While the Festival de Jerez 2015 is starting this weekend in Spain, I’m switching gears from flamenco to salsa dancing, my other favorite dance style!
Salsa dance styles
There are different styles of salsa, from ballroom to club style, East Coast to West Coast (USA), salsa from Cuba, Colombia or Puerto Rico, doesn’t matter if it’s for competition or fun, salsa is danced all over the world. Although there are slower styles, it is generally a very fast paced dance, that can function as a total workout. To do it well, salsa requires work in the form of practice, practice, practice, next to learning new material. You can take lessons at a local dance studio, attend workshops at festivals or conferences (yes they do exist all over the world) or if you’re really shy, start with online lessons from the convenience of your home.
If you like dance and happy music, but never tried salsa, I would highly recommend it. The music only will get me out of a funky mood, and when I hear it, I want to dance! Doesn’t matter if I’m in the car or my kitchen, salsa music and dance make me happy.
Dance with a partner or solo
While it is nice to have a dance partner you can practice with on a regular basis, have no fear. When you join a dance studio, you’ll have plenty of people to partner with, beginners (or intermediate and advanced) just like you. Everyone starts on their own before dancing with a partner. Once you got the basic steps, learned in a studio or online, you’re ready to dance! Believe me, I know because I’ve been there. I used to dance salsa (or what I thought was salsa) at house parties, moving my hips to the beat and so. But when I took some lessons at a dance studio, I completely fell in love with it. Bought some videos too, to learn at my own pace at home. It had structure, but I could add my own moves any time I wanted, as long as I stayed on the beat. Dance with a partner or by yourself, it’s still fun!
I have danced at clubs with strangers, using only the basic steps, while others around me were twirling and swinging. It is really not that hard to learn when you love to dance. Everyone has to start somewhere, so it’s okay if all you know are the basic steps, as long as you can move in rhythm with the music, and most importantly: you’re having fun!
Not everyone likes salsa, I know people who can’t stand the music, but in my experience, Likes attract Likes. Once you get salsa in your life, you’ll bump into fun people everywhere who are also into this dance and music. Before you know it, your circle of friends has expanded!
Salsa sample music
Want to try something new and fun this year? Try a salsa lesson or two, at a studio or online. In exploring the internet, I found this online course taught by a professional dancer in Boston. Here’s an article about Leon Turetsky in the Boston Magazine if you want to learn more about him. Check out his video below and let me know how you like it.
Salsa advance beginner combo video
Online salsa classes
Did it peak your interest? You can sign up here to register for online Latin and Ballroom classes (including Club Salsa) and start having a lot of fun!
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