Have you always wanted to learn how to dance salsa?
If so, you’re in luck!
This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know, including the basics, some simple moves you can try, plus tips to help you avoid the pitfalls. You’ll learn where to start and the best way to progress so you can rock your moves on the dancefloor.
Let’s begin, shall we?
Step-By-Step Salsa Dance Guide
This section outlines the general approach beginners take to salsa dancing. We will delve into how to perform dance moves for this type of dance in more detail.
Step 1: Find A Partner
The first step to salsa dancing is to find a partner. It doesn’t matter if it is someone with the same level of experience or with more training. You can learn salsa dancing together or get one-on-one instruction from a more experienced partner.
Step 2: Learn The Basic Steps
The second step is to learn the basic steps of the dance. As with other Latin dance styles, the basics are simple but effective and take you 80 percent of the way to feeling confident.
Step 3: Keep Practicing
Once you have a repertoire of basic skills, the third step is to keep practicing. Going through the moves regularly with a partner will help you develop muscle memory, making it more straightforward to learn additional movements.
Beginners can practice by themselves, at dance school, or social events. Keep moving until your body learns to flow with the music naturally.
Step 4: Add More Advanced Steps
Once you are proficient, you are ready to add more advanced steps. These help you add variation to your routine, making dancing more fun.
Step 5: Enjoy Yourself
Last but not least, enjoy yourself. The purpose of dancing is to have fun. That’s it!
Salsa Dance Basics
Salsa is an energetic and high-movement dance originating in Cuba. It exhibits extensive Latin influence and is something people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy.
To be a successful salsa dancer it is essential to get the basics right. Mastering the fundamental movements sets you up to learn more advanced techniques.
This section breaks down the elements of salsa dance into their most rudimentary form. Learning to incorporate them from day one will build a foundation of confidence.
Get Your Posture Right
The first task is to ensure you have the proper posture for salsa dancing. As part of the Latin family of dances, expect plenty of hip movement and rhythm!
When starting, stand with your knees slightly bent, feet together, and weight evenly distributed over your feet. Ensure you stand tall with a neutral spine, setting your shoulders back.
Avoid using your arms to push or pull your partner, and don’t hunch your shoulders over. You will have trouble maintaining your frame.
When dancing, lead from the hips. Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and then repeat, putting accents on your movements on counts 1, 5, and 7. Salsa usually has a pause on count 4, with a fast-fast-slow cadence.
Basic Step
The next task is to learn the fundamental steps. As a traditional dancing style, salsa bases its movements around those for the leader and follower, or lead and follow.
The leading step is as follows:
Step forward with your left foot (count 1)
Shift your weight onto your right foot (count 2)
Step backward with your left foot (count 3 and 4)
Step backward with your right foot (count 1)
Shift your weight onto your left foot (count 2)
Step forward with your right foot (count 3 and 4)
Repeat from step 1
The following step is as follows, mirroring the above:
Step backward onto your right foot (count 1)
Shift weight to the left foot held in place (count 2)
Step forward with your right foot (count 3 and 4)
Step forward with your left foot (count 1)
Shift your weight to your right foot held in place (count 2)
Step backward with your left foot (count 3 and 4)
Repeat from step 1
When performing this move, you want to free up your hips so they move in tandem with the music. Keep practicing until you feel the step comes naturally and no longer need to think about it. Learn the lead and follower roles so you can do either in a dancing partnership.
Cross-Body Lead
Once you master the basic step, you are ready to try the cross-body lead. This movement adds flair and excitement to your dance.
Starting with your feet together:
Step your left foot to the side (count 1)
Bring your right foot to your left (count 2)
Tap your left foot to the side (count 3)
Shift your weight onto your right foot (count 4)
Shift your weight to your left foot and step back with your right foot (count 5)
Cross your left foot over in front of your right foot (count 6)
Tap your left foot slightly to the side (count 7)
Return to neutral (count 8)
If you are dancing with a partner, simply reverse these instructions, as before.
Turns
After you complete the basic steps, you are ready to learn turns and spins. Adding these to your dance routines creates excitement and visual interest (and helps you look more like a pro!)
Turns and spins add to the basic steps already discussed. You perform a round of basic steps, then incorporate one of these moves.
Turns are more basic than spins because you rotate less. Most turns in salsa are 180 degrees from your partner.
Ensure you feel confident with the basic step and cross-body lead first. Perform a few rounds from count 1 to 8 until you feel comfortable.
Prepare to initiate the turn (count 7)
Turn to the side with your left foot while keeping your weight on it, pivoting on the ball of your right foot (count 8)
Begin the basic salsa step again (count 1)
To perform a right turn, move your weight onto your right foot at count 7 and pivot on the ball of your left foot. Ensure you complete the move in one count, ready to continue the basic step at the proper time.
Spins
Spins differ from turns because you execute them in one motion on the ball of your foot. Turns are good practice for spins because they train you to recognize your center of balance and spin from the correct point of contact with the floor.
To perform a spin:
Step forward with your right foot for the basic salsa step and turn your following left foot inward towards the center of your body to prepare for the turn (count 7)
Open to the side facing right (count 8)
Step around with your left leg, keeping your right leg planted on the ground. Change weight onto left foot and close (count 1)
When you step forward on the first step, you will notice that your body weight is over your right foot. Spinning here could make you crash into your partner, so pivot on your right hip instead, sinking backward while turning to the side. (Don’t push back). As you spin, your rear foot (left) turns inwards. You can continue spinning by letting your torso continue to the right.
Then, perform a twist from the chest, looking in the direction you want to turn for the third step of the spin. Use the right foot to complete the walk-around while leaning on your left foot. Spin the full 360-degrees from the starting position until you are facing your partner again.
Mastering this move and incorporating it into the salsa basic step can take some practice, so keep going until you feel confident. Don’t worry if it seems complicated written down – once you understand the steps in person or see an instructor doing it, it becomes substantially more comfortable. These instructions should have you performing the spin clockwise. However, if you wind up with a leading left foot, you can do it counter-clockwise.
Easy Salsa Dance Steps
Once you have these basics in your repertoire, it is time to start learning how to do salsa dance in advanced steps. These add flair and panache to your moves, making you look more professional and letting you add variation.
Dile Que No (Cross Body Lead)
The Dile Que No is a basic salsa move that involves a switch to the side for the follower or the following partner. Sometimes called the “say no” move, it is highly popular.
Here are the actions for both partners on each of the counts:
The leader moves the left foot forward, pushing the follower backward with the left hand. At the same time, the follower moves left the foot backward to almost the same place (count 1)
The leader moves the right foot into place, turning it 90 degrees to the follower. The follower moves the left foot into position.
The leader moves the left foot backward to match the follower's right foot. The leader should intend to turn 90 degrees to the follower and move backward to give more straight-moving space. The leader should also apply a small contra with the left hand on the upper back, guiding where the follower should go. The follower moves the right foot forward but leaves it behind and to the right of the left foot (count 3)
Pause (count 4)
The leader steps with the right foot on the ground, pushing the follower back with the right hand. The left hand no longer leads but remains intact. The follower steps the left foot forward (count 5)
The leader steps forward with the left foot on the ground, turning it 90 degrees to the left. The follower moves the right leg forward and to the left, passing their left foot.
The leader matches their right foot with the left, facing the follower. The follower gives the left foot forward by turning, with the left shoulder backward to face the leader (count 7)
Pause (count 8)
Enchufla
The Enchufla is another simple move for the dance floor, sometimes called Ven y Ven (“come and return”). The steps for this move are as follows:
Half turn left (counts 1, 2, and 3)
Half turn undone (counts 5, 6, and 7)
You can also perform the Enchufla double by adding a right turn to the above:
Half turn right (counts 1, 2, and 3)
Half turn undone (counts 5, 6, and 7)
When performing the Enchufla, both lead and follow should step forward on count 1, since the starting foot is already in the forward-stepping motion at the stand of the move. However, this step can be small.
Beginner's Tips For Salsa Dancing
Finally, here are some general salsa dancing tips for beginners:
Wear Comfortable Shoes
You want shoes that feel comfortable for salsa dancing. Heavy or low-grip shoes are not ideal for a dance like salsa, which requires a lot of movement.
Wear Loose Clothes
Ensure you wear loose clothes. You want to be able to move freely around the dance floor. Clothing that’s too tight will inhibit movement and could rip.
Be Patient
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t pick up salsa movements immediately. It takes most people several years before they look professional. Keep up the hard work, and the results will come. It only takes time.
Bring Plenty Of Water With You
Don’t forget to bring a bottle of water with you to salsa class. Learning new dance moves can be sweaty work. You’ll want a drink every fifteen minutes or so.
Practical Regularly
Get as much practice as you can to build muscle memory. Get your muscles used to the idea of moving in a certain way.
Start Dance Lessons
The best way to learn how to dance salsa is with professional lessons. Invest in them today to boost your skills and give yourself a head start.