| Salsa dancing is an institution in most Latin cultures, | | | | back and forth. This time on a 6 count - the pause |
| and salsa music can be heard blaring from kitchens | | | | can come between steps or two beats at the end: |
| and cars as often as dance halls. From Jenifer Lopez | | | | 1-step your right foot back, landing a foot behind the |
| to Ricky Martin to Ricky Ricardo and Tito Puente, | | | | midway point between where the right foot was and |
| Salsa music (or salsa-infused pop) does occasionally | | | | where the left foot is. |
| make it to the US charts. This article will discuss the | | | | 2-putting weight on the right foot, step in place with |
| basics of how to dance to the rhythm. | | | | the left. |
| Salsa is a partner dance, though it differs from many | | | | 3-bring your right foot back to stand next to the left |
| in a very basic way: in the basic step, the man and | | | | (shoulders width apart) |
| woman move identically. As with most partner | | | | 4-step your left foot back as you did with the right |
| dances, the man uses the arms and hands to direct | | | | 5-putting weigh on the left foot, step in place with |
| the woman's body. | | | | the right |
| Salsa dancing is done on an eight count. | | | | 6-bring your feet back together. |
| 1-move your left foot one step forward | | | | All movement is done with the feet and hips; the |
| 2-step your right foot in place | | | | upper body stays rigid, as if working on a separate |
| 3-take your left foot back to meet the right | | | | plane from the lower body. |
| 4-pause with feet standing next to each other | | | | Some styles of Latin dance, like the Tango, are very |
| 5-move your right foot one step back | | | | rigid- Salsa is NOT one of these dances. The most |
| 6-step your left foot in place | | | | important thing to remember when you are salsaing |
| 7-move your right foot back in line with the left | | | | is to move your body with the music - if you feel |
| 8-pause with feet next to each other. | | | | the rhythm, it will take you where you need to go. |
| Another variation brings you side to side instead of | | | | |