Beginners

Salsa Music

Salsa music has 4 beats to the bar, known as 4/4 or 'common time' and a fast beat. it is slightly more complicated than this but this is the basics you need to know.

In salsa music we use 2 of the bars to make up 8 beats in total. The first beat of a bar will either be 1 or 5, you can usually recognise these beats as they are slightly louder, and have more emphasis on them than the other beats in the bar.

The first beat in the set of 2 bars beat 1 is normally on the beat that the lead singer starts a verse and or phrase of lyrics.

Most songs start with an instrumental introduction, before the sing starts and the main part of the music starts. Use this intro' to get into your stating position, and yourself familiar to beat of the music. You shouldn't star any steps or moves until the song really starts.

Salsa Dance Steps

The actual steps used in Salsa are broken down into 8 step sections, these fit into the 2 bars of music mentioned earlier (8 beats).

A step is made on each of these 8 beats, except for beats 4 and 8, these create the pause, that allow a shift of body weight.

When doing the steps, the ball of the foot should always make contact with the floor first, followed by the heel a moment afterwards, do not hop from one foot to the other. The movement is like a walk so keep the feet close to the floor, and try to make it flow.

When the music has a faster beat you will need to shorten your steps, the slower the music the longer your steps can be.

 

Lead

This is normally the male role, and there job is to the LEAD the dance by giving signals to the follower.

These signals take the from of Pushes, Pulls, Halos and Arm Twists etc. However these signals should be gentle, but firm, and never shove, or force the follower to do the moves they want.

The signals should always be clear, and the best way to achieve this is for the lead to decide with a few beats to spare what they are going to do next, thus giving plenty of time for the signal to be given, and the follower to follow.

 

Follower

This is normally the female role, and as it suggests they need to FOLLOW the signals given by the Lead.

The follower however must never lean on, pull against, or hang onto the lead they need to hold their own weight at all times, the lead will provide support if needed.

To be able to receive and act upon the signals given, the follower needs to keep their arms at around hip level without too much tension in them, but also not just hanging there.

As a general rule if the follower does not receive a signal from the lead then they would continue to do the basic mambo step, even if the lead starts to move.

 

Arms

When arms are not in use the general rule is to keep them arouund hip/waist height, bent at a 90o angle, from the elbow,horizontal to the body, and in front of you.

 

Hips

Doing the footwork correctly such give you the correct hip movement, try not to over accentuate the movement.