Your Stories

The Salsa

Originating in Cuba, the Salsa has been described as a fusion of different Latin styles. Over the years it has transformed and there are several recognised styles. There is a style of music called Salsa, which is often danced to and has an eight beat bar. The steps are influenced by other Latin dances, like the Mambo and the Rumba.

For Jo's third class she went to the Cirencester Football Club where the cross body or New York style of Salsa is taught. This is more of an upright dance than the Cuban style and is more Americanised. Teachers Sinead and Dean hold classes for beginners and intermediates, which run at the same time – on different sides of the room.

The Salsa is a partner dance but there are solo steps that can be learnt too – in fact in this class beginners start off on their own.

Teacher Dean teaches Jo the Salsa

Teacher Sinead explains: "You start with the complete basic steps and not with a partner cos that's quite scary for some people…so we always start on our own."

A free dance

In this class the teachers get the students to focus on their footwork and make sure they have the right tension in their arms, but less emphasis on the posture and head positions than in ballroom dances.

The students can learn a few basic steps and then change the order they are performed in, creating a very different dance. One of the pupils in the intermediate class is Austin, who has been learning the dance with his wife for the last 18 months.

He explained how versatile the dance is: "Everything you learn is based on steps that you already know, but they're put together in a different format or a different style… linking into different moves, so every time we come here we learn a completely new sequence, obviously based on fundamentals that we all know."

Watching the Salsa class he commented: "There's a lot to remember on each one so your body's doing a lot of work and your brain's doing a lot of work as well. As there's a lot of action around the hip and the knee and the ankle, it's going to be strengthening all those areas as well, so any extra movement that you're gonna make is going to be good for you."

Jo does the Salsa

Once the classes had finished and the students had a go at their new moves, Jo was taught the four basic steps by teacher Dean. These are the Mambo step, the Rumba, which is a side step, a Cuban back step and an open step. Dean revealed that if you have trouble with the rhythm, as a beginner, it's ok to count as you dance!

He said: "There's no problem counting as you're going along, just keep doing your count while we teach you."

The other important thing Jo had to do was get the starting position right. There has to be tension in the arms so the gentleman can lead the lady. So Jo learnt to move backwards and forwards, to the side and do an open step – and focus on the feet, arms and hips.

For every dance Jo tries she gets a score from the instructors and also from Henry Tosh. This week saw a big improvement.

• Dean and Sinead's score for Jo: 8 points
• Henry's score: 9 points

You can see Jo's Salsa dance by clicking on the video link at the top of the page.

You can also hear Henry Tosh's commentary and the interviews from the evening:

And check out the photos from the class:

Next week - Jo does the Paso Doble.

Previous classes:

If you want any details of any of the classes featured in Durrant Dances call the CSV Action Desk on 01452 331133.