Beginners guide to salsa : part 7,8,9,10

1.7) Which style should I learn ?

Depending on where you live, there may be a variety of styles offered, or
you may be limited to just one. For a list of styles, "click here". There are some differences between the styles that may make one of them more appealing to you. However, make sure the style is practical i.e. it is a popular style danced in your area. For example, if you learn "on 2" and there are only a hand-full of "on-2" dancers in your city, you will not have many partners to dance with.

If multiple styles are popular, check out various instructors and various styles before deciding. Talk to various dancers, and decide "who you want to dance like". Pick your first style that way. As a beginner, learning multiple styles from the get-go is not recommended. Concentrating on one style will make you a better dancer faster. Different styles can actually confuse the dancer's timing, which is something beginners have enough problems with already. As an advanced dancer you may want to experiment with different styles, and see what "feels" better.

Remember, many dancers will be biased to their own style and believe that it is the best. There is no such thing as the "best" style. There are however personal favourites. It's up to you to decide which style is your favorite.



1. Do I need special shoes? Dancewear ?

For a beginner class, special dancewear and shoes are not necessary. Just wear clothes that aren’t restrictive and a pair of comfortable leather-soled shoes (rubber-soled shoes are not recommended as you can’t do a spin with them, but are still ok at the beginner level). Keep jewelry to a minimum as that can get caught and/or can scratch or hurt your partner.

At a more advanced level especially for followers who spin more, shoes with soles that are conducive to spinning will be required (thin leather or suede soles are ideal). Running shoes are not recommended. However it will be a while before your normal shoes present a problem. It’s probably best if you wear the same shoes you wear when you go dancing. For example if you wear 2-inch heels when you dance in the clubs, you should also dance on 2-inch heels to get accustomed to the different balance involved.

If you take dancing more seriously or for a long period of time, you may want to invest in a pair of ballroom shoes (thin suede soles) which cannot be worn in the streets and a pair of dance sneakers to practice your shines or for a full day of workshops.




1.9) Do I need a dance partner to learn?

You definitely do not need a partner to learn how to dance salsa. Nearly all beginner classes accommodate students with no partners. In case you do have a partner, please remember that there are some advantages and disadvantages to dancing with the same person consistently.

Advantages of having a partner is that you have someone to practice with on a regular basis, which is great because a lot of practice is very important. However, practicing with only one partner should be avoided, since your lead/follow will adjust to the partner's mistakes or you will learn to automatically anticipate their moves from sheer habit. So as soon as you start dancing with someone else you mayl encounter problems. While developing the leading and following skills, it is best to dance with a lot of different partners so you don’t rely on your partner to know your moves and compensate for your mistakes.



1.10) I have two left feet. Not sure this is for me...

Sorry, no excuses. Many great dancers started with two left feet and have ended up winning dance competitions! True, some dancers take longer to improve, but everyone can eventually learn to dance. Salsa takes time and dedication to learn proficiently. Unfortunately you may only learn to love the dance AFTER you start dancing properly, but if you never try, you may never know what you’re missing.

If you get very frustrated over a long period of time (weeks), talk to your instructor. Also try out different instructors to see if a different teaching style (not necessarily a better instructor) will better suit your learning style.

phew...!! very informative article.