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