Al Santos

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Hi Edie:

This is Rahm.
I wanted to thank you for the awesome Salsa Bootcamp in Denver. You totally blew my mind. 
rsaran_la

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Hi Edie,
I attended your Salsa Bootcamp (both days) this past weekend in Arlington.  I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful experience.  My 40-year-old body hurts a little :), but I loved the experience and look forward to learning and dancing more Salsa.  I also really appreciated what you shared about yourself and your comments at the end about dancing with your significant other - no one seems to talk about this in dance and they should.  I've been married twice also and just recently broke up with a boyfriend I had high hopes for - so I think I could use some Salsa in my life.

Thanks again and good luck in your travels as you bless others. 

Student

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Edie,

After completing your "boot camp" I want to thank you for what a great job you did. My background has been more ballroom style than salsa and your camp helped answer a lot of questions I had in making the transition.

What impressed me most was your invitation to the students to ask you for a dance in the social setting. When I spotted you out there I waited till the song was over and grabbed you before you ever hit the carpet. If you were a Porche with six gears, I think I may have gotten to second gear, which is a start.

I have had instructors in the past that I avoid like the plague in social settings. That is because if I make a timing error they are going to jump on it. It is embarrassing and takes the fun out of the dance for me. You did not do that, so Thank you.

I am going to focus more on Salsa now by hiring a good instructor who specializes in Latin dances. I hope next time I see you there will be improvement and I will get you into third.

Good luck with all of your marketing ventures.

Mike

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"Wow Edie" is right!

It's been almost two weeks since your Bootcamp in Los Angeles and I am still feeling energised and inspired by it.  I just wanted to thank you for your charisma and time, and to say that you are a great teacher! 

I am a school teacher who recently had to quit my job due to some medical issues that I needed to deal with.  I actually came up to you after the Bootcamp to let you know that I was recently diagnosed with MS and had trouble feeling my legs.  Thanks for taking the time to talk to me after the class, and for sharing with me the names and websites that you recommended for health juices and a good diet. 

I have come to really appreciate movement and my legs, since my scare with the change in sensation in my legs.  And going to your Bootcamp not only helped me to relax, have fun and learn a lot about dancing, but it also made me learn a lot about myself.  I was so touched by your stories about how you started dancing at 30 and how determined you were to keep working at it.  You look great and you are truly an inspiration. 

Since your workshop, I've been looking into ballet classes to strengthen my legs, and I feel more confident about continuing to dance and to enjoy it.  I used to think that at 31 I was too old to learn to dance, and to do it well, but I wanted to thank you for changing my view of this.  I only got to spend two days in your classes, but your words and energy will last with me for a long time.  They have already changed the way that I do things, and I am grateful that I got the chance to learn from you.  I love the way that you enjoy sharing all that you know with your students, and how it feels as if you want us to be great and you believe that we can be, in all aspects of our lives.  It takes a very strong, courageous and selfless person to be able to teach in that way.  Thank you so much Edie! You're awesome!

Tasleem

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You guys are always asking me to recommend a good Salsa DANCE teacher..well here is my recommendation! Edie is presenting her Bootcamp once again in Los Angeles. Take advantageof the pre-registrationprice..$ this is SUCH A DEAL!

It includes instruction, lunch, snacks and asyllabus. Here isthewebsite,I will be there for the Bootcamp, no matter how much I dance I always learn something new at these workshops.

http://www.Salsafreak.com/Bootcamp

Tell her I sent you!
-Margarita

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Hi Edie,

Thanks for your visit to Kansas City and conducting the bootcamp. I really enjoyed it and it was outstanding learning experience.  I have gone through numerous Salsa workshops / classes during my one year of dancing span and I found your approach unique and most benificial, especially your repetition technique to bring all students on same page. As a result, I remember every thing you taught in the workshop and I can perform them confidently.
I viewed all six DVDs I bought after bootcamp and they make much more sense after taking the bootcamp and I found them very comprehensive.  I'm going to recommend your DVDs to all my friends in Detroit. 

Thanks again and look forward to see you at the Miami Congress. 

Best Regards,
Kaush Singh

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Hi Edie,

I wanted to follow-up with you regarding your Salsa Bootcamp this past weekend in VA. Your energy and instruction about Salsa music and the dance is unparalleled. As I mentioned to you, I have never seen anyone interpret music the way you did and so easily incorporate itinto your dancing. It was a Blessing for me. I hope we will meet up againat a future Salsa event. I enjoyed working with you. Please let me know if you are in the area again and you need someone to work the DVD table.By the way, I am really enjoying your DVD's that you gave me!


Your the Best,

Melynda

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Hi Edie,

I took your Bootcamp about three yearsago and I LOVED it!  I’ve been dancing ever since!!   You’re the best, and a living inspiration!

Fondly,
Anna Olvera

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I would definitely recommend your  Salsa Bootcamps tomy friends, I can't stop talking about it!!

I thinkit's great that you incorporated God intothe day and glorified him!! I also liked the personalized stories, it makes me feel like I can become an amazing dancer too if I stay persistent!  Loved the demonstrations during lunch time. Loved the variety of moves and material, I have a lot to practice!

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The changing of partners, the way of learning, your sense of humour!!!

I never danced  Salsa before (but there is definitely gonna be more  Salsa in the future :-))) )and I don't believe there is much to improve, in what you do! Your joy of dancing is contagious

I rate your Bootcamp a "10" - without being "friendly"!!I had no expectations and I went home completely enthusiastic

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Hello Edie-

I justwanted to thank you for everything that you taught us at the  Salsa Bootcamp this pastweekend. It was amazing! I learned so muchand I can't wait to go out and try out thenew moves. You have inspired me so much tobecome a better dancer, especially that nowI can let loose as opposed to alwaysthinking of the counts in my head. So again,thank you for all that you taught, and Iwill see you in Palm Springs!

Thanks, Michelle 

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Mira Nena, 

Thisis Mimi…La boriqua loca  LOL………Iwanted to say bye to you yesterday but realized I had to run or  I’ll miss my flight back to phoenix.

I hadso much FUN!!!!!!   I learned somuch from you. I am so inspired by you.  You are awesome!  I really love your style and your teaching techniques.  I would love to be your protégé, someday. 

I’d have to admit something to you……………I really thought I can dance my assoff. I grow up dancing  Salsa and watching my 14 aunts and uncles dance but I don’t remember being taught a STYLE or TECHNIQUE……..I’m not mad at them (LOL) but I so excited that I learned some from you.  I’m going to teach them something we I go back to Puerto  Rico .

YOUR ARE AMAZING!

Mimi AKA Millie

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DearEdie ,

It was outstanding to meet you on the all-star Salsa cruise. You are outstanding. I havecome back home and I’m having more fun withmy dancing.. I learned so much from you. Ican't wait to go to another bootcamp.

Andby the way, your DVD is fun and easy tofollow! I love it! You need to have abootcamp cruise!

Takecare, be safe, and keep dancing,

Candace Rodriguez

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Edie, Yesterday I attended your styling Bootcamp. I had attended one last year but had only been dancing for 3 months, so I could only absorb about 15% of the material covered. I learned so much my head was spinning! Well, you did it again. I came home last night with so much more confidence, technical knowledge and, most of all, passion (yours isso contagious) for this wonderful dance. I also bought 2 more of your DVD's and took a bunch of notes. Ihave already started working on holding my frame and using finger-egg hands in my morning aerobics class. After last year's Bootcamp I used your spin- in- the-bathroom suggestion. It took a while but, like you promised, my brain finally worked it out. Men started telling me that I was turning somuch smoother, lighter and faster! Thank you!

You asked us for feedback. You are the best. I loved the way you flexed your agenda to work in the"connection" exercise. It made the room full of mostly strangers become a comfortable warm place. It was great to have the dress/shoe vendor on site. I would have bought metatarsal pads for my shoes had they been offered.

As for ways to improve: a cooler, larger room would have been more comfortable (I know, I know, it's a Bootcamp!) There was one particular older man who felt he was a better teacher than you. I had to ask him to refrain from trying to coach me (incorrectly, I might add) and ask him to be quiet so I could hear you. Maybe you could instruct the men to stick to what you are teaching. I was also a little confused with the afternoon attire. I read the e-mail several times but thought that we could wear either a dress, skirt or pants. Since I didn't have the briefs or fishnets I opted for pants, which I regretted. I know that you, being the profound professional that you are will appreciate this feedback. I adore you and look forward to having the opportunity to learn from you again in the future.

With Great Appreciation, Michelle

Michelle Simpson

 

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It was wonderful and easy to get registered!  The Beginners Bootcamp was awesome!! Edie - you have a wonderful way of making people feelspecial and good about themselves as well ashelping us improve our dance skills andteaching us new ones!  

With your ability to get us to sit and be quiet itwould be great if you could come by and train my puppy / dog next time you're in town! LOL

I do wishthere was a little more practice, but I also understand the need to get us to understandconcepts or why you teach something so thatmade up for practice time!!

I admit I'mnot good about the whole female sexuality thing and the fact that you could get me to try things is a miracle in itself and I thank you!

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Edie,
Almost 300 people have gone to your [Bootcamp] page already [within 24 hoursof posting]. You are a "Salsa Freak and a Salsa Beast , you are simply the best. .... Everybody wants Edie . Wow what a feeling that must be. I know it is not easy being you. I love you!

http://www.edie.youaremighty.com/

Earl Rush

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Wow, your Salsa Bootcamp in Portland was such an amazing experience.I think I enjoyed the Salsa philosophy and humor even more than the dance lessons. My favorite part of thebootcamp was near the very beginning, when you explained what Salsa is. You said the meaning of the words - often in Spanish - aren't important. You started playing a Salsa song ,then imitated the various instruments, then began a conversation, an argument about a mother-in-law. That was so powerful, so well done! You really seemed inspired. If you ever put that on a CD or DVD, please let me know.
 Thanks again for such a wonderful experience.David Blomstrom

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Hi Edie,
I know you receive many emails, but I just wanted to let you know that my two teenage daughters and I attended your Bootcamp in Fort Lauderdale and we really enjoyed it.  We are taking Cuban  Salsa lessons here in West Palm Beach, FL, but now we really like your LA style too!.  If you can, can you let us know if you know of any LA style  Salsa classes that are being given in the area?.  Words can’t really describe how much fun we had.  You are an absolutely amazing person and I really admire you.  You are an inspiration for me as the week before the Bootcamp I was feeling kind of depressed.  I came away from the Bootcamp inspired to continue with my  Salsa dancing and to have a positive, confident attitude no matter what. Thank you and I hope to attend your future Bootcamps.  Great job!

Kelly Corrales

Victoria and Michelle Corrales

Lake Worth, Florida

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Edie,
Really enjoyed the class, you do a great job of balancing the overwhelming information for the boys, keeping the girls interested, providing a positive environment for those who are at some point in time going to get frusterated and the high tens could be just the ticket out, telling stories to let the info sink in those fresh minds, and breaking down salsa into simple, yet advanced moves.  I've been taking classes for 2 months total, I really love it and salsa gives me a great energy in my life.  Also a divorced one, wasn't interested in being with guys, but needed the human touch and positive energy.  Its been great.

- Student

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Edie,
I have been RAVING about your bootcamp course out here in New Hampshire.  I appreciate your style of teaching and your charisma throughout the entire day with such a versatile group of people at different levels. You are truly appreciated as there are few of YOU in this dynamic world.
Francesca
 

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Hi Edie!
My boyfriend and I dropped in on the first half hour or so of one of your beginner bootcamp classes a the Palm Springs Salsa Mambo Festival. (Wish we could have stayed longer, because you really are great, but our cha cha cha was pretty abysmal. Had to go to that class, haha.) Anyway, you were talking about "how to change a man." Or rather, how you can't actually do that, and how trying to emasculates men, etc. "I trust you, I respect you, I submit to you." I'm sure that wasn't the first time you gave that talk, and know what part I'm talking about.

Anyway, Philipp and I were absolutely dying during that lecture, because everything you said was absolutely true. We intentionally live by this philosophy. I've never heard anyone teach it so matter of factly. You should write a book! Everyone came to that bootcamp to learn salsa, but I hope they were listening, because you were throwing out pearls of wisdom. Life lessons with Edie. Relationships and life in general have an awful lot more in common with partnered dance than people usually think. I started dating Philipp because the way he leads told me something about the kind of man he is...he didn't know it at the time, but the way I follow says a lot about how I am in a relationship. Trusting and respecting my partner. and allowing him to lead. Some people say "all the world's a stage." I say it's a dance floor. Too bad more people don't live the way they dance. Err, the way they're supposed to dance.

Anyway, just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed your classes We also took 10 deadly sins, and I took ladies styling. And yes, he tells me I'm gorgeous. And I tell him he's the man. Even when we're just dancing in his living room. And we both remind each other to stand up straight. :)

Just wanted to say thanks, and I'm sure we'll be seeing you again! (Philipp was the guy who won a free pass to the next festival, when that blonde chick tackled him during the "salsa," "mambo", "festival" game...not sure if we're coming back in July or at New Year's again...maybe both, lol!)

Kit and Philipp

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Edie, "Thank you,,,"
After completing your "boot camp" I want to thank you for what a great job you did.  My background has been more ballroom style than salsa and your camp helped answer a lot of questions I had in making the transition.

What impressed me most was your invitation to the students to ask you for a dance in the social setting.  When I spotted you out there I waited till the song was over and grabbed you before you ever hit the carpet.  If you were a Porches with six gears, I think I may have gotten to second gear, which is a start. 

I have had instructors in the past that I avoid like the plague in social settings.  That is because if I make a timing error they are going to jump on it.  It is embarrassing and takes the fun out of the dance for me.  You did not do that, so Thank you.

I am going to focus more on Salsa now by hiring a good  instructor who specializes in Latin dances.   I hope next time I see you there will be improvement and I will get you into third.

Good luck with all of your marketing ventures.
Mike

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Please add a little bit of time for Q&A. The crowd is way too bad, it's not likely to ask questions during class coz it will slow down the class. However, if we can have a 20-30min Q&A session at the end to ask question,we can share what we don't understand orrecoup what we'd learned.

I would definitely recommend her  Salsa FREAK Bootcamps to friends!!! 

Wendy

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hi Edie, mysister and I were at the Bootcamp for bothdays, i have to say that it was one of themost wonderful things I have ever done! Weboth had so much fun!!!, Everybody wasgreat. I do have to say that though Ienjoyed it so much, I think it might havebeen a little to crowded, or maybe the placewas to small, I saw some ladies getdiscouraged. they kept saying its way tomany people. But my sister and I did well,we are very happy, with what we know. Thankyou! it was awesome.
- Sandra

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Hi Edie,  

Really enjoyed the class, you do a great job of balancing the overwhelming information for the boys, keeping the girls interested, providing a positive environment for those who are at some point in time going to get frustrated and the high tens could be just the ticket out, telling stories to let the info sink in those fresh minds, and breaking down salsa into simple, yet advanced moves.  I've been taking with Samatha Bravo about 4 months ago, for 2 months total, I really love it and salsa gives me a great energy in my life.  Also a divorced one, wasn't interested in being with guys, but needed the human touch and positive energy.  Its been great.  Thanks so much, had a great time this weekend... total immersion continues!
Carlyn

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Edie,
You did such a wonderful job of not only teaching us but making it so much fun at the same time.

•   I am at work listening to salsa music on youtube and the second song on the playlist was "la pantera mambo", it made me smile and think about the dip we did where you bob the follow to the pink panther music. I went to the Monday night practice at Halo and saw 5 or 6 of the people from the class there, so that was really fun.  Hopefully I will continue to see people I know from your bootcamp at the clubs.   I will try and stay in touch, and can't wait to see you again.   Handsome Patrick

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  Blog by a Student...
  SalsaFreak bootcamp day 1

  We arrived just before 9am on Saturday.
  I got us lost on the way there (this street is probably a good idea... not ) and, as the bootcamp was supposed to start at 9, we ended up cutting it very close.
  
  Registration went really smooth thanks to Silvia from Salsa-Emocion.
  In a previous life I have been involved with event organisation and I have to say, Silvia and Ibo did an amazing job organizing this weekend.
  Rarely have I seen an event go this well. I'm sure there were some things that came up and had them running around but as participants we never noticed it.
  
  The bootcamp started with Edie introducing herself.
  She told us how she started dancing Salsa (by accident, who would have thought) and then explained how the music is build up, using stories to make it more clear.
  Aside from the fact that I though her stories were hilarious I did indeed learn more about the music which I'm sure will help me in the future.
  
  Edie also spend some time explaining something that I think is very important for a lot of beginners, finding the 1 (no, not the beautiful girl with long legs, the beat).
  In my experience not enough attention is paid to this. Just take a look at social dancing videos on YouTube and you'll see how many people are dancing off beat.
  As I still have some trouble myself from time to time (ok, regularly) I found this very helpful.
  
  Finding the 1 didn't seem to present any problems for most of other the people there which would have completely blown me away normally.
  60 Beginners instantly getting it. Wow!
  
  As it turned out though, most of the people there weren't beginners.
  Out of 60 people there were 4 absolute beginners (they had never danced salsa before) and another 4-6 people that had been dancing less than a year.
  All the other attendees had been dancing longer which made me wonder what they were doing at a beginner bootcamp.
  I guess they wanted/needed to improve their basics or maybe they just wanted to take Edie's bootcamp to see what it is like.
  
  After the introduction we did the basic step for a while.
  I liked the way Edie taught it a lot. The people that hadn't done any salsa dancing before were doing a basic step before they even realized they were doing. I'm sure this helped bringing their anxiety level down.
  When everybody had the basic down it was time for an inside turn followed by 'he goes she goes'.
  
  Everything that we learned was first practiced without a partner.
  And when I say practiced I really mean practiced!
  It seemed like we would go on forever doing the same things.
  In the 5 to 10 minutes that we spent on it I've practiced the lead for an inside turn more than I have in all my time dancing so far,
  
  This was probably also the most valuable lesson that I learned that weekend.
  Dancing, like martial arts, is about repetition.
  If you keep practicing a move after you've become fed up with it,
  if you keep practicing after your arms and shoulders have become tired,
  If you keep practicing after your arms and shoulders started hurting,
  if you keep practicing after you've started wondering why you wanted to learn at all,
  if after all of that you still practice some more then you will probably never have trouble doing the move again.
  
  Ok, so we didn't go that far but my shoulder did start to get tired by the time we were done and it worked. If I think of an inside turn now my arm will automatically start leading the move.
  
  While I was doing martial arts I'd never expected anything else but I guess I thought things would be different when it came to dancing.
  Lesson learned, repetition pays off.
  
  We then practiced Cross Body Leads (thousands of them?) .
  This was just more prove that repetition pays off as nobody, including the new people, had any trouble dancing them to music.
  
  With these basic elements under out belt we started combining things.
  Everything went fine for a while but eventually 2 of the beginners started falling behind.
  I'm not sure whether that was because of the amount of information they had gotten in such a short period of time or because they didn't pay enough attention in the beginning.
  I do hope they had a good time regardless.
  
  Edie, Silvia and Ibo definitely made it a fun filled day that helped correct a couple of mistakes I was making consistently.
  Would I recommend the bootcamp to beginners? Definitely!
  Although maybe not to people that have never danced at all unless I know they are willing to put in the effort.

  Posted by Walter de Rooij at 2:15 PM

  _________________ 
  SalsaFreak bootcamp day 2

  Day 2 of the bootcamp started relaxed.
  
  We woke up early enough to enjoy a calm breakfast.
  The workshop wouldn't start until 9 and by 8:30 we had eaten, were all packed and ready to go.
  
  Then it hit me. Daylight savings time !
  Saturday night the clocks had gone forward an hour so instead of having enough time we were suddenly very late.
  
  We rushed through check out, got the car, drove as fast as we could (the whole 3 blocks) and ran inside.
  By the time we got through registration and had made it to the room it was clear that we'd missed a lot already and we needed to catch up desperately.
  
  Luckily we spent quite a bit of time spinning during the SalsaLife workshop so catching up was relatively easy for me.
  Spin left, spin right, spin left, spin right... so far so good.
  Double spin left... ok. Double right... still ok
  Triple sp... oops, balance gone! At least I managed not to trip over my own feet and fall down so I still consider it a small success.
  
  It seemed I wasn't the only one that was having problems and it seemed like there were more beginners than the day before. Or maybe there were just more men and women that weren't too experienced at spinning yet.
  As we kept on practicing everybody seemed to improve a bit more and after a while everybody could pull off at least semi decent double spins. Most people were even doing triples without too many problems.
  That was when it was time for the ladies to practice spinning with a partner.
  As there were 3 times as many women as there were men at this point the ladies made a big circle.
  They alternated practicing their spins with a partner and alone.
  Given the amount of spins they ended up doing I was happy not to be in their shoes.
  I'm not sure I would have still been standing at the end of the morning.
  
  During lunch some of the men complained that the women weren't making an effort and had to be pulled through the spin but at the same time I heard that some of the men didn't prep the spin or even waited for the girls to be ready before starting the spin.
  I think this might have been partially because of a language problem.
  Some of the men on Sunday spoke little or no English and they didn't ask for a translation.
  
  After lunch the Ladies Styling session started.
  First Edie tweaked the women's posture a bit. It's amazing how much difference that makes.
  After they were done they looked like completely different.
  
  As the afternoon progressed a some more men arrived but there were still a lot more women. The ratio was about 2:1
  Luckily Edie had a solution for that.
  While I was thinking that we would probably make a circle again she explained that the men would be dancing with 2 women at the same time. That would solve the problem.
  
  WHAT?!?!? The night before I had enough trouble trying to lead just 1 girl and now she expects me to lead 2 at the same time ? ? ?
  
  For a second I thought she was kidding but no such luck. She was serious.
  I tried to figure out how to sneak out quietly sneaking so I could hide in the hallway for the rest of the day but it was too late, 2 women were already standing next to me.
  There was nothing left for me to do but dance.
  
  The first 30 seconds were awful.
  It wasn't that I was doing that poorly.
  Edie was counting slowly and the girls knew what to do so as long as I moved along in the right direction I didn't really have to lead. It's hard to do things poorly in a situation like that.
  However, I was so nervous I could barely move.
  As I realized I was doing ok I started to relax and things got better.
  Even though I messed up plenty of times and our dancing was more circular than linear for a large part of the afternoon I did learn a lot about leading and as my leading improved it got easier.
  Both for me and the girls.
  
  I think I probably learned more about leading in a couple of hours on Sunday than I have in last 3 months together. It was a lot easier than it normally is.
  I didn't have to worry about music (at least not in the beginning) or about learning new moves.
  All I had to do , once we started dancing to music, to make sure that my lead was clear so the girls would know what to do without running into each other.
  As that was all I had to focus on it was much easier to see what I was doing right and wrong.
  Especially because leading slightly different with one hand than the other showed completely different results instantaneously.
  
  So what did think of the bootcamp?
  Edie is one of the best instructors I've seen so far.
  She's clear when explaining and always willing to explain something 1-1 during the breaks.
  Her energy throughout the bootcamp was amazing.
  
  It was definitely a great experience and I wouldn't hesitate recommending it to beginners.
  Maybe it's not for absolute beginners (people that have never danced before) if they are not willing to put in the extra work (that is definitely required if you haven't danced before) but if they are willing to put in that extra little bit I think it will be a great experience for them as well.
  That said, they will be part of a large group so they'll definitely have to be willing to ask if they don't understand something or they will fall behind.
  
  Do I feel it was it worth the money? Absolutely!
  Even if Sunday hadn't been free (men didn't have to pay as they were needed to help the women) just learning as much as I did about my leading would have been well worth it.
  
  If you're not sure whether you would like to take a bootcamp try to make it to a Ladies Styling Sunday to get a taste for it. Keep one thing in mind though, you may not have to pay an entrance fee but in return you will be expected to work hard.
  After all, you get to go for free is because you're there to help the ladies!

  Posted by Walter de Rooij at 9:53 AM