Free latin salsa dance instruction videos that teach you moves to use at the latin dance nightclub. With dancing articles, dance news, dance podcasts, salsa dance videos and forums - we try to help you become the best salsa and latin dancer you can be (as soon as possible).
Most articles, forums, and videos emphasize these two ways to learn: in class and at the club. Yet there is so much more that you can do on your own to become a better dancer- no floor or partner necessary. Here are 5 tips to help you learn Salsa on your own, which will help you improve at a MUCH faster rate.
1. MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE MIRROR- Practice body rolls against a wall or mirror, focusing on ‘peeling yourself off of the wall’. For a downward roll, start with your head and follow with your chest, stomach, hips, and knees. For an upward roll, come back up with your knees, hips, stomach, chest and finally head. This will give you the muscle memory, and muscles in general, to do great body rolls while dancing.
I do not think I ever posted this old music video that was debuted at the San Francisco Salsa Congress a few years back. It is basically a mixture of ’salsa’ (note the quotation marks), and what is called ‘Hindi Pop‘. It is from an artist named Giju, whose music video features a few famous dancers from the Bay Area and San Diego.
My Hindi is a bit rusty (joking), therefore I will leave it up to our fellow visitors from India who love and enjoy salsa to tell us what this song is about. Interesting to see how salsa music becomes fused with other styles. I wonder what salsa dancer or artist will be the first to fuse Bhangra with salsa. Maybe create the first Bollywood/Salsa routine - if they haven’t already.
For those who cannot make it to the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress this year, they have added a new feature. They are currently broadcasting a live stream of the dance performances on their website. So while you couldn’t make it, you can still watch most of the action over the internet.
Now, going to the site - I noticed it is having some issues streaming the video live. I hope someone else has better luck, however, this is a good start to showcasing salsa congress events around the world.
I know that most of the ladies, after dancing for several months in not-so-comfortable dance shoes, feel they need to rejuvenate their feet to get rid of tough skin and callouses. I’ve never had a pedicure, but this seems to be the ‘hottest’ new trend in the US. John Ho, from Virginia, said he was trying to find something unique for his customers that would replace the use of razors to scrape off dead skin. It seems that “razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they’re sanitary.” Well, I’m glad he didn’t think of using piranhas. For $35 bucks, I’m not sure this would actually work - this deal smells kind of fishy to me. (bad pun intended)
ANNOUNCEMENT! We have just been informed by Juan Carlos Hernandez, one of the best NY on2 style dancers in San Diego and co-director of Majesty in Motion, that he will be providing a FOUR HOUR Salsa Dance Workshop on1 for beginner and intermediate dancers. This event will take place in San Diego, CA- so if you live close to the area, don’t miss this event!
Juan and Erica’s salsa dance workshop is a 4-hour course for all levels of dance experience. This workshop will introduce some of their tips and techniques for how to dance the basics, how to incorporate men and ladies styling on the dance floor, how to add variety to a cross-body lead, and how to smoothly execute more advanced patterns. Juan and Erica became dance partners in 2006. Since then, they have taught and/or performed at various venues, in cities such as: Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, Santa Fe, and San Francisco.
This year, Juan and Erica have plans to perform their latest routine and teach workshops at salsa congresses in El Paso, Greece, and San Diego.
Since we have started a new routine based on Tito Puete’s Cuban Nightmare song, I decided to post a few videos of the late Tito Puente showcasing some of his live performances with his orchestra. It goes without saying he makes Puerto Rico extremely proud.
This is from a tribute show to Hernandez that El Banco Popular sponsored in 1965. Tito Puente (in the back) is playing the famous “El Cumbanchero” song.
Here is the famous Sheila with Tito.
A personal favorite (for loving cha-cha). Here he is with his band at a Club in New York City with a very chill cha-cha song (guajira).
And a fun favorite, Tito Puente on Sesame Street. Who thought Muppets couldn’t dance?
It was Ladies Night in Los Angeles last weekend, and the feeling was definitely right! There were lots of talented dancers who entered the contest for Top Female Dancer at Steven’s Steakhouse, here I give you a video with highlights of each of the finalists.
There are full videos posted on YouTube of each contestant, which I highly recommend. It is a real treat to get to see an individual competition, and especially a female dancer competition. Not only can we ladies learn from their footwork and styling, but it is a great inspiration to see them as individual dancers.
When we are learning to dance, whether as a beginner or more advanced learning a new move, it is nice to have simpler songs to dance to. For me, it is easier to dance to songs with marked percussion, and that are slightly slower. It is a great exercise even for the most advance to practice to really slow songs to ensure that you can master every movement. Here is a list of some of my favorite songs to practice to, that are also fun songs (we love our counting songs, but sometimes you just need real music :-) Enjoy!
1. Joey Pastrana- Rumbón Melón
2. Chivirico Dávila- Rico Guaguanco
3. Frankie Morales- Nieve con Sal
4. Gilberto Santa Rosa- Perdoname
5. Joe Arroyo- Yamulemau
For those who missed it or have never watched the show America’s Got Talent, the 3rd place Salsa World Champions in the on2 division, Junior and Emily from San Diego, performed their routine on the TV show. They received outstanding reviews from the judges and the audience. Here at Addicted2Salsa we wish them the best of luck on winning the one million dollars. Hopefully they’ll win it as fast as Emily spins because the strength of the dollar is dwindling.
A lot of us from San Diego will be attending the 2008 Las Vegas Salsa Congress. It should be a very fun weekend with some good performances (even if it is only two days). If you are from Las Vegas and have never attended a salsa congress, I highly encourage you to attend and support your salsa venues. Las Vegas used to be the home of the World Salsa Championships hosted by ESPN, before it was moved to Orlando. If you decide to attend, stop by and say hi to some of our famous San Diego salsa scene dancers- the Majesty Ladies, Majesty in Motion Pro Team, Positive Energy, and Juan and Susie. I’m sure Las Vegas salseros can party harder in Sin City than in Los Angeles!
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