Mambo/Salsa
Salsa is danced by stepping on 3 consecutive beats of music and then pausing for 1 beat, then repeating. The timing
can be thought of as step, step, step, pause; step, step, step, pause or quick, quick, slow; quick, quick, slow. Each
quick takes one beat of music, each slow takes two beats of music. You can start the dance on any beat of the
measure you wish.
An essential character element of salsa is Cuban motion, especially the hip action, comes mainly from the alternate
bending and straightening of the knees. Like the basic for mambo, and for rumba, a full basic of the Salsa can be
thought of as having a forward basic, which takes 4 beats of music, and a backward basic, which takes four beats of
music. So, eight beats of music are required to complete one full basic. Each forward and backward basic can be
considered to contain the following three steps: a break step, a replace step, and a slow step usually taken to second
foot position. Most salsa dancers perform a touch step or tap step, not entailing a weight change on the second beat
of the two-beat “slow” step. In other words, the tap occurs during the “pause” beat. Thus, this tap step precedes the
break step.
Something that confuses the new dancer is that different counting styles can be used. 1) Salsa on one. 2) Ballroom
Mambo on two. In salsa on one, the break step occurs on count one, the first beat of the measure. The replace step
occurs on count 2 and the slow step occurs on counts 3 and 4. In Ballroom Mambo, the break step occurs on count 2,
the second beat of the measure. The replace step occurs on count 3 and the slow step occurs on counts 4 and 1.
MANS PART
Start with both of you feet together.
1.) Hold the Beat
2.) Step forward with your Left Foot
3.) Rock back onto your Right Foot
4 ) Step back with your Left Foot
5.) Hold the Beat
6.) Step back with the Right Foot
7.) Rock forward onto your Left Foot
8 ) Step forward with your Right Foot Repeat Step 1
LADIES PART
1.) Hold the Beat
2.) Step back with the Right Foot
3.) Rock forward onto your Left Foot
4 ) Step forward with your Right Foot/dd>
5.) Hold the Beat
6.) Step forward with the Left Foot
7.) Rock back onto your Right Foot
8 ) Step back with your Left Foot Repeat Step 1
TURNS USED IN SALSA AND MAMBO
Outside Turn (Underarm Turn) – similar to the "arch turn" in swing and many other dances, follower turns clockwise
Inside Turn – follower turns counterclockwise (to her left)
Spot Turn – either, or often both, partners turn 360° remaining in the same spot
Extension – partners break in opposing directions to build arm tension between them. Often leads into a spot turn or
an in-and-out.
In-and-Out (Copa) - From a cross-hand hold (left over right), leader creates an extension, then pulls the woman in with
the right hand while leading the left hand over her head to the other side of her, causing her to turn 180° to her left. The
follower is then pushed back out, and will do at least another half left turn to return her to facing the lead.
Cross Body Lead – follower is led to opposite side of lead, causing them to swap positions in a counter-clockwise
fashion. Exists in other Latin dances such as Cha-cha-cha.
Reverse Cross Body Lead – same as Cross Body Lead, but couple exchanges positions in a clockwise fashion.
Basket – A type of extension where the leader is behind the follower and holds the follower's arms wrapped around
her shoulders while she breaks forward and the leader breaks backward.
Windmill – A type of lead for a turn where rather than leading the turn from above the follower's head, the leader loops
the arm widely down and up, so that the movement appears more vertical than horizontal
can be thought of as step, step, step, pause; step, step, step, pause or quick, quick, slow; quick, quick, slow. Each
quick takes one beat of music, each slow takes two beats of music. You can start the dance on any beat of the
measure you wish.
An essential character element of salsa is Cuban motion, especially the hip action, comes mainly from the alternate
bending and straightening of the knees. Like the basic for mambo, and for rumba, a full basic of the Salsa can be
thought of as having a forward basic, which takes 4 beats of music, and a backward basic, which takes four beats of
music. So, eight beats of music are required to complete one full basic. Each forward and backward basic can be
considered to contain the following three steps: a break step, a replace step, and a slow step usually taken to second
foot position. Most salsa dancers perform a touch step or tap step, not entailing a weight change on the second beat
of the two-beat “slow” step. In other words, the tap occurs during the “pause” beat. Thus, this tap step precedes the
break step.
Something that confuses the new dancer is that different counting styles can be used. 1) Salsa on one. 2) Ballroom
Mambo on two. In salsa on one, the break step occurs on count one, the first beat of the measure. The replace step
occurs on count 2 and the slow step occurs on counts 3 and 4. In Ballroom Mambo, the break step occurs on count 2,
the second beat of the measure. The replace step occurs on count 3 and the slow step occurs on counts 4 and 1.
MANS PART
Start with both of you feet together.
1.) Hold the Beat
2.) Step forward with your Left Foot
3.) Rock back onto your Right Foot
4 ) Step back with your Left Foot
5.) Hold the Beat
6.) Step back with the Right Foot
7.) Rock forward onto your Left Foot
8 ) Step forward with your Right Foot Repeat Step 1
LADIES PART
1.) Hold the Beat
2.) Step back with the Right Foot
3.) Rock forward onto your Left Foot
4 ) Step forward with your Right Foot/dd>
5.) Hold the Beat
6.) Step forward with the Left Foot
7.) Rock back onto your Right Foot
8 ) Step back with your Left Foot Repeat Step 1
TURNS USED IN SALSA AND MAMBO
Outside Turn (Underarm Turn) – similar to the "arch turn" in swing and many other dances, follower turns clockwise
Inside Turn – follower turns counterclockwise (to her left)
Spot Turn – either, or often both, partners turn 360° remaining in the same spot
Extension – partners break in opposing directions to build arm tension between them. Often leads into a spot turn or
an in-and-out.
In-and-Out (Copa) - From a cross-hand hold (left over right), leader creates an extension, then pulls the woman in with
the right hand while leading the left hand over her head to the other side of her, causing her to turn 180° to her left. The
follower is then pushed back out, and will do at least another half left turn to return her to facing the lead.
Cross Body Lead – follower is led to opposite side of lead, causing them to swap positions in a counter-clockwise
fashion. Exists in other Latin dances such as Cha-cha-cha.
Reverse Cross Body Lead – same as Cross Body Lead, but couple exchanges positions in a clockwise fashion.
Basket – A type of extension where the leader is behind the follower and holds the follower's arms wrapped around
her shoulders while she breaks forward and the leader breaks backward.
Windmill – A type of lead for a turn where rather than leading the turn from above the follower's head, the leader loops
the arm widely down and up, so that the movement appears more vertical than horizontal