Some notes on our Cuban Salsa sessions, led by Carlton of cubanvibes.
The music is 4 beats to the bar, two bars – a total of 8 beats. There’s no movement on the fourth beat of each bar. The pattern is like this:
| Left | Right | Left | – | Right | Left | Right | – |
Music
Absolute beginner’s syllabus
Steps
- Marking Time step
- Son step
- Back Basic step
- Cucuracha step
- Rumba Cross step
- Open Basic step
- Cross Over step
- Mambo step
- Around the World
Turns
- Left turn
- Right turn
Marking Time step
No movement forwards or back, just up and down. (Move weight to either side.)
Son step
- Left foot moves forwards, weight on left leg
- Lift right foot up slightly and down, then weight back on right foot
- Bring back left foot, so back at neutral
- Rest
- Right foot moves backwards, weight on right leg
- Lift left foot up slightly and down, then weight back on left foot
- Bring back right foot, so back at neutral
- Rest
Back Basic step
Same as Son step, but both feet go backwards
- Left foot moves backwards, weight on left leg
- Lift right foot up slightly and down, then weight back on right foot
- Bring back left foot, so back at neutral
- Rest
- Right foot moves backwards, weight on right leg
- Lift left foot up slightly and down, then weight back on left foot
- Bring back right foot so back at neutral
- Rest
Cucuracha step
This is a sideways step. Remember, as usual, to transfer weight from side to side, which aids lifting the foot (beat 2 and 6).
- Left foot moves to left, weight on left leg
- Lift right foot slightly and place back down, move weight to right leg
- Bring back left foot, so back at neutral
- Rest
- Right foot moves out to right, weight on right leg
- Lift left food slightly and place back down, move weight to left leg
- Bring back right food, so back at neutral
- Rest
Rumba Cross Step
Similar to the Cucuracha step, but the leg that’s just moved out moves in front of the other leg (cross) on its return. Eventually (e.g. 6 bars) the right leg returns to neutral instead of in front.
- Left foot moves to left, weight on left leg
- Lift right foot slightly and place back down, move weight to right leg
- Bring back left foot, crossing left foot in front of right
- Rest
- Right foot moves out to right, weight on right leg
- Lift left food slightly and place back down (back to original position), move weight to left leg
- Bring back right foot, crossing right foot in front of left
- Rest
Open Basic Step
Like Back Basic Step, but hips twist 90 degrees either side, while head remains facing partner. The leg going back is placed at 90 degrees, forming an “L” shape.
- Left foot moves backwards, twisting 90 degrees anti-clockwise, weight on left leg. The hips move 90 degrees to enable this, but the head remains facing forwards, to your partner
- Move weight to left leg, lift up slightly and down
- Bring back left foot, so back at neutral
- Rest
- Right foot moves backwards, twisting 90 degrees clockwise, weight on right leg. The hips move 90 degrees to enable this, but the head remains facing forwards, to your partner
- Move weight to right leg, lift up slightly and down
- Bring back right foot, so back at neutral
- Rest
Carlton has made a YouTube video of the absolute beginner’s syllabus –
men’s steps: https://youtu.be/-FTa-U8glx0
ladies’ steps: https://youtu.be/e6Axyeu_aHk
Here’s some Salsa music with counting in Spanish!
Glossary
| Son | Sound |
| Cucuracha | Cockroach |
Son rhythm (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hQVzKK-PRM&feature=youtu.be
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