Competitive salsa dancing is an exhilarating sport.
Competitive salsa dancing is just that -- competitive. If you plan to enter the world of competitive dancing, you must be prepared to orient your entire schedule and goals around salsa dancing. Most professional salsa dancers have been dancing from a very young age, and they train every day to improve their skills. Even if you only plan to enter amateur competitions, you will still need to spend many hours a week perfecting your art. Talent is important, but dedication and time commitment are the main ingredients to becoming a successful competitive dancer.
Instructions
1. Find a studio that trains competitive dancers. It is not enough to go to a weekly salsa class or social dance if you want to win competitions; you will need to find a teacher who will help you train four, five or six days a week.
2. Find a partner with which you click. Most salsa competitions involve partners dancing, and the best partners communicate well together. Your partner should be on a similar skill level as you, but most important is that you be able to dance well together. This can't be faked -- you have to have a genuine musical connection with your partner, even if you aren't best friends offstage.
3. Master other Latin dances besides salsa. Most competitive dancers are proficient in more than one kind of dance, and dancing other dances will improve your rhythm and instincts, helping you to become better at salsa dancing. The cha-cha, rumba, samba and paso doble are all useful dances to know.
4. Exercise regularly outside of salsa dancing. Competitive salsa dancing requires a great amount of physical energy, and the more in-shape you are, the more you will be able to concentrate on the art rather than the movements of the dance. Go running, and do push-ups and sit-ups to strengthen your muscles.
5. Learn a routine. The best salsa dancers make their dancing look improvised, and this is because they have practiced so long that the moves are second nature to them. Become comfortable enough with your moves to add spontaneity to your performance.
6. Enter competitions for which you are qualified. If you're just starting out as a competitive salsa dancer, you will want to enter amateur competitions. Many of these competitions offer prize money or other rewards. Check the information boards at your dance studio for competition announcements, and consult with your dance coach about what competitions to enter.
7. Watch other dancers at competitions. There is a lot you can learn from other dancers, not just about dance skills, but about being onstage. Speak to other dancers to learn how they train and rehearse. You can also watch online videos of other competitive dancers to help improve your moves.
