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Welcome to Episode 198 of the Salsa Kings LIVE podcast
We have been featured as #1 in “Top 10 Salsa Podcasts” on FeedSpot.
Familia, welcome back to the podcast! This is episode 198 with Rico Rico, and Mr. Smooth (Andres Fernandez). At the start we joked about how many “Rico Recaps” there have been so far, and we figured it’s probably around 50. Today’s episode is called “What Happens When You Don’t Know.” Shout-out to the Miami Salsa Cruise coming up February 22nd to February 28th on the Carnival Horizon. It’s going to be full of workshops, live salsa music, karaoke, and lots of dancing fun.
Key Points
Confidence Through Competence
To improvise well, you need confidence. To be confident, you need evidence. That means putting in reps, learning fundamentals, and checking your results. Mistakes teach you what to fix so you can grow.
The Journey Bracelet
At Salsa Kings we have something called The Journey. It’s a bracelet with 12 steps. Each step shows an achievement in a dancer’s progress. Step 11 is called Versatility. To earn it, you must be able to dance the main Cuban and Latin styles: Son, Danzon, Mambo, LA Style Salsa, Casino, Cha-Cha-Cha, and Cumbia.
Edwin’s Story
One of my students, Edwin, has been moving fast through the steps. In only a couple months, he earned three or four of them, which normally takes much longer. His focus and intention are strong. He wants to earn the Versatility step, and we’ve been working together in private lessons to make it happen.
Why Versatility Matters
Dancing all the different styles makes you a more complete dancer. It also helps you discover what you really like. Some dances are slow, others fast, some have different timing or energy. By trying them all, you can figure out, “I like this, I don’t like this, but I enjoy this one the most.” It’s not just about skill—it’s also about self-discovery.
Life Lesson Connection
This idea connects to life too. When we meet friends, partners, or coworkers, sometimes we think we like one kind of person. Later, with more experience, we might find out we like something else better. Or years later, we might come back to what we liked at the start. Experience teaches us. The same way versatility in dance helps us learn our tastes, versatility in life helps us understand ourselves.
Unknown Unknowns
We talked about the “unknown unknowns.” These are the things you don’t know that you don’t know. Teachers have a big role in showing students new things. If you only know about red, yellow, and blue, you might never realize that your favorite color is green. That’s why it’s important to see the full picture.
Generational Difference
Older generations used to just accept or think when they didn’t know something. Younger generations are quick to Google it—or now, even ask ChatGPT. Both ways have value. Quick answers are good, but some lessons you can’t Google. Things like how to navigate relationships, how long to look someone in the eyes, or how to handle tough choices—you need experience.
The Value of Reps
The best way to master anything is practice. If you want to dance better, dance more. If you want to juggle, juggle more. If you want to get better with people, spend more time with people. Just like in The E-Myth by Michael Gerber, true mastery comes from devoting yourself to your craft.
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