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The first steps of learning salsa in San Francisco

Can I learn salsa on my own?

Learning salsa on your own is quite possible. Now you can find tons of videos online dedicated to teaching you the basic steps of salsa. You can learn by watching and imitating what the person on the video is doing. However, the problem with learning on your own is that videos cannot address specific issues you may encounter, whether it is at a beginners stage or at a more advanced stage, you will encounter issues that are specific to you. These cannot be solved by the video, but instead you will require the help of an instructor or guide.

This is why learning with an instructor, whether it is a one-on-one lesson or a group setting, is so important. The instructor will assess your difficulties and will tailor for you a solution. Some people may have bad coordination, others may not be able to count the beat, others may just have bad rhythm. All these issues can be solved, but in order to do so you will need guidance from someone who knows how to deal with them. So, in short, the answer is yes, you can learn salsa on your own, but it would be preferable to have a lesson tailored to your needs.

What is the best way to learn salsa?

The best way to learn salsa is with an instructor. Further, it might be a good idea to dance with other people. Dancing is a social experience and dancing with other people, although not strictly necessary in your learning, is the fun part of learning salsa. The benefit of learning with a teacher is that the teacher can ask you questions to narrow down your goals and narrow down your challenges.

You might just want to learn salsa, but what is the idea you have of yourself learning salsa: is it dancing in a salsa club, or is it just for having fun at home with your spouse? Would you like to learn as much as you can, be determined to become a professional, or are you just interested in the basic steps? These questions narrow down our goals and make them specific. Then your instructor has a more concrete idea of your dreams and therefore can construct a better path for you to get them. Communication, thus, is highly important. That might be the fastest and more concrete way to learn salsa, and one can consider it the best since each student will have different wishes and different issues, and this method addresses directly that which makes your experience unique.

Which foot goes first in salsa?

The first step of salsa dancing is either a left foot forward for men or a right foot backward for women. This is the basic, first step of salsa for men and women, but this may vary depending on the style or the region. For women, after their first step follows a replace or break with the left and a step forward with the right, then move forward left, replace or break with the right and step backward with the left. For men, after their first step follows a replace or break with the right and a step backward with the left, then the right leg moves back, replace or break with the left and step forward with the right. The woman always steps backward on the count of one, and the man always steps forward on the count of one, mirroring each other.

Learning these steps might be easy, but you are better off learning with a private instructor who can guide you through the changes, the coordination and the rhythm. If you are looking  for a salsa teacher in San Francisco, visit Superprof and find a wide catalog of teachers. Each ad on the platform tells you exactly about the teacher’s background, mode of teaching (online, in person, at the student’s house, at their studio, etc) and their price. Once you have made the choice of teacher, you can contact them through the website and plan your first salsa lesson!