The
Addie-tude Salsa/Mambo Workshop Experience:The
Addie-tude Salsa/Mambo Workshop Experience:
The Four best words used to describe an "Addie-tude Workshop" are prepared, personable, patient and experience.
Prepared:
Addie’s Salsa/Mambo workshops are well received wherever she goes because
people admire how well organized she is. Like a good teacher, she does her
homework and plans ahead. She makes it a point to research the caliber of
students her workshop is expected to draw and then creates a tailor made lesson
plan for them. The lesson plan is usually typed and printed out and lists
everything she expects to teach in a natural and progressive learning order
(Additional copies of the lesson plan are made available for workshop students).
Addie likes to be prepared because it sets her game plan. Once she arrives to
teach a workshop, she wastes no time and is ready to go straight to work.
Everything is planned to the max so that people feel like there are getting
their money’s worth. Special attention is given to detail with valuable
dancing tips provided to both men and women. "Addie-tude" workshops
are designed to be both fun and challenging. Everything is drilled and reviewed
in a systematic fashion to ensure a student’s maximum learning retention.
Right:
Addie teaching a
workshop during the 2nd Annual International Salsaweb Convention in Toronto
THE "ON 2" WITH ADDIE-TUDE SALSA/MAMBO WORKSHOPS:
When taking an "Addie-tude" Salsa/Mambo Workshop expect to learn
Left:
Addie posing with some of her Hawaii workshop studentsREGULAR WORKSHOPS (for both Men
& Women):
During a regular salsa/mambo workshop, Addie divides the material being
taught into two major segments: Open Floor Shines and Partner Dancing.
Left: Addie teaching one of her popular workshops in Paris during the 2nd half of her European Addie-tour 2000
Open Floor Shines (i.e. dance steps or solo dancing)
During the open floor shine segment, the class is divided into men and
women. Addie usually has a male assistant present to serve as a male role model,
while she serves as the female role model. The footwork to these shines are
taught to the women (by Addie) in "Ladies timing", while the male
group is taught in "Men’s timing". Students rotate every couple of
cycles so that everyone has the opportunity of being in front of the class. All
the shines are drilled, reviewed, mixed into mini-routines and executed to music
so that students become comfortable and familiar with them.
Partner dancing (i.e. turn patterns)
During the partner work section, students are paired off and placed around
in a circle. Addie and her
partner begin by illustrating a turn pattern for the
entire group to see. The pattern is gradually broken down for both men and
women. Repetition is the key factor. Partners constantly practice the pattern as
they switch partners. Turn patterns are first executed to the tempo of Addie’s
verbal count of the clave, then finally done to music. Two to three patterns are
usually taught during each seminar.
Right: Addie teaching a Ladies Styling Workshop during the 1st Annual Zurich Salsa Kongress (Feb. 2002)
Putting it all together
Learning how to incorporate open floor shines (solo dancing/dance steps)
with partner dancing is the ultimate challenge during any workshop. Depending on
the length of the class, the overall learning level of the students in the class
(i.e. intermediate, advanced) or the speed in which the students absorb the
information of the class, Addie will provide a couple of simple learning drills
that mixes these two elements together. The goal is to get students comfortable
with doing open floor shines in front of a partner (and not have their timing
thrown off), or to use open shines to get in and back out of turn patterns.
LADIES STYLING WORKSHOP:
Left:
Addie teaching a ladies
styling workshop in London
No one can teach a Ladies Styling Class like Addie can. Her workshops are
very detailed and filled with a wealth of excellent styling tips. Not only can
she beautifully demonstrate each dance step, but she has the uncanny knack of
breaking these steps down in an easy to follow step-by-step manner (a skill
which only a few mambo instructors are capable of doing). Every dance step is
broken down according to "On 2" timing. Ladies Styling moves are added
once students have mastered the basic principles behind the step. Occasionally,
some dance step have more than one variation of ladies styling to them. When
this is the case, Addie will execute these variations and let her students
decide for themselves which version they rather learn. Workshops students have
complemented her on this simple teaching method because they can better
appreciate (see firsthand) how Addie’s styling moves add "sabor" and
spice to even the simplest of dance steps. This is much the same structured used
in her Instructional Video.
Putting
together an "Addie-tude" Salsa/Mambo Workshop:
If you’re an individual or a promoter interested in organizing an
"Addie-tude" workshop near you.
Special Note:
As a courtesy to Addie Diaz, No video taping of workshops allowed.
What others have said about Addie’s workshops / Addie’s Resume / Contact Addie / Addie-tude Dance Company Info
/ Weekly Class Schedule / Get On Addie’s E-mail list
Click here to read what an Addie-Tude Workshop Like??
Addie's teaching style! Click here to read what others have said about Addie's Workshops.
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