Salsa Steps for Beginners
Our beginner Salsa steps cover everything a beginner Salsa dancer needs to know to get started off right. Browse through our lessons and you’ll find key moves like the cross body lead, basic right turn, left turn and more. By learning these beginner moves, you’re just chipping at the tip of the iceberg. There are a ton of important techniques that you’ll also need to learn in order to execute these moves smoothly with a partner.
Use the lesson demos below to get familiar with the beginner salsa steps. They’re here as your guide and a quick glimpse into each step. We also have some great beginner Salsa tips to give you clear advice on how to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls as you start out with social dancing.
If you really want to have the full learning experience after that, you can get the full Salsa Course free for a week here and you’ll get access to all of our Salsa lessons.
Browse our Salsa Moves for Beginners below:
7 Salsa Moves for Beginners (The Building Blocks for Everything)
So many people want to learn salsa, but they just don’t know where to start. The fact every teacher has a different approach and they don’t explain WHY doesn’t help either.
These seven beginner salsa moves are the building blocks for everything in linear style salsa.
Learn them, practice them and read on to understand why they’re so fundamental.
And after if you’d like to learn them, you can try our online Salsa Program FREE for a week here.
Let’s go!
Inside Shoulder Turn: Changing The Inside Turn Lead
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Elements of the Inside Shoulder Turn
The shoulder turn is a variation of the cross-body lead with an Inside turn. The stronger your cross-body lead technique is, the easier the inside turn will be. The stronger your inside turn technique is, the easier this shoulder turn variation will be. The basics are in everything and that is why your basics are everything. If you need to, there is no shame in going back and brushing up on the basic elements – we highly encourage it.
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The Rejection – A Variation of the Cross Body Lead
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What is the Rejection?
Fellas, we’re not talking about the self-esteem crushing experience of being denied a dance or a date. The Rejection is a beginner salsa step and this time it’s your turn to play hard to get.
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How To Do The Suave – Beginner Salsa Move
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What is the Suave?
In all honesty, this move is a cross-body lead in disguise. The more you understand your cross-body lead, the better. The only difference with the Suave is that the fellas complete a full left turn. The footwork for the follow is the exact same as any other cross body lead.
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How To Do The Reverse Cross Body Lead (Right Side Pass)
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How is the Reverse Cross Body Different From The Regular Cross Body?
The Reverse Cross Body Lead, also known as the “Right Side Pass,” is executed from the opposite side of your partner compared to the regular cross body lead. Understanding how to do this basic element well will set you up to be able to do 360 degree back spot turns and more, so brush-up on this move first.
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Doing The Basic Left Turn With Checks
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The Basic Left Turn
The left turn is done counter-clockwise and is executed over one full basic (6 steps), so don’t rush your steps, or the lead!
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Hand Switch Ochos – Taking Your Ochos To The Next Level
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Our final variation of Ochos adds a nice little hand switch behind the leads back. And yes, you guessed it – it’s another favourite move of Latinos.
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Cascading Ochos: Adding Some Spice To Your Basic Ochos
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In this variation of Ochos the lead lifts his right hand over his head as he turns through the last half of his Cumbia Basic. The footwork and the lead/follow technique remain the same as the Basic Ochos, so if you haven’t already, be sure to learn your Change of Place technique and review those basic Ochos.
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Ochos: Taking Your Salsa in New Directions
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If you’re going to Cuba you’ll need this move! Ochos are a very common Cuban style Salsa move and a nice break from the linear feel you might be used to.
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Continuous Shoulder Catches
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Who says you always need to hold hands? In this variation of shoulder catches, the leads let go of the follow completely and use both hands to send her back and forth by her shoulders. Down low, your feet will remain the same by doing the cumbia basic. Overall, this is a great introductory step to help you get comfortable with letting go of your partner.
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