Tips on dancing Cuban Salsa,

 

Dance to the music, this means what the music is telling you to do. Some Cuban bands can have upwards of 15 very talented musicians so there can be an awful lot going on. A single track can easily change from being energetic to sultry, from a hard beat to a soft sexy tempo.

The first thing to realize is that just because you know three and a half thousand moves that's not a very good reason to put them all into one dance. By all means put a couple of good moves in but so much more can be achieved by using simple body expressions. Just try looking at the women as she moves her hips. Remember this is Cuban Salsa and that's why she's moving them, for you to take notice of her. If you are just out there to impress people watching, your dancing is going to look crap !

 

Your not there to compete with her so let her do her stuff before you reply with some of your own.

Dance with your partner, think about the way you hold her, close on the slow bits. If she wants to show you something give her the chance to. Some times do this by letting her go or pushing back to arms length. The reason for this is so you can "get a better look at her" not a chance to look around to see if people are watching you. It really shows badly in your dance if you look disinterested in your partner. If you are, then why bother dancing Cuban Salsa, because you are totally missing the point !!

(I have mentioned the above from the men's point of view but most of the comments works the other way as well)

Don't really want to do this but if I must.--------------

Do's and Don't when Dancing Cuban Salsa

But first please remember that every one will have a different look and feel about there dance, things they love and things they hate. The partner they dance with will also change how the overall package looks. But most of all what you look like should be totally controlled by the music.

 

Other Cuban Dance Styles

 

  • Son
  • Rumba
  • Orisha
  • Reggaeton

    •  Ten Cuban salsa tips

     

    "If you're not listening you're not dancing"

    well guess that was No 1

    No2, if you hold hands and do the forward and back salsa step, even once you are not dancing Cuban Salsa, period !! No No No, close hold if you like as in Son but no hand to hand looking as if you are winding her up with your arms. This is very Bad.

    No3, smile, this is done by only dancing to the music you love. You dance to the music so if you don't like it go to the bar and get yourself a mojito instead.

    No4, remember in Cuba all women are Beautiful !

    No5, dance to your partners ability. There is totally no point in pulling the arms out of someone just because you are going to do the last neat move you learnt come Hell or High Water.

    No6, give only as much lead as is needed, too much and the dance will look hard and forced, too little and it will look messy.

    No7, drops n spins, No. They have there place but not in Cuban Salsa. The rules are bent slightly if you're watching a performance, but thats a show of dancing ability and grace. Try watching Rafael and the beautiful Yanet.

    No8, if you have ever danced ceroc, jive etc and you want to dance Cuban Salsa be very careful not to mix the two. Swinging out wide at full arms length with lots of pull is in the terms of Cuban a total No No.  and sorry but try to get rid of the bounce.

    No9, remember if you are learning never worry about getting out and trying. Every one around you is either in the same boat as you or understands cos they have been there. In 5 years of dancing only one person has upset me by laughing, just because I took a Reggaeton class and that was only last week. The reason was, that she didn't have the courage to join in herself and look as bad as I was looking.

    No10, you will eventually come to a flat spot in your Salsa learning curve. We all do at some point. The only solution is to give it up, for at least a whole day, and then travel to a club with the best dances and watch them, dance with them, dance beside them, take note and be inspired that if they can do it why not you. Is that Rumba or Son they are putting in, do you recognize that move you did last week in there Rueda ?

    Good luck and remember you never want to get to the point where you know it all !