| The word "salsa" in Spanish means sauce. | | | | personal add ins and you get quite the salsa |
| Salsa dancing is also known as slot dancing | | | | show! |
| because couples don't move around a large | | | | |
| area of the dance floor; instead they stay in | | | | The Cuban style can be danced as a |
| a more fixed or smaller area of the floor. So | | | | contratiempo or on-one. With the Cuban Salsa, |
| are you ready to learn Salsa dancing? | | | | on counts 1, 2, and 3 a backward basic occurs |
| | | | while on counts 5, 6, and 7 a forward basic |
| The salsa has an eight beat pattern that is | | | | happens. The follower mirrors the leader's |
| made up of two bars of four beats. The Salsa | | | | movements. It is common practice with the |
| music is usually complicated and fast with | | | | Cuban to have the leader and follower circle |
| around 180 beats per minute. The salsa | | | | each other regularly. |
| pattern is generally one of three steps and | | | | |
| then a skipped step or a tap on the fourth | | | | The Dile que no or cross body lead is also |
| beat. | | | | essential to the Cuban. This is the most |
| | | | complex of moves and is not designed for |
| The basic step is as follows: On counts 1, 2, | | | | beginners. However, once you master it, it |
| and 3 the leader steps forward, then you | | | | can be used in the Rueda, Cuban Casino, and |
| replace the weight to your previous support | | | | Wheel Dance. |
| foot keeping it in place, and then step | | | | |
| backward. On counts 5, 6, and 7 you step | | | | In Latin American countries the Columbian |
| backwards, then you replace the weight to | | | | style is the most common. Here the leader and |
| your previous support foot keeping it in | | | | follower do their moves standing in one |
| place, and then step forward again. | | | | place. Most of the moves are based off the |
| | | | Cuban style with the main difference being |
| The follower does exactly the same steps but | | | | lack of space involved. It's a very sexy |
| in the reverse order. The basic step is the | | | | version to watch! |
| basis for many of the other salsa patterns. | | | | |
| | | | The LA style is a derivative of the Cuban |
| Some of the breaks to the basic step are: | | | | style with the addition of the cross body |
| | | | lead. The leader steps forward on 1, on 2 and |
| 1. Side Break - You start from either foot | | | | 3 it's a step to the right while turning 90 |
| and step sideways; then you replace the | | | | degrees to face to the left. The follower |
| weight to your previous support foot, keeping | | | | then steps forward on 5 and 6, then on 7 and |
| it in place. | | | | 8 turns while the leader is making the 90 |
| | | | degree turn. By the 8 count the leader and |
| 2. Back Break - You start from either foot | | | | follower are in opposite positions. The Los |
| and step backwards; then you replace the | | | | Angeles is the flashiest form of Salsa |
| weight to your previous support foot, keeping | | | | dancing. |
| it in place. | | | | |
| | | | That's just a few of the most common styles. |
| 3. Forward Break - You start from either foot | | | | Of course there are plenty others, and then |
| and step forward; then you replace the weight | | | | there's always the creative element that |
| to your previous support foot, keeping it in | | | | comes into play. |
| place. | | | | |
| | | | Learning the Salsa from an article can be a |
| There are many different salsa styles that | | | | bit overwhelming, but if you really want to |
| involve different timing of the steps or | | | | learn it check into either local dance |
| different patterns as you move across the | | | | classes or online dance lessons. You'll be |
| dance floor. Combine style with attitude and | | | | Salsa dancing like a pro in no time! |