Intro to Salsa Dancing

Name: Intro to Salsa Dancing
Rating: 4.7 (25 reviews)

Beginner to Intermediate Salsa and Bachata Lessons

Created byEdwin Aybar

Last updated 1/2024

English

What you'll learn

Salsa dancing. I will take you from an absolute beginner to the intermediate level, alone and with a partner.

Course content

4 sections • 81 lectures • 6h 35m total length

Introduction: basics4:39
First lesson. We cover the 'basic' alone and with a partner.
Basics continued: side basic and cumbia5:18
Basics continued! Side basic and cumbia basic.
Simple right turn (alone and for follow)4:48
Simple right turn (Solo work and partner work).
Simple left turn (solo work)3:30
Simple left turn (solo work).
Left turn for the follow4:43
Left turn for the follow (partner work).
Left cross body (partner work)3:49
Left Cross Body (partner work)
Right cross body (partner work)4:56
Right cross body (partner work).
Cigarette step (solo work)5:25
Cigarette step (solo work).
Kick step (solo work)2:37
Kick step (solo work).
Music lesson: poly-rhythm, identifying the beat4:30
Salsa music lesson. We touch upon the polyrhythmic aspect of salsa music in order to be able to identify the downbeat of the measure and know when to start dancing. Very important, especially for beginner Leads.
combo: LCB and RT (partner work)2:14
Combination: Left cross body and right turn (partner work).
Axel turns (solo work)3:11
Axel turns (solo work).
Double-handed RT (partner work)3:51
Double-handed right turn (partner work).
Turns from cumbia (solo work)2:53
Turns from Cumbia (solo work).
Open break, cuddle (partner work)4:42
Open break, cuddle (partner work).
Hand switch, hair comb (partner work)4:18
Hand switch, hair comb (partner work).
Marylin roll (solo work)1:59
Marylin roll (solo work).
Suzie Q (solo work)3:55
Suzie Q (solo work).
Enchufla (partner work)3:57
Enchufla (partner work).
Hammerlock (partner work)3:45
Hammerlock (partner work).
Left inside, or Chaine turn (partner work)4:07
Chaine turn, or left inside turn (partner work).
Traveling R turn (partner work)4:47
Traveling outside (right) turn for follow (partner work).
Spot turn (partner work)5:22
Spot turn (partner work)
Revolving Door (partner work)5:46
Revolving door (partner work).
Combination (partner work)4:49
Combination (partner work).

Back hook turn (solo work)2:55
Back hook turn (solo work).
Enchufla w/ back hook turn (partner work)3:05
Enchufla with back hook turn (partner work).
Spot turn w/ elbow connection (partner work)3:59
Spot turn with elbow connection (partner work).
Front hook turn (solo work)2:40
Front hook turn (solo work).
S-turn into hammerlock (partner work)3:21
S-turn into hammer lock (partner work).
Cumbia spins (partner work)5:36
Cumbia spins (partner work).
Proper frame (partner work)7:18
Proper frame (partner work).
LT w/ arm styling (solo work)4:33
Left turn with arm styling (solo work).
Body rolls (solo work)4:58
Body rolls (solo work).
LCB w/ 180 (partner work)3:18
Left cross body with 180 (partner work).
Advanced Suzie Q (solo work)4:41
Suzie Q (solo work).
Leg flares (solo work)4:44
Leg flares (solo work).
Rainbow w/ LT exit (partner work)4:37
Rainbow with left turn exit (partner work).
Accents on 1 and 5 (solo work)5:11
Accents on 1 and 5 (solo work).
Titanic (partner work)4:26
Titanic (partner work).
Spins (solo work)4:14
Spins (solo work).
Valentino (partner work)3:32
Valentino (partner work).
Grapevine (solo work)3:51
Grapevine (solo work).
Dips (partner work)5:29
Dips (partner work).
Butterfly turn (partner work)2:48
Butterfly turn (partner work).
Music lesson: salsa form5:24
Parts of a Salsa Song (musicality).
Cuddle w/ traveling (partner work)4:12
Cuddle with traveling (partner work).
Windmill turn (partner work)3:37
Windmill turn (partner work).
Hammerlock w/ Copa (partner work)3:58
Hammerlock with copa (partner work).
LCB shines (partner work)4:16
Left cross body shines (partner work).
Pluma from RT (partner work)3:09
Pluma from right turn (partner work).
Blind Copa (partner work)6:33
Blind copa (partner work).
180 w/ Chaine turn and Ronde (partner work)4:25
180 with chaine turn and ronde (partner work).
Double lock (partner work)4:38
Double lock (partner work).
Simple tunnel (partner work)3:09
Simple tunnel (partner work).
Basic Bachata (solo/partner work)4:32
Basic Bachata (solo/partner work)
Basic Merengue (solo/partner work)4:03
Merengue basics (solo/partner work)
Basic Cha Cha (solo/partner work)3:55
Cha cha basics (solo/partner work)
Dance Etiquette10:18
Dance etiquette (what to expect when going out to dance)
Where to go from here?5:03
Where to go from here (last video)

Three Basics6:55
Master the three salsa basics: forward basic, side basic, and cumbia basic, with weight shifts, beat timing, and partner open position drills.
Three Turns12:09
learn three salsa turns, right turn for lead, left turn, and right turn for the follow, built on the basic 1-2-3, 5-6-7 timing with partner work cues.
Three Shines6:27
Three Moves5:55
Three Plumas6:57
Learn three plumas in salsa: how to throw and switch hands on a right turn, enter a hammerlock, and execute a pretzel to set up a right turn.
Three Moves6:33
Dancing from the Music7:50
Learn to move with salsa music by coordinating shoulders, arms, and a controlled body roll, using forward punches, beat-driven arm positions on 1 and 5, and weight shifts.
Three Moves9:59
Three Tips9:46
This lesson covers three essential salsa skills: frame and connection with your partner, masterful lead and follow, and how to ask someone to dance—emphasizing musical timing and respectful communication.
Last Lesson: Suggested Combinations3:00
Practice a suggested sequence of salsa moves with music, blending moves from this beginner course. Embrace social dancing through improvisation and rehearse at home to discover which turns fit you.

Bachata Basic4:39
Turns4:19
Learn left and right turns for both leads and follows in salsa, using basic step patterns, taps, line alignment, and hand techniques including turning under the hand and disengagement.
Basics: Subtracting for Variety6:19
Basics: Adding for Variety4:10
Rock Step Turn4:52
Learn to add a left or right turn to the rock step, pivoting on count three and five without tapping on four or eight, using outside turns with a partner.
Cuddle and Frame5:45
Master the salsa cuddle and frame by keeping elbows in front and leading from the torso, then perform coordinated left and right turns with a constant connection and subtle shines.
Variation on the Cuddle5:49
Learn a variation on the cuddle by switching hands right to right and left to left while maintaining shoulder contact, including inside turns, hand exchanges, and hair comb transitions.
Switching Directions2:49
Dominican Style6:09
Explore Dominican style bachata footwork with syncopations and an attack before the rock step. Practice toe taps in front or behind while maintaining a left-right pattern to music.
Body Roll and Lower Body Control7:13
Explore the closed position frame, communicate through sternum-led body rolls, and practice lower-body control by leading with the knees for a smooth, coordinated salsa connection.
Dips and Bonus Recap.7:46
Master salsa dips with proper leg-based weight, safe preparation, and frame; learn how to prep the follower, dip in close, and recap the basics.

Requirements

Have space to dance, 5 minutes to watch a video, and extra practice time alone or with a partner.

Description

Welcome! Social dancing can change your life in beautiful ways, so I congratulate you for having the courage to explore the possibility of becoming a dancer. This Salsa Dance series contains over six hours of instruction in 81 videos that will take you from a very beginner (no experience required) to an intermediate dancer in both salsa and bachata dancing. In the first two sections, we have included one video on basic bachata, one on basic merengue, and one on basic cha-cha. Additionally, two videos on how to find the beat and other aspects of musicality are included, as well as a video on dance etiquette and what to expect when going out dancing. I have been teaching salsa for 20 years and have tried to distill as much as possible into these easy-to-follow videos that can be practiced over and over. Two extra sections are included with your purchase. The first (Accelerated Salsa) is a good addition to the previous salsa sections and exposes material at a faster pace than the first two sections. Both salsa sections start with the basics, so the student could begin with either. The last section is Beginner Bachata. By the end of these 11 bachata lessons, you should feel comfortable at the beginner or intermediate levels of bachata dancing in any studio or dance scene. I hope you enjoy them and get out dancing soon!

Who this course is for:

Anybody ages 10 through 100 who wants to learn how to dance!

Intro to Salsa Dancing

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Basic Salsa Lessons25 lectures • 1hr 44min

Intermediate Salsa Lessons35 lectures • 2hr 36min

Accelerated Beginner Salsa Lessons10 lectures • 1hr 16min

Beginner Bachata!11 lectures • 1hr

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: