Salsa Classes In Los Angeles

If you’re local, here is your guide to learning to dance salsa in Los Angeles!

Best Beginner Salsa Classes in Los Angeles?

Our sister dance school, Movers and Shakers, specializes in salsa classes for beginners.

The school can’t be the best at everything (more on that below), but for beginners, we believe it’s the best experience on Earth.

The programs are structured, progressive, and comprehensive.

The space is comfortable, safe, and FUN, and they’re above and beyond with community building and friendships.

If you’re learning to dance salsa for the first time, the Movers and Shakers experience is truly outstanding.

Best Intermediate Salsa Classes in Los Angeles?

Again, Movers and Shakers is outstanding for intermediate salsa students (but we promise we won’t say that every time! More info below).

The entire focus of the academy is building the best possible foundations into your muscle memory so that you keep the skills for life.

The approach is scientific - spaced repetition and 14 specific teaching methods help the students build their salsa skills as quickly as possible while enjoying the process.

Best Advanced Salsa Classes in Los Angeles?

As promised, we’re going to suggest something different now!

Once you have great salsa foundations in your body, you may benefit from exploring a variety of classes to expand your repertoire and style.

Movers and Shakers is definitely an option, but it’s hard to claim to be the “best” for advanced classes.

When you explore advanced classes around Los Angeles, we do recommend learning only from highly qualified, experienced instructors as much as possible. 

Can I Learn to Dance Salsa from Drop-In Classes?

Not recommended!

Beginners NEED structure.

We’re given structure in grades K-12 for good reasons, and dancing is the same!

Trying to piece together fundamentals from drop-in classes is, at best, the slow way to learn. At worse, it can lead to bad habits that must be unlearned later.

If you just want a fun night out, then yes take a drop-in salsa class!

If you want to learn to dance salsa well enough to be solid on the dance floor, start with structure!

What Should I Look For in a Salsa Dance Class?

Structure is the first, most important thing to look for!

Second would be the quality of instruction. A great dancer does not necessarily mean a great instructor.

Do they explain details clearly or do they gloss over details and just expect you to do it like them?

Are you moving your body most of the time rather than standing around hearing theory?

Is class fun?

Is there a decent balance of leads and follows so you can dance most of the time? (Although perfect balance cannot 
be expected every time)

These are a few questions to ask yourself when you try a class.

Will I Make Friends Through Salsa Classes?

YES!

The salsa dance community is very friendly and social.

However, some classes are better suited for friendships than others.

In most salsa dance classes, the students leave after class and don’t connect much.

Some programs, on the other hand, make extra effort to connect students.

For example, structured programs, with the same students every week, allows more time for friendships to form.

If the school puts you a in group chat together, even better.

If the academy hosts a weekly practice for all the students, that’s another opportunity to bond.

If the school hosts private parties for the students, that can help you form even more friendships.

Friends made in class can become your support group to going out dancing together. Very helpful when you’re first starting!

How Do I Know My Salsa Instructor Is Good?

Your teacher should be a full-time dancer.

Like anything in life, a full-time professional will typically be able to deliver better than a hobbyist.

Dancing well is not enough though. The instructor also needs to know how to teach well.

Most dance instructors have never studied teaching theory. For that reason, there’s usually a lot of room for improvement.

Scientifically, some teaching methods work better than others for the majority of people (and yes sometimes methods needs to be adjusted for different individuals).

True educators understand the theory and purpose behind teaching methods.

As the students, how will you know?

You won’t know completely, but you’ll probably feel it in class. Follow your gut…

So the top two traits to look for are:

     1. Full-time professional dancer
     2. Can also TEACH well (not just dance well)

Other traits that may help ensure your instructor is great include:

     • Number of years they’ve danced
     • Number of years they’ve taught dance
     • Competitions they’ve won
     • Continuing education. If they themselves continue to be a student and continue learning, that’s also a good sign.

Anything Else To Look For In Salsa Classes?

Proximity MIGHT matter. If being close to home makes you more likely to attend, then that’s important.

However, driving far for quality may be worth it.

At Movers and Shakers, for example, many students drive one to two hours, one way, every week, for the programs.

To build great foundations that you’ll keep for life, commuting is worth considering.

Parking is also worth considering, but if the program is outstanding, any parking situation is worth accepting!

Why Take Salsa Classes in Los Angeles?

A few reasons:

     • Friendships!
     • FUN
     • Physically healthy
     • Mentally stimulating
     • Healthy weekend activity that doesn’t focus on alcohol (Nothing wrong with alcohol! 
       Dancing salsa is just a nice alternative.)

Los Angeles can be isolating. In such a giant city, where we spend most of our time alone in our cars, 
it’s easy to feel lost.

Finding a positive peer group that you’d want to be part of can be tough for many people.

Learning to dance salsa is an incredible solution.

People have no idea about the joy, friendships, and adventure they’re missing out on.

Best Neighborhoods for Salsa Dancing in Los Angeles?

We’ve noticed that salsa dancers are willing to drive pretty much anywhere for salsa dancing events around Los Angeles.

They’ll even drive to the next county over (Los Angeles County, Ventura County, or Orange County).

We’ve even seen salsa dancers drive from San Diego to Los Angeles for salsa dance events.

We could name a few neighborhoods, but events open and close all the time.

For social dancing, the city is worth exploring!

Where to Find Salsa Events and Socials in Los Angeles

Instagram is a great starting place, and then when you’re out, you can ask people about other venues to dance.

Salsa “socials” open and close all the time, so by asking around when you’re at a salsa social event, you’ll quickly learn about what’s current.

Do I Need A Partner to Take Salsa Lessons? 

No!

Most students come solo and most classes will rotate so everyone gets to dance with everyone.

Are There Salsa Lessons for Kids and Teens in Los Angeles?

Most salsa classes in Los Angeles are for adults. Salsa class is much less common for kids.

It’s worth searching the Internet though, and you could also ask a salsa dance school about accepting teens in an adult class!

Should I Take Private Salsa Lessons Before Group Classes?

Not necessarily.

As long as you’re enrolled in an outstanding beginner level program that’s built for first-time salsa dancers, then that’s a great path.

A great group program has many perks, such as making friends to dance with and support you along the way.

We typically only recommend private salsa lessons instead of group programs if there’s a specific scheduling need, or a specific mission, like wedding dance preparation.

Private lessons can also be a great supplement to a group program for extra feedback on the details.

What’s The Cost of Salsa Classes in Los Angeles?

The range these days is typically $10-$35.

Clubs often have drop-in salsa classes before the “salsa dance social” night and are on the lower end of the price range.

Studio classes are typically on the higher end of the price range (and well worth the investment for the right class/program!)

What’s the Typical Salsa Class Schedule?

Most classes are on weeknights or weekends. It’s rare to find a salsa class on a weekday before 6pm during regular working hours.

Salsa dance culture is more of a nighttime culture.

On a Saturday or Sunday though, you may find afternoon salsa classes.

What Should I Wear to My First Salsa Class?

Most students dress more casually, but be yourself!

For example, we teach in jeans and our academy shirt.

Make sure your ankles are visible and avoid anything you can trip on, like a long flowing dress.

For ladies, if you wear a dress or skirt, also make sure it’s not too tight so you have freedom of movement in your legs.

Most salsa students dance in short sleeves to stay cooler but long sleeves are fine too!

Wear shoes that are as slippery as possible. Athletic traction shoes are NOT your friend in salsa dancing!

Once you decide to commit to learning, dance shoes are highly recommended. The suede bottoms (or these days, hard slippery rubber options), will help you spin and the tighter fit helps you dance more precisely. Shoes are a whole topic for another time. 

What Style of Salsa Should I Learn in Los Angeles?

“Salsa on 1” was pioneered in Los Angeles. It’s also often called “LA Style Salsa.”

If you’re in Los Angeles, start by learning “Salsa on 1”!

The reason is that when you go out dancing, you’ll find this style everywhere.

“Salsa on 1” is also danced all around the world in hundreds of cities.

There are also sub-communities in Los Angeles who dance “Salsa on 2” (sometimes called “New York Style”) or “Casino Rueda” (Cuban style).

Those styles are great, but are typically a journey for a later time in Los Angeles after you’re skilled at “Salsa on 1.”

*(Note for purists: Yes we are aware that “LA Style” is considered a style, and is not synonymous with “Salsa on 1,” which is a timing. Same for “Salsa on 2” vs “New York Style.” Since these terms are widely used synonymously, we’ve kept it simple in this article).

How to Sign Up for Salsa Classes in Los Angeles, California

For the best beginner salsa classes or best intermediate salsa classes in Los Angeles, we recommend Movers and Shakers! We truly believe it’s the best training in the world for beginner and intermediate salsa students.

For the best advanced salsa classes in Los Angeles, you can try Movers and Shakers, but exploring a variety of classes may also be a great choice to expand your dance feeling, style and repertoire.
Enjoy!

Not in Los Angeles?

You may enjoy our online salsa dance classes