Salsa sizzle

Hi/lo, step and kickboxing are great classes, but ... been there, done that! Let's spice it up and bring rhythm attitude and culture to the aerobic-dance floor--let's salsa! Instructors you have asked for it and here it is--choreography, music and resources.

LATIN DANCE

Cha Cha Cha Merengue Salsa

ORIGIN

Afro-Cuban Dominican Afro-Cuban

RHYTHM

slow, slow, quick, quick, slow quick, quick, quick, quick quick, quick, slow

In basic ballroom dancing, the lady starts with her right foot and the gentleman starts with his left foot. However, these routines can all be done without a partner.

Cha Cha Cha      Step R backward, Step L forward, Step R/L/R
                   (in place)
                 Basic Step L forward, Step R backward, Step L/R/L
                   (in place)

Merengue Basic   Step L forward, Step R backward, Step L/R/L
                   (in place)
                 Step R (out/in), Step L (out/in)

Salsa Basic      Step R backward, Step L (in place), Step R forward
                 Step L forward, Step R (in place), Step L backward

Start all routines on the right lead foot then repeat on the left lead foot. Feel free to alternate once you've become comfortable with the combinations.

#    Counts   Dance Movements

1    1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      Chasse (jazz/ballet) forward R, Chasse
                (jazz/ballet) forward L
     5-8      Walk backwards R, L, R, L
2    1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      Chasse (jazz/ballet) lateral R, Chasse
                (jazz/ballet) lateral L
     5-8      Merengue Walk (march in place)
3    1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      Chasse (jazz/ballet) lateral R, Step L, Step R
     5-8      Chasse (jazz/ballet) lateral L, Step R, Step L,
4    1-16     2-Salsa Basic
     1-16     2-Cha Cha Cha Basic
5    1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-2      Cross R over the L, toe tap L out to the side
     3-4      Cross L over the R, toe tap R out to the side
     5-8      Merengue Walk (march in place)
6    1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      Kick ball change (jazz) R, Kick ball change
                (jazz) L
     5-8      Merengue Walk (march in place)
7    1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      2-Box step (jazz)
8    1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      1/2 Salsa Basic
     5-8      Box step (salsa)
9    1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      Salsa Side/Open
     1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      Salsa Cross-Back or Cross-Front
10   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      1/2 Salsa Basic
     5-8      R or L turn
11   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      Cha Cha Cha Basic
     1-4      Merengue Side/Open (step touch)
     5-8      Merengue Walk (march in place)
     1-4      Merengue Side/Open (step touch)
     5-8      Merengue Walk (march in place)
12   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      Step R, Step L, Body Roll (funky), Step R,
                Step L, Body Roll (funky)
13   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      Step R, Step L, Snake (lateral body roll)
     5-8      Step L, Step R, Snake (lateral body roll)
14   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      Merengue Walk (march in place)
15   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      Step R, Step L, Body Roll (funky)
     5-8      Step R, Step L, Snake (lateral body roll)
16   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      Pas de bourre (jazz/ballet) R, Pas de bourre
                (jazz/ballet) L
17   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      Step Wide (R, L, R, L)
     5-8      Hips move R, L, R, L
18   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-4      Releve, Demi Plie, Releve, Demi Plie,
     5-8      Step R, Pivot L, Step R, Pivot L
19   1-4      Merengue Walk (march in place)
     5-8      4-Jump (locomotor) backwards
     1-2      Cross R over the L, toe tap L out to the side
     3-4      Cross L over the R, toe tap R out to the
                side
     5-6      Cross R over the L, toe tap L out to the side
     7-8      Cross L over the R, toe tap R out to the side
20   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      Walk forward, Walk backwards
21   1-8      Cha Cha Cha Basic
     1-8      Cha Cha Cha Cross-front
     1-16     Cha Cha Cha Cross-hop
22   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      Grapevine (low-impact/funky)
23   1-16     2-Salsa Basic
     1-8      Move hips R, L, R, hold/Move hips L, R,
                L, hold
     1-8      Move torso/rib-cage R, L, R, hold/Move
                torso/rib-cage L, R, L, hold
24   1-8      Salsa Basic
     1-8      Chaine turn (jazz/ballet) R, swing to the R,
                Chaine turn (jazz/ballet) L, swing to the L
25   1-4      1/2 Salsa Basic R backward
     5-8      Step L to the side, Slide/Drag the R
                to the L
     1-4      1/2 Salsa Basic L forward
     5-8      Step R to the side, Slide/Drag the L
                to the R

Additional Resources

Music Distributors

Christopher's Seminars and Music www.christopherseminars.com (877) 321-5321

Dynamix www.dynamixmusic.com (800) 843-6499

Group Fitness Music, Inc. www.groupfitnessmusic.com (702) 334-1997

Midivation Sound Works www.midivation.com (323) 242-7925

Rhythm Workout www.rhythmworkout.com (707) 763-2060