Salsa continues to gain in popularity. It is one of the most popular dances in Latin America and continues to take the world by storm. As we say in Salsa Circuit, it connects the masses through dance.

Now in looking at all the fancy moves on the dance floor you may think it’s a complicated dance but when it comes down to it, if you learn about 10 basic moves well, you will be able to vary them in many different combinations adding your flavor to make them unique and you will be a superstar on the dance floor. Salsa Dancing is not about being a robot on the dance floor but about feeling the music, the passion and the way it makes you feel. To top it off, it’s also a great form of cardio exercise and a fun way of meeting people.

Today we are going to review the basic salsa step, which will be the first step that you will learn when you take a beginner’s class anywhere. So let’s start…

Salsa is usually danced in partners facing each other in a closed position. With the man holding the lady’s right hand and the right hand would on the woman’s waist. The lady would place her left hand on the man’s shoulder. You have the basic starting stance now to the steps.

In terms of counts when you are following the salsa beat, think of each step as – quick, quick, slow, quick, quick, slow or 1, 2, (3,4), 1, 2, (3,4). Usually the count is one, two three (hold for 2 beats), five, six, seven(hold for two beats)

We will not focus on the different variations of salsa now but just on the basic step

Salsa Basic Step for Men

You need to start with both feet together about shoulder width apart.

1. On first beat step forward with your left foot (quick)
2. Second beat, right foot in place, weight shifts to it (quick)
3. 3rd and 4th beat, step backward with your left foot back to your starting stance(slow)
4. Fifth beat, step backward with your right foot (quick)
5. Sixth beat, left foot in place, weight shifts to it (quick)
6. Seventh and eight beat, step forward with your right foot back beside your left foot to your starting stance(slow)

Salsa Basic Steps for Ladies

You simply do the reverse of what a man does and goes something like this:

1. First beat, step backward with your right foot (quick)
2. Second beat, left foot in place, weight shifts to it (quick)
3. Third and fourth beat, Step forward with your right foot back to starting stance beside your left foot(slow)
4. Fifth beat, step forward with your left foot (quick)
5. Sixth beat, right foot in place, weight shifts to it (quick)
6. Seventh and eight beat, step backward with your left foot to starting stance(slow)

Now, that’s all there is to the salsa basic step. The key is to continue to practice this step until it becomes second nature without having to count. Learn this basic and you will be ready to move to the side-side step that comes in our next article.

Let me know if this helps or if you think a different format might help.

Mixx, Salsa Circuit