There was a time when I couldn’t salsa dance. At all. And I lived in Ecuador for 1.5 years–a country where there are plenty of opportunities to learn and practice. Loco, no? As hard as I tried, I felt like I had two left feet.
And it bothered me as I watched others dancing the night away. Why can’t I do it, I wondered.
And then, about 10 years ago, it came together. And now, I can dance with most Latinos (not just salsa, but merengue, cumbia and bachata). And whether I’m here in NJ or traveling somewhere in Latin America, I have a great time dancing!
I do especially well with Colombians and other South Americans since I learned from them–but I also do fine with Central Americans and Dominicans. (Unfortunately, because of differing styles, I sometimes struggle with Cubans and Puerto Ricans.)
Here are the two things that helped me get the basics. Below, you’ll see the tips that you can use to make it happen.
What I Did to Learn Salsa
First, I Used a Video
Remember videos–as in, VHS tapes? I bought one many years ago called “The Secrets of Salsa” I remember laughing at it–at first. The teacher was a skinny Cuban dude who keep saying, “Mueva su cadera.” Move your hips. As silly as it was, it did teach me how to count and where my feet were supposed to go, thanks to animated footsteps on a screen.
I practiced with the video and then in front of the mirror, figuring it was best to do it at home. I wouldn’t embarrass myself. No one would get hurt.
Then, I Went Out…Dancing
Then, after a month or so of doing this–and listening to salsa music daily–I went out dancing. With some former students of mine I knew in Elizabeth, NJ. They were Colombian mostly with a few Peruvians in the group. One guy was Mexican. All were patient.
We spoke English, Spanish and Spanglish and a laughed a lot as they stood next to me and at times, in front of me, showing me the basic moves and the counting. It was similar to what I saw in the video, but not exactly the same. What was different? Their footwork was tighter; they didn’t move their feet so far apart.
Despite their excellent teaching, I still struggled. My progress was slow. I asked for a drink. It helped. A little. I improved a bit.
And Then, I Met Diego–a Dominican Man Who Really Showed Me How to Dance
One night, after one of these lessons, I was sitting with my friends listening to an amazing salsa song the DJ had just put on. I was tapping on the table, counting 1, 2, 3…5, 6, 7…practicing with my fingers, using them like a hyperactive stick man of sorts. Out of nowhere, a very guapo Dominican man (named Diego as I later found out) approached me and said:
“Quieres bailar?” Want to dance?
He was several inches taller than me, was wearing a white button-down shirt and a dark vest over it and some cool-looking jeans. He was wearing some yummy smelling cologne, too.
PS: This is not Diego, but someone named Ricky who I found over on Flickr. I figured he was cute enough and close enough to the real thing. 🙂
“Sí,” I said. “Como no?’ Yes, of course. I knew that the dance of choice for most Dominicans was merengue, but that didn’t matter. Many Latinos do all the Latin dances, regardless of which country they come from.
He took my hand and led me out to the dance floor. He stood close to me. Not too close and not too far away. It was just right. We then starting dancing. I counted the beat in my head and checked to see if my feet were doing what they were supposed to be doing. It seemed they were.
Then, in the middle of the dance, things felt awkward. We stopped. Diego looked at me and said:
“Stop looking at your feet. Just feel the music.”
And I did. And all of sudden, by being in the moment with the music, it came together. I was salsa dancing!
There’s more to it, of course. I went out dancing many more times, danced with many more men and over time, got to a point where I felt confident. Now, I feel I could dance the entire night away. That’s how much I love it!
So, if you’re a beginner or someone who’s curious about the very basic steps, check out this list of tips–and these videos I found on YouTube that break it down for you. I think it will help you.
6 Secrets of Super Salsa Dancing
Salsa Secret #1: Hear/Listen to/Count the Beat…1, 2, 3…5, 6, 7
Although there are technically 8 beats, you need to ignore (or pause/do nothing) during two of them. Those are 4 and 8. You’re moving your feet on 1, 2, 3 and 5, 6 and 7 only.
Let’s try it right now. Turn on a salsa song. Listen closely. Now count all 8 beats. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Then, do it again, but drop 4 and 8. 1, 2, 3…5, 6, 7…
Salsa Secret #2: Have a Drink
I know this isn’t necessary, but I must admit it loosened my inhibitions and got me into the groove. When Diego told me to feel the music, being slightly buzzed prevented me from feeling embarrassed. If you don’t drink, no problema! Have some herbal tea with Kava or Valerian root to relax you. It might work.
Bonus tip: Because I used to dance with Colombians, we tended to drink Aguardiente (Cristal brand), an anise-flavored liqueur that packs a punch. We chased it with seltzer and lime. I highly recommend it.
Salsa Secret #3: Don’t Look at Your Feet
At first, you might need to–as I did. (I’ll admit that, depending on whom I’m dancing with, I might take a peek–especially during the first minute or two when we’re acclimating to each other.) But eventually, you won’t need to.
Salsa Secret 4: Save the Hips…for Later
It’s tempting to try to do everything all at once, but it’s best to master your feet first. Once you’re comfortable, then you can bring the hips into the mix. Bring in the arms whenever you feel comfortable.
Salsa Secret #5: Dance with Real Latinos–if Possible
Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule. But for the most part, I find it best to dance with real Latinos. Because it’s a big part of the culture, most start dancing at an early age, so it’s natural for them. And they’re passionate about it, too.
I recall going dancing in Barcelona once at a place run by Catalans. They had a class earlier in the evening, before opening up the dance floor, and it was awful. Looked stiff and artificial. Too formulaic for my taste. I walked out and went to a real Latino club and had the best time!
Salsa Secret #6: Be in the Moment
When you’re a beginner, you need to be in the moment in order to focus–to listen to/count the beat. If not, you’ll get lost. Once you can hear it and count it, then you’ll feel it. And then, you can be in the moment while dancing and you won’t have to think about it. That’s when you know you’re dancing for real.
Instructional Salsa Videos That Can Help
Basic Side Step
This breaks it down to the most basic step of all–a side step of sorts–and focuses on the 1, 2, 3…5, 6, 7. Note: When you dance with real Latinos, they won’t move their feet so far apart. Try to do this by moving only several inches in either direction. I think it’ll be better for you in the long run.
PS: I’ve never heard of this being called “la cucuracha.”
Forward and Back
This is really just an expansion of the side step. You’re doing the same exact thing, but moving forward and back. Start the video at 0:35 to get right to the lesson.
Note: The dancer is showing the woman’s steps. The man will be going in the opposite direction–ie, when the woman goes back (right foot, left, right), the man moves forward (left foot, right, left) and vice versa.
Putting It All Together
What happens when two people dance salsa together? Something really cool–if they’re in sync. Of course, there’s more to it than just moving side to side and forward and back. Here’s a video that shows how to do that with two dancers and how to incorporate a simple turn. Start at 1:14 to watch the basic steps and the turn.
Obviously, dancing along with a video is no replacement for the real thing, but it’s a good place to start–especially if you’re not comfortable enough or ready for the real thing. I say–try this out, then go out dancing. Maybe take a class.
Whatever you do, best of luck and happy dancing. It’s truly wonderful to know how to and I hope you love it as much as I do!
Note: There are several salsa styles to choose from–some of which start on a different beat. It can get complicated and so, I recommend choosing and sticking with one. Here’s a link that might help you decide:
Which Style of Salsa Should You Learn?
Your Experiences
Have you ever tried salsa dancing? If so, how did you do? Have you struggled at all? What’s the hardest part for you?
If you’re experienced at salsa, can you tell us how you got to that point? What are some of your “salsa secrets”? 
If you’re not a salsa dancer, then what do you like? Merengue? Cumbia? Bachata? Or something entirely different?
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Photo credit: Thanks to all of the photographers whose photos I borrowed from Flickr via Creative Commons. To see who took them, click on the photo. The one photo this does not work for is the one of the “handsome Dominican guy.” That was taken by Kulyka whose profile page can be found here. Gracias to everyone!