1. Keep Things Simple
From the basic salsa step, all other salsa steps derive and flourish. Learn the basics and do common salsa turns until the steps and turns become second nature. Then when you move on to more advanced steps and turns, it will be easier to learn them. Do common salsa turns starting with basic or level one turns. Beginning with the basic step, count one, two, three and then on the five, six, seven count, a female partner turns and goes underneath the arm to the right or left for a simple underarm turn. A man's underarm turn is different because he turns on the one, two, three count instead to the right. The closed and open position cross body lead is also a basic or level one turn. Partners turn together on the five, six, seven count. Begin to make the basic step more interesting as you move around on the dance floor together to the rhythm of Latin music.
2. Spice It Up
For intermediate turns, do common salsa turns that are level two, such as underarm turns with head loop or to the right (handshake), back spot turns and more advanced cross body leads. Spot turns are a little harder to master than basic turns. In a back spot turn, dancers continue with their footwork while spinning around as a unit. The idea is to try for a 360-degree turn, but even a half turn adds flare to the routine. Some intermediate dancers try for three quarters of a full turn until they feel comfortable enough with a 360-degree turn after they first do common salsa turns well. Level three salsa turns include even more advanced turns, such as the man's underarm turn to the right to a shadow side break step.
3. Seductive Salsa
What makes salsa hot is all of the combined sexy moves and the perceived chemistry between partners. Adding in all kinds of turns into a salsa routine keeps the dance interesting and surprising for dancers as well as an audience. Remember that men can do common salsa turns too. It's unexpected for the man or leader to do common salsa turns as much as the women or follower. It can get really exciting, though, if the man mixes in a variety of advanced turns, and the woman and man interlace various turns throughout the routine through smart choreography while acting out the playful tease and tension between them.
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