Everyone can learn to dance Salsa. It is a rewarding dance style to learn, and all it takes is a little determination, hard work, and patience. However, many of us have an end goal in mind and want to know how long it takes to learn Salsa dancing.
How long does it take to learn Salsa dance? It can take anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks, depending on how often you practice after your dance lessons. However, ten weeks will be enough time for you to learn the basic steps and patterns to dance comfortably in social settings, such as clubs.
When I just started learning to dance Salsa, I felt I could bust some Salsa moves after a few classes. I was positively surprised by how easy it was to learn basic Salsa steps. So, if I could do it, anyone can. Believe me; I was not much of a dancer before I started learning Salsa dance. But I was motivated because I didn’t want to be that person sitting in the chair all evening during social events. That was me before I stepped my feet into Latin dance waters.
Now I go comfortably to the dance floor during parties, not because I am a great dancer but because learning Salsa and other Latin dance styles has given me confidence on the dance floor.
“Dance to express, not to impress!”
Factors That Determine How Fast You Will Learn To Dance Salsa
There are many factors to consider when determining how long it will take to learn Salsa dancing. Let’s explore them one by one.
1. Motivation
Motivation is an important factor in learning any skills, and Salsa dancing is no exemption. What motivates you? Do you want to learn to dance Salsa for a special occasion? Is it to lose a few extra pounds? Is it to relieve the stress? Is it to build your confidence? Is it the ability to dance in social events whenever an opportunity occurs?
Whatever your motivation is, you need to be consistent to learn Salsa dancing within the time period mentioned above. The bigger your goals are, the likelihood of you sticking around and learning faster improves.
2. Putting yourself out there
It is important to put yourself out there when you start learning Salsa and attend as much as possible Salsa dance social events. It won’t be easy at first, but you don’t have to go to a dance event with a goal in your mind to dance that evening. Instead, you can just observe other people and their dance styles and techniques.
Trust me; there will be some great dancers that will blow your mind away and some not-so-great.
I was one of those not-so-great dancers when I attended Salsa dance nights the first few times, haha. Although my dance moves were looking much better in my mind, it didn’t discourage me from continuing to dance and learn this magnificent dance style.
My suggestion would be to go to Salsa dance parties with someone you trust and are comfortable with. It could be your friend, partner, or anyone you know you will have a great time with no matter what.
Just remember that nobody will judge you for your dance skills at Salsa parties. People come there with many different dance knowledge skills. People come there to have fun, and it is a safe zone to bust Salsa moves without any hesitation.
The more you practice, the sooner you will get better. It would be a waste of your time and money if you don’t practice after dance lessons or dance in social settings, such as clubs or other Salsa parties.
3. Attending Salsa Dance Classes
Regular attendance of Salsa lessons is the easiest and the fastest way to learn this dance style. Most dance schools offer various classes and timings, so you pick the class that best suits your needs and schedule. Make sure you can commit to the schedule every week. I know life happens, and you may need to skip one or two lessons but make sure you practice at home.
A dance school that I have been attending to dance various Latin dance styles for the past two years offers 10-weeks group Salsa classes for an hour, once a week. It is enough time to learn the basic moves to dance in social settings comfortably. Of course, it is very beneficial if your practice at home those steps and moves you have learned in the class.
Most dance schools offer drop-in classes where you don’t have to register if you don’t feel if you will like it and don’t want to commit. You can just show up and attend the class without any obligations. This is actually how I fell in love with Salsa dance. I attended drop-in classes and decided to sign up for 10-week Salsa lessons. So basically, you have nothing to lose if you decide to try it out.
You get to meet wonderful new people who have the same interests as you do while attending group Salsa classes. They can keep you accountable to keep showing up to the dance classes. These people are beginners as you are, so there is nothing to be ashamed of because they are in the same boat.
Finally, you don’t have to have a dance partner when you attend group classes. There is always someone without a partner that you could partner up with. I didn’t have a dance partner when I decided to learn Salsa, but there was always someone without a partner that I could dance with. Having different dance partners allows you to become a better dancer by learning other people’s styles.
4. Commitment Level
Like anything in life, the more you commit and practice, the better off you will be. Coming to the Salsa dance lessons regularly, practicing at home, and going to Salsa parties will help you reach your goals quicker.
5. Knowledgeable dance instructors
I was lucky that dance instructors who taught me Salsa dance have an excellent background in Salsa dance and are amazing dance instructors. Having proper instructions while learning to dance Salsa will help you reach your goals quicker. You need a passionate dance instructor that is willing to assist others in dancing and give each person the proper attention to help them achieve their goals. “A student can usually only be as good as their teacher.”
6. Practicing Salsa at home
It really doesn’t matter whether you have someone to practice with at home because it is totally possible to practice Salsa by yourself.
I practice the steps soon after the dance lesson, so I don’t forget them until the next class. Whether you are lead or follow, you can practice by yourself the steps you learned in the class.
Another option would be to ask someone from the class to meet up and practice together. There is always someone eager to practice and improve as much as you are. I have practiced alone and with someone from the group classes, which helped me improve my dance skills tremendously.
7. Listening to Salsa music
Listen to Salsa music whenever you can, even if you are not dancing. It is important to get familiar with Salsa music because you need to understand what you are dancing to and find different beats. Salsa music is fun, energetic, and romantic, so it won’t be a hard task to do.
To find out if you can dance Salsa to different music styles, click here.
How Many Hours A Day Should You Practice Salsa?
Usually, Latin dance studios offer one hour Salsa lessons a week. However, don’t let that stop you from practicing even more. You can practice as much as you want or are allowed depending on your schedule and other life obligations.
If you can, try practicing one to two more hours per week besides your weekly lesson with the dance instructor. Your muscles will remember the moves quicker, and you will get better at Salsa dancing in no time.
The best part about learning Salsa dance is that you don’t need a partner to practice, and you can do it at home when you are cleaning, just relaxing, or just bored. It is an excellent way to kill boredom.
Of course, it is always better to practice with a partner but not having a dance partner is an opportunity to improve your dance moves and technique.
Is Salsa Dancing Hard To Learn?
Salsa dance is one of the most rewarding Latin dance styles that you could learn. Salsa is energetic, fun, and sensual that could wake up Latin rhythm in almost everyone.
The basic Salsa dance steps are not hard to learn; however, advanced steps are more complicated, so it will require a little bit more dedication, time, and effort on your end.
It is up to you how difficult or easy you want the Salsa moves to be. As a beginner, the key is to keep the steps very simple. Practice your basic steps as much as possible, and once you are very comfortable with the basics, move to more complicated step patterns.
These basic Salsa steps and patterns can look beautiful on the dance floor if you master them. And, you can dance Salsa socially by knowing only the basic step patterns.
So to sum up, Salsa dancing is not difficult to learn. It all depends on what your ultimate goal for Salsa dance is. If you want to learn Salsa for a special occasion, you don’t need to focus on more complicated moves. However, if Salsa is in your blood and planning on attending multiple dance events in the future, it would be beneficial for you to invest more time and effort into learning intermediate and advanced steps. I promise you that you will not regret it! 🙂
Final Words
Learning Salsa can take up to 10 weeks, but it is a process in which you are guaranteed to make new friends, improve your health, and have lots of fun in the meantime. If you follow the tips I have provided earlier in this article, I am sure you will be proficient in Salsa dancing in no time.
Have fun dancing!
