Tips for Beginners

Timing Awareness
When dancing, you need to be aware of the music's TEMPO. The Tempo is what times the length of a dance step, the length of a pause, how fast to spin or dip. Understanding what to do with the tempo is what will help you become a better dancer. Being in time with the music is one of the most important factors to dancing. You need to be in sync with the music. Salsa music is of 4/4 timing, meaning that there are 8 counts in one phrase, which we refer to as one "cycle" in Salsa dancing. The 1st beat of every bar usually determines when we break, meaning taking the first step on the 1st count. Learning to hear the "one" in a phrase and breaking on that beat might take some time, but this will eventually become second nature.

Another thing to remember is to PAUSE on 4 and 8. The most common mistake beginners make is not pausing. They tend to rush through steps. Remember, timing is everything! Often dancers lose the beat when they rush. It is important to be consistent with your timing and it is through this knowledge and "feel" for the timing that will allow you to play and flirt with the music.

Leading Techniques
The "lead" always breaks and leads off the LEFT foot. His (it could be a woman) role is to lead the partner accurately and smoothly through a series of planned or freestyle patterns.

• Keep in time with the music
• Correct hand/arm signals
• Follow through with the steps/don't hesitate
• Be firm yet gentle with your arms
• Maintain the frame/keep elbows locked without looking stiff
  
• Keep a nice posture/do not slouch
  
• Correct body/foot positioning
  
• Take small steps
  
• Stay close to your partner
  
• Do not squeeze your partner's hands/simply hook them
  
• Maintain eye contacts/do not look at your feet or stare at her chest

Following Techniques
The "follow" always breaks off the RIGHT foot. Her (it could be a man) role is to follow the partner's lead through a series of patterns.

• Let your partner LEAD you
  
• Do not anticipate
  
• Follow through with your partners lead
  
• Keep the frame
  
• Keep the elbows locked/no spaghetti arms
  
• Correct hand and arm placement/have hands ready, (usually in front of you at waist height) for your partner after every move
  
• Take small steps
  
• Stay close to your partner
  
• Be alerted to the next move
  
• Maintain eye contacts