These are common questions I have heard from beginners and those curious about salsa dancing:

How long does it take to learn salsa?
That depends on you. Some learn fast, others learn slow. Take into account that the more you practice, the better you get. Beginners should take every opportunity to go dancing because the more exposure and experience you gain, the better you will become. Watching others will help you to develop your own style and uniqueness. Remember that the best dance lessons in the world come from practicing and going out dancing!

What if I don't speak spanish?
Don't worry! This is where the phrase "Shut up and dance!" became popular. More than 50% of the salsa dancers in Memphis can't speak it either.

What is Salsa?
Salsa is music from Cuba. It is an Afro-Cuban rhythm spread from Cuba that has spread to all parts of Latin America. Salsa has an underlying rhythmic tone comprised of 8 beats. This is usually established by "the clave", two cyndrical wooden blocks that are struck together to make a distinct sound. Dancers use this to follow the beats of the music. Whenever there is salsa music, there is salsa dancing...

What is Salsa Dancing?
This is where it gets complicated.. "Salsa" means something different to everyone. It is a term that encompasses a number of different things such as Latin dancing, the music, the culture, the style and flair, etc. Salsa is very cross-cultural and one must respect that! Although all Latin American countries listen to the same salsa music, everyone dances differently. In different Latin countries, the people there interpret the music and dance salsa using their own unique blend of regional steps, styling, and turn combinations. Salsa dancing is unique because it can absorb so many steps from all other dances. A salsa dancer in Cuba will not dance the same way as a salsa dancer from Colombia or a salsa dancer from Mexico! Everyone dances to the same music, but they might not use the same steps! Different salsa dance styles developed because of this.

There is no "correct" text-book method to dance to salsa. What matters most is dancing to the rhythm of the music. Despite the differences in style, all who dance salsa obey the underlying 8-beat rhythm established by the clave.

As long as the dancers are dancing on beat, then they are dancing "S-A-L-S-A".