Attending Salsa dance lessons is always a fun and exciting experience. How you dress is how you will feel during this experience. To help you enjoy your journey even more, I have put together a guide on what to wear to Salsa dance classes.
What women should wear to Salsa dance class? Women should wear breathable and comfortable clothes and outfits that will make them feel beautiful and elegant. Salsa dancing patterns involve lots of spins and dips, so it would be best to wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and enjoy dancing without worrying if your clothes will reveal too much.
I must admit, when I started my Salsa learning experience, I wasn’t at my best behavior when it came to my outfits for the dance practices. And, it reflected in my performance. I noticed the pattern here. When I dressed up nicely and wore the clothing I felt good in, I had a pretty good Salsa learning experience, and when I wear, well, whatever, my performance and overall experience weren’t so great.
So, why is that? Salsa dance is a sexy and sensual dance. It is important to wear something you feel attractive and comfortable at the same time.
What To Wear To Salsa Dance Class If You Are A Woman
Leggings
You could pair up high-waisted leggings with a short cropped top. It will look fabulous, and you will feel extremely comfortable. I am sure that every woman has at least one pair of black leggings, preferably high-waisted leggings. If you don’t have a good pair of leggings in your closet, there are many options online or in your favorite nearby store.
I would recommend IUGA High Waist Yoga Pants from Amazon. They are affordable, comfortable, and precisely what you would need for Salsa dance practice. A wide high-rise waistband with tummy control and a hidden pocket, these yoga leggings are perfect for women who practice Salsa regularly. Tummy control will make your figure look slimmer while keeping good posture on the dance floor.
You don’t have to worry if people can see through your leggings under strong lights in the dance studio because these leggings are thick enough and none see-through.
Just put on a short cropped top, and you will look fantastic on the dance floor. Plus, your dance movements will look much better because this outfit emphasizes your body figure.
Skirts Or Dresses
Lightweight skirts or dresses are an excellent choice for your Salsa dance lessons as long they are not too short and not too tight. Don’t wear skirts or dresses that are too tight because you will pull them down the entire time. It will ruin your Salsa dance practice experience because you will be uncomfortable, and you couldn’t focus on the moves. Ensure that your dress or skirt is a little bit wider at the bottom and doesn’t restrict your movements. Try to dance in your dress at home before going for the practice. If the dress keeps pulling up, you should consider changing your outfit.
Jeans
A good fitted and comfortable pair of jeans is a fantastic choice. I saw many ladies wearing jeans to dance practice, and they look amazing on the dance floor. I wore jeans many times to dance lessons. I always tend to wear jeans that are tight but not too snug to restrict my movements. I like to pair it up with a top that shows my figure nicely, so I am better aware of my body movements while dancing Salsa.
Tops
Nicely fitted blouses or shirts are an excellent choice for the Salsa dance class. These tops should drape your body but not hug it too tight. The tops shouldn’t be too baggy because your dance partner could get stuck in there, and your dance instructor couldn’t see your body movements properly.
The hem of your top should cover at least the waistband of your jeans, skirts, or leggings. Of course, it can be longer. When you raise your hands as high as your head, your top should still conceal your skin. You will end up pulling your top down if it is too short, which will make you feel and look very uncomfortable.
Also, avoid strapless tops because they don’t provide good support, so you will end up fixing it the entire time, and your dance partner might get frustrated and uncomfortable.
Dance Shoes
Proper dance shoes are imperative for learning Salsa dance. Salsa dance shoes will improve your performance and will provide better control on the dance floor. Dance shoes have suede or leather sole that allow you to effortlessly spin, turn, and move on the dance floor.
Also, these shoes are lightweight, comfortable, and flexible.
I would recommend purchasing dance shoes with a lower heel, especially if you are new to Salsa. You will be more comfortable that way. Salsa dance shoes have flared heels, which provide better stability.
To find out more about what kind of shoes would be suitable for the dance practice, check out recommendations for affordable Salsa dance shoes here.
What Not To Wear To Salsa Dance Classes
So far, I have talked about what to wear to dance classes but now let’s talk about things you should avoid. You want to be comfortable while dancing because it is a new skill and there are lots of things already to be uncomfortable with.
Salsa dance can be intimidating, and you don’t want more things to worry about while dancing. The last thing you need to worry about if your skirt is too short, for example. Salsa dance can be especially intimidating if you don’t have a partner and you end up dancing with a complete stranger. You want to leave a good impression on your partner as a dancer and as a person. I am not talking about love interests here, although that might happen too 😉
Without further ado, here are five tips of what not to wear to Salsa dance practice:
- No Tight Dresses
The tight dress looks very sexy and attractive if you put it on and don’t move. But have you tried dancing in a tight dress? It immediately pulls up, and you will end up pulling it down during the entire class. That doesn’t look really good. You won’t be able to focus on the steps because you will be focused on pulling the dress down and adjusting it.
You will come in looking gorgeous and stunning, but you will end up looking uncomfortable for the entire class.
However, some types of dresses look tight, but in reality, they are not because of the fabric they are made of. The material has a patent at the bottom that has the appearance of being tight, but in reality, it is loose, and it falls, which is why it looks tight.
So, it has the same appearance, but the dress doesn’t pull up.
So, how do you know if you have that kind of dress in your closet? Well, put it on before you leave for the dance class and dance in it. If the dress is too tight and pulls up, then it is not the right dress. But if you dance comfortably and dress stays in the place, you can go dancing with peace of mind.
Don’t just look into the mirror and say, “Omg, I look beautiful!” Look into the mirror and say: “Omg, I am beautiful but let me see if I can dance in this dress.”
If the dress pulls up even a little bit, let me assure you it will be even worse when you are dancing with a guy because he will be tossing you around and spinning, and you won’t have control of your dress. Note that your hands will be busy because your dance partner will hold them while dancing. Can you imagine how annoying it would be to him if you pull away from his hands to fix your dress constantly?
Just remember how hard it would be to enjoy the night when you have to think about the dress.
- No Bulky Accessories
I personally love accessories, but I try to keep it to the minimum during my Salsa dance classes because many movements are involved, and I don’t want someone accidentally ripping it off and losing it.
Don’t wear earrings that don’t have secure clippings. You will lose them easily, and you will regret it, especially if those were important to you.
Also, don’t wear any spiky jewelry. It looks beautiful but will hurt your partner if you rub by accident your spiky jewelry against his skin. And I assume you want to continue dancing with him 😉
If you want to wear some jewelry, wear something small, with secure attachments, which is made of soft material such as a leather bracelet.
I would advise you not to wear bulky earrings because you could lose your ear if your partner accidentally pulls them during those fast and intense salsa movements.
- Don’t wear oversized clothes
Bulky and oversized clothes are very uncomfortable because the lead’s arms could get trapped into the clothes, which would be very difficult to lead.
- Clothes that show sweat
Sweating is completely normal and natural, and some of us sweat more than others, and I am one of those “lucky ladies” who sweat more than the others. Sweating is especially common during physical activity such as Salsa dancing.
I am well aware of this problem and always wear clothes made of the material that absorbs or doesn’t show that much sweat.
It is not a big deal if your clothes show some sweat while you are dancing, but it may make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious about it. So why not eliminate one more thing to think less about, and why not just enjoy dancing as much as possible.
The worst fabrics to wear if you want to avoid sweat patches:
- Silk is a big no-no when it comes to preventing sweat marks from showing up on your clothes. It is a lightweight fabric that doesn’t absorb sweat at all. If you choose to wear silk during your dance class, be prepared for sweat stains. Silk is an excellent choice for indoor lounging rather than dancing.
- Polyester would be a nightmare for anyone who doesn’t want sweat to show on their clothes while dancing with someone.
- Rayon is a combination of wood pulp, cotton, and other natural or synthetic fibres. Although rayon is light and prevents sticking to the body, it is not the best option because it’s more likely to repel than absorb sweat. You might think this is great because it repels sweat instead of absorbing it. But it is not because it creates sweat patches on your clothes that are noticeable, and you won’t be comfortable because your skin won’t be able to breathe. You will feel that the sweat is dripping down your skin.
- Denim is another no-no fabric option because it isn’t breathable nor stretchy.
- Fleece is a bad idea because it is derived from polyester, and it traps moisture and prevents ventilation.
- Nylon fabric is not a good idea for someone prone to sweating while dancing because it repels moisture and creates sweat patches on the clothes.
- Acrylic is a synthetic material and is often hot and rough. Acrylic has high moisture-wicking abilities, retains water, and is very stretchable. However, its composition of synthetic polyacrylonitrile polymer makes it one of the worst breathable fabrics.
The best fabrics to wear if you want to avoid sweat patches:
- Cotton is one of the best choices when it comes to preventing sweat from showing up while dancing. Cotton is a natural fibre that allows air to circulate and move freely through the fabric, ensuring airflow dries out the body’s damp areas. High-quality lightweight cotton quickly absorbs moisture and will enable you to cool off quickly.
- Linen is another great fabric to wear during your dance practice because it is a natural fibre and loosely woven that quickly absorbs moisture and dries.
- Chambray is another excellent option that absorbs sweat successfully. It is a plain weave lightweight material that absorbs most sweat while you are busting those Salsa moves.
- Jersey is a fabric made of wool that would be a fantastic choice if you sweat too much while dancing.
- Don’t wear uncomfortable shoes
If you have sensitive feet and expect to dance long hours during practice, don’t wear shoes with straps. Straps will dig into your skin, and it will be very painful. Your feet will swell up, and you will be in tremendous pain. Check here for recommendations for Salsa dance shoes.
Please avoid shoes that are difficult to spin in. Those shoes have a rubber sole, and they tend to stick to the floor instead of allowing you to slide on the dance floor easily.
Final Words
Learning to dance Salsa is a new experience and skill for many people. I know it can be nerve-wracking deciding what to wear for your dance class. I’ve been there, which is why I have written this article to help out my fellow Salsa enthusiast in this journey. Just remember, your comfort is the number one priority when it comes to the Salsa dance practice outfits. Once you start dancing Salsa socially, you need to worry about fancier and more appealing outfits.
