Salsa Dancing Instructions

Salsa is characterized through a diversity of styles. The dance itself can be performed differently depending on the country and geographic area. By origin Salsa refers to Cuba. Later it became widespread in Puerto Rico and on the Caribbean Islands.

     One of the most distinctive features of Salsa is represented by the beats in the music. The beats in the music should be always accentuated. It is worth mentioning that Salsa is a partner dance. The man takes the role of the leader and consequently the woman has to follow him. The man sets the tone and the rhythm of the dance and at some definite moments he lets his partner understand with the help of pushes and checks how to step and how to move further.

      The initial position of Salsa assumes face to face contact. The man holds his partner’s right hand in his left hand. His right hand is placed on the woman’s back. As to the woman’s basic position she has to put her left hand on the man’s shoulder. Both partners look each other in the face.

      The next basic moves run as follows. The dancers have to take account of four beat measure. During each four beat measure three weight transfers (steps) are performed. The duration of the “break step” exceeds the other weight changes. Having performed six weight transfers, the partners set about the next step cycle. A great attention is paid to the position of the arms. The position of the arms can be open and closed. In open position the dancers hold the hands in order to perform moves which include turns, going around or rolls. The close position represents face to face contact.

      As it was mentioned above Salsa can be performed differently which means that there are a great variety of styles like Los Angeles Style, New York Style, Cali Salsa Style, Miami Style Casino.

       As Los Angeles Style regards it has some common features with Mango, Swing and Argentine Tango.

      While performing it the dancer pays attention to two main aspects. These aspects are forward or backward basic. The man begins the performing by taking a step forward, and then he steps with his right foot turning 90 degrees counter-clockwise. The woman takes a step forward, and further she makes a turn. During this time her partner turns again 90 degrees counter-clockwise. This is the main principle of performing Los Angeles Salsa Style.

      Thanks to its vigorous and inflammatory rhythms nowadays Salsa is famous not only in the Latin America where it appeared but also in the whole world.

Dance Styles

Electronic Dance	1 2 3 4 5	Electro Dance Jump Style Hip-Hop Dance House Dance Breaking	1     2         3       4           5	Electric Dance represents a kind of street dance performed to Electro House Music. In Jump Style the great emphasis is laid on the legs. On the tones of music Jump Style dancers execute forward and backward swings of the legs. The main elements of Hip-Hop Dance are free styling, chippers and battles. The dance is performed to Hip-Hop music. The House Dance was created by Afro and Latino Americans. House Dancers perform fast and complex steps. These elements are combined with movements in the torso. Break Dance was created by Afro-Americans. Later the dance was widespread among Latino Americans. The most important components of Breaking are toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes. Very often it is performed to Hip-Hop music.
Ballroom Dance	1 2 3 4	Waltz Tango Foxtrot Quickstep	1     2             3         4	Waltz is a dance which is performed by two partners in closed position. Tango was created in Argentine. It is danced in closed position, however American style allows the tango dancers to include open position in order to perform moves, turns and to dance apart. Foxtrot is a style of ballroom dance. The basic figures include three step, feather step, natural turn reverse turn, closed impetus. Quickstep has got some similarities with Fast Foxtrot. The style of performing is very energetic, however the dance itself is considered to be very elegant.
Latin Dance	1 2 3 4 5	Mambo Rumba Cha-cha-cha Samba Salsa	1   2     3       4       5	Mambo was created in Cuba. It corresponds to mambo music. Rumba is an energetic dance. The main emphasis is laid on the hip movements. Cha-cha-cha is a dance of Cuban origin. The dance may be performed either to authentic Cuban music or to Latin Pop.  Samba is a Brazilian Dance. The dance movements are influenced by Afro-Brazilian traditional dances. Salsa is a fast Latin American Dance which is influenced by jazz music.
Swing Dance	1 2 3	Blues Dance Lindy Hop Charleston	1       2                 3	Blue Dance is a modern Term to describe a series of historical dances that were performed to blues music. The basic step of Lindy Hop is swingout. The dance includes the usual eight-count system which is used in European partner dances. However the Lindy Hop may be performed by a single dancer. The dancers have resort to the motions and improvisations of black dances. Charleston enjoyed wide popularity in the 1920’s. It may be performed solo, with a dance partner or in group of couples. The basic step gives the dancers the possibility to have a great number of variations and improvisations.

Dance cha cha cha

At first you may think that cha-cha-cha is a very quick dance. It is important to make little steps, moving just a little on the floor. Partners hold hands. It is easier to start dancing making a preparatory step in one side. Man makes right foot step, the Lady - the left one.
Then go to basic cha cha move.

1. Man: make a move forward with his left foot, toe is turned a little outside, right foot remains still.
Lady: makes moves to compliment man's moves: a move back with right foot,left leg remains still.

2. Man: change his body center of gravity backward, leaning now on his right foot, the left one remain still.
Lady: change the body center of gravity forward, leaning now on his left foot, the right foot remain still.

3. Man: move his left foot.
Lady: move her right foot.

4. Man: make right foot move in left foot direction.
Lady: make left foot move in right foot direction.

5. Man: makes left foot move.
Lady: makes right foot move.

6. Man: move back his right foot, left foot remains still.
Lady: makes a left foot move forward, the toe is turned outside a little, the right foot remains still.

7. Man: move his body weight forward on his left foot, right one remains still.
Lady: move her body weight to back on her right leg, left one remains still.

8. Man: move his left foot.
Lady: move her right foot.

9. Man: make left foot move in right foot direction.
Lady: make right foot move in left foot direction.

10. Man: move his right foot.
Lady: move her left foot.