Getting Started with Salsa...
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The best way to get started is to of course just start. That said there are a lot of ways to get the ball rolling. Some of the easiest are to simply show up at one of the socials or clubs when they are have a free lesson or dive right into studio lessons with a local instructor.
Salsa is a life long learning process so getting going usually takes a bit of commitment and practice but lots of us become quickly addicted. The key is that attitude and smiling through the frustrating parts will take you a long way!
At first, you need to get comfortable with the music, footwork, basic timing and body movement. Repetition is the key and its hard to get comfortable if you skip lessons or take time off. As you develop your skills, you'll focus on learning patterns and adding in spins as well as getting used to dancing with a variety of people.
This is what a typical lesson looks like:
Usually it makes sense to take lessons with several instructors until you find which approach works best for you or even to just get exposure to different variations on salsa.
In addition to lessons, there are free instructional videos on YouTube.com and people in the clubs often give out tips and hints if you ask (and sometimes even if you don't.)
Here are some ideas for learning on a budget...
Once you have some foundation for dancing hitting the clubs and socials on a regular basis is one of the best ways to keep your learning going. Its hard to underestimate the learning value of putting your newly learned skills to the test on a regular basis.
Private lessons are a way to accelerate your learning and get tailored instruction from a professional. There are many local options and the rates per hour usually range between $30 and $85 per hour.
Click here to find local instructors offering private lessons.
For those ready to take that next step, there are congressos -- which offer entire weekends filled with nothing but dancing -- lessons during the day, performances in the evening and social dancing into the wee hours of the night. While it takes a bit of money and a lot of stamina, congressos offer immersion in the salsa culture and great opportunities to travel and move your dancing to the next level.
To get answers to your questions, take a look at our forums and get advice from your fellow salseros.
For more info, check out our Special Events section.
Salsa is a life long learning process so getting going usually takes a bit of commitment and practice but lots of us become quickly addicted. The key is that attitude and smiling through the frustrating parts will take you a long way!
At first, you need to get comfortable with the music, footwork, basic timing and body movement. Repetition is the key and its hard to get comfortable if you skip lessons or take time off. As you develop your skills, you'll focus on learning patterns and adding in spins as well as getting used to dancing with a variety of people.
This is what a typical lesson looks like:
Usually it makes sense to take lessons with several instructors until you find which approach works best for you or even to just get exposure to different variations on salsa.
In addition to lessons, there are free instructional videos on YouTube.com and people in the clubs often give out tips and hints if you ask (and sometimes even if you don't.)
Here are some ideas for learning on a budget...
Once you have some foundation for dancing hitting the clubs and socials on a regular basis is one of the best ways to keep your learning going. Its hard to underestimate the learning value of putting your newly learned skills to the test on a regular basis.
Private lessons are a way to accelerate your learning and get tailored instruction from a professional. There are many local options and the rates per hour usually range between $30 and $85 per hour.
Click here to find local instructors offering private lessons.
For those ready to take that next step, there are congressos -- which offer entire weekends filled with nothing but dancing -- lessons during the day, performances in the evening and social dancing into the wee hours of the night. While it takes a bit of money and a lot of stamina, congressos offer immersion in the salsa culture and great opportunities to travel and move your dancing to the next level.
To get answers to your questions, take a look at our forums and get advice from your fellow salseros.
For more info, check out our Special Events section.
