SALSA CEILIDH BASICS
For Those Who Like Things Written Down
Download a Word document version - go to the bottom of the page
Please note though that the point of Salsa Ceilidh is that no one needs to learn or know or prepare for it - except the person making it happen of course!
That's why it's called . . .
. . . the classless way . . .
POETIC VERSION
The basic phrase is 8 beats long
Or 4 bars twice all through the song
We walk 3 steps then love the gap
Step step step wait step step step tap
Left right left tap – men’s Left leads first
Right left right tap – start Right for girls
The 3 steps trav’l or stay on the spot
Keep these few rules – you won’t get lost
Click for Demo . . . About Nick . . . Aims . . . Music
PROSE VERSION
Salsa Ceilidh contrasts with Salsa in general and with Scottish Ceilidh in general. In Salsa Ceilidh the music and the basic steps are simpler and slower than either, the pattern steady throughout the song, and this remains the same for all SC dances.
All Salsa Ceilidh music is based on sets of 8 bars. Each bar has 4 beats. The 8 bars go in 4 phrases of 2 bars each. Each (simple) Salsa Ceilidh dance pattern set fits the musical set of 4 phrases or 8 bars.
All kinds of salsa have in common that the dancer steps on 3 beats and then pauses or does something else on the 4th beat. So it’s “quick quick slow”. Or, in Cuban style in Salsa Ceilidh, we tap on the spare beat. So it’s more like “quick quick quick tap”.
Salsa Ceilidh begins with what is both a basic Cuban step but also a very British common “school dance” step. The “tap” is with the free foot you’re about to step on.
Like walking, you always step on the other foot next. There’s no hops or quick additional skips. Don’t rush or worry. Rock steady is always right.
You won’t hold to the step pattern at first – this won’t matter in Salsa Ceilidh. But when you can get the steady pattern you’ll find it’s much more fun.
Salsa Ceilidh is a partner dance even when you’re moving independently or swapping partners. Partners mirror their steps. Men or Leaders will always start (every phrase of 8 beats) with their Left foot. Women or Followers will always start on their Right foot.
Salsa and Salsa Ceilidh work best when, wherever you’re heading above the ground, your feet keep up a rock steady march on it. Leaders: Left Right Left Tap Right Left Right Tap. Followers: Right Left Right Tap Left Right Left Tap In contrast, Scottish Ceilidh dances have lots of different musical and step patterns,
Salsa Ceilidh has patterns that make you move around. In the first patterns, each “bar” of three steps “travels” – that is, the steps will take you “from A to B”, sideways, forwards, backwards or in a curve.
Later, Salsa’s typical saucy zing gets introduced. Here one of the three steps “breaks” back from any “A to B” direction you might be heading in. So you dance more on and around the same place - like going from “A to A”.
It’s all designed to be the easiest fun intro to salsa you can get. If you find it hard you would find normal salsa much more challenging. The music for Salsa Ceilidh is too slow for ordinary salsa – it’s mainly Cha Cha Cha and Son.
Click for Demo . . . About Nick . . . Aims . . . Music
Salsa Ceilidh contrasts with Salsa in general and with Scottish Ceilidh in general. In Salsa Ceilidh the music and the basic steps are simpler and slower than either, the pattern steady throughout the song, and this remains the same for all SC dances.
All Salsa Ceilidh music is based on sets of 8 bars. Each bar has 4 beats. The 8 bars go in 4 phrases of 2 bars each. Each (simple) Salsa Ceilidh dance pattern set fits the musical set of 4 phrases or 8 bars.
All kinds of salsa have in common that the dancer steps on 3 beats and then pauses or does something else on the 4th beat. So it’s “quick quick slow”. Or, in Cuban style in Salsa Ceilidh, we tap on the spare beat. So it’s more like “quick quick quick tap”.
Salsa Ceilidh begins with what is both a basic Cuban step but also a very British common “school dance” step. The “tap” is with the free foot you’re about to step on.
Like walking, you always step on the other foot next. There’s no hops or quick additional skips. Don’t rush or worry. Rock steady is always right.
You won’t hold to the step pattern at first – this won’t matter in Salsa Ceilidh. But when you can get the steady pattern you’ll find it’s much more fun.
Salsa Ceilidh is a partner dance even when you’re moving independently or swapping partners. Partners mirror their steps. Men or Leaders will always start (every phrase of 8 beats) with their Left foot. Women or Followers will always start on their Right foot.
Salsa and Salsa Ceilidh work best when, wherever you’re heading above the ground, your feet keep up a rock steady march on it. Leaders: Left Right Left Tap Right Left Right Tap. Followers: Right Left Right Tap Left Right Left Tap In contrast, Scottish Ceilidh dances have lots of different musical and step patterns,
Salsa Ceilidh has patterns that make you move around. In the first patterns, each “bar” of three steps “travels” – that is, the steps will take you “from A to B”, sideways, forwards, backwards or in a curve.
Later, Salsa’s typical saucy zing gets introduced. Here one of the three steps “breaks” back from any “A to B” direction you might be heading in. So you dance more on and around the same place - like going from “A to A”.
It’s all designed to be the easiest fun intro to salsa you can get. If you find it hard you would find normal salsa much more challenging. The music for Salsa Ceilidh is too slow for ordinary salsa – it’s mainly Cha Cha Cha and Son.
Click for Demo . . . About Nick . . . Aims . . . Music
Click on the right to download a Word document summary of the core basics of Salsa Ceilidh. If you stick to these basics you'll increase your enjoyment, and you can't go wrong!
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