| When you learn to dance Cuban salsa, you will be | | | | the dance floor and towards each other all throughout |
| having the time of your life. Cuban salsa is also | | | | the music. The footwork in this dance consists of |
| referred as casino salsa. The name casino may sound | | | | stepping in quick-quick-slow-pause pattern. Pause is |
| misleading but the dance has nothing to do with | | | | done every four beats. |
| gambling actually. | | | | Cuban Salsa Steps |
| Casino salsa pertains to a social dance in Salsa that | | | | Beginning steps on beat one consist of the man taking |
| was created in Cuba in 1950s. The salsa dance was | | | | "break back" or stepping backwards with his left foot |
| first presented in casinos or large halls at that time. It | | | | and the woman "break forward" or moving forward |
| reached the United States via the Cubans based in | | | | with right foot. |
| Miami. | | | | During the second beat, the body changes direction. |
| The timing of Cuban salsa dance is similar to that of | | | | Transfer the weight from the moving foot to the |
| New York and Los Angeles. The lead and follow often | | | | resting foot. This means the man shifts weight from |
| stay really close so they can do a lot of turns together. | | | | left foot to right foot. The woman shifts her weight |
| This salsa is good for a crowded dance floor. | | | | from right to left foot. It will look like you are walking in |
| Casino is a good dance for beginners. It allows you to | | | | your place and the emphasis of the movement is in |
| learn all the basic steps of salsa and learn rhythm. | | | | the hips. |
| Other Salsa styles will become easier to learn if you | | | | The feet are back together on beat 3. This step is |
| know Cuban salsa. | | | | slower compared to the actions in beats one and two. |
| Cuban salsa has a number of complicated | | | | When you bring your feet back together, you do a |
| movements of the arms. It is characterized by fast | | | | swaying motion using your hips. Again, hip movement is |
| body motions. As you learn to dance this type of | | | | emphasized in this beat. |
| salsa, you might get intimidated by its difficult and fast | | | | On the fourth beat, both partners take a pause. This |
| moves. However, this salsa is just made up of few | | | | action will allow you to catch up with your partner if |
| fundamental dance steps. If you practice the steps | | | | any of you misses a step. |
| and commit them to memory, there is no reason why | | | | In beats five to seven, you repeat the steps but going |
| you cannot master the art of Cuban salsa. You will be | | | | in the opposite direction this time. The man breaks |
| doing a number of wild and pretzel like turns in no time. | | | | forward with the right foot and the woman breaks |
| The Cuban step referred to as Guapea, the lead | | | | back using her left foot. Again, pause on the beat eight. |
| moves backward on counts one, two and three called | | | | Beats one to eight comprises the basic Cuban salsa |
| 'backward basic'. Then do forward steps on counts | | | | steps. |
| five, six and seven also called 'forward basic'. | | | | In Cuban salsa, hip movement is made more |
| Man Takes Lead | | | | pronounced. The slightest movements should include |
| Cuban salsa is about male dominance on the dance | | | | the hips. You can do this by bending and straightening |
| floor. This is why the man is the leader all the time. | | | | the knees alternately. |
| Circling Technique | | | | The lead must have a firm grasp of his partner. The |
| In this dance, you assume that there is an invisible axis | | | | follow should relax and let the lead direct her to |
| between you and your partner. You circle the axis | | | | various twists and turns. These steps will help you |
| incessantly. This is the circling technique that defines a | | | | learn to dance Cuban salsa. |
| Cuban salsa. This is why partners continuously move in | | | | |
