Since salsa has become the latest craze all over the world people are learning to dance on different beats. In addition, to the basic 8 count which is known as dancing on 1 people are learning to dance on 2 and on 3. People from New York tend to dance on 2 verses LA style where they dance in a straight line.
There are three levels of salsa dancing a beginner, intermediate, and advanced. A beginner requires no prior dance experience. Beginners learn the basic 8 count, basic right and left hand turns, and where your feet should be positioned. Also how to dance with a partner as well as doing a across body lead which is essential when learning the basics with a partner. The intermediate dancer has all of the basic turns, cross body leads, and are more familiar with dancing with a partner. In addition, to having the prior knowlege they learn more intricate moves such as solos, freestyle moves, and double and triple spins. While the advance students expand on all three levels they learn to do multiple turns along with more foot work and body movement.
Below are some examples of what the timing is for a woman and a man on all three styles.
Salsa Dance Steps Salsa Dance Styles
Salsa can be danced in various styles by accenting different beats in the music. Here we will describe the Salsa Dance that accentuates the "2 or second beat in the Music. Salsa Dance Step Timing
The way the dance steps fit into the music is called the "step timing" or just "timing" for short. The word cadance means to marking time or keeping time The timing of the dancer's steps to the music is important to archive a fluid dance. There are numerous timings popular in Salsa today. Salsa can be danced in various styles by accenting different beats in the music As in all music the rhythm and the melody in Salsa music compete for the listener's attention. In addition in Salssa Music the Rythm and the Melody are syncopated or "off-beat" from one another. Salsa Music is commonly written in four beats per measure time signature. In salsa dance the Dancer uses two measures of the music to complete one cycle in their basic dance. One measure is for the left side and the other is for the right side of the body. Follow the Leader
Traditionally in Salsa Dance the Man is the Leader and the Woman is the Follower. Together the Leader and the Follower are known as Dance Partners or simply Partners. The Man guides the woman by giving her "claves", These "claves" are little tugs, pushes, or checks given at the right time in the momentum of the dance that let the Follower know when to turn, hesitate, dip, cross-body, etc. Closed Position = Partner Contact
The Salsa Basic Dance Step is danced in closed, also called "European", position with the Man facing the Woman. There are four points of Contact between the Man and the Woman. 1.) The Man takes the Womans Right Hand with his Left Hand. 2.) The Man places his Right Hand on the Womans back. 3.) The woman places her Left hand on the Man's shoulder. 4.) The Man and the Woman look into each others Eyes. Salsa On~2 The Razz M' Tazz Step
Basic Salsa Step ~ Man's Timing.
The numbers below represents the beat of the music. Your weight should be on the foot mentioned by the time the beat occurs in the music. Break" means steeping forward quickly and rocking back in essences Breaking your momentum. Remember to Dance light on your toes and have FUN!. Start with both of you feet together. 1.) Hold the Beat 2.) Step forward with your Left Foot 3.) Rock back onto your Right Foot 4 ) Step back with your Left Foot 5.) Hold the Beat 6.) Step back with the Right Foot 7.) Rock forward onto your Left Foot 8 ) Step forward with your Right Foot Repeat Step 1 Basic Salsa Step Diagram ~ Man's Timing.
Basic Salsa Step ~ Woman's Timing. Below
Start with both of you feet together
5.) Hold the Beat 2.) Step back with the Right Foot 3.) Rock forward onto your Left Foot 4 ) Step forward with your Right Foot/dd> 5.) Hold the Beat 6.) Step forward with the Left Foot 7.) Rock back onto your Right Foot 8 ) Step back with your Left Foot Repeat Step 1 Practice Music Juan Carlos Formwel Track 6 Salsa On~2 The Eddie Torres Step
Basic Salsa Step ~ Man's Timing.
The numbers below represents the beat of the music. Your weight should be on the foot mentioned by the time the beat occurs in the music. Break" means steeping forward quickly and rocking back in essences Breaking your momentum. Remember to Dance light on your toes and have FUN!. Start with both of you feet together. 1.) Step forward with your Right Foot 2.) Break forward with your Left Foot 3.) Step weight back onto your Right Foot 4 ) Hold this beat. 5.) Step back with your Left Foot 6.) Break back with the Right Foot 7.) Step weight forward onto your Left Foot 8 ) Hold this beat Repeat Step 1 Basic Salsa Step Diagram ~ Man's Timing.
Basic Salsa Step ~ Woman's Timing. Below
Start with both of you feet together
1.) Step back with your Left Foot 2.) Break back with your Right Foot 3.) Step weight back onto your Left Foot 4 ) Hold this beat. 5.) Step forward with your Right Foot 6.) Break forward with the Left Foot 7.) Step weight back onto your Right Foot 8 ) Hold this beat Repeat Step 1 Practice Music Band/Artist: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
Album: 30th Anniversary Song: Un Verano en Nueva York Salsa On~1 Los Angeles Style Basic Salsa Step ~ Man's Timing.
The numbers below represents the beat of the music. Your weight should be on the foot mentioned by the time the beat occurs in the music. Break" means steeping forward quickly and rocking back in essences Breaking your momentum. Remember to Dance light on your toes and have FUN!. Start with both of you feet together. 1.) Break forward with your Left Foot 2.) Rock back onto your Right Foot 3 ) Step back with your Left Foot 4.) Shift your weight on to your Left Foot 5.) Step back with the Right Foot 6.) Rock forward onto your Left Foot 7 ) Step forward with your Right Foot 8.) Shift your weight on to your Right Foot Repeat Step 1 Basic Salsa Step Diagram ~ Man's Timing.
Basic Salsa Step ~ Woman's Timing. Below
Start with both of you feet together
1.) Step back with the Right Foot 2.) Rock forward onto your Left Foot 3 ) Step forward with your Right Foot/dd> 4.) Shift your weight on to your Right Foot 5.) Step forward with the Left Foot 6.) Rock back onto your Right Foot 7 ) Step back with your Left Foot 8.) Shift your weight on to your Left Foot Repeat Step 1 Practice Music Tito Puente, Pa' Los Rumberos