Introduction | Dance Etiquette | Difference from Existing styles
Click here to watch a Video of ‘What is Dhalsa?’(coming soon..)
1. Dhalsa is a ‘feel good’ dance - a dance style that’s simple to learn and a lot of fun. It is the first new structured dance of this Millenium,
2. Dhalsa is danced in a circle. It encourages participation by being simple, yet structured and a LOT of fun. Dhalsa was conceived and developed by Agnelo Coelho and is used to support the storyline for the two feature films ‘Dhalsa’ and ‘Dhalsing’.
Click here to watch the Dhalsa Dance Instructional Videos
3. Dhalsa caters to 85% or of the world’s dance loving population who are neither teenagers nor have the time or the skills to go through many months of dance training to get on the floor.
4. You can Dhalsa using hands, straws, pencils or light tubular sticks (called Dhal sticks). As a disclaimer – sticks are NOT an integral part of the Dhalsa dance. The ‘friendly energy exchange’ – which the tapping of sticks represent can be accomplished without sticks.
5. Dhalsa is a ‘retrofitted’ dance. Unlike any other dance style , Dhalsa can be danced to many different rhythms Club, R &B, Bollywood, Bhangra,Dandiya, Garba and Latin rhythms such as Salsa and Bachata .
Click here to watch videos of Dhalsa being danced to different rhythms
6. There is no concept of ‘following’ in Dhalsa – which is prevalent in most social dance styles. All dancers are leaders – there are no followers. This is a first – after centuries of male domination on the dance floor- the ladies are finally liberated.
7. Dhalsa is usually danced with ‘Dhal Sticks’ which can be any light tubular object such as a straw or non lead pencil. Alternatively, you can dance it with no dhal sticks just clap your hands at the beat when you should be tapping sticks.
8 The feet movement are similar to Salsa on One - with one difference - ladies move forward on the right foot.
9. Dhalsa is a choreography of preset steps contained within combinations. A Combination , or Combo as it is refereed to, is a set of around eight Salsa-ish steps that are alternated with the Dhalsa basic step. The lower numbers combos contain steps that are simpler to dance than the higher numbered combos. You start with the basic combo and then progress towards the higher numbers.
10. The steps inside a combination are easy to memorize.
Each step number is associated to the dance style it represents. This makes it easy for us to memorize the steps inside a combination
As an example, Step 1 is always the Dhalsa basic step,
Step two always has two of something (two taps, two stomps,..)
Step three - is usually a turn – three begins with ‘T’ and so does turn
The number four is pronounced ‘char’ in Hindi .Step 4 is always connected to a ‘cha – cha’ step.
Step five is a hi-five step,
Step six is a Salsa turn in the lower combination and sticks in the advanced combination six – stiks –(Six – stiks)
Step seven is ‘heaven’ – a heavenly styling step.,
At Step eight – you’re at the ‘gate’ ready to exit - this is the exit step for the combination.
All the combinations follow this principle. Step three in any combination will be a turn – it will be a different turn for each combination – but step three is always a turn
Philosophy and etiquette for DHALSING (dancing Dhalsa)
1. DHALSA, the ‘feel good’ dance should be danced in a circle. It is a friendship dance and any adult should be allowed to participate (maximum 16 participants per circle)
2. A ‘Dhal stik’ is used for tapping the partners stick as a gesture of friendly energy exchange. A ‘dhal stik’ is a very light tube shaped object around 12 inches long and between a ¼ inch and ½ inch in diameter. A drinking straw / non lead pencil is a good example of a Dhal stik.
3. The footwork for DHALSA is similar to that of Salsa. However, the timing for the dance steps/ footwork can be retrofitted for most medium tempo dance music rhythms (Garba, Dandiya, Salsa, Merengue, Hustle, hip hop,…).
4. Dhal stiks are not needed to participate in this dance. Clapping of hands is allowed if there are no dhal sticks at hand. There is NO hitting of your partner’s Dhal sticks only light touch (to signify an exchange of friendly energy). Note that the entire circle should agree to claps (no using claps if anyone in the circle is using any tubular object for ‘friendly energy exchange’)
5. Medium tempo music is preferred for ‘Dhalsing’ (as in the song ‘Dhalsa Queen’)
6. There are usually between seven and ten steps in a combination interleaved with the Dhalsa Basic step. The dance should begin with the basic combination (also called ‘combo’) and then the advanced patterns attempted in sequence. Beginners should join a ‘Basic combo only’ circle. The official steps in DHALSA combinations will be posted on www.dhalsa.com
7. It is recommended that the group begin with the basic combo and then move on to advanced combination patterns. If the combo pattern is not being followed then the group should generally agree on the combination pattern number that will be danced.
Guidelines for DHALSING
1. There is no close embrace hold in Dhalsa. In most cases the dancers will be holding ‘Dhal Stiks’ for energy exchange so the close embrace position is not practical.
2. There is no concept of ‘followers’ in DHALSA. The dancers dance to preset patterns and hence all the dancers are ‘leaders’. As leaders, it is extremely important to be completely focused on your partner specially during the ‘friendship energy exchange’ (light tapping of Dhal stiks).
3. There is no ‘correcting your partner’ in Dhalsa. It is a ‘Feel Good’ dance. Be patient. Dancers continuously rotate while ‘Dhalsing’ and your partner will shift within 60 seconds (gone in 60 seconds).
4. There is no ‘hitting’ of your partner’s DHAL stiks in DHALSA. A gentle tap to demonstrate a friendly energy exchange is all that’s needed. This can be substituted by clapping of hands or a light tap of finger tips.
5. Although the steps within a combination are preset – any member in the circle can volunteer to shout out the name of the next step during counts 5 and 6 of the basic step (for example a dancer can call out ‘Cha cha ‘ on count five and six during the Basic step leading to the cha – cha step)
6. On the floor the DJ will usually play a classical piece to signal that a DHALSA dance is coming up
C). Difference from Existing styles
The similarities and difference between Dhalsa and other Latin dance Styles can be summarized as follows:
No |
Dhalsa |
Other Latin Dances |
1. |
Dhalsa is danced in a circle where partners are continuously rotated by virtue of the dance steps |
Salsa is a one on one partner dance. It is danced typically in a straight line where partners replace each others positions (during turns) |
2 |
In Dhalsa, dhal sticks are held and they are tapped against the partners sticks during the dance |
In Salsa and other dance styles the hands are placed to the side |
3 |
In Dhalsa the ladies move forward on the right foot. |
In Salsa on one - ladies move forward on the left foot. |
4 |
In Rueda, the first step for the male is a forward step with the left foot (as Salsa on one) |
Rueda Casino is danced in a circle as Dhalsa. In Rueda, the first step for the male is a back step on left foot |
5 |
In Dhalsa there is no calling out of steps. Dhalsa uses the concept of ‘combination steps’ in choreography. Each of these combinations have a pre set steps woven within them which do not change |
In Rueda EVERY step is called out by a leader and the dancers need to know how each step is danced in order to participate |
6 |
Dhalsa can be retrofitted to most rhythms including hustle, Salsa, Indian garba, etc. |
Salsa can mostly be danced only to Salsa rhythm |
7 |
Dhalsa is a ‘Feel Good’ dance – no posture or styling is enforced |
Salsa requires a straight posture – East Coast Swing requires a ‘bowed posture’ |
8 |
All steps in the combination are repeated twice except the exit (eight) step. |
No such concept in any other dance |
9 |
Dancers form a circle and dance DHALSA Basic till ‘DHALSA’ is called out (on count 1 of previous step) |
No such concept in any other dance |
10 |
The gentleman usually has his right hand free before any ‘numbered’ step – the lady has her left hand free before any ‘numbered’ step. |
No such concept in any other dance |
11 |
Gentlemen and ladies can move the sticks to either hand during styling |
No such concept in any other dance |
12 |
There is no concept of ‘followers’ in Dhalsa |
In most Latin and European dance styles the Gentleman is considered as the leader and the lady as a ‘follower’ |