For centuries, Salsa dance has been considered one of the most elegant, lively, and creative dances, inspiring people to learn how to do salsa by themselves.
It is a beautiful partner dance form with an off-beaten pattern and plenty of style. But being a beginner you are still a few basic steps behind becoming a professional salsa dancer.
Here is a quick guide for beginners to help learn salsa dance from scratch. It may include everything from what to bring to your initial salsa classes in Orange County to basic steps, music, styles, and much more.
So, without further ado, let’s get to it!
Salsa Dance Form: Introduction To The Timing
Salsa music is typically phrased in counts of 8. Every step you learn during your Salsa dance lessons will fit into an eight-count.
However, out of 8, 2 of the counts are pauses.
You’d normally dance on the counts – 1,2,3, then a quick pause at 4, and again dance on the counts of 5,6,7, and a brief pause on 8.
Salsa Dance: What To Bring To Class?
Now that you are starting with your salsa dance lessons, there are a few things that you must bring with you.
- Comfortable clothes
- Right salsa dance shoes
- Light Snacks to replenish energy
- Water for hydration
- Towel to clean workout sweat
Most importantly, don’t forget to bring a positive attitude and willingness to go beyond your comfort zone and learn salsa!
Salsa Dance Music
Salsa dance and music are known to have originated in New York City clubs in the 1950s.
Salsa music is a combination of Cuban, African, Latin American, and Puerto Rican musical traditions to create an energetic style.
The uniqueness of the music is based on the clave, which keeps the off-beat rhythm of the dance.
Salsa Dance: Basic Steps Of The Dance Form
Salsa dance revolves around a fundamental structure of five steps, built upon the foundational front-to-back step pattern.
The best outcomes of the beginner salsa classes begin with a dedicated focus on practicing this essential pattern.
With the dancing dynamic, two major roles emerge-
1. A lead dancer
2. A follow dancer
The lead dancer executes straightforward steps, following the sequence of 1,2,3 (front, center, front) and 5, 6, 7 (back, center, back). On the other hand, the following dancer reverses the sequences – back, center, back, and then center, front, center.
Here are the specifics of the couples’ salsa classes dance steps:
Basic Salsa Step
- Commence with feet together.
- On the first beat, step forward with the left foot.
- Shift weight to the right foot on beat two.
- On the third beat, return the left foot to the center.
- Beat four entails a pause.
- Continue with steps five to eight.
Ensure to maintain fluidity by keeping hips and arms loose, allowing your body to sway with the rhythmic music.
Basic Salsa Side Step
- Similar to the basic step but sideward.
- The lead dancer initiates with the left foot, while the follow dancer begins with the right foot.
- Steps include moving to the left, centering on the right foot, stepping back to the center, and repeating the same on the right side.
Add Flair With Rotating The Follow Dancer
- Incorporate a spin for the follow dancer on count five.
- Followed by the spin, transition back into the basic salsa dance step.
Master The Cross Body Lead
- Merge the basic step and the basic side step.
- The lead dancer steps to the side on beat two, rotates on beat three, and guides the follow dancer across the floor while maintaining the basic step.
Elevate With Cross Body Lead With Inside Turn
- Integrate a turn into the basic side step.
- Execute a basic salsa dance step with a cross-body lead and incorporate a turn on beat five before continuing in the basic step.
Once you become a master, add personality and flair to the dance, both hand and hip movements.
Bottom Line
Salsa is all about feeling the beat of the music and letting yourself flow through the body in dance!
If you are willing to learn how to do salsa like a pro, take a professional dance class with all the world-class instructors and get to it.