How to Do a Basic Salsa Step (Women)

In salsa dancing you must grasp the basic steps and counts before you can perform combinations and full routines. As a woman, your partner leads and you mirror his moves. By practicing the fundamentals you ensure you both look great on the dance floor. Start by mastering the basic aalsa step for women.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Stand in front of a mirror if possible so you can see yourself dancing. Stand straight, head up, back straight, arms at "home"--elbows pulled into your sides with arms loosely at 90 degrees. When you try the step with your partner, you can place your hands in his or work on other placement.

2. Listen to the rhythm of salsa music. Familiarize yourself with the counts: 1-2-3-hold, 5-6-7-hold. You move your feet in the following pattern: quick-quick-slow, quick-quick-slow.

3. Begin the salsa basic step with your right foot. Quickly step back right and then step in place with your left foot. Slowly close together with your right foot, taking 2 counts.

4. Do the same steps to the front: quickly step forward left, step in place with your right foot and slowly close with your left, taking 2 counts. Put the two parts together and you've completed one full basic step.

5. Repeat the full step, backward and forward, adding hip movements to give the steps more sensuality and flow. Work on stepping with the balls of your foot rather than your heel to enable yourself to step faster and ultimately dance more fluidly.

6. Practice alone and with a partner, perfecting the rhythm and mirroring of the steps (when you step back right, he steps forward left). Learn other basic steps like the outside underarm turn, cross body lead and side rock to improve your salsa skills.