Today, I was dancing with a follow who usually dances another style. She told me right away that she was still learning bachata and salsa, so I knew to start slow. But I could quickly tell she had dance experience; she could follow well, and I noticed hints of zouk and something else. While we were dancing, she mentioned that I could probably pick up West Coast Swing pretty easily, which is something I’m interested in learning in the future as I plan to explore various dance styles.
Anyway, while we danced, I observed how my lead gave her the structure to play around and adapt her dance style to the one we were doing. I could see her eagerness to learn, experiment, and connect the dots. I sensed she was having fun, so I told her she was doing great. It was a wonderful experience because the principles I often talk about were coming into play here—she was translating her knowledge from other dances and picking up this new one with ease.
I’d like to add that this wouldn’t have been possible if my lead had been too rigid; a lead that’s too rigid can close off creativity and make it harder to adapt to the dance. What stood out to me was the idea that most people can learn new skills quickly if they view learning as a skill itself. This connects with the concept of versatility I mentioned in my script idea—one can learn quickly by staying open and connecting dots, rather than starting from scratch.
The ability to feel like one isn’t completely new or “dumb” at something, to be confident enough to experiment yet humble enough to keep the ego from taking over, is the balance needed when translating skills into a new area. I could see it clearly in this dance. I’ve learned many skills, but the thing I value most is my capacity to let go, to let the music move through my body, and to let my body shape the music rather than my mind.
This concept deserves thought, as it can be incredibly helpful for individuals interested in learning how to learn faster. At the core lies the ability to avoid being overcome by ego.