Salsa
Salsa was an informal dance deriving mostly from mambo (and some other latin dances).
Inevitably it then became formalised - but in more that one, quite different, style!
The music has 4 quick beats to the bar but bars are generally paired (and counted to 8).
The tempo is fast (it varies perhaps from 40 to 60)
and, consequently, the steps are typically kept small.
Salsa on the 2,3,4
This form of salsa has a heel or toe tap on the 1st beat of the bar.
The moving steps are performed on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th beats.
There are crossing steps and locks and figures where partners separate.
Sideways Basic
| |
Sideways Basic (FP, CH) |
Sideways Basic (FP, CH) |
Beat | |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Man | |
LdF h | | LS | |
RCf | | LS | |
RdF h | | RS | |
LCf | | RS | |
Lady | |
RdF h | | RS | |
LCf | | RS | |
LdF h | | LS | |
RCf | | LS | |
Forwards & Backwards
| |
Forwards Basic (FP, CH) |
Backwards Basic (FP, CH) |
Beat | |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Man | |
LdF h | | LF | |
RkB | | LF | |
RCb t | | RB | |
LkF | | RB | |
Lady | |
RCb t | | RB | |
LkF | | RB | |
LdF h | | LF | |
RkB | | LF | |
| |
Forwards Basic (FP, CH) |
Backwards Basic (FP, CH) |
Beat | |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Man | |
RdF h | | RF | |
LkB | | RF | |
LCb t | | LB | |
RkF | | LB | |
Lady | |
LCb t | | LB | |
RkF | | LB | |
RdF h | | RF | |
LkB | | RF | |
Break Apart and Return
|
Break Apart (FP-SRP, CH-NH) |
Sideways Basic (SRP, NH) |
Beat |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Man |
LdF h | | LBS-2 | |
RCf | | LS | |
RdF h | | RS | |
LCf | | RS | |
Lady |
RdF h | | RBS+2 | |
LCf | | RS | |
LdF h | | LS | |
RCf | | LS | |
|
Sideways Basic (SRP, NH) |
Approach (SRP-FP, NH-CH) |
Beat |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Man |
LdF h | | LS | |
RCf | | LS | |
RdF h | | RS | |
LCf | | RSF+2 | |
Lady |
RdF h | | RS | |
LCf | | RS | |
LdF h | | LS | |
RCf | | LSF-2 | |
Alemana Turn (over 2 bars)
|
Nat. Alemana (FP-SFP, CH) |
Alemana cont. (SFP-FP, CH) |
Beat |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Man |
LdF h | | LS | |
RCf | | LS | |
RdF h | | RS | |
LCf | | RS | |
Lady |
RdF h | | RSF+2 | |
LCf+2 | | RSF+2 | |
LdF h | | LFS+2 | |
RCf | | LS | |
Salsa on the 1,2,3
In this version, the moving steps are on beats 1, 2 and 3
(and on 5, 6, 7 of the paired bar when counting to 8).
Beat 4 (and 8) may continue the motion and may have a tap or lift flourish to it.
Sometimes beat 4 (or 8) leads into the next figure
(and even the preceding footwork may be affected).
Mambo (Forwards & Backwards) Basic
| |
Forwards (FP, CH) |
Backwards (FP, CH) |
Beat | |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
Man | |
LF | | RB | |
LC | |
RB | | LF | |
RC | |
Lady | |
RB | | LF | |
RC | |
LF | | RB | |
LC | |
Or, travelling just a bit further (after the rock/check motion):
| |
Forwards (FP, CH) |
Backwards (FP, CH) |
Beat | |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
Man | |
LF | | RB | |
LB | |
RB | | LF | |
RF | |
Lady | |
RB | | LF | |
RF | |
LF | | RB | |
LB | |
Rumba (Cucaracha / Sideways) Basic
| |
Rumba Basic (FP, CH) |
Rumba Basic (FP, CH) |
Beat | |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
Man | |
LS | | RS | |
LC | |
RS | | LS | |
RC | |
Lady | |
RS | | LS | |
RC | |
LS | | RS | |
LC | |
Back (Rock) Basic
Both partners step backwards initially by a small amount, pushing away slightly
(which is a common lead for then being pulled in strongly!).
| |
Forwards (FP, CH) |
Backwards (FP, CH) |
Beat | |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
Man | |
LB | | RF | |
LC | |
RB | | LF | |
RC | |
Lady | |
RB | | LF | |
RC | |
LB | | RF | |
LC | |
Cross-body
The couple swap places along a line, on the left side of each other,
with the man getting out of the lady's way and both making ½ a turn to the left.
| |
Cross-body (FP-OLP-SRP-FP, DH) |
Beat | |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
5 | 6 | 7, 8 |
Man | |
LF | | RSB-2 | |
LC | |
RSB-2 | | LF | |
RC/F | |
Lady | |
RB | | LF | |
RC/F | |
LF | | RFSB-4 | |
LC/B | |
Cross-body Pass
The couple swap places along a line.
The lady makes the same ½ a turn to the left but the man executes a twist turn to the right.
He passes the linked hands over his head or places them on his left shoulder or waist
- letting go of the lady to pick up her hand again as it brushes around to the other side.
| |
Cross-body (FP-PP-SBP-FP, LRH) |
Beat | |
1 | 2 | 3, 4 |
5 | 6 | 7, 8 |
Man | |
LF | | RSB-2 | |
LC | |
RkB | | LXFSB+6 | |
RC/F | |
Lady | |
RB | | LF | |
RC/F | |
LF | | RFSB-4 | |
LC/B | |
© Susan Foord
(sf@pedag.org)
2010-07-24
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