Latin Dance

Latin Dancing

So many students have come to us struggling to learn Latin dances, like Salsa or Merengue. They become frustrated after making the same mistakes over and over again, without understanding the underlying technique. We provide students the individual attention and feedback they need to advance as dancers.

We have learned that students benefit by focusing intensely on proper form and technique. Once our students master the basics, they can easily advance to learning different combinations and executing them with confidence and finesse.

Latin dance includes a wide range of dances originating in Latin America and Cuba. Latin isa a faster-paced, more sensual, rhythmic expression.

Latin Dance Lessons

• Beginner Salsa Dancing & Intermediate Salsa Dancing
• Latin Dancing
• Cha-Cha
• Merengue
• Rumba

Basic Latin Steps

Side–To–Side
The side-to-side is the basic that our students experience the most success with, so it’s a good place to start. It is most commonly danced in social settings in Latin America and therefore the most useful.

Back Basic
The back basic is the foundation piece of British salsa. Eventually the back step provides the wind-up for the anti-clockwise spin that is the trademark of the British turn combinations.

Turning Basic
The turning basic is just a variation of the back basic with a turn of the body included. It’s easier to learn after the back basic, and it provides a change of scenery. If possible, align yourself facing one direction with objects that you can focus on ninety degrees to both your left and right e.g. walls in a square room. You can use these objects as reference points to help you learn.

Latin Basic
The Latin basic is commonly used in Latin America, and is also the foundation piece of North American salsa, giving rise to the single right turn combinations. The Latin basic is taught here as a simple variation of the back basic, where the left leg steps forward instead of backward.

Cross Basic
The cross basic is used often as it covers a lot of ground, usually to circle around a partner who is turning on the spot or spinning. This basic gets its name because it is a cross between the back basic and side-to-side, and also because one leg moves across the other.

Single Right Turn (SRT)
The single right turn (SRT) is derived from the Latin basic, where a right turn is performed during the forward phase of the Latin basic; the backward phase remains unchanged. The SRT is the foundation piece of most North American turn combinations. Like the turning basic, try to align yourself facing one direction with objects that you can focus on ninety degrees to both your right and behind your starting position e.g. walls in a square room. You can use these objects as reference points to help you learn.