Salsa Patterns
Salsa Patterns (489)
A collection of salsa patterns taught by J Smooth Salsa.
Children categories
Dips (6)
Patterns that involve have the dance partner dropping below the other partner's horizontal waist plane.
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Reverse Crossbody Lead (31)
Patterns where the reverse crossbody lead is the basis of movement.
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Tricks (16)
Special patterns that can be seen during dance competitions or performances.
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Walk-Around (43)
Patterns in which the leader of follower travel in a circular direction, clockwise or counterclockwise.
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Shines/Footwork (64)
Solo footwork typically done without the partner for showcase or styling.
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123: Basic step.
5: Open stance hop.
(Face forward and have feet at shoulder length apart.)
6: Cross step hop. (Right leg in front)
7: Left foot, forward step.
1: Open stance hop.
2: Cross step hop. (Right leg in front)
3: Left foot, forward step.
5: Right foot, forward step.
6: Left foot, back step. Body is turned left.
7: Right leg, heel up.
(As you step back with the left leg from the last lstep, bend the right leg at the knee so that you kick up your right heel towards the other leg but in front of it. Also remember that your body is facing left from the slot.)
123: Basic.
5: Open stance hop.
(Face forward and have feet at shoulder length apart.)
6: Cross step hop. (Right leg in front)
7: Left foot, forward step.
1: Open stance hop.
2: Cross step hop. (Right leg in front)
3: Left foot, forward step.
5: Right foot, forward step.
6: Left foot, back step. Body is turned left.
7: Right leg, heel up.
(As you step back with the left leg from the last lstep, bend the right leg at the knee so that you kick up your right heel towards the other leg but in front of it. Also remember that your body is facing left from the slot.)
123: Basic.
1: Forward hop in cross step.
(Hop forward but land in a cross step, with the right leg crossed in front. You are facing right in relation to the front basic.)
23: Scissor hop in position.
(In last position, the feet step out on count two but do not change the cross position. On count 3 close the step by hopping back to the original position.)
5: Right leg, forward cross step.
(Bring the right leg forward and step in front of the other leg.)
6: Left foot, back lock step.
(From last position, take a big step back from the last position.)
7: Right foot, forward step.
123 - basic.
5: Right foot, back basic.
6: left foot, forward diagonal left step.
7: Right foot, brought together to left foot.
1: Left foot, forward left diagonal tap.
&: Left foot, forward step. (You may not need to do this step)
2: Right foot, weighted step.
3: Slide back with both feet.
567 - Back basic.
(Hop forward but land in a cross step, with the right leg crossed in front. You are facing right in relation to the front basic.)
23: Scissor hop in position.
(In last position, the feet step out on count two but do not change the cross position. On count 3 close the step by hopping back to the original position.)
5: Right leg, forward cross step.
(Bring the right leg forward and step in front of the other leg.)
6: Left foot, back lock step.
(From last position, take a big step back from the last position.)
7: Right foot, forward step.
123 - basic.
5: Right foot, back basic.
6: left foot, forward diagonal left step.
7: Right foot, brought together to left foot.
1: Left foot, forward left diagonal tap.
&: Left foot, forward step. (You may not need to do this step)
2: Right foot, weighted step.
3: Slide back with both feet.
567 - Back basic.
1: Left foot steps forward while right leg goes, back-left cross step - far.
2: Right foot, shoulder length step with arms in air.
3: Left foot, close the shoulder length step.
5: Right foot, forward-left cross tap.
&: Right foot, right side tap.
6: Left, side hop.
&: Right, side hop.
7: Right foot, forward-left cross step with body twist left.
1: Left foot, forward basic step.
2: Right foot, shoulder length step with arms in air.
3: Left foot, close the shoulder length step.
5: Right foot, forward-left cross tap.
&: Right foot, right side tap.
6: Left, side hop.
&: Right, side hop.
7: Right foot, forward-left cross step with body twist left.
1: Left foot, forward basic step.
1: Left foot, forward-right cross step.
(Left leg steps across and in front of the right leg.)
2: Right foot, weighted step.
3: Left foot, forward open stance.
(Left foot steps so that you face directly forward. Feet at shoulder distance apart.)
5: Right foot, back-left cross-step.
(Right foot steps behind left leg.)
6: Left foot, forward open stance.
7: Right foot, forward step.
123: Basic.
5: Basic.
6: Basic.
7: Forward leg-pop.
(With the knees bent and with weight still on left foot, right foot moves to touch the left foot quickly. The left foot immediately steps out forward.)
1: Left foot, forward-right cross step.
2: Right foot, weighted step.
3: Hop back.
(Push off from the right foot to hop back and land with weight on the left foot.)
Syncopated Steps
5: Right foot, back-left cross step.
&: Left foot, forward-left diagonal step.
6: Right foot, right side step.
(From where the right foot is at, the right foot steps about six inches to the right.)
&: Left foot, Forward-right step.
(From where the left foot is at, the left foot steps about six inches to the right.)
7: Right foot, forward-cross step.
123: Basic step.
(Left leg steps across and in front of the right leg.)
2: Right foot, weighted step.
3: Left foot, forward open stance.
(Left foot steps so that you face directly forward. Feet at shoulder distance apart.)
5: Right foot, back-left cross-step.
(Right foot steps behind left leg.)
6: Left foot, forward open stance.
7: Right foot, forward step.
123: Basic.
5: Basic.
6: Basic.
7: Forward leg-pop.
(With the knees bent and with weight still on left foot, right foot moves to touch the left foot quickly. The left foot immediately steps out forward.)
1: Left foot, forward-right cross step.
2: Right foot, weighted step.
3: Hop back.
(Push off from the right foot to hop back and land with weight on the left foot.)
Syncopated Steps
5: Right foot, back-left cross step.
&: Left foot, forward-left diagonal step.
6: Right foot, right side step.
(From where the right foot is at, the right foot steps about six inches to the right.)
&: Left foot, Forward-right step.
(From where the left foot is at, the left foot steps about six inches to the right.)
7: Right foot, forward-cross step.
123: Basic step.
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123: Basic.
Syncopated Steps (Right foot)
5: Side toe tap.
&: Back toe tap.
6: Side toe tap.
&: Forward toe tap.
7: Back toe tap.
(Lift right leg up and step immediately back from last step.)
Syncopated Steps (Left foot)
1: Side toe tap.
&: Forward toe tap.
Syncopated Steps (Right foot)
2: Side toe tap.
&: Forward toe tap.
3: Side toe tap.
5: Back basic.
Syncopated Steps (Right foot)
5: Side toe tap.
&: Back toe tap.
6: Side toe tap.
&: Forward toe tap.
7: Back toe tap.
(Lift right leg up and step immediately back from last step.)
Syncopated Steps (Left foot)
1: Side toe tap.
&: Forward toe tap.
Syncopated Steps (Right foot)
2: Side toe tap.
&: Forward toe tap.
3: Side toe tap.
5: Back basic.
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1: Left foot, right cross step.
2: Right foot, right side tap.
(Weight is still on the left foot.)
3: Right foot, back cross sweep, back.
&: Sweeping motion to next step.
5: Right foot, forward cross sweep.
6: Right foot, back cross sweep.
7: Left foot, left side sweep.
1: Left foot, right cross step.
2: Right foot, right side tap.
(Weight is still on the left foot.)
3: Right foot, heel tap to left leg side pop.
(The right leg snaps back and touches the left foot's heel. The left foot then pops out to the left side.)
5: Left foot, right cross sweep, back.
(The left leg sweeps backand cross taps in back of the right leg.)
6: Right foot, left cross sweep, back.
(The right leg from its position sweeps back to be behind the left leg.)
7: Left leg, left semi side tap.
(The left leg sweeps out away from the last position and stops diagonally left and forward.)
1: Left foot, forward basic step.
2: Right foot, right side tap.
(Weight is still on the left foot.)
3: Right foot, back cross sweep, back.
&: Sweeping motion to next step.
5: Right foot, forward cross sweep.
6: Right foot, back cross sweep.
7: Left foot, left side sweep.
1: Left foot, right cross step.
2: Right foot, right side tap.
(Weight is still on the left foot.)
3: Right foot, heel tap to left leg side pop.
(The right leg snaps back and touches the left foot's heel. The left foot then pops out to the left side.)
5: Left foot, right cross sweep, back.
(The left leg sweeps backand cross taps in back of the right leg.)
6: Right foot, left cross sweep, back.
(The right leg from its position sweeps back to be behind the left leg.)
7: Left leg, left semi side tap.
(The left leg sweeps out away from the last position and stops diagonally left and forward.)
1: Left foot, forward basic step.
1: Left foot, forward right cross step.
(Left leg steps and crosses right of right leg.)
2: Right foot, forward left cross step.
(Right leg steps and crosses left of left leg.)
3: Left foot, forward right cross step.
5: Right foot, forward left cross step.
6: Open stance hop.
(Hop and put feet at shoulder length while facing forward.
7: Cross Hop, Flared step.
(Hop up, bend left leg at knee to prepare for a right cross step.)
1: Left foot, right cross step.
(From last position, left foot steps down on count 1.)
2: Basic.
3: Basic.
5: Right foot, right side step.
6: Right foot, heel tap for left leg side pop.
(Pull the right heel towards the left heel, so that the left foot pops out sideways in a tap.)
7: Left foot, right cross step, forward.
1: Right foot, left cross step, foward, with body twist to face left.
2: Weighted step.
(From last position, move the weight to the left foot but remain in that same position.)
3: Right foot, shoulder length step.
(Step so that you face forward again. The feet are at shoulder length.)
5: Right foot, back basic step.
(Left leg steps and crosses right of right leg.)
2: Right foot, forward left cross step.
(Right leg steps and crosses left of left leg.)
3: Left foot, forward right cross step.
5: Right foot, forward left cross step.
6: Open stance hop.
(Hop and put feet at shoulder length while facing forward.
7: Cross Hop, Flared step.
(Hop up, bend left leg at knee to prepare for a right cross step.)
1: Left foot, right cross step.
(From last position, left foot steps down on count 1.)
2: Basic.
3: Basic.
5: Right foot, right side step.
6: Right foot, heel tap for left leg side pop.
(Pull the right heel towards the left heel, so that the left foot pops out sideways in a tap.)
7: Left foot, right cross step, forward.
1: Right foot, left cross step, foward, with body twist to face left.
2: Weighted step.
(From last position, move the weight to the left foot but remain in that same position.)
3: Right foot, shoulder length step.
(Step so that you face forward again. The feet are at shoulder length.)
5: Right foot, back basic step.
12: Side Basic.
3: Left foot, right cross step, front.
5: Right foot, forward cross step.
6: Left foot, Right cross sweep.
(While keeping the left foot in front of you instead of a cross step, sweep the left foot to the right.)
7: Left foot, left cross sweep.
(Sweep the left foot to the left, which is about shoulder distance from the last point.)
1: Left foot, right cross step, front.
2: Right leg, side air kick.
(Right foot is brought to the side and does air kick. Height of kick should not be above knee level.)
3: Right foot, left cross step, front.
5: Hook turn.
(from cross step, keep elbows up for balance and twist self into turn with thigh muscles and balls of feet.)
6: Hook turn prep.
(From last position, bring the left leg behind the right in a cross step to prepare for a hook turn.)
7: Hook turn.
(The same as count 5.)
1: Forward basic step.
3: Left foot, right cross step, front.
5: Right foot, forward cross step.
6: Left foot, Right cross sweep.
(While keeping the left foot in front of you instead of a cross step, sweep the left foot to the right.)
7: Left foot, left cross sweep.
(Sweep the left foot to the left, which is about shoulder distance from the last point.)
1: Left foot, right cross step, front.
2: Right leg, side air kick.
(Right foot is brought to the side and does air kick. Height of kick should not be above knee level.)
3: Right foot, left cross step, front.
5: Hook turn.
(from cross step, keep elbows up for balance and twist self into turn with thigh muscles and balls of feet.)
6: Hook turn prep.
(From last position, bring the left leg behind the right in a cross step to prepare for a hook turn.)
7: Hook turn.
(The same as count 5.)
1: Forward basic step.
1: Left leg, right cross sweep, front.
2: Right foot, hop back w/ flare.
(Pushing off from the right foot, hop back while bringing the left leg behind the right leg prior to landing. Also, arms are flared straight into the air.)
3: Landing from hop.
(Land back with most of the weight on the right foot. Left foot should be stepped behind the right leg.)
&: Weight transfer to left foot.
5: Right leg, left cross sweep, back.
(Swing the right leg behind the left leg in a sweep. Position is in a cross step.)
6: Left foot, left forward diagonal step.
(Wherever the left foot is at, sweep left to shoulder length. Leg is still in front of body.)
7: Left foot, right forward diagonal step.
(From last position, sweep to right shoulder length. Leg is still in front of body.)
&: Weight transfer to left foot. 1: Right foot, forward cross step.
(While moving forward, the right foot steps in front of the left leg in a cross step.)
2: Left foot, forward cross step.
(while moving forward, the left foot steps in front of the right leg in a cross step.)
3: Right foot, right side snap/step.
(With a sharp motion, bring the right foot to the right side, beyond shoulder length. Bring height down at the knees to accomplish this.)
567: Left, side, rabbit hop.
(While turning the body to face the right forward diagonally, hop sideways from the slot 3 times, one for each count. Feet are together during hop and arms are up at shoulder height, elbows out.)
1: Left foot, forward basic step.
(Twist the body to face forward and start the basic step again.)
Hops & Toe Taps
1: Left leg, right cross sweep, front.
2: Right foot, hop back w/ flare.
(Pushing off from the right foot, hop back while bringing the left leg behind the right leg prior to landing. Also, arms are flared straight into the air.)
3: Landing from hop.
(Land back with most of the weight on the right foot. Left foot should be stepped behind the right leg.)
&: Weight transfer to left foot.
5: Right foot, left cross toe tap, back.
(With the right toe, tap the ground in left cross.)
6: Right foot, right back cross toe tap.
7: Right foot, left cross toe tap, back.
1: Cigarette butt.
(With the left heel, step left diagonally and twist your heel on the ground as if you were putting out a cigarette butt.)
2: Cigarette butt.
(Twist your heel on the ground as if you were putting out a cigarette butt.)
3: Cigarette butt.
(Pull back your left leg from the cigarette butt.)
5: Back basic.
6: Basic with shoulder roll.
7: Basic with shoulder roll.
(As you are moving forward in your basic, roll your shoulders back as you step forward.)
1: Left foot, forward basic step.
2: Right foot, hop back w/ flare.
(Pushing off from the right foot, hop back while bringing the left leg behind the right leg prior to landing. Also, arms are flared straight into the air.)
3: Landing from hop.
(Land back with most of the weight on the right foot. Left foot should be stepped behind the right leg.)
&: Weight transfer to left foot.
5: Right leg, left cross sweep, back.
(Swing the right leg behind the left leg in a sweep. Position is in a cross step.)
6: Left foot, left forward diagonal step.
(Wherever the left foot is at, sweep left to shoulder length. Leg is still in front of body.)
7: Left foot, right forward diagonal step.
(From last position, sweep to right shoulder length. Leg is still in front of body.)
&: Weight transfer to left foot. 1: Right foot, forward cross step.
(While moving forward, the right foot steps in front of the left leg in a cross step.)
2: Left foot, forward cross step.
(while moving forward, the left foot steps in front of the right leg in a cross step.)
3: Right foot, right side snap/step.
(With a sharp motion, bring the right foot to the right side, beyond shoulder length. Bring height down at the knees to accomplish this.)
567: Left, side, rabbit hop.
(While turning the body to face the right forward diagonally, hop sideways from the slot 3 times, one for each count. Feet are together during hop and arms are up at shoulder height, elbows out.)
1: Left foot, forward basic step.
(Twist the body to face forward and start the basic step again.)
Hops & Toe Taps
1: Left leg, right cross sweep, front.
2: Right foot, hop back w/ flare.
(Pushing off from the right foot, hop back while bringing the left leg behind the right leg prior to landing. Also, arms are flared straight into the air.)
3: Landing from hop.
(Land back with most of the weight on the right foot. Left foot should be stepped behind the right leg.)
&: Weight transfer to left foot.
5: Right foot, left cross toe tap, back.
(With the right toe, tap the ground in left cross.)
6: Right foot, right back cross toe tap.
7: Right foot, left cross toe tap, back.
1: Cigarette butt.
(With the left heel, step left diagonally and twist your heel on the ground as if you were putting out a cigarette butt.)
2: Cigarette butt.
(Twist your heel on the ground as if you were putting out a cigarette butt.)
3: Cigarette butt.
(Pull back your left leg from the cigarette butt.)
5: Back basic.
6: Basic with shoulder roll.
7: Basic with shoulder roll.
(As you are moving forward in your basic, roll your shoulders back as you step forward.)
1: Left foot, forward basic step.
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1: Forward basic.
2: Right foot, back diagonal basic step.
(Step diagonally right.)
3: Right side pop.
(Bring the left foot to where the right foot is, in a snap. When the left touches the right foot, the right foot pops out the side. The right leg is straight while the left leg is bent.)
5: Right foot, left cross step, front.
6: Left foot, left cross step, behind.
(Step behind the right leg.)
7: Right foot, left cross step, front.
Syncopated Series
1: Left foot, right cross sweep.
(From last position, sweep the left leg forward so that the foot is directly in front of you. Height should also be low to provide flare.)
&: Left foot, left side sweep. (Sweep the leg to the left.)
2: Left foot, right cross sweep, front.
&: Left foot, left side sweep.
3: Left foot, right cross step, back.
(After sweeps, the left foot steps behind the right leg. Weight is transferred to this foot in the next count.)
&: Weight transfer to left foot.
5: Right foot, right side sweep.
&: Right foot, left cross sweep, front.
2: Right foot, back diagonal basic step.
(Step diagonally right.)
3: Right side pop.
(Bring the left foot to where the right foot is, in a snap. When the left touches the right foot, the right foot pops out the side. The right leg is straight while the left leg is bent.)
5: Right foot, left cross step, front.
6: Left foot, left cross step, behind.
(Step behind the right leg.)
7: Right foot, left cross step, front.
Syncopated Series
1: Left foot, right cross sweep.
(From last position, sweep the left leg forward so that the foot is directly in front of you. Height should also be low to provide flare.)
&: Left foot, left side sweep. (Sweep the leg to the left.)
2: Left foot, right cross sweep, front.
&: Left foot, left side sweep.
3: Left foot, right cross step, back.
(After sweeps, the left foot steps behind the right leg. Weight is transferred to this foot in the next count.)
&: Weight transfer to left foot.
5: Right foot, right side sweep.
&: Right foot, left cross sweep, front.
6: Left foot, left side sweep.
(Bring the left foot from behind the right leg for a sweep.)
&: Left foot, right cross sweep, front.
7: Left foot, left side side sweep.
Finish Syncopated Series
&: Bring left leg in for next basic step.
1: Left foot, forward basic step.
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