Salsa

Basic Movements

The basic step of all styles of salsa involves 3 weight changes (or steps) in each 4 beat measure. The beat without a weight change might contain a tap, kick, or pause. One of the steps is a "break step" a little bit longer than the other two. Different styles of Salsa are often differentiated by the direction and timing of the break step ("on 1" or "on 2" for example). After 6 weight changes in 8 beats, the basic step cycle is complete. While dancing, the basic step can be modified significantly as part of the improvisation and styling’s of the dancers.

As a salsa dancer changes weight the upper body remains level and nearly unaffected by the weight changes. Caught in the middle are the hips which end up moving quite a bit--the famous "Cuban hip movement."

The arms are used to communicate the lead in either open or closed position. In open position the two dancers hold one or both hands, especially for moves that involve turns, or putting arms behind the back, or moving around each other. In closed position, the leader puts the right hand on the follower's back, while the follower puts the left hand on the leader's shoulder.

In some styles, the dancers remain in a slot (switching places), while in others the dancers circle around each other.

Here are the few steps that I had learned:

Basic salsa x2
Change body x2

Basic salsa x1
Shoulder to shoulder x3
Under arm turn x1

Basic salsa x1
Sweetheart salsa x2
Basic salsa x1

New York salsa x3
Under arm turn x1

Basic salsa x1
Side step salsa x1
Gradvide salsa x1
Side turn salsa x1

Basic salsa x1
Single vide salsa x1
Single vide salsa (alone) x1
Double vide salsa x1

Basic salsa x1
Vide salsa x1
Unvide salsa x1
Vide salsa x1
Unvide salsa (partner) x1

Basic salsa x1
Windmills salsa x2

Salsa

Salsa refers to a mixture of informal dance styles having roots in the Caribbean, especially in Cuba and North America. The dance originated through the mixture of Mambo, Danzon, Guaguanco, Cuban Son, and other typical Cuban dance forms. Salsa is danced to Salsa music. There is a strong African influence in the music as well as the dance. Salsa is a partner dance, although there are recognized solo steps and some forms are danced in groups of couples, with frequent exchanges of partner. Improvisation and social dancing are important elements of Salsa but it appears as a performance dance too.

The basic step typically uses three steps each measure. This pattern might be quick-quick-slow, taking two beats to gradually transfer the weight, or quick-quick-quick allowing a tap or pause. It is conventional in Salsa for the two musical measures to be considered as one, so the count goes from 1 to 8 over two musical bars. The basic movement common across most Salsa styles is to step quick-quick-slow 2 times over two 4-beat measures. Typically the quick steps are on beats one and two, and the slow step is actually a quick on beat three followed by pause or tap on beat four. That is salsa step right-left-right-pause/tap then left-right-left-pause/tap.

For the lady step

Salsa basic step started with both foot stands together

The basic backward step:
Stepping backward with your right foot (1)
Returning your weight to your left foot (2)
Returning your right foot to where it started (3)
Tap or pause in place with your left foot (4)

The basic forward step:
Stepping forward with your left foot (5)
Returning your weight to your right foot (6)
Returning your left foot to where it started (7)
Tap or pause in place with your right foot (8)