Your first steps
- Find a beginner class. Most schools run a 4 to 8 week beginner course. You do not need a partner: classes rotate partners.
- Learn the basic step. Six steps over eight beats: step, step, step, pause, step, step, step, pause.
- Listen a lot. Play salsa at home and clap the 1. Hearing the music is half the dancing.
- Go to a social. After a few classes, go to a salsa night. Watch, then ask people to dance. Everyone was a beginner once.
What to wear
Comfortable clothes you can move and turn in. Shoes with smooth soles that slide a little on the floor (no trainers with heavy grip). Bring a spare T-shirt: it gets warm.
Social dance etiquette
- Anyone can ask anyone to dance. A polite “no, thank you” is normal and fine.
- Dance to your partner’s level, not yours.
- No aerials or dips on a crowded floor.
- Say thank you at the end of the song.
Finding events
Local schools, Facebook groups and Meetup are the best places to find salsa nights near you. Salsa congresses and festivals are listed by their organisers months in advance.