By Kenli Schoolland | Where Can I Dance

The first stage in learning salsa is always the hardest. You’re struggling to focus on both stepping with the beat and moving your arms at the same time. Meanwhile, you either feel like an ironing board with legs or an overcooked noodle.

It’s rough, I know. 

I first learned to dance salsa in Chile, when I didn’t speak a word of Spanish. So on top of all that natural beginner’s awkwardness, I spent most of my time at the start turning the wrong way or staring blankly at the teachers.

So now, if you’re anything like I was and are eager to get better, fast, here are seven things you should start doing right away.

1. Learn to laugh at yourself

Many people refuse to even try a dance class because they’re worried about being too awkward and making a fool of themselves. Ironically, that’s what will keep them being awkward for the rest of their lives. 

Yes, when you start to learn a new dance, you are going to be awkward. And that’s OK! Embrace it. 

The more quickly you learn to laugh at yourself and your mistakes the more quickly you’ll be able to relax enough to actually learn.

The best thing you can do is to take a note from Taylor Swift and just “shake it off.” 

And in class, don’t be shy and don’t beat yourself up. Look your partners in the eye… and SMILE! They’re probably feeling just as uncomfortable as you.

2. Practice by yourself

I know. Nobody likes homework. And while I can’t vouch for the value of all those high school trigonometry assignments, I can say that with dance at-home practice is potentially more important than the class. 

After all, dance is all about learning and understanding your body. And that’s pretty hard to do when you’re busy trying to follow the teacher’s steps, make polite small talk with your dance partner, and not look like a fool in front of the whole class — all at the same time.

Dancing by yourself is when you can actually internalize what you’ve learned. You allow yourself to feel comfortable trying and messing up. And you can begin to add your own flair to the moves. 

And yes, feel free to dance in your underwear. I mean, why not?

3. Film yourself… and watch it

For me, this is the hardest task on the list. Not the filming part. But the watching it after. Most of the time I can’t bring myself to do it. It’s just a straight-up cringe-fest.

In my mind, I looked fabulous doing those moves… and when watching myself it can be pretty painful to face the reality. 

Nonetheless, this is one of the best things you can do if you want to improve. All the professionals do it. Professional speech coaches make you do it. Models do it. Actors do it. Athletes do it.

If you really want to fix your mistakes and get better, you have to see what you’re doing wrong first.

4. Get your attitude on

More than moves, dancing is all about attitude. While ballroom attitude may be different than hip-hop attitude, across all genres there’s one common theme: confidence.

Don’t fret if you’re not oozing confidence at all times. It’s something you can work on. 

And the first step is to sit down, stare at yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself you’re hot!

Spend a little time being vain. Try to seduce the mirror. Pull up your posture, practice some different dance faces, and tell yourself you’re a star.

Again, at the start, you are going to feel awkward. But hey, you gotta fake it ‘til you make it!

5. Watch dance videos

Dancers watch videos of other dancers ALL THE TIME.

It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or if you’re a world champion dancer. One of the best things you can do is to watch dance videos.

This will help you learn more moves beyond those of your local teacher. It’ll give you inspiration for your shows, for the dance floor, and in your dance goals.

And if you want to get even more out of watching videos, aim to imitate and learn the moves that interest you. 

I know many professional dancers who will download and crop videos to remember and practice certain moves they like. I know others who will learn entire choreographies from videos as practice. Whatever works for you.

Imitate your favorite artists enough and soon you’ll be dancing just like them!

6. Listen to the music ALL the time

One of the quickest ways to look like a pro on the dance floor is to really know the music. 

That way you move and adapt to the songs and you can respond to the musical breaks. After all, for a guy, nothing looks more pro than knowing to dip your partner RIGHT with the final note.

To get to that level, you have got to listen to the music all the time. 

Listen while you’re cooking, listen while you’re on your way to work, listen while you’re at the gym. 

And dance along! No matter where you are! Feel the music and improvise along with it. 

It’s almost like hypnosis. Do it enough and your body will start anticipating the music even when you’re not thinking about it.

7. Go social dancing

Learning a new move in a class is great, but it’s not a real test of your abilities. 

Your partner was just shown the same moves… so even if you lead or follow horribly you’ll still come out looking alright.

Thus, to truly learn and improve there is nothing that compares to social dancing.

Make sure to go out to your local Latin dance club at least once a week. Heck, go as many times a week as you can! After all, you’re not partying… you’re training!

When you go out, be sure to dance with as many people as possible! And suck up the courage to ask people who are better than you to dance as well.

This will help you to properly lead or follow, to really feel the music, and to begin to improvise— all of the key elements to being a good dancer.

Bonus: Dress up!

One of the things that helped me most in moving past being a beginner dancer was the realization that dancing is essentially acting. 

While I may not be the most sensual and confident person in everyday life… I can be on the dance floor. And I have to if I want to look like the pros.

Since it’s not who I am 24/7, it’s a switch I have to turn on when I step onto the dance floor. LIke an actor, I have to get into character. 

And just as an actor will dress up or use props, for me, the shoes I wear make all the difference. Once I put my dance heels on, I transform. 

It’s just hard to feel elegant and sensual in sneakers. Whatever your trigger is, find it and use it to help you embody the dancer you aim to be.

Conclusion

Learning to dance salsa may be hard at the outset. But with these seven tricks you should find yourself improving very quickly. 

Sure, it takes a lot of practice, but when that practice means dancing the night away in a club… well, you can’t really complain, can you?