Salsa Dance for Beginners
Beginning Salsa Dance, like starting any new activity, can feel overwhelming. Here are some things to help make Salsa Dance classes enjoyable for beginners and seasoned pros alike.
Mindset
Everyone is shy and nervous when they walk into their first Salsa class. I tell my students that all they need to do is bring a smile. You are there to have fun, connect with people, and feel a little more confident on the dance floor. You’re taking Salsa classes to feel less trapped in your body, to bring out your inner masculine or feminine side. But it always starts with just coming in to have fun. Whether you have two left feet or you have some dance experience, you’re enough. This is incredibly important to remember for all dancers.
When I was taking Salsa classes, I would often put so much pressure on myself that I would become stiff and awkward and miss the instructions. I was so stuck in my head thinking “I need to nail this move down. I need my partner to smile and if she doesn’t smile, then I’m doing a bad job.” That’s not good. That’s not good for you and that’s not good for your partner or the rest of the class. So everyone’s mindset should be that you are there to have fun. So beginners and seasoned pros alike – come into Salsa classes with a positive mental attitude and you will see how much you improve.
The Moves
There are some basic moves you need to know so you can Salsa dance to at least a song or two at a nightclub and not feel overwhelmed. This may seem like jargon, but at least at Toronto Dance Salsa, even as a Salsa beginner, you will be able to do all of these moves. Followers and leaders need to know basic right turns, cross-body leads, and cross-body lead turns. That means you also need to know both open-hand and closed-hand positions. Knowing these moves will allow you to do basic combinations. That will get you through a song or two at a nightclub. It sounds like a lot but after three or four classes at Toronto Dance Salsa, you will know all of those moves and more! No matter where you end up taking classes you want to make sure that you get to learn all those things. Those are the basics that every beginning Salsa dancer must know.
Bonus tip – Don’t Do Drop-in Classes
We don’t do drop-in classes at Toronto Dance Salsa. It can be intimidating and challenging if you’re dropping into random classes that are unrelated. Sometimes you’re expected to know things that you have never learned, which just adds extra stress. Consistency will offer the best experience. So when you sign up for classes you come in every week and have the same Instructor, the same Helpers and the same Classmates. Our courses are typically nine weeks for one hour each week. Because everything is consistent, your skill set and confidence increase. This is especially true for beginners. But beginners, intermediate and advanced Salsa dancers can all build a strong foundation to enhance their skills through regular classes.
I can’t wait to welcome you to our big family, have you come in every week, have fun, socialize, and let loose to amazing Latin songs. Click here for our current schedule.
If you have any questions you would like me to answer, here are some ways you can contact me: message me on Instagram (torontodancesalsa), on Twitter (#torontodancesalsa), on Facebook (Toronto Dance Salsa) or email me at [email protected].
