LEARNING TO DANCE SALSA — Many dancers often ask for opinions and suggestions on how they should learn to dance salsa and what method would give them better and faster results. The question often rotates between the options of Salsa Bootcamps, Club or Studio Dance Lessons, Private Lessons, or straight Instructional DVDs. 

Learning to dance Salsa can be difficult, especially for individuals who have no natural rhythm and/or have difficulty telling apart beats in music and/or different songs. That, in itself, will be a defining factor in how fast and how well a person learns how to dance. So, the first step I always tell people to take is to simply be honest with themselves in how rhythmic they are with music. 

If you are a very rhythmic person, even during your first lesson, when the instructor goes "left, right, left ... right, left, right" you will step just as the instructor is asking you to step, which is simply "left, right, left ... right, left, right." For non-rhythmic people, such requests from an instructor can often result in "left, right, left ... right, right, left, right, left, left, step on your partner, trip, and fall..."  Point being, it can get frustrating!

So, going back to the initial question of what is better, let's look at them individually after taking into consideration how rhythmic you are or you are not:

SALSA BOOTCAMPS — Buy Salsa Bootcamp DVDs Going to a 4, 6, or 8-hour salsa bootcamp lesson on a particular weekend can be extremely beneficial to all individuals, rhythmic or non-rhythmic. But it all depends on who the instructor for that day is. Instructors will define the growth of any dancer and if you get a great instructor, your initial experience will be great, but if you get a bad instructor, you might end up blaming yourself for not being able to dance and might quit salsa altogether. 

Cost Level: Can be pricey. 

CLUB OR DANCE STUDIO LESSONS — These lessons are often 1 or 2 hours in length and can be a little too speedy for dancers who struggle with the Latin beat and with being rhythmic. Once again, the instructor will determine how the experience is perceived by those in the lesson. The advantage of learning at a Club vs. a Dance Studio is that, usually, after the lesson you will have an opportunity to practice what you just learned on the dance floor, with anyone who might give you a chance! That can be really exciting and practice is in actuality the ONLY way to really learn. 

Cost Level: Very affordable. Learn in class AND learn after class by actually dancing in real life! 

PRIVATE LESSONS: Salsa can be challenging and embarrassing to certain individuals, and learning in a private setting can be ideal to feel great comfort and learn efficiently with 100% of an instructor's attention placed on ONLY YOU. This beats group lessons by far where maybe, if you need special guidance, you might only get a maximum of 5% of the instructor's time in helping you to truly understand a move and how your body should carry it out. Private lessons, once again, depend on who you get to teach you, as some instructors simply don't know how to teach, even if they are good dancers. Having knowledge does not make anyone exceptional in passing that knowledge along. 

Cost Level: Can seem pricey and be pricey, indeed, but in the long-run with 100% attention placed on YOU only, it can be very worthwhile. Beware of which instructor you choose to teach you! Do not set yourself up to 10 lessons before taking 1 lesson with that instructor... If an instructor is trying to sell you a package without ever giving you 1 lesson, he/she might just be wanting to squeeze as much cash as possible out of you since they might know that their students never come back. Why? Maybe nobody is learning from them! Some instructors truly feel that if they actually teach you to dance, their bread and butter will be gone. Beware of sharks and wolves! 

INSTRUCTIONAL DVDs: 

Buy Salsa Bootcamp DVDs | SalsaCrazy DVDs | Salsa Brava DVDs 

 Salsa dancing can be lots of fun if you have a partner at home who you can learn with while watching a DVD that is actually good. I find that Salsa Brava's DVDs are very good for learning and in fact, Salsa Brava in the 90s and 2000s was responsible for teaching most of the people who ended up being instructors in Los Angeles. They were really good! There are other options, however, and you should read reviews, listen to advice, and go with what you feel it's best for you. If you are a beginner, stay away from DVDs that promote "combos" as you might just get confused. Stick to rhythm, basic moves, beginner levels, etc. 

Cost Level: Depends on what DVD you pick. Very affordable! Something you will get and keep forever and can use over and over again at a set cost. Say no to piracy! =)

If you have any questions still remaining, please feel free to ask at salsahook@gmail.com

We will be very happy to see you dancing and enjoying the joy of Salsa quickly! Private lessons or anything you'd like, we can give you advice.