Top Ten Tips for Practicing Salsa

You may be thinking going to Salsa class once a week for an hour is enough right. I mean I also go to the club once a week, so I’m getting better. Right?

Well….no.

There is only so much an instructor can do in a given period of time. It is your job to reinforce what you learned on your own time. If you fall into the bad habit hole it can be hard to climb back up. So let’s nip that in the bud to begin with by PRACTICING. Awesome! Well sort of.

When I started learning to play the bass I hated practicing scales (and still do). Now in my old age I can’t stress enough how beneficial that was for my playing. Another part of practicing is learning new things outside of class but we’ll discuss that in another post. Just like scales to music, the basic is the cornerstone of dancing salsa - not all those fancy moves. If you can perfect this move you can fool any pro.

And Now our Top Ten Practicing Tips

10) Mirror-Mirror

They shouldn’t just be used for your “Hey baby” face – although that can be important. Practice your basic in front of a full length mirror. If you feel awkward you probably look it. Go through the steps slowly. If you can perfect something slowly you will have high success rate when doing it faster.

9) The Full Body Mullet

Funny name but it can help. Business up top, party on the bottom. What does this mean? Look at how your body is aligned when you step. An example: When your left foot goes forward your left shoulder SHOULD NOT move forward. Think about how you walk. The right arm swings when the left leg goes forward. The same motion applies when dancing. To start try to keep your upper body stationary; not rigid just static. When dancing towards a mirror keep your chest parallel to the mirror. Don’t Turn or angle the chest at all during the basic.

8 ) Penny in your butt

A friend of ours, Mia, said this once when we were teaching and not only did I crack up (is that a pun?) but found it to be very helpful. When executing the right turn pretend like you are clinching a penny in your cheeks – the lower ones mind you. This will help to keep your torso aligned over your center of gravity. Also remember to bend your knees slightly and spot if you can.

photo credit: gesika22

7) Stretchy Timey

Make sure you stretch before you dance or practice. Ballistic stretches are great – shoulder rolls, neck rolls, ribcage isolations, ballistic hugs. Static stretches can help too just don’t over do it. Stretch your neck, legs, arms, waist, and back. Salsa is a full body workout and can include muscle groups that you previously didn’t know existed.

6) Work with a partner

Nothing inspires you to learn more than having friends to dance with. I would not be nearly as interested in Salsa if it weren’t for my friends. It gives you a chance to compete and a chance to research. When we were coming up we had to search earnestly for great salsa videos and moves. Now it’s all in one spot for you. Take advantage of that. One initial hurdle that was easily overcome was the fact that it was just us 4 guys with no ladies to dance with. Which brings me to my next point.

5) Learn to Lead AND Follow

← OK Don’t go overboard like that guy! With that being said the only way we really got better was to practice and the only way to practice was to dance with another dude. Don’t Judge Me!!! But seriously it made us better dancers and eventually better teachers. We knew what each others “role” was and how it was articulated. This can be one of the best practicing tools available. Even if you have a lady to partner, let her lead and teach her what you know and vice versa.

4) Practice Practice Practice

I don’t mean “Ok I will practice 3 hours a day every day FOREVER!” I mean practice when it is convenient and when you are doing something else like: brushing your teeth, talking on the phone, practicing guitar, doing homework?, cooking (make sure to practice a lot before attempting this, I’m not responsible), waiting for the bus, during a breathalyzer test….what?! Whenever you find the time, some people might look at you funny. Just pretend you have an ipod. Better yet get an ipod. ILiveSalsa is not affiliated with Apple or iPod products but if you want to get me an new iPhone I’d super appreciate it. J

3) If the shoe fits… it doesn’t mean its right for salsa

I must admit I sometimes ignore this and it is somewhat debatable. But what almost all Salseros y Salseras can agree on is that the right shoes can do wonders. I personally where anything from dance sneakers to timberlands to old man slick bottom shoes. But the idea is that rubber soled running shoes and flip flops are going to restrict your motion incredibly. Ladies: heels or dance sneakers are recommended. Guys: dance sneakers or smooth bottom shoes are good too. I love my Gabellini’s and my shoes from Jose Botta, you should see a link to their site on the sidebar to the left.

2) Let the Rhythm take control

Listen to salsa music. Such a big part of salsa is overlooked by beginners (and instructors): the music. It is the reason for this dance. Without the music you’re just another nut dancing on the street. Listen to the differences in beat manipulation. It’s very different from western music. Check out our post about [intlink id="2166" type="post"]The Incredible Salsa Beat Machine[/intlink]. This tool should help you understand the instruments and their patterns.We will be exploring salsa music in depth in future post but check out our Salsa Music category for more music related posts.

1) Enjoy it!

Such a simple tip but overlooked sometimes. Just have fun. This is social salsa, remember that. When you get to competitive salsa then you will need to buckle down and work hard but for now it’s all about how you feel. The biggest motivator to practice is enjoyment. A new move is like a new toy to me. I can’t wait to unwrap and play with it but more than that I can’t wait to introduce it to my other toys. Hopefully you feel the same.

What are your favorite practice tips?

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