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Step 1
Select some fun music before class. Think about who your students will be. Teenagers, senior citizens and moms will all have varying choices for music. Choose music that will be appropriate for your class.
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Step 2
Start class with some quick stretching; toe touches, shoulder rolls, side stretches, and neck rolls. Follow that with a cardiovascular warm-up to increase the heart rate and get that blood flowing. Jump rope movements, marches and jumping jacks work well.
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Step 3
Teach the cha cha step. Step forward with your right foot, keeping it slightly turned in. Step in place on your left foot. Step back with your right foot, and step with your left again. The hips should sway and hit with each step of the right foot. This is one of the most basic steps in salsa, and it will likely be used as a connector step in your routines.
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Step 4
Instruct students how to use their hips. Tell them to let loose and just have fun with it.
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Step 5
Combine movements into short combinations such as cha chas, chasses, quick spins and arm/head switches. Have the students practice each several times. Count the music for them to aid in their learning. Counting also helps them feel and establish the rhythm. Combine several of the combinations into a long routine.
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Step 6
Do the routine in full a few times. Have the students switch lines, or even suggest they take a break and watch one another in small groups. Watching others will give show them things they might be able to improve upon themselves, new styles or just a breather at the very least. Perform the routine as a group one more time.
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Step 7
Do a cool down stretch (marches, side stretches, deep plies). This will relax the body and soothe the muscles. Good luck!
