Lots of people want to learn to dance Salsa, but let the dream go once they realize that learning to do it well involves work. Others, however, take one step on the dance floor and find out that, as true Salsa lovers say, they have Salsa “in their blood.” Having it “in your blood,” however, doesn’t necessarily mean you do it well. If you want to look great dancing with everyone on the dance floor fast, then you need to know the secrets.

1.  Practice the Basic Step until it is Second Nature

Salsa requires us to do two things at once – move both our feet and our arms. The problem is that our brains can only think about one thing at a time. As a result, it is normal to struggle until your basic footwork is automatic. Once it is, you can focus on the proper placement of your hands, arms and body. The key, of course, is doing the basic step over and over. Because advanced moves can happen in any direction, stability is important, and it’s best for women to practice in place with their body weight firmly over their feet.

2.  Keep your Upper Body Stiff and your Lower Body Loose

The biggest mistake both men and women alike make is loosely swinging their arms back and forth or side to side. While it feels good, and may even look good, loose arms make it virtually impossible to lead or follow. To dance well together, both the leader and follower must move as one unit and it just won’t happen with spaghetti arms.

3. Practice with Someone Who Knows How to Dance

One of the biggest reasons for slow progress is dancing with other beginners. While group classes are great for practice, generally speaking, neither partner knows what to do so it never feels quite right.

In contrast, when a woman follows well, she holds her body stiffly in the correct places. A leader feels this and quickly learns how to properly manipulate her. The same holds true for a follower. A good leader can instruct a follower to adjust her body position until she’s a dream to dance with.

Overall, proper technique is not difficult to learn, but it requires specific instruction. Once you master it, however, your dancing abilities will improve phenomenally.

Given how hard it is to meet people in the internet age, not to mention the popularity of Dancing with the Stars, it is no wonder that partner dancing is making a comeback. Not only is it social, but it is fun and provides great exercise as well.

For the new dancer wanting to learn to dance for the first time, Salsa is a great choice. The most popular of the partner dances, it is very welcoming to beginning dancers with plenty of resources available as well.

Most importantly, unlike most other dance styles, it is easy to find Salsa venues to practice your new skills. There is nothing worse than investing time and money on your quest to learn to dance only to be stuck dancing in a dance studio. With Salsa, once you are proficient, you'll be showing off your skills in one of the many Salsa clubs worldwide in no time.

What You Need to Know to Learn to Dance:

1. Free Salsa Classes at Salsa Clubs

Most Salsa clubs offer free Salsa dance classes for people who have never danced before, and taking a free class is a good way to experience the environment. Don't expect to learn to dance after one lesson, however. Like everything, it takes practice.

Many cities have a Salsa website with resources to help you learn to dance in your local area. If you can't locate one, contact a dance studio. They will be happy to guide you in the right direction.

2. Affordable Group Classes

While many people fall in love with Salsa at a free class in the Salsa club, when people are really ready to learn to dance, most take group studio classes. Steer clear of ballroom studios asking for a huge, upfront investment of time and money. Beginning group Salsa classes are normally "drop-in," meaning you show up whenever you want to, and cost less than $10 per class.

When you go to class, you don't have to worry about not knowing how to do the steps. Everyone will have little to no experience. As long as it is a "drop-in" class and not a progressive class, meaning the class builds on a move over a series of weeks, the class will start with the basic step. With a little practice, you'll have the basics down within a few weeks.

3. Private Classes

Some people don't want to learn with a group, and if that is the case, private classes are available as well. Anywhere between $50 and $80 per hour, they are significantly more expensive. The benefit, however, is that you won't acquire bad habits that you will have to unlearn later. Most students take private lessons at some point, and overall, the best way to learn is through a combination of private and group lessons.

4. No Partner Needed

Another big benefit of learning Salsa is that you don't need to bring a partner. Expect the ratios of men to women to be uneven, swinging in either direction on any given day. To combat this, partners rotate to ensure everyone practices.

5. What to Wear

Most people wear casual street clothes such as shorts, jeans or a casual dress. The key is to wear cool clothing since you'll be moving around a lot. Also, your shoes should have a leather or hard plastic bottom so you may turn easily on a hard surface. Sneakers stick and the gripping action may bother your knees. As you improve, you'll want to invest in dance shoes since the suede bottoms allow you to maneuver and execute turns with greater precision.

6. Salsa Steps

The steps in Salsa start with both feet together. Men follow the pattern below and begin by moving their left foot forward while women start with the second half and move backwards onto their right. This allows the couple to move together. With the holds, the basic step encompasses eight beats. There are many good videos on YouTube that will help you master this.

The pattern is as follows:

• Step forward on your left foot
  
• Step in place with your right foot
• Bring your left foot back so your feet are together again
• Hold one count
• Step backwards on your right foot
• Step in place with your left foot
• Bring your right foot back so your feet are together again
• Hold one count

Overall, when you want to learn to dance Salsa, the key is practice, and through a combination of classes and practice, you'll soon be a sought-after dance partner out on the dance floor.