So you want to Salsa......

If you are just starting out, welcome to a wild ride.  Salsa Dancing is the most fun you can have standing up. However, starting out isn't easy! You'll miss the beat, lack coordination and fear the unknown. It takes time, lessons and practice, to get the most out of it. 

The first thing you have to do is take lessons, and I recommend at least 2 times a week. Why so much? Well, it takes a little time to get the beat that you hear in your ears, and feel in your heart, into your feet. Repetition helps!  After 2-3 weeks of group classes, take a private lesson! Private lessons really help you pick up the style, and leading/following technique, that aren't necessarily clear in group classes.  You want an example?  Well, a perfect example, for the ladies, is "arm tension" (i.e. how to feel a man's lead without locking up your arms in front of you).  Private lessons can REALLY help!  Check out these Salsa dance steps at letsdancesalsa.com

Next up, dance!  Dance with everybody, everywhere, anytime.  Dance with as many people as you possibly can, and don't be afraid to ask that great dancer that you see in the club for a dance, or some help (or some pointers). Even if you have a partner, don't only dance with them!  It pays to learn to lead and follow from a variety of people, spread yourself around.  You will learn FASTER!

Finally, get out of the classes into the clubs! That's where a lot of the fun is.  A lot of the classes are in the clubs anyway, but if you're taking classes at a ballroom or a private studio, make sure to make it out to the clubs at least once a week.  Not only is it a blast to go out dancing, but in the beginning it can help reinforce those things you learn in class.  Nothing like some real world practice.  It will also help you get used to the music that is played in the clubs, which is faster than what you find in your typical salsa class!  Check out SalsaBoston.com to find out more on the Salsa scene in the Boston area!  You should also visit SalsaWeb.com for lots of Salsa Stuff.

Remember, have fun (you'll find it hard not to)!  That's what dancing is all about. Relax, take a deep breath, and get ready for the ride of your life.