Salsa is perhaps the easiest and most popular version of Latin dance and also has roots of the Caribbean and North America. It has been said that there are as many forms of Salsa as there are Salsa dancers, but the basics of Salsa remain the same across the board.
The Basics of Holds:
- Closed Hold – Standing about ½ a foot away from your partner facing them, the leader should place their right hand below their partners left shoulder blade while holding your right arm at a 90 degree angle. The follower should place their left arm over the leader’s right arm grasping their upper arm. Raising your hands above their partner’s eye level, the leader should hold their partner’s right hand in their left hand.
- Double Open Hold – Standing about ½ a foot away from your partner and facing them, the leader takes the follower’s left hand with his right hand, and vice versa to basically hold the hands of their partner.
- Single Hold – The same as a double open hold only with one set of hands. This hold usually signifies a more advanced move to follow.
Basics of Salsa for the Leader:
The follower will do the same steps only forward, therefore when the leader steps forward, the follower steps back and vice versa. This also applies to which foot to step, whether to slide left or right, etc.
- Stand across from your partner in double open hold or closed hold form.
- On the first count, step forward on your left foot.
- On the second count, the leader will shift their weight to their right foot without moving it, leaning backward.
- Third and fourth counts are spent by bringing your left foot back beside your right foot and holding for one count.
- On the fifth count, you step backward on your right foot.
- The sixth count – bring weight to your left foot without moving it, leaning forward.
- On counts seven and eight, you will bring your right foot back next to your left foot and hold for one count.
- Repeat.
Salsa Tips:
- When doing the Salsa, you and your partner should stay in one spot rather than moving across the room.
- Don’t force the hip movements.
- Slower music means bigger steps – faster music means smaller.
- Maintain eye contact with what’s in front of you, never looking down.
Salsa is a very popular dance that can bring that extra spice you’ve been looking for between you and that special someone. Because Salsa is so easy to learn, it’s likely you and your partner will find a great new way to bring romance and spice into your life. The most important part of any dance routine is practicing, which means the more you practice – the more romance you get to enjoy with your significant other, so what are you waiting for? Get out there and add some sassy spice to your life with Salsa!
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