This open class introduces a wide range of fundamental Latin dance skills, including:

* New York Salsa Footwork Curriculum
* Body Rolls (Forward & Reverse)
* Torso & Hip Circles, Hip Shake
* Shoulder Rolls & "Salsa Contra-Body Movement"
* Shoulder Shimmy, Head Rolls
* Arm Alignment and Transitioning
* Turn Preparation & Execution (solo and partner work applications)
* Head Spotting, Balance, Momentum

This class is taught by BASo certified teachers and offers salsa solo work instruction to students of all levels. New students and beginners with little or no salsa experience are welcome to join anytime. New material is taught every week, and the class does not run by cycle. To maximize results and memory retention, students are encouraged to visit BAILA Society's Online Dance Academy (www.bailasociety.tv), the largest online video library of dance instruction in the world. The Academy features full-length salsa lessons as well as supplementary concepts that are relevant to this class.

Training exercises used in every class will utilize fundamental dance techniques from ballet, jazz, ballroom, hip hop and salsa in order to present a clear and effective process for achieving total body control. The class covers variations in head, arm, and body movement that can be used to enhance simple salsa footwork. Isolation exercises and training routines will be drawn from other dance disciplines to encourage flexibility, body control, and rhythm. The goal of this aspect of the course is to enable students to improvise solo sequences on the dance floor with style and confidence. Each lesson also provides a comprehensive method for building body balance, momentum, and control when executing single and multiple spins in salsa. Turn drills designed after proven ballet and jazz spinning techniques will introduce and reinforce the skills needed to execute multiple spins in salsa dance, both with and without a partner.

While beginners will focus on traditional salsa footwork, basic styling concepts, and single turns, more advanced dancers will be taught original choreography with an emphasis on performance quality. These students will learn the importance of posture, eye contact, and facial expressions when performing, as well as useful strategies for maximizing each movement, interacting with an audience, making use of stage space, and dealing with nervousness and onstage mistakes.