S a l s a

This is a four-week lesson plan consisting of 1-1/2 hour lessons each week. The lesson plan allows for new students to start by the second week, but not after. Rhythm exercises will only be done for weeks 1 & 2.

Week 1:
Rhythm Exercises
+ Absolute Patterns: Salsa - Side Basic, 5th Position Basic
+ Absolute Patterns: Mambo - Front Basic, Side Basic, Breakaway Basic, Chase & Follow

Week 2:
Review week 1 + New Partner Patterns
Closed Basic
Crossover Breaks
Crossover Breaks with Turn-Out
F: Forward Turn from Closed Basic
Combinations:

Week 3:
Review week 1 & 2 + New Partner Patterns
5th Position Basic
5th Position Basic with F: Outside Turn
5th Position Basic with L: Outside Turn
5th Positition Basic with L & F: Outside Turns
Combinations:

Week 4:
Review week 1, 2 & 3 + New Partner Patterns
Breakaway Basic into F: Forward Turn
Breakaway Basic into Pull-In and Push-Out
F: Forward Turn with Hand Change into Sweetheart
Cross Body Lead
Cross Body Lead with F: Outside Turn
Combinations:


HELP

DEFINITIONS:

Absolute Patterns (Individual Patterns) are done without a partner
Adjusted Patterns (Partner Patterns) are done with a partner
L: = Leader
F: = Follower

DEMONSTRATE PRIMARY RHYTHM UNITS

Blank, Single, Delayed Single, Double, Triple

Table of Contents

Practicing "with a partner" (Adjusted Patterns)



Introduction

 

 



Single Rhythm

HELP

Rhythm Cards: Single Rhythm, Single Rhythm

E X E R C I S E - Side Tog (touch), Side Tog (touch)

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Counts 2 and 4 are a touch with the Free Foot next to the weighted foot.

Count:      1     2    3     4	
           [X     /]  [X     /]
L:Foot      L          R     
F:Foot      R          L     
Dir         s     T    s     T
F-Pos       2     1    2     1

Verbal:
[Side Tog] [Side Tog] or
[Slow] [Slow]

IMPORTANT POINTS

Lift unweighted foot off the floor prior to stepping
Take small steps


Double Rhythm

HELP

Rhythm Card: Double Rhythm

This is where the Rock Step will be introduced - similar to a Ball Change.


E X E R C I S E - Step in Place

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

INTRODUCE: Cuban Motion

Cuban Motion comes from flexing & straightening the knees and digging the free foot into the floor to execute the next step. The dig starts with the ball of the foot and goes to flat with the CPB centered over the ball of the foot. The heel may come down onto the floor, but the full body weight is centered over the ball of the foot.

To get started, on count 1 all weight over the Lt Foot, with left hip projecting to the Lt. On count 2 dig Rt Foot into floor transfering weight to Rt Foot as Rt hip starts moving Rt and ends up projecting to the Rt as full weight is transferred to Rt Foot. Moving back to count 1 again, dig Lt Foot into floor transfering weight to Lt Foot as Lt hip starts moving Lt and ends up projecting to the Lt as full weight is transferred to the Lt Foot.

PATTERN

Execute Rhythm Pattern very slowly using Cuban Motion

Count:      1     2

           [X     X] 
L&F:Foot    L     R  ... Also do exercise again starting with Rt Foot Free instead of Lt  
Dir         T     T
F-Pos       1     1

Verbal:
[1 2] or
[March March] or
[Step Twice] or
[Quick Quick]


E X E R C I S E - Rock Side

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Count:      1     2
           [X     X]
L&F:Foot    L     R  ... Also do exercise again starting with Rt Foot Free instead of Lt Foot
Dir         s     P
F-Pos       2     2

Verbal:
[Rock Step] [Rock Step] or
[Quick Quick]


E X E R C I S E - Rock Forward

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Count:      1     2	
           [X     X]
L&F:Foot    L     R
Dir         f     P
F-Pos       4     4

Verbal:
[Rock Step] [Rock Step] or
[Quick Quick]


E X E R C I S E - Rock Back

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Count:      1     2	
           [X     X]
L&F:Foot    R     L
Dir         b     P
F-Pos       4     4

Verbal:
[Rock Step] [Rock Step] or
[Quick Quick]

IMPORTANT POINTS

Lift unweighted foot off the floor prior to stepping
Take small steps


Salsa Step Patterns

HELP

Rhythm Cards: Double, Single, Double, Single


E X E R C I S E - Salsa Side Basic

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Count:      1     2    3     4	  5     6    7     8
           [X     X]  [X     /]  [X     X]  [X     /]
L:Foot      L     R    L          R     L    R      
L:Dir       s     T    s     T    S     T    s     T
L:F-Pos     2     1    2     1    2     1    2     1




F:Foot      R     L    R          L     R    L              
F:Dir       s     T    s     T    s     T    s     T
F:F-Pos     2     1    2     1    2     1    2     1

Verbal:
[Side Tog] [Side Touch] [Side Tog] [Side Touch] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]

IMPORTANT POINTS

Take small steps
Use Cuban Motion

E X E R C I S E - Salsa 5th Position Break Basic

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Please note that the Touch has been removed and replaced by a Hold. The Touch is not really necessary, but it gets the students accustomed to the concept of a Slow.

Count:      1     2    3     4	  5     6    7     8
           [X     X]  [X     /]  [X     X]  [X     /]
L:Foot      L     R    L          R     L    R      

L:Dir       b     P    s          b     P    s     
L:F-Pos     5     5    2          5     5    2     




F:Foot      R     L    R          L     R    L              
F:Dir       b     P    s          b     P    s     
F:F-Pos     5     5    2          5     5    2     

Verbal:
[Bk Pl] [Side Hold] [Bk Pl] [Side Hold] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]

IMPORTANT POINTS

Take small steps
Use Cuban Motion
 

Mambo Step Patterns


E X E R C I S E - Front Basic

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Count:      1     2    3     4	  5     6    7     8
           [X     X]  [X     /]  [X     X]  [X     /]
L:Foot      L     R    L          R     L    R      
L:Dir       f     P    s          b     P    s     
L:F-Pos     4     4    2          4     4    2     




F:Foot      R     L    R          L     R    L              
F:Dir       b     P    s          f     P    s     
F:F-Pos     4     4    2          4     4    2     

Verbal:
Leader: [Fwd Back] [Side] [Bk Fwd] [Side]
Follower: [Bk Fwd] [Side] {Fwd Bk] [Side] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]

IMPORTANT POINTS

Take small steps
Use Cuban Motion

E X E R C I S E - Side Basic

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Count:      1     2    3     4	  5     6    7     8
           [X     X]  [X     /]  [X     X]  [X     /]
L:Foot      L     R    L          R     L    R      
L:Dir       s     P    T          S     P    T     
L:F-Pos     2     2    1          2     2    1     




F:Foot      R     L    R          L     R    L              
F:Dir       s     P    T          s     P    T     
F:F-Pos     2     2    1          2     2    1     

Verbal:
[Side Place] [Tog] [Side Place] [Tog] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]

IMPORTANT POINTS

Take small steps
Use Cuban Motion

E X E R C I S E - Breakaway Basic

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Count:      1     2    3     4	  5     6    7     8
           [X     X]  [X     /]  [X     X]  [X     /]
L:Foot      L     R    L          R     L    R      
L:Dir       b     P    s          b     P    s     
L:F-Pos     4     4    2          4     4    2     




F:Foot      R     L    R          L     R    L              
F:Dir       b     P    s          b     P    s     
F:F-Pos     4     4    2          4     4    2     

Verbal:
Leader: [Bk Fwd] [Side] [Bk Fwd] [Side]
Follower: {Bk Fwd] [Side] {Bk Fwd] [Side] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]

IMPORTANT POINTS

Take small steps
Use Cuban Motion

E X E R C I S E - Forward Break Turns - Chase & Follow (1/2 Turns)

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Count:      1     2    3     4	  5     6    7     8
           [X     X]  [X     /]  [X     X]  [X     /]
L:Foot      L     R    L          R     L    R      
L:Dir       F     F    T          F     F    T     
L:F-Pos     4     4    1          4     4    1
L:Turn      .1/2Rt>               .1/2Rt>




F:Foot      R     L    R          L     R    L              
F:Dir       B     P    T          F     F    T     
F:F-Pos     4     4    1          4     4    1
F:Turn                            .1/2Rt>       ... F: another 1/2 Rt on next 1 2     

Verbal:
Leader: [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog]
Follower: [Bk Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] then [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]

IMPORTANT POINTS

Take small steps
Use Cuban Motion

E X E R C I S E - Forward Rt Turn - Full Turn (CW)

This step pattern starts with a Forward Break Turn (1/2 Rt Turn) on counts [1 2] followed by another 1/2 Rt Turn on counts [3 4] to complete the full turn. The turn is lead after count 2 with the Leader lifting the Lt Hand strait up and leading the turn by pulling in with the Rt Hand on the Follower's shoulder blade.

SETUP: Feet Together (1st Foot Position)

PATTERN

Count:      1     2     3     4	    5     6     7     8
           [X     X]   [X     /]   [X     X]   [X     /]
L:Foot      L     R     L           R     L     R      
L:Dir       F     F     T           B     F     T
L:F-Pos     4     4     1           4     4     1
L:Turn       1/2Rt>1/2Rt>




F:Foot      R     L     R           L     R     L              
F:Dir       B     P     T           F     F     T     
F:F-Pos     4     4     2           4     4     1
F:Turn                               1/2Rt>1/2Rt>     

Verbal:
Leader: [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog]
Follower: [Bk Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] then [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] [Fwd-Turn Fwd] [Tog] or
[Quick Quick] [Slow] [Quick Quick] [Slow]

IMPORTANT POINTS

Take small steps
Use Cuban Motion