Do you want to step outside your comfort zone and be the person who actually starts learning salsa this year? Are you interested in developing a foundation in dance that can set you up for success with other styles, like bachata or merengue? Do you simply have plans to travel to Latin America and want to get the basics under your belt so you can enjoy dancing even more when you’re there?

In this course, we will teach you the basics of dancing salsa assuming no prior experience with any type of dance. We’ll teach you the base steps that comprise the majority of salsa figures and explain how these are then altered in variations to form different moves. You’ll learn the crucial skill of how to lead or follow (depending on your preference) when dancing with a partner, which will enable you to produce your own routines on the fly, dance with others wherever you call home, and continue learning effectively down the line. There will be a focus on styling and solo footwork steps so that you can enjoy dancing salsa without a partner and comfortably perform ‘shines’ (brief solo segments during a partner dance). We’ll also provide some brief background on the different styles of salsa, common dancing etiquette, and some pointers on musicality. By the end of the course, you’ll have a number of routines that you can take with you, adapt, and show off to your friends.

While learning to dance is always daunting at the start, this course is built around sharing in the joy that salsa music and dance can bring to our lives. Students who are interested but are worried about ‘not being good enough at dancing’ are actively encouraged to partake – you’ll be amazed at how quickly any doubts or worries melt away once you get stepping and spinning! Anyone who can bring a smile and some energy to their learning is very welcome.

Note from Discover: Etien will teach Salsa in tandem with Anna Hledikova!