort, to really know that you really like it. I’d give it at least 3 months, 4 months, of classes and see if it’s really for you. It might be a completely different dance, it might be swing instead, for all you know, but most people look into this for one reason or another. The social aspect, or to stay fit, keep healthy.
E: So, why salsa out of all the dances?
J: I think again you tend to gravitate towards something you can relate to, as far as style and self expression. I looked at swing, and said “nope that’s not me” because it’s a little too happy and a little too bouncy. It doesn’t fit my personality. Someone else might see swing and say that hey, that’s totally fun. I’m more about the sexiness and that feeling that salsa gives. I might tap into tango a bit more down the road, something that’s low key and not as fast.
E: Although for the people listening out there, there’s a type of tango dancing called milonga, which is a quicker dance, here’s a video example:
Ok that’s interesting. In general, listen to the music you like and try out different dances and see what works. What would you say your teaching style is?
J: My style, I mostly dance on 1, I tap into 2, I’m still more comfortable on 1.but my flavor of on 1 is closer to on 2, because the tightness of everything and the complexity of my patterns. I don’t like to dance big, like the bigger steps of LA style. (before the interview Jim mentioned his emphasis on clarity of lead and follow)
E:BTW do you teach salsa rueda?
J: No
E: For the people out there, that’s salsa done in a circle where you pass partners around.
What would you like to see in the community in the next couple years?
J: It’s changing, and one thing that I’m not exactly fond of is how a lot of the advanced dancers don’t go out as much as they used to. Maybe the passion just kind of faded, or they joined a lot of dance groups. If that turns them on it’s good, but what’s left behind is not too much advanced dancers in the social scene.
E: How do you think advanced dancers effect beginners?
J: I think the less you see the advanced dancers, the beginners have less to measure up to, like “hey I want to dance like him, or her”. With less standards start dropping.
E: What would the formula be to get good quicker, if you could give yourself advice 10 years in the past, what would it be?
J: I think taking 2 group classes is the most someone should take. I don’t think there’s any faster way. You can also take private lessons, which will speed things up tremendously. In general I wouldnt take more than 2 different group classes with 2 different instructors.
E: Does it help to have practice partners?
J: Absolutely, I find that finding someone you get along with and are patient with each other is the best thing.
E: Although I would add it’s important to mix it up. If you dance with the same person all the time…
J: Well to me it’s like anything else that I do, I always test it out on the dance floor with one of the top follows, and I know what does and doesn’t work.
E: I noticed that you pick up steps really quickly, how did you get that ability?
J: When you’ve done so much of it, it becomes easier and easier. Where everything starts to relate.
E: What do you think of dance and travel?
J: To me it’s a total treat. You dance with different follows, they haven’t tasted your moves before. And they’re excited, and you’re excited because they’re excited. The whole chemistry is developing, it’s awesome. I love going to congresses for that reason alone.
E: What are your favorite congresses to go to?
J: I’d say San Francisco first, then LA, but then those are the only to that I’ve been to. Portland just started theirs. It was the Gemini competition, it’s gotten so big that it’s the official Portland congress, and the community is very different than Seattle. All the different groups have managed to collaborate.
E: I’m going to have a list of tips from Clay Nelson, who helped create a really cohesive Portland tango scene, so keep an eye out for that.
There’s something to be said about collaboration over competition. What is it that dancers can do to keep the scene going?
J: I personally run competitions for my students, but now I’m starting to do Jack and Jill, I’m doing a bachata competition. I’m hoping that people will finally show up and mix it up.
E: Yeah those people are probably in their comfort zone.
J: I’m doing things for the public, like the Alki beach. It’s happening July 11th. Last time there were 45 people, this time is looking even better.
E: Any other departing pearls of wisdom?
J: I would love the dancers to take this a bit more seriously and take it beyond the intermediate level. It can be a hobby and yet still have a goal to get higher.
E: What’s the difference between intermediate and advanced dancers?
J: They stop going to classes, they get by. I want to always be a better lead than wehre I am now. Constantly setting goals.
E: I think there’s something to be said about having role models. Who do you admire?
J: Well, all the top dancers, John & Liz. There are so many.
Alright, this was the 2nd of the DanceHop interview series. I hope you guys enjoyed this. If you have any questions for Jim or myself, please ask in the comments.
