Salsa might seem complicated initially, but it is a beautiful, energetic dance that lifts your spirit. Learn with us, and soon, you will be having a great time.
We often have students reach out to us by phone, email or Instagram, mentioning that they have dance experience and want to do higher levels. Still, most dancers at the beginning don’t know which moves are considered a must for beginners.
So I’m going to break down the top three moves that any leader or follower must know as a beginner to be able to go out to a nightclub and dance.
Right Turns
Not enough can be said about a Salsa right turn, and it is a must not only for a follower to be able to execute but also for a leader to be able to do a right turn.
There is nothing as poor as leaders, who just spin a follower around the dance floor, but never do themselves turns.
The basic breakdown of a right turn on leaders count in LA Salsa is:
A leader would step forward with their left foot on one, do a half turn to the right on two and bring their feet together on three.
For followers, a basic right turn is:
A follower would step forward on five. Do a twist, half turn to the right on six and bring their feet together on seven.
A Reverse Turn also known as Left Turn
The other move that is a must is what we call a reverse turn at our school, sometimes referred to as a left turn. It is a must because it is the first turn we teach in Salsa level one that takes more coordination. You can’t just know a right turn; you have to know your left turn.
We also use the left turn in higher levels to be able to stack, advanced moves, like in level two, for example, the palm check into shoulder check, which as you’re reading it might sound like jargon, but if you take a dance class with us you will see how incredible it is.
Cross Body Lead and Cross Body Lead Turn
You can’t ever really consider that you have the basics down unless you’re able as a leader to open up the dance floor to your followers.
A cross-body lead is where a leader opens up on count one, two, three and helps the follower to cross on count five, six, seven, or a leader doing the same movement adds an inside turn (also known as a left turn), for the follower, which is three half turns for the follower. Both moves are a must.
Other essential moves we teach in Salsa Nightclub Level 1 include the catwalk and combinations and how to do combs. However, if you go to a nightclub knowing how to lead and follow a right turn, how to do a reverse turn or left turn and how to carry your partner across the dance floor in a crossbody lead and add a crossbody turn, will give you an easier time.
“Whatever level you are, it’s the consistency and willingness to learn and grow that counts” – Shelley Quan
Salsa might seem complicated initially, but it is a beautiful, energetic dance that lifts your spirit. Learn with us, and soon, you will be having a great time. Click here to check 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].
