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Starting Salsa

If you are thinking of joining a salsa class or have recently joined the salsa scene, then this page is full of useful tips and information to help you feel comfortable and confident about dancing.
 
Salsa can be a wonderful thing and starting off can be very important in setting a good foundation to dancing socially for fun or becoming a better dancer.
 
 
Which Class?
How do you decide where to go?
 
Tip: If you go on a salsa social dance and notice someone dancing well and you like their style an idea is to approach them and ask for their advice on how they learnt. Generally dancers around the world are more than happy to provide advice or recommendations.
 
Obviously which class you decide to attend will probably depend upon how local it is to you and which night it is on. Salsa is becoming so popular now that even in more rural areas you will probably still find a choice of suitable classes to attend. Try to find out before you go whether the class has a good reputation as you cannot beat a first-hand recommendation from someone who has attended. If you don't enjoy a class for whatever reason then don't give up, try somewhere else and giving feedback to the organisers helps them to improve their services for you. Most venues encourage beginners and are very friendly but occassionally you might find that people forget how daunting it can be when starting up a new hobby. 
Be careful about signing up to a course of classes. You may well find that you do not like the venue or teacher or even salsa dancing itself but if you have signed up for and more importantly paid for a course of classes, there is not a lot you can do. Look for classes that are 'pay as you go' or at least a course of classes that let you try one lesson before you commit. Often, salsa organisers who offer courses are less bothered about keeping you - the student - happy as they already have your money!
Finally, don't be put off by the look of a venue, many salsa clubs have sprung up in working mens clubs and town halls but whilst the venue may be shabby, the teaching and atmosphere can rival the trendiest London clubs and often the dancefloors are less sticky!

 
Group lessons or privates?
This is a personal preference. Recommended thoughts for someone just wanting to have fun, is to join a free class. As this will provide an indication as to whether or not it's a good idea to continue. When you become more serious then group lessons are recommended (for price and value) and a combination of private classes as you develop further. There are many good schools and teachers available in Australia an other countries. If you are in Australia then take advantage of the many popular teachers who are highly sought after internationally.
 
Before You Start!
Once you have found a class there are a few things to remember before you actually set off for your first lesson.

 

Wear comfortable shoes as feet can get sore after dancing for a few hours. Avoid trainers that grip the floor too much and make it hard for you to move. Do not wear slip-on shoes or stilleto heels as they are hard to dance in and can damage dance floors, especially if they are metal-tipped.

 

Wear loose, comfortable, casual clothes. If women wear skirts make sure they are not below the calf as they can get caught on the heels of shoes when dancing. Layers are good, because as you get warm, you can take clothes off. Salsa dancing is very good exercise - you may be surprised how warm you get.

 

You do not need to book or come with a partner, most people come on their own and partners are changed regularly throughout the Salsa lessons. If you do come with a partner though, there is always opportunities to dance with them either sporadically during the lesson or at the end of the class.

 

It may seem obvious but in salsa you dance in close proximity to others so remember your personal hygiene. Always wear a deodrant and make sure that you have fresh breath. If you do tend to sweat a lot then it may be adviseable to take a long a flannel which you can use to wipe sweat from your face during your class and even a change of top. You will find that as you do more salsa classes your fitness levels will increase and you will probably start to sweat less.

 

Although you may need a drink to relax you during your first few lessons, it is not sensible to become intoxicated as this can make dancing quite dangerous, not only for you but also for others on the dancefloor.

 

Most experienced salsa dancers will ask others to dance and rarely refuse when asked. As a new member to a class it may be neccessary to introduce yourself to other members and ask them to dance with you. Read the salsa ettiquette page to become more accustomed to the un-written rules of salsa and remember that nowadays it is just as acceptable for women to ask men to dance and the only way to improve is to practice!

 

You may feel a little uncomfortable dancing with strangers at first and it can take a while to become accustomed to dancing in such close proximity with others. Do remember though that if you are being made to feel uncomfortable because someone is being 'overly friendly'  or 'invasive' then you must say something either to the individual concerned or to the event organisers. Experienced salsa dancers do tend to dance extremely close to one another as it helps to maintain control during difficult moves however you are perfectly within your rights to say that the 'close proximity' is making you feel un-easy.

 

Look after your drink! Although it is rare, some venues (especially in central London) have reported an increase in the amount of drinks being 'spiked'. Keep your glass with you and leave it with a friend or in plain view when you are on the dancefloor. Keep hydrated with a glass of water or even better a bottle of water with a lid!

 

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