Taking Salsa Dancing to the Next Level

Salsa is a life changing experience," exclaimed John Narvaez of John and Liz Productions; a premier San Francisco Bay area Salsa production and dance development organization. Having danced since the early 1990's, John and his partner Liz Rojas are world Salsa champions and are committed to training others in this exciting sport.

According to John, the benefits of Salsa dancing are endless, and include such things as freedom of expression, a stress free environment, and meeting new people. The origin of Salsa can be traced back to Afro-Cuban Son dance, and was traditionally passed down from generation to generation with some receiving their training in the comforts of their own living room or kitchen. Therefore, dance styles differ somewhat in each town.

The Salsa craze has exploded worldwide. And it is no wonder. With its lively steps and upbeat music which often reaches between 160 and 220 BPM, who wouldn't want to join in on the fun.

So what is Salsa?

Basic Salsa is 3 steps to 4 counts of music. Leads are given by tugs or pushes known as "claves," which indicate to the follower when to turn, hesitate, etc. The basic footwork for the leader is as follows.

Hold the first beat.

Step forward on the left.

Rock back on the right.

Step back with the left.

Hold

Step back with the right

rock forward on the left

step forward with the right.

Finding a Salsa dance is rather easy. Many dance studios offer it, and a quick search on the internet will show that there are Salsa meet-ups in many cities. Some groups across the United States have held Salsa dances in order to help charitable causes. One such dance helped an organization that supported children and adults with leukemia and other diseases that are treated with bone marrow transplants, while another Salsa group encouraged dancers to clean out their closets and bring items and clothing that could be donated to the homeless. With a dedicated group of dancers, the possibilities are endless. "Ask as many people as you can about Salsa, and they all would say the most positive things about the dance and community." John said.

When attending a Salsa dance, expect to have a lot of fun and to...perspire a lot. That's right, I said perspire. When experiencing all the fun and excitement that goes along with the dance, It doesn't take long to work up a heavy sweat, and no one likes to touch a sweat drenched shirt. In fact it is often recommended that dancers bring an extra shirt along that they can change into so that they do not offend their partners.

With all the exciting turns and movement associated with Salsa, it is important for the lady to remember not to hold to tightly to the gentleman's hand, as this will prevent him from being able to properly turn her. You will want your turns to flow smoothly so that you can add your own personal flair and styling with ease.

Thinking about taking your Salsa dancing to the next level? Meet the World Salsa Federation. Legally formed in August 2001, WSF is the recognized World Governing Body for Salsa Competition. With it's World Headquarters in Miami, Florida, it was established to promote dance as an art and sport as well as to develop world class caliber artists and dance sport athletes. In fact, the 10th Annual Salsa World Championships and 1st Annual Salsa Congress were held in February 2013 in Cartagena, Columbia. DanceSport fans will be thrilled to hear that The World Games will take place this year in Pascual Guerrero Stadium in Cali, Columbia July 25-Aug4. For the first time at Nationals, a Salsa couple will be chosen to represent us at the games. For more information about WSF, visit http://www.WorldSalsaFederation.com.

"Have fun!!!" John said when asked for the most important thing to remember when dancing in a Salsa competition. "Get well prepared and never forget why you do it in the first place."

For more information on John and Liz Productions, visit Johnandlizproductions.com.