Library of Dance

Basics
» Basic

Spot Turns
» Spot Turn
     » Dishrag Sunburst
     » Chained Spot Turns
          » Chained Spot Turns, Arch Turn Free Spin
» Behind-the-Back Hand Change
     » Behind-the-Back Hand Change, Spot Turn
     » He Goes, She Goes
          » She Goes, He Goes, She Goes
» Double Spot Turn

Turns Down the Tracks
» Inside Turn
     » Double Inside Turn
     » Triple Inside Turn
» Outside Turn
     » Double Outside Turn
     » Dishrag Sunburst Down the Tracks
     » Double Dishrag Down the Tracks
» Braced R-to-R Outside Turn
     » Braced R-to-R Free Spin
     » Braced R-to-R Rollaway
     » Braced R-to-R Turn Combo
» Shoulder Catch
     » Shoulder Catch, Double Inside Turn

Cross-Body Leads
» Cross-Body Lead
     » Repeated Cross-Body Lead
     » Cross-Body Lead, Spot Turn
     » Cross-Body Lead, Crossover Break, Spot Turn
» Cross-Body Inside Turn
     » Goofy Hand Free Spin
     » Dishrag, Cross-Body Inside Turn
     » Cross-Body Dishrag, He Goes, She Goes
     » Double Cross-Body Inside Turn
» Cross-Body Lead to Cradle, Double Outside Turn
     » Yo Yo to Cradle with Deney Terrio Exit
» Cross-Body Lead, Texas Tommy

Lead's Arch Turn
» Arch Turn Side Pass
     » Arch Turn Free Spin
» Arch Turn to Cradle, Double Outside Turn
     » with High Low Exit
     » with Deney Terrio Exit

Two-Handed Figures
» Cradle Bounce
» Loop-de-Loops (Chained Inside Turns)
» Matador, Double Inside Turn

Crossed-Handed Figures
» Sombrero
» Crossed-Hand Matador
     » Crossed-Hand Matador, Cross-Body Lead
» L-over-R Cross-Body Inside Turn
     » L-over-R Cross-Body Inside Turn, Arch Turn Free Spin
» Sweetheart Bounce
     » Sweetheart (Back and Forth)
     » Sweetheart (Back and Forth) with Mixmaster Exit
     » Sweetheart, Windows, Mixmaster Combo
» Windows
     » Windows with Face Loop Exit
» Mixmaster
» Lead's Face Loop

Copas
» Cradle Copa
» Free Copa
     » Shoulder Catch, Free Spin
» Rainbow Copa
» Double Rainbow Copa
     » with Reverse Exit

WCS-Inspired Figures
» Whip
» Cradle Whip

Tango-Inspired Figures
» Ochos
     » Ochos (Follow's Solo)
     » Ochos (Counter Crossing)

Dips & Tricks
» Cross-Body Lead Dip
» Arch Turn Free Spin Dip
» Face-to-Face Side Dip
» Sombrero Neck Roll
     » Sombrero Neck Roll Dip
     » Sombrero Neck Roll Dip to Free Spin

Break Steps
» Side Breaks
» Fallaway Breaks
     » Crossover Break, Spot Turn to Fallaway Break

Shine Steps
» The Chase
» Spot Turn
» Reverse Spot Turn
» Cross on 3, Turn 5-6-7
» Cross on 5, Turn 6-7

Hand Styling
» Mirrored J-Stroke
» Parallel J-Stroke
» Circular Hands

Latin Waltz (a.k.a. Swaltza) in 3/4 Time
» Basic
» Demo
» Cross-Body Transition to Cross-Step Waltz

About the Dance

Salsa is a popular Latin dance with Cuban origins.

It evolved from the Cuban Mambo, which began spreading around the world in the early 1950s. In New York City, Mambo music and dancing cross-pollinated with jazz music and Swing dancing, evolving into Salsa music and dancing as we know it today. Today, there are many different styles of Salsa that are danced around the world.

Salsa can be danced "On1" or "On2," which means that the break steps happen on count 1 or count 2, respectively. On this page, you'll see us dancing "On1."

Salsa Music

Teaching Videos

For full instruction on many of these partnered Salsa variations, as well as others, see our full Salsa course at the University of Dance:

For full instruction in 50+ Salsa Shines, see our full Salsa Shines course at the University of Dance:

Salsa

Complete List of Demo Videos

About the Dance

Salsa Music

Teaching Videos