Beginner Salsa Patterns
Our beginner Salsa patterns will help you take the basic Salsa moves you know and combine them into exciting combinations. Our goal here is to develop your ability to lead basic steps smoothly and confidently.
Once you reach that point, our beginner Salsa combos will challenge you to mix things up and use your own creativity to combine the moves you’ve learned into a spontaneous sequence of steps. This exercise simulates a social dancing environment and helps the lead’s dancing become more dynamic and the follow practice her technique. Since the follow doesn’t know what’s coming next, she has to rely on the beginner Salsa technique that dictates how she should react to the lead’s signals.
There’s no time for guessing games. Both partners will learn how to become more in tune with one another as they venture through these various beginner salsa lessons.
Browse our Salsa dancing videos for beginners below. It’s time to combine your basic Salsa moves into patterns!
Full Salsa Lesson: “Around the World” (Intermediate Salsa On1)
The full salsa on2 lesson is here.
Here’s a full intermediate online salsa class directly from our online Salsa Course with Patrick and Scarlet.
Keep in mind, before we teach patterns we ALWAYS teach you the individual moves that make them, so you understand each part of the whole. That’s the key to truly understanding salsa.
We broke the lesson into various parts. Just scrub the timeline to select where you want to start:
- Demo
- Section 1 (Lead’s Part)
- Section 2 (Lead’s Part)
- Section 1 & 2 (Follow’s Part)
- Tips and Common Mistakes
In this salsa pattern we’re going to talk about and combine the following concepts:
- Line of dance and rails
- Right turns
- Change of place
With just a few simple moves you’re able to create this fun salsa combo you can use for social dancing, perfect for intermediate salsa dancers.
Enjoy!
Try the Salsa Course
Curious what the rest of the salsa curriculum looks like?
Want to get a taste of the full Salsa Course with Patrick and Scarlet?
La Siesta Swoop – Spicing Up Your Basic Salsa Turns
This video is just a demonstration. Become a member to access the full version of this tutorial.
Siesta Swoop
The Siesta Swoop is all about adding a little variation into your basics to keep things interesting. After all, what’s life without a little spice?
Read more →
The Loopy Waiter – Beginner Combination
This video is just a demonstration. Become a member to access the full version of this tutorial.
Loopy Waiter
The Loopy Waiter pattern adds style to the lady’s basic right turn by leading the turn with a “waiter” hand hold and then, with a little arm loop and a flick, the lead sends his partner into a check to prep her for a left turn. Read more →
Pass Right & Turn: Beginner Salsa Pattern
This video is just a demonstration. Become a member to access the full version of this tutorial.
The Pieces of the Puzzle
The Pass Right & Turn beginner salsa pattern is made up of the reverse cross body lead (a.k.a the Right Side Pass), the Inside Turn and the Right Turn. If you’ve already learned these turns, you’re ready to give this combo a shot. Read more →
Change of Place with Cross Body Leads
Within this beginner Salsa combo, you’re going to toss in your cross body lead as you work on the change of place. Adding the cross body to any move is a great way to transition in and out of the various steps you know.
To get started, try doing the pattern exactly as seen in the video and then move on to do our challenge below.
Demo: Change of Place With Cross Body Leads
This video is just a teaser. Become a member to access the full version of this tutorial.
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5 Right Turns With Cross Body Leads
In this beginner salsa pattern you’re going to use the cross body lead to help break up your 5 turn pattern. Doing this will make your dancing feel more interesting and dynamic while allowing you to become more spontaneous with your steps as you begin social dancing.
To start, try doing the pattern exactly as seen in the video and then try our challenge below.
Demo: Right Turns with Cross Body Leads
This video is just a teaser. Become a member to access the full versions of these tutorials.
Read more →
Salsa Basic Steps with Cross Body Leads
In this beginner Salsa combo we challenge you to incorporate your cross body lead, using it to transition between your four salsa basics. Use what you’ve learned from the previous two lessons: the side basic and front-back basic as well as the back basic and cumbia basic.
Demo of the Salsa Basics with Cross Body Leads
This video is just a teaser. To access the full video tutorial, become a Dance Dojo member.
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Hammerlock Unwind – Experienced Beginner Salsa Pattern
This video is just a teaser. Become a member to access the full versions of these tutorials.
Hammerlock Unwind
This experienced beginner Salsa combo is a fun way to play with your partner by wrapping her up into a hammerlock with a right turn and then helping her unwind with a left turn.
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Everyone to the Right – Experienced Beginner Salsa Pattern
This video is just a teaser. Become a member to access the full versions of these tutorials.
Everyone to the Right
Everyone to the right is a great Salsa pattern for experienced beginners. It’s all about getting comfortable mixing your right turns together, and it’s not just the ladies that will be turning – it’s game time for the guys too!
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Excited to become a great dancer?
If you like these beginner Salsa videos, make sure you try our online Salsa Course or check out our series of Salsa dancing tips for even more helpful Salsa advice.