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Salsa
How Does One Dance Salsa ?
People can learn to dance this rhythm at a level which matches their experience and goals:
• Beginners can master rhythm changes and some easy patterns from the Walk In, Dance Out lessons which prepare them for dancing in a social dance situation (lessons include the rhythms of Social Foxtrot, Single Swing, Waltz, Rumba, and Cha Cha). These lessons also prime folks with dance experience so they can excel in round dance classes.
• Round dancing provides opportunities to learn a tremendous variety of figures and sequences to expand knowledge in a fun, non-competitive setting with abundant opportunities for practice (“floor time” is essential). There are classes for beginners, even non-dancers and for those wishing to expand their knowledge. Salsa has not yet been standardized by Roundalab and is generally taught to dancers who have mastered basics in other rhythms. Find an instructor near you. If one isn’t available, gather some friends and persuade a round dancer/instructor to teach you. Attending the ICBDA annual convention also provides an excellent opportunity to increase dance knowledge!
• Ballroom coaches offer group classes and personalized instruction to improve dancing technique and to prepare those desiring to compete (with opportunities for Novice, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and beyond).
Resources Available on This Website:
| Salsa Figures and Sources for How to Dance Them | |
| • A chart of Roundalab standard figures, grouped by phases to: • Monitor learning progress in this rhythm. • Judge whether or not an unfamiliar cued routine might be personally danceable. • Sources for written and video information available online. • List of Clinic Notes from ICBDA Conventions and how to access them. |
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| The Character of Salsa - coming soon | |
| • Timing patterns and the basic components. • Other characteristics which comprise the character of Salsa. • Origins and history with video comparison demonstrating Salsa evolution. |
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| A Teaching Cuesheet – to be developed | |
| • Provides step-by-step instruction plus possible cues to use in round dance settings. • Explains movements which occur between steps. • Includes techniques to lead the various figures so partners dance as one unit. • Flags components (interchangeable parts used in many figures) which promises to make learning various figures and different rhythms less complex. • Describes techniques aligned with the character of Salsa. • Includes sequences which can be used in a social dance situation. |
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| Supplemental Notes - to be developed | |
| • Amplifies descriptions of the figures and components used in the teaching cuesheet. • Explains why some techniques are more helpful than others. • Suggests substitute techniques and/or figures which advanced dancers might use when dancing easier-level dances (technique practice is best with easier dances!). |
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Other Round Dance Resources
• A video catalog is a data base with links to many dances and rhythms, however Salsa routines to date have not been included.
• An index of rounds provides ready access to cue sheets for many Salsa routines. In the “Rhythm” window type “Salsa” and the list appears. Select a specific cue sheet to print it out. This rhythm has not yet been phased by Roundalab so phase designations are the estimates of the choreographers. As soon as a selection has been made, the appropriate results appear.
• Clinic Notes from ICBDA Conventions featuring Salsa and Modern Ballroom / Smooth.
• Cue Sheet Writing Guidelines, from Roundalab, provides information about how to read cue sheets.
• Roundalab also has a list of Abbreviations which are used in cuesheets.
• Sears' Website ( > Round Dance Manual and > Articles) has information about how to dance this rhythm.