Dance Salsa
The Salsa dance originated in the 1970s in New York City, with strong Latin American influences (Cuba and Puerto Rico) and is a lively, sensual dance with basic steps that make it easy for beginners to pick up. Read on for some tips that will keep you moving on the dance floor.
Contents
Steps
Mastering the Basics
- Start in the closed dance position. The leader takes his partner's right hand in his left and places his right hand on her left shoulder blade. The follower should keep her left hand on his right shoulder, with her arm over his.
- Or start in the hand-in-hand position. The leader has his palms facing upwards, and the follower takes his hands with her palms down. This allows for more freedom of movement.
- Have good posture. When dancing, you should always keep your spine straight, your chin up and your shoulders back. Your chest should naturally then puff out a bit. Your body should be held with strength at all points.
- Always look up. Keep your head held up or tilted to look at your partner. Do not look at your feet or your partner's. Looking at your feet is a dead giveaway that you're nervous and not sure what you're doing.
- Keep your arms bent at a 90 degree angle from the elbows. In this position, your hands are most easily accessible to your partner. Your arm should rest on horizontal plane.
- Move your hips. Most of the movement in the Salsa comes from the hips, so you will want to keep your hips loose. Don't be afraid to sway your hips. Even if you're just moving your foot, know that a slight hip movement goes along with it. If you move your right foot out, your right hip juts out a bit, too.
- Choose a salsa song that has a 4/4 beat (four beats to the bar) and a fast tempo. You'll want music that lies somewhere between 160-220 beats per minute. Before you start a song, make sure that you can keep up with the speed and identify the beats for your steps.
- Count as you listen to the song. If you count out the beats in the music, you will be able to find the Salsa beat and identify which steps go with which beat. If you can't keep count while you're listening to the song, it's best to choose a different one.
- 4/4 time is counted in 8-counts. You'll be doing one standard Salsa step in 8 beats.
- Count as you listen to the song. If you count out the beats in the music, you will be able to find the Salsa beat and identify which steps go with which beat. If you can't keep count while you're listening to the song, it's best to choose a different one.
Dancing As The Leader
- Lead your partner. The leader in the dance should guide the follower by giving little tugs or pushes that let the follower know when to turn, hesitate, dip, or perform other moves.
- The lead should be a gentle push with the man's hand on the woman's hand, shoulder or waist.
- Learn the "On 1" style of Salsa dancing. This is named such because your initial movement is, believe it or not, on 1. You'll be moving on 1, 2, 3 and 5, 6, 7. 4 and 8 are held. If you're watching a tutorial, you may hear the instructor use only these 6 beats, or just call out 1 and 5. Here are the basic moves:
- Start with both of your feet together
- On the first beat, step forward with your left foot.
- On the second beat, rock back on your right foot.
- On the third beat, step back with your left foot, placing the weight on the ball of your foot.
- On the fourth beat, place your weight toward the heel of your foot (you do not pick it up and move it). Apart from a slight shift in weight, the fourth beat is held.
- On the fifth beat, step back with your right foot.
- On the sixth beat, rock forward on your left foot.
- On the seventh beat, step forward with your right foot, placing the weight on the ball of your foot.
- On the eight beat, spread out your weight evenly on your right foot, but not lifting it up.
- Think in terms of fast, fast, slow. 1 and 2 are fast, 3 is slow (because 4 is held). The same goes for 5 through 8. 1, 2, 3 is left, right, left and 5, 6, 7, is right, left, right. That's it!
- Learn the "On 2" Puerto Rican style of salsa dancing. It's the same as "On 1," except for on 2. Ha. Use the following basic steps to dance the Salsa with your partner:
- Start with both of your feet together
- Hold the beat on the first beat and do not move.
- On the second beat, step forward with your left foot.
- On the third beat, rock back on your right foot.
- On the fourth beat, step back with your left foot.
- On the fifth beat, hold the beat and do not take any steps (but do even out your weight).
- On the sixth beat, step back with your right foot.
- On the seventh beat, rock forward on your left foot.
- On the eighth beat, step forward with your right foot.
- With this beat, you'll be moving (and hearing) 2, 3, 4 and 6, 7, 8. 1 and 5 are held (silent). Repeat these steps to the rhythm, since Salsa music uses 4/4 time and contains eight beats.
Dancing As The Follower
- Move when the leader tells you to. As the follower, you must be attuned to what the leader is directing you to do. Pay attention to all the leads that your partner gives you and move instinctively in the direction that he is pushing you in.
- Do not lead or pull your dance partner around. As the follower, you should wait for his lead and follow in line with the dance.
- Learn the "On 1" step. This is the traditional Salsa step and mirrors the leader's moves described above. Use the following basic steps to dance the Salsa with your partner:
- Start with both of your feet together.
- On the first beat, step back with your right foot.
- On the second beat, step forward with your left foot.
- On the third beat, step forward with your right, starting with the ball of your foot.
- On the fourth beat, hold the beat, transfer the weight to your heel, and do not take any steps.
- On the fifth beat, step forward with your left foot.
- On the sixth beat, step back with your right foot.
- On the seventh beat, step to distribute your weight back onto the ball of your left foot.
- On the eighth beat, hold the beat and do not take any steps, but distribute your weight onto your heel.
- Learn the "On 2" step. For music that pops on the even counts, you may want to learn the "On 2" step, too. It's the same as the "On 1" variety, but on 2. It goes like this:
- Start with both of your feet together.
- Hold the first beat.
- On the second beat, step back with your right foot.
- On the third beat, step forward with your left foot.
- On the fourth beat, step forward with your right, starting with the heel of your foot.
- On the fifth beat, hold the beat, transfer the weight to your ball, and do not take any steps.
- On the sixth beat, step forward with your left foot.
- On the seventh beat, step back with your right foot.
- On the eighth beat, step to distribute your weight back onto the ball of your left foot.
- Again, think in terms of fast, fast, slow. For this one, 2, 3, 4 is right, left, right and 6, 7, 8 is left, right, left. Fast, fast slow -- right, left, right. Fast, fast, slow -- left, right, left.
Adding Turns and Tricks
- Do a turn by yourself. Often, Salsa is peppy and can be danced in a club. While you may be dancing with someone technically, they are not holding you or you are not holding them. If that's the case, do a solo turn.
- Let's say we're doing the "On 1" style of Salsa dancing. For both men and women (there is no "lead" when you're dancing solo):
- On the first beat, step forward with your left foot.
- On the second beat, turn around (180 degrees), moving your weight to the ball of your right foot.
- On the third beat, turn to face your original direction (completing the circle), bringing your feet together.
- On the fourth beat, hold.
- Beats five through 8 are a normal "On 1" step.
- This can double as a leader's turn to the right, if with a partner.
- Learn turns for partner dancing. For an underarm turn to the right, have the leader only hold his partner's right hand. He should raise it to head height on 3, creating a "J" in the air (swings out on 2). That's his only job. For the follower (presuming an "On 1" beat):
- Beats 1-5 are as normal.
- With your left foot brought forward on 5, turn to the right on 6.
- Bring your left foot to your right foot on 7.
- Hold 8.
- Do a turn to the left. For the man, all you have to do is take the woman's right arm and move it to her left, cuing her to turn left. She will turn on 7. For the women (or the follower):
- Beats 1-6 are as normal.
- With your right foot forward on six, turn 180 degrees to your left (in other words, turn around) on 7. Your right heel should be up, with most of your weight on your left.
- Hold 8. You will be facing backwards.
- On 1, complete the turn, bringing your right behind your left. This is your natural 1 position.
- Work on the cross body lead. If you're bored with moving back and forth and back and forth, the cross body lead can get you to different parts of the dance floor.
- For the leader, back away from your partner to the right on 5 (presuming an "On 1" step), allowing her to cross in front of you (hence the name). You would normally just step back -- with a cross body lead, step back and to the right. All other steps are as normal.
- For the follower, step forward on 6. Your left goes forward on 5 as normal. Then, instead of bringing your right back on 6, step forward. Then on 7, bring your left to meet it, resuming the step and holding on 8.
- Learn the open break. This is the move where the woman comes in front of the man (not facing him) and they trade spots. Here's the footwork for the two parts:
- For the leader:
- Step with your left foot back on 1. You both will be going back.
- Cross over with your right on 2.
- Bring your left to a natural position on 3. At this point, the woman should be in front of you (not facing you).
- Cross behind you're left with your right foot on 5.
- Bring your left next to your right on 6.
- Step with your right in place on 7. Resume a normal step.
- For the follower:
- Step with your right foot back on 1. This is normal.
- Step forward with your left on 2. This is also normal.
- Step forward with your right on 3, turning 90 degrees to the left. The lead will behind you.
- Cross behind your right with your left foot on 5.
- Pick up your right and set it back down on 6. You don't need to move it very much.
- Bring your left to your right on 7. Hold 8.
- For the leader:
Tips
- Practice the steps by yourself. Even if you don't have a partner, you can practice the stance and basic steps at home to music so that you are comfortable with following the beat.
- Make sure that your partner knows what level of dancing you are at. If you are a beginner, they'll know not to attempt complicated moves that you have not learned yet.
- With any dance, make sure that you identify the timing and beats in the music first. This will make it easier for you to stay in time when you are dancing.
- Start off by shifting your weight from foot to foot during the beginning of the song. This will help you get a feel of the timing as well, and it will get you into the hip motion necessary for the Salsa.
- Don't grip your partner's hands tightly. Just rest your hands lightly in each other's so that you can move easier.
- Try not to start with songs that have a fast rhythm, as you will have a hard time.
- Dances can be difficult to master without seeing them visually, so go to a class, watch a video, or go out to see professional Salsa dancers at work. You'll be able to pick up on the moves and the timing by seeing it play out in real time.
Related Articles
- Ballroom Dance
- Dance the Waltz (International Version)
- Dance the Tango
- Find Dance Lessons
- Do the Rumba
- Dance a Basic Step in Salsa
- Dance Merengue Yourself
Sources and Citations
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsa_%28dance%29
- http://voices.yahoo.com/salsa-dancing-lesson-six-style-posture-188089.html?cat=33
- http://www.ballroomdancers.com/dances/dance_overview.asp?dance=sal
- ↑ http://www.justsalsa.com/salsa/dance/steps/
- http://joelsalsa.com/10-things-to-avoid-on-the-dance-floor/
