Adult Salsa Course

Lesson 1 • Understanding Salsa Music

Breaks down clave rhythm, musical phrases, and instrument roles. Enables students to hear the beat before moving to it.

Lesson 2 • Posture and Body Alignment

Establishes correct spine, shoulder, and hip alignment essential for all salsa movement. Poor posture corrected here prevents injury and bad habits later.

Lesson 3 • Footwear and Attire Basics

Guides students in selecting appropriate shoes and clothing for safe, effective practice. Proper footwear directly impacts balance and floor connection.

Lesson 1 • On2 Timing Introduction

Contrasts On2 (mambo-style) timing with On1, breaking on beat 2. Students gain awareness of both systems to navigate social dance floors.

Lesson 2 • Footwork Precision and Weight Transfer

Refines how weight moves through the foot from heel to ball and between feet. Clean weight transfer is the foundation of smooth, musical movement.

Lesson 3 • The Salsa Basic Step

Teaches the three-step pattern with a pause that forms the core of all salsa choreography. Mastery here is prerequisite for every turn and combination.

Lesson 1 • Leading and Following Mechanics

Explains how body weight, torso rotation, and arm tone transmit directional signals. Students practise sending and receiving clear leads without verbal cues.

Lesson 2 • Open Position and Hand Holds

Introduces single-hand and double-hand open holds used for turns and styling. Open position expands the vocabulary of patterns available to partners.

Lesson 3 • Closed Position Frame

Teaches hand, arm, and torso connection in closed hold. A stable frame transmits lead signals clearly without gripping or pushing.

Lesson 1 • The Cross-Body Lead

Teaches the signature salsa pattern where the follower crosses in front of the leader. This pattern is the gateway to all advanced combinations.

Lesson 2 • Spotting Technique for Turns

Teaches the head-spotting method that prevents dizziness and maintains balance during spins. Spotting is prerequisite to all multi-rotation turns.

Lesson 3 • Right Turn for Leaders and Followers

Breaks down the clockwise turn for both roles, including the lead signal and follower's pivot mechanics. Practised first solo, then with a partner.

Lesson 1 • Cumbia Step and Side Steps

Introduces lateral movement patterns that break the forward-back basic and add variety. Side steps are the simplest way to change spatial orientation.

Lesson 2 • Dile Que No and Setenta

Teaches two foundational Cuban-style patterns that involve partner repositioning. These patterns introduce circular partner movement around a shared axis.

Lesson 3 • Shine Steps and Solo Footwork

Introduces shine sections where partners separate and dance solo. Shines build individual expression and give both roles a moment of creative freedom.

Lesson 4 • Building Combinations and Transitions

Focuses on linking patterns smoothly without losing timing or connection. Combination fluency is what separates rehearsed steps from real social dancing.

Lesson 1 • Mechanics of Cuban Hip Motion

Explains how hip movement originates from alternating knee bends and weight shifts, not from pushing hips sideways. Correct mechanics prevent lower back strain.

Lesson 2 • Integrating Hips with Basic Step

Merges hip motion into the already-learned basic step pattern. Students practise until hip movement is automatic rather than consciously added.

Lesson 3 • Upper Body and Arm Styling

Teaches how arms, shoulders, and ribcage contribute to salsa's visual character. Styling is role-specific and must not interfere with partner connection.

Lesson 1 • Hygiene, Consent, and Boundaries

Addresses personal hygiene standards, physical boundaries, and consent in partner dancing. These norms ensure every dancer feels safe and respected.

Lesson 2 • Floor Navigation and Spatial Awareness

Teaches how to move safely on a crowded dance floor without colliding with other couples. Spatial awareness is a safety and courtesy skill.

Lesson 3 • Asking and Accepting Dance Invitations

Covers verbal and nonverbal invitation customs and how to decline gracefully. Confident invitation skills reduce anxiety and increase dance frequency.

Lesson 1 • Structured Improvisation Methods

Provides a framework for making real-time creative decisions during a song. Students learn to use musical structure as a map for improvisation.

Lesson 2 • Double and Triple Turns

Extends single-turn mechanics to two and three rotations using momentum and spotting. Requires mastery of single turns from Chapter 4 as a prerequisite.

Lesson 3 • Dips, Drops, and Dramatic Accents

Teaches safe execution of dips and dramatic pauses that punctuate musical breaks. Safety mechanics and partner trust are emphasised before aesthetics.

Lesson 4 • Advanced Combination Sequences

Chains five or more patterns including turns, shines, and cross-body leads into extended sequences. Tests timing, connection, and memory under music pressure.