How To Salsa Dance: Progressive Basic Step

Step 1: Basic Footwork

The progressive basic step is a key element in salsa dancing. It is a combination of the forward and back basic salsa steps. These basic steps are also called "breaks" or "rock steps." In the progressive step, you move fluidly from the forward to back break, and back again without closing your feet together as you would in a basic forward or back break.

So you start as you would for a basic forward break, with your feet together and equal weight on both. Now move your left foot forward about a foot or two, placing your weight on this foot. Next, keeping both feet where they are, replace your weight to your right foot. Now bring your left foot back past your right foot so that it now rests behind your right foot. Now step back on the right foot, replacing the weight to the left foot as you do so for a beat and then move the right foot forward past and in front of the left foot. So now you have essentially performed a forward break and progressed immediately into a back break. Repeat this step as often as you desire.

Step 2: Natural Opposites

The leader (usually male) will start off with his left foot. The follower (usually female) will do the natural opposite, so she will start with her right foot.