What is a Basic Step?
The basic step or simply the ‘basic’, is the fundamental step in salsa dancing. The exact direction and form of the step depends on what style of salsa is being danced.
The following video demonstrates what a basic step looks like for common styles of Salsa:
Technicality and Counts
In salsa, each move is generally executed within one 8-count. The basic step follows the same principle. A person steps forward and backward within each 8-count to complete a basic step. Different styles of salsa have variations in the counts they follow:
- Salsa on 1: Within each basic step, you do a break step backward on the first count with the left foot. The 4th count is skipped and followed by a break step forward on the 5th count. The 8th count is skipped as well. These counts apply for both follows and lead while doing footwork and shines. While doing partner-work, the basic step for the follows is reversed.
- Salsa on 2: Within each basic step, you step forward on the 1st count with the right foot followed by a break step backward on the 2nd count with the left foot. The 4th count is skipped and followed by a break step forward on the 6th count. The 8th count is skipped as well. These counts apply for both follows and lead while doing footwork and shines. While doing partner-work, the basic step for the leads is reversed.
- Cuban Salsa: The counts for the basic step are identical to salsa on 1. The only difference here is that while the other styles follow a linear pattern, going forward and backward, the basic step in Cuban Salsa follows a circular pattern.
Variations
Salsa footwork and shines have many variations of the basic step that allow dancers to make some dynamic changes to the basic. The most common ones include:
- Front Basic Step
- Back Basic Step
- Side Basic Step
