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:
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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.
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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.
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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 …
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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. …