Hot Salsa Tips

Know your dance

Understand the base to your style of Salsa, be it LA Salsa, New York Mambo or Cuban La Rueda. Each is quite different in terms of structure, timing and musicality.

Wear Appropriate footwear

Shoes with leather or suede soles with a small heel are best.  Rubber soled shoes tend to be bulky and have excessive grip to the floor whilst flat shoes transfer your bodyweight away from your partner affecting your connection and centre of gravity.

Posture

Try to keep good posture with your bodyweight slightly forward over the balls of your feet. Keep your head up and take your own weight. Avoid taking large backsteps as this tends to make your "quicks" sluggish and puts undue pressure on your partner.

Learn to Lead and Follow correctly

Learn to correctly lead and follow so that moves can be undertaken without excessive force. Maintain some pressure or resistance to your partner throughout the dance - no "spaghetti" arms. 

Use of Arms

Avoid all unnecessary arm movement as this can be a real disturbance. Substitute excessive arm movement for connection with your partner. Free arms can of course be used for styling but do so without disturbing your partner.

Feet and Legs

Keep your feet and legs close together during passing steps to avoid a bow leg effect. Try to dance mainly on the inside ball of your foot, tucking the right heel slightly in on the backstep and crossing the left heel slightly in on the forward step.

Interpret the Music

In general try to stick to the beat, differentiating between the quicks and slows. Remember that there is a forth and eigth beat to be utilised. Contrasting speed greatly enhances the presentation of the dance.

Spot When Spinning

As well as sharpening up your appearance, spotting will also help you avoid becoming dizzy as you spin.

Styling

Put as much effort into learning styling and technique as you do learning steps and manouvres. Men in particular look much better doing a limited number of moves well than a complex sequence badly.

Men

Know your leads but ensure that you dance your partner at their level and within their capabilities. If the lady cannot follow your leads return to simplier moves rather than forcefully assisting her through your routine. The objective should be to dance your partner and not youself. Remember, you are the frame and they are the picture.

Ladies

Try not to put undue pressure on your partner by leaning on him or gripping him for support.  At all times hold your own weight. Make sure that you are always ready to follow your partner's lead, keeping you hands at waist level where they are accessible

Finally

Don't be afraid of making mistakes - everyone does.  Practice and have fun.