Hello, future salseros of Los Angeles!
If you're reading this, chances are you’re keen on trying out salsa dancing, and let's be honest – Los Angeles is the perfect place to learn salsa. The vibrant music, the contagious energy, and the lively dance scenes make it a salsa enthusiast's paradise. As you consider joining salsa classes in Los Angeles as a newbie or someone brushing up their skills, ensure you’re well-equipped with the terminology.
By familiarizing yourself with these 20 basic salsa terms, you'll feel right at home in your first group salsa class. This guide is your trusty companion, helping you confidently step onto the dance floor. So, let’s dive right into it!
Basic Salsa Dance Terms
1. Basic Step
Every salsa journey starts here. This move is a three-step sequence that serves as the foundation for all those fascinating footwork variations you'll soon master.
2. Clave
The rhythmic backbone of salsa music! Understand the Clave; you'll naturally move in sync with the salsa's soul.
3. Cross Body Lead
An essential in salsa classes, the leader guides the follower across their path, swapping places.
4. Cumbia Step
This back-to-back sidestep adds a splash of Colombian flavor, influenced by the Cumbia dance style.
5. Dedo
A playful move where the follower moves around the leader, guided by the leader's hand.
6. Enchufla
Here, the leader turns the follower under their arm. It's a swift, fluid motion commonly taught in Los Angeles salsa programs.
7. Guapea
The default step for dancers when apart, particularly in Cuban salsa.
8. Hammerlock
A position where one's arm is turned behind one's back—a classic in many dance sequences.
9. Inside Turn
A dynamic spin for the follower is executed between the leader and the follower during a cross-body lead.
10. La Rueda
A dynamic Cuban style of salsa danced in a circle or "wheel." In La Rueda, you'll find multiple couples executing moves in unison.
11. Montaña
Meaning "mountain" involves a series of turns and wraps, giving the dancers a roller-coaster ride.
12. Ocho
Translating to “eight” in Spanish, it's a figure-eight footwork pattern that adds a touch of complexity to the dance.
13. Open Break
This creates space between dancers as both step back in preparation for a more intricate move or combination.
14. Palladium Basic
Named after the famous Palladium Ballroom in New York, it's a fundamental step with a Mambo twist, oozing vintage charm.
15. Shine
Time to solo! Shines are when you break away from your partner to flaunt those individual dance moves.
16. Sombrero
Finishing with the two dancers' arms intertwined overhead, this move has the flair of placing a hat on one's head.
17. Syncopation
This refers to the emphasis or accent on the offbeat or unexpected beats. It's a way to add rhythmic surprise by stressing a beat that is not typically emphasized or deliberately missing an expected beat.
18. Tap
A brief foot tap between counts. You'll often hear instructors in salsa classes mentioning this step to help maintain rhythm.
19. Titánic
It is an expressive move where the follower leans backward, trusting the leader to hold and guide them, reminiscent of the iconic movie scene.
20. Tornado
As exciting as it sounds, it's a spin where the follower circles the leader.
Get Ready to Salsa!
But before you embark on your salsa journey in the city of angels, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the above salsa terms. Knowledge is power, and in the salsa world, it gives you rhythm too! Los Angeles promises an experience like no other with its vibrant salsa scenes. Picture yourself having those unforgettable nights dancing salsa, being the star on the dance floor, all thanks to your early prep!
Learn all things salsa and bachata by enrolling in our classes through our sister site, Movers and Shakers Salsa & Bachata Dance Academy. Our academy has structured and progressive salsa and bachata programs for all levels. Our professional instructors are all set to guide you every step of the way.
That’s a wrap, salseros! Here's hoping this essential term guide gives you the right start for your salsa journey in Los Angeles. Happy dancing!
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