Archive for August, 2009
Fabio
Salsa dancing is one of the fastest growing partner dances sweeping the world today. What is it about salsa dancing that gets people “hooked” on this vibrant ,fun and sensual Latin dance? After being bitten by the salsa bug myself over 11 years ago and having taught this wonderful dance to over 3146 students over past 8 years there have been many reasons sighted as to why people are attracted to salsa dancing. The more common reasons you will find are:
Many salsa enthusiasts, including myself have taken lessons and salsa dance instruction to learn how to salsa dance one or more of the above styles. The salsa dance moves will differ from style to style. So how do you decide which style to learn? Well I would recommend try a few classes and go to salsa dance clubs in your city or area pick the style you are most comfortable with and enjoy dancing.
In todays post I am going to take you through the basic salsa steps for both the leaders and followers and how to dance the step in time to salsa dance music. This step is known as the Mambo Break or simply forward and back. We are learning how to salsa dance on 1. What do I mean by that? Put simply you start dancing on the 1st beat of the salsa music.
The timing of dancing salsa on 1 is quick , quick, slow. In class you will here me constantly counting 123 567 the 4th and 8th beats are pauses. Let’s put the timing now to the rhythm. It goes like this:
Beat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Rhythm Quick Quick Slow Pause Quick Quick Slow Pause
An excellent way to get to understand and help with your timing is by clapping to the beat.
OK the Mambo Break for both leaders/men and followers/women mirror each other.
Let me take the leaders through the mambo break :
You start with your feet together.
On the first beat (1 -Quick) you step forward on your left foot. (Making sure you transfer your weight forward on to your left foot.)
On the second beat (2- Quick) you replace your right foot (move it slightly on the spot)
On the third beat (3- Slow) you bring your feet together.Bringing your left foot to meet your right foot.
You Pause on the fourth (4 -Pause) beat.
On the fifth beat (5 – Quick) you take a step back on right foot (make sure you transfer your weight onto your right foot also.)
Then on the sixth beat (6 -Quick) you replace your left foot (move it slightly on the spot)
On the seventh (7- Slow) beat bring your right foot to meat your left foot.
You Pause on the eighth beat (8 – Pause)
As I mentioned the followers Mambo Break is a mirror image of the leaders footwork.
Followers you start with your feet together.
On the first beat (1- Quick) you step back on your right foot. (Making sure you transfer your weight back on to your right foot.)
On the second beat (2- Quick) you replace your left foot (move it slightly on the spot)
On the third beat (3- Slow) you bring your feet together by bringing your right foot to meet your left foot.
You Pause on the fourth (4-Pause) beat.
On the fifth beat (5-Quick) you take a step forward on left foot (make sure you transfer your weight onto your left foot also.)
Then on the sixth beat (6-Quick) you replace your right foot (move it slightly on the spot)
On the seventh (7- Slow) beat bring your left foot to meet your right foot.
You Pause on the eighth beat (8- Pause)
Congratulations you have completed your first salsa step the Mambo Break! You are now an official Salsero and salsera.
Until next time keep practicing to the salsa dance music!
Fabio
PS: Here is a list of articles you might enjoy:
-
How to Salsa Dance – MonsterGuide.net – The salsa is a popular and easy social dance that you and a partner can learn with a few easy steps.
-
How to Salsa Dance : Cross Body Leads for Salsa Dancing | Salsa … – Looking to start Salsa dancing? In this free dance lesson, learn how to do cross body leads as salsa steps with professional salsa dancers. Expert: Eddie.
-
How To Salsa Dance Lesson 1 | How To Salsa – How To Salsa Dance – Salsa Styles. July 11th, 2009. In my first post, How to salsa – how to change your life, I promised that I’ll share every information I think is useful for salsa beginners, so… Welcome to the first lesson on how to …
-
the famous salsa hell dance graph – now, i’ve been so busy with my real life (work), that i haven’t been able to even go out dancing! yes, i know its blasphemy around this site. however, looking over some old files, i found a great treasure that i’d like to share. …
I hope you enjoyed the first post on the most commonly asked beginner salsa
dance questions as mentioned in part 1 the following questions were the most
commonly asked questions in my Salsa For Beginners Classes. As I have mentioned
previously I have taught over 3000 people to salsa dance and these questions
were the most common questions asked in the various countries and areas I have
taught in. More than likely as beginner salsa dancer you will have the same
questions. OK here are few more questions and the answers for you!
moves when dancing?
or the leaders of the dance. I can understand this one as I was once there
myself years ago. What helped me was practicing the basic salsa steps over and
over to salsa dance music. I always made sure that I had the basics and my
timing was in sync and on time with the music. The other thing I got into the
habit of doing was writing down the salsa moves after every class (this of
course was before phones with video function was more commonly available). I
would draw diagrams and write along side the dance move or step a description on how to execute them. I remember having a student that used to
come to class and record his salsa steps and moves in his PDA. If you are
going to bring a phone ,camera or any recording device please make sure to ask
permission if you are taking the video of anyone other than yourself. A couple
of final tips on this question is firstly to have a structure ( a bit like a
safety net). What I mean have a least 5 of your favourite salsa moves that you can
lead very well and have drilled time and time again in a sequence. You can use
this as “time to think” of another move to add on to your sequence, just
remember don’t stop keep moving even if you are doing numerous mambo breaks
between your moves.
issue for you. All you are required to know is your basic moves and timing and
not lead.
dance?
difficult one to give an exact answer. I have been dancing salsa for 11 years
and I am always learning from other professional salsa dancers ,dancers from
other styles and peers. The learning never stops. My experience has shown me
that when it comes to salsa for beginners I find that it starts to come together
after 4 to 5 lessons (In a structured course). By come together I mean my
students have understood the basics and start to understand how to move as one
and in time with their partner in time with the salsa dance music. My advice to
beginner salsa dancer is learn the basics well so get it as these are the
foundations of your dance and the more advanced moves all stem from the
basics.
(New York Style), Cuban, Afro Cuban and LA Style. They are all great styles to
learn and all fun to dance.It’s up to you. My preferences are Cuban and LA style
and have danced the others and have enjoyed them also.
floor you improve and learn how to salsa dance quickly. I make it appoint to
tell my students to start dancing straight after their first lesson if they can.
When I run my classes I allocate dance time in them and I made a rule that they
have to dance to 3 salsa dance songs before they could go home!
The following questions were the most commonly
asked questions in my Salsa For Beginners Classes. As I have metioned previously
I have taught over 3000 people to salsa dance and these questions were the most
common questions asked in the various countries and areas I have taught in.
More than likely as beginner salsa dancer you will have the same questions and
because I like I am going.
the time ,especially when people were interested in comming to my salsa for
beginners classes and courses was ” What do I wear to class?” I used to reply
by letting them know that salsa is very social dance and I would say that 90% of
the people that attend salsa dance classes are there for a fun night out. I used
to say dress comfortably and as guide I would advise to dress in smart casual
style for the men a shirt , pants and nice comfy leather shoes. For ladies a
nice top ,skirt or a dress and comfy shoes. Many students would also turn up in
jeans which is fine. The most important thing to wear is your smile and bring
your enthusiasm and can do attitude.
taught on are wooden floors. Please make sure that you don’t wear shoes that
have alot of grip on the soles of shoes, like trainers or runners. I say this
for safety reasons. Shoes that grip the dance floor too much can restrict
movement and also put pressure on your knees when you are dancing your salsa
steps. The last thing you want is to sustain any injury. On the flip side there
could be dance floors that are as slippery as a skating rink. A nice pair of
leather shoes for men starting out. Make sure the soles don’t grip. I recommend
a leather sole shoes. For ladies again, comfortable shoes not too high – a two
inch cuban heel shoes are perfect. As you progress with your salsa dancing you
can invest in the some of the different type of salsa dancing shoes that are
available for men and women.
quickly?
learning how to salsa dance. Unfortunately I don’t have a get good at salsa
quick pill that you can take. It will take practice. My advice is to Learn the
basics very well and practice them daily (15 minutes a day to salsa dance
music). Get familiar with Salsa Dance Music so that you understand the rhythym
and the timing of the salsa dance music. Attend at least two salsa dance classes
per week, organise a practice group or partner with fellow students and finally
go out to clubs dancing as much as you can and practice what you learnt in class
on the dance floor. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes on the floor as this is the
place you really get good.
and practice my salsa steps and salsa moves to?
out in the market place. You have your traditional salsa and your modern salsa
artists. The song I play in my salsa for beginners classes is a song by a
fantastic artist named Ray Baretto called Acid. It’s an instrumental salsa. It’s
a fantastic song that will get you to understand the salsa rhythm and salsa timing and
you can hear all the instruments that combine to make salsa dance music. It was at one stage the most played salsa song in salsa dance classes world wide.
recommend you get a copy.