Learn to Dance Salsa : Basic Steps for Beginners

Friday, July 17, 2009

Spice Up Your Life by Learning to Salsa Dance

Learn the basics of salsa dancing with your preferred learning method.

Sexy, passionate, sophisticated - how do you want your salsa's character to be? But before thinking about that, you first have to learn the basic steps of this dance sensation. Put in mind that with good skill foundation, you can always surely push your performance on top.

Today there are already multiple ways to learn salsa dance. There are formal schools that offer weekly scheduled sessions for practical lessons in a dance studio. Also, there are tutorials in video formats such as DVD and others.

Currently, there are various tutorial forms in which you can learn how to dance salsa. There are formal dance schools that offer systematic dance lessons. Also, there are lots of videos on DVD's and on internet that provides self-learning dance tutorials. In addition, there are also e-books, articles, tips that can be found over the internet which will somehow help you in your learning pursuits.

Many different ways on how to dance salsa are now readily available. There are number of good formal dance schools that offers step-by-step systematic ways aside from books or e-books, which are digitally available over the internet. Moreover, the most popular way today is the dance videos tutorial. Learning while watching the instructors do the basic salsa moves is currently the most efficient and most effective way to learn different salsa dance moves. Most people prefer this way of learning, since the majority of people have visual advantage.

On the other hand, contrary to formal lessons, tutorial dance videos offer non-conventional, alternative learning experience. Visually stimulating videos showing step-by-step procedures of the basics of salsa and is more convenient, unlike in the formal dance schools.

With this kind of learning aid, time is not a constraint. Learning can be done whenever and wherever a student wants to learn. Also, there are lots of possibilities with the dance videos: you can swing your hips while cooking in the kitchen or learn tapping and kicking while sweeping the floor of your living room.

With the internet, you can easily learn the basics and advance techniques of salsa dance. There are many information and tutorial services for salsa over the internet, and with just a simple click, you can easily acquire your desired dance step.

All these learning methods are now available in the internet. With few clicks, you can enjoy the digital learning experience of salsa dancing. In fact, there are many salsa tutorial services in the internet that you can choose from.

After learning all the basic skills, you can now push on your creativity. Improvise and bring on the sexy character of your dancing.

Now you can dazzle with Latin beat and do the Salsa dance. To tap, sway, and turn visit Jennifer Ramos'http://www.SalsaCrazy.com today!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Salsa Dance Shoes

Salsa is one of the most popular forms of ballroom dance. Young and old alike, whether male or female, are fond of this type of dance. However, those who love to salsa need a good pair of salsa shoes to be in best form for dancing. Since these shoes are made especially for this type of dance, serious salsa dancers need salsa shoes to last them during marathon dance sessions.

Discounted pairs of salsa shoes are perfect for beginners of this type of dance. Kids in particular who grow up so fast need a cheap yet good pair of these shoes. For a beginner class, though, special types of dance wear and salsa shoes are not really prerequisites. Students who are starting to learn how to dance can wear just about any comfortable clothes and leather-soled foot wear. For advanced salsa classes that require more spinning, salsa shoes with special soles meant for spinning are a must. Those with thin leather or suede shoes are especially required.

These types of shoes have a great fit unlike other shoes. Worn slightly tighter than regular street shoes, they should have a snug fit but should not pinch nor bind the dancer’s feet. Salsa dancers need to be able to move with ease without hurting the foot. The feet should be in contact with all parts of the shoe. If the foot constantly slips out of the shoes, the dancer cannot maintain her poise and grace. Those with full-foot insoles push the heel forward, thus ruining the feet. Loose soles can cause foot blisters that are painful Dancers’ heels should completely fit in the heel cup of the salsa shoes for dancers to maintain good balance.

So go ahead and purchase a good pair of salsa shoes and show off your best form as you put your best foot forward, while dancing what else but salsa?

Dance Shoes provides detailed information on Dance Shoes, Ballroom Dance Shoes, Salsa Dance Shoes, Discount Dance Shoes and more. Dance Shoes is affiliated with Ballet Dancewear.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Basic Salsa Dance Steps

Mastering the basic step will be the first key step to developing proper technique and timing in salsa. Your spins and partner-work techniques will be executed in sync with the rhythm of the music once you have mastered your basic. Think of the basic step as the drummer in a band. It keeps you and your partner on time.

I encourage you to practice these steps at home but it goes with out saying that online instruction is no substitute for real time studio instruction. There are many finer elements of the basic step such as the Cuban hip motion and arm work. What you get in a class that you don't get from your computer is invaluable feedback from your instructor and the opportunity practice with other students. I hope this tutorial will get your feet moving but make sure to get the proper training by stopping by a studio salsa class.

Salsa music is played in 4/4 time and has 4 beats to the measure or bar. The basic step happens with in 2 measures or 8 counts. The Salsa Basic Step is danced as follows...

FOR THE LADIES
1. Step forward with your right foot on the first count
2. Step forward with your left foot on the second count
3. Step in place with your right foot on the third count
4. Pause on the fourth count
5. Step back with the left foot on the fifth count
6. Step back with the right foot on the sixth count
7. Step in place with the left foot on the seventh count
8. Pause on the eighth count
Repeat Step 1

FOR THE MEN
1. Step back with the left foot on the first count
2. Step back with the right foot on the second count
3. Step in place with the left foot on the third count
4. Pause on the fourth count
5. Step forward with your right foot on the fifth count
6. Step forward with your left foot on the sixth count
7. Step in place with your right foot on the seventh count
8. Pause on the eighth count
Repeat Step 1

Because of the pause on the 4th and 8th counts, salsa has a rhythmic feel of slow, quick, slow, - slow, quick, slow,

The Salsa Basic Dance Step is danced in closed position with the Man facing the Woman.

There are four points of Contact between the Man and the Woman.

1.) The Leader takes the Follower's Right Hand with his Left Hand.

2.) The Leader places his Right Hand on the Followers back.

3.) The Follower places her Left hand on the Leaders shoulder.

4.) The Leader and the Follower keep their chin up and maintain eye contact.

Now that you have your feet moving, make sure to enroll in salsa classes to get the experience of doing the basic step with different partners.

Todd is the founder of Urban Salsa Dance Co. located in Times Square. Urban Salsa offers weekly new york salsa dance classes.