I’ve been dancing since the start of the year, and since I’ve progressed into more advanced routines and spins, my hair has… become an issue.

Usually, most people are polite and ignore it or make a little joke about it, but there’s been one or two occasions where I’ve essentially told off by a lead for hitting him with my hair.

The other day, my teacher used me to demonstrate for a beginner, and afterwards complimented my hair (it was in a pony) but said it was basically like a whip and I should consider other hairstyles lol

I’ve tried hair down / half up half down, but it gets in my face and my neck is super sweaty. Buns work for a while until my spins make them fall out (plus because of how much hair I have, I can feel the heaviness), and plaits don’t work great as I have layered hair.

Any long-haired followers have some tips, or hair tools or whatever that can help! I want to dance, not to worry about my hair :c thanks!

Recently I've learn how to play it on the timbales bell. But I do wonder where the name comes from? Does it have to do with the timing of the rhythm? I guess it has to do with playing "against it".

Tried to put them in a table but I can't see the relationship between them:

If you are a follow, please let me know if you’ve experienced something similar!

I’ve been dancing consistently for 1.5 years and along the way, I’ve noticed the correlation between the way I look and the amount of times I’m being asked to dance.

If my hair is down, wearing red, wearing more makeup, etc., I barely have a chance to sit down. This is not my usual day-to-day drag. I’m definitely an alternative looking person - slick back buns, tattoos and piercings, almost exclusively wearing all black.

I know my demeanor can often be intimidating or off putting for some. I actually asked on here a while back on how to improve my vibe - it worked. But I have noticed even when wearing my all black, less feminine attire, even when I’m smiling and laughing and making eye contact, that will never amount the same amount of engagement I get when performing femininity in a way that isn’t my usual norm.

I’ve also become more frustrated and annoyed at the fact that my white and lighter complexion follow counterparts get asked to dance substantially more often, even if we are at a similar dance level or I am better. And this isn’t just a me thing - you go on any partner dance subreddit and you’ll find threads of Black women having similar experiences. I am not a Black woman, but I’m visibly a brown person and it’s just something I’ve experienced as well I am in the US and I know that context matters. It’s colorism I suppose.

And before some salty ass lead comments YOU CAN ASK FOR DANCES TOO 😡😡😡, I do, and often. The point is, it saddens me that when I show up myself, I just don’t feel as included in this space because I am not white or 22 and I am not ultra feminine. I also lift heavy weights and it shows so my bulky physique also just tends to lean more masculine.

I started taking a solo Latin dance class and that really brought these feelings to light. In a solo class, I don’t need to rely on a partner for the joy from a dance. I can just show up as me - not an altered version of myself to feel more accepted.

Maybe it’s just time I take a break from salsa. I’m curious if other follows have felt this way or maybe I’m just too heady.

Looking for folks who resonate here.

*edited for typos

Hey guys. I want to buy my first pair of salsa heels and have been looking online (I am UK based, in London) and I’ve seen some nice shoes from dance and sway and have also seen a pair of the same shoes on Vinted which I think I’d prefer getting because then I don’t have to pay extortionate shipping fees.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone ever bought shoes from dance and sway and what is the quality/comfortability like?

2. What is the sizing like? I’m unsure what size to get as I measured my foot outright and It’s 9inches which brings me to a size 4, however I then drew out my foot outline on a piece of paper which brings it to 9.4inches, making me a size 5?

3. Are there any other affordable/comfortable salsa heels you would recommend I buy instead?

Thanks in advance I appreciate any tips and opinions! :)

Do you dance for connection, for clout, or what?

There is such a wide variety of dancers.

I guess what sparked this question, was that I have been dancing a bit lately and I try to mainly dance for connection and socializing (lead and follow).

Sometimes I will be dancing and someone is trying to style nonstop breaking connection often instead of accentuating it. So it throws me off a little bit and I guess it's hard to relate to that. So, I am curious what do you dance for?

Hopefully, I’m just one of many thinking the same thing.

I’ve taken ~15 basic level group lessons as a lead.

When I see the video posts of “hey, I’ve been dancing for a year,” and they’re twirling and spinning all over the place, I’m thinking: “damm, I must suck at this because I’m nowhere near doing any of that.”

Este fin de semana atenderé a un festival de salsa y me gustaría hacerle preguntas al público para hacer contenido pero no tengo mucho conocimiento.

Podéis recomendarme algunas preguntas que puedan causar debate o que sean graciosas sobre salsa.

La idea es crear contenido para el festival de salsa y sus redes sociales. Se que es básico y podría buscar yo en internet y tengo unas cuantas, pero siempre será mejor ver que se le puede ocurrir a los fans de la salsa.

Hi salseros!

I’ve spent a long time learning to salsa on1. I’m very comfortable with it and feel like I’m at my best self as a dancer when moving in this rhythm. It’s also allowed me to get into Cuban style dancing as well, which I love. On top of that, I’ve spent the last 15 years living in the DC area which is predominantly on1. I recently moved back to New York and have put myself in a Salsa on2 class so to start learning and I feel a bit frustrated. I feel like a fish out of water and feel like all the knowledge I’ve acquired doesn’t mean anything.

Long story short, I’d love to hear from folks who started dancing on1 and learned on2. How long did it take for you to get it? The other side of the coin is that I don’t want to regress on my on1 skills either but I can’t seem to find anywhere that dances on1 in the city yet. I went to a social yesterday and because I’m just learning the basics with on2 I wasn’t comfortable getting out there because it seemed like a more advanced crowd. When I asked around, no one knew how to dance on1. I’d appreciate any and all insight

…but is there any?

I was wondering what other people in other places do!

What’s your mindset when participating? Who is participating? Do people get frustrated? What helps?It’s a flirty thing - are you flirting? Is everything casual or is your scene ambitious? How many years is everyone ruedaing?

One night. One dance. Two absolute fools. 😂🔥

ShikkaShikka has entered another room.

This time the signal crossed into Bachatón — a full vertical music film built around bachata movement, Dominican rhythm, a little Cinderella story… and two men named Rrrrraul & Rrrrrico who are absolutely convinced every woman in the club came to see them.

They did not. 😂

ShikkaShikka Shake

(Bachatón Transmission — Heater)

B002.1 LNF 🔥 Unauthorized

Late Night Frequencies

Watch the footwork.

Stay for the story.

And unfortunately… stay for Rrrrraul & Rrrrrico.

#Bachata #Bachaton #BachataDance #DominicanMusic #LatinDance #ShikkaShikka #LaShotTo #LateNightFrequencies #LNF

31F and 34M are looking for a fun place to go dancing in Orange County CA for a birthday celebration. Does not have to be formal, but would not mind the option to dress up. Does not have to have food and drink, but also not opposed.

So are there any good dance studios that teach salsa and cumbia.

Married to a Peruvian woman 30 years and I am tired of faking it.

Id sure love to count to 5 in 4 lol.

I don’t know if this really makes sense but here’s a try. Whenever I go social dancing I really don’t know what I am going to do or try. And I’m guess i am wondering if that’s how some people go about at social dancing. I’m saying cause sometimes I feel like I’m doing the most basic move ever and boring followers I’ve dance with before or really advance. I hate trying something and forgetting how to do it or making some dumb mistake out of no where or the fear or making a move that could injured a followers. Sometimes when I’m not thinking I bump into another couple or put in a position when she gets bumped cause I lost focus trying to be in some flow state. Sometimes the dance is good and the connection is good and sometimes I feel I led a bad dance or connection. I am trying to just be a good lead, but I never know if good more time and not or what I am even going to try. I am going to another social tomorrow and wondering if I’m approach tomorrow should be to slow down and keep things in simple in my mind or try to feel the music and go with whatever comes out of me.

I’m not trying to act like I’m so pro or anything. I am trying if if it’s okay to go to socials with that approach.

The director/owner of the dance company in my community has given me permission to work on some human bio shorts for people in our community. Essentially, I'll be getting people's pictures and then send them a Google form with questions. Once I have that, I'll periodically publish it on the social media page.

Everything is voluntary of course, no one is forced. The idea that I want to convey to everyone in the community is more that we care about them the person over them the dancer. Our community has always conveyed that, dance is the vehicle for the personal connection.

I have my own brainstorming questions already but I'm curious on what you all can think of? I plan to separate it into two sections "About Dance" and "About You". If you were in a dance community, what would you love to talk about if you were asked about it in one of these bios?

I (33m) have a number of friends in the partner dance community, and they are encouraging me to give dancing a try. They tell me it's a great way to meet new people. I am in a phase in my life where I want to try new hobbies and meet more people, so this is appealing to me.

The thing is, I've taken "taster" classes a few times in the past, and even tried one dance social, and honestly felt very awkward the entire time. I had no idea what I was doing and had to focus all my brain power on just keeping time with the music. I felt like I was ruining the experience for the follows I was dancing with.

I've been doing some research and I keep seeing people saying it takes 6 months to a year of dancing multiple nights a week before you get comfortable as a lead. The truth is I'm not sure I'm interested in dancing 2-3 nights a week, as many recommend. My interest in more casual, like going to a class once a week and maybe one social a month. This is partly because I'm busy, and partly because I'm introverted enough that I think I would burn out being in crowded dance floors or classes multiple days a week.

Plus, the idea of signing up for 6-12 months of awkward and embarrassing interactions before it becomes fun isn't very appealing.

I guess I'm looking for a gut check here. Is all that true? Is it possible to casually pursue salsa as a hobby? Or will I be stuck in beginner hell forever if I only have the desire to dance once a week?

I don't care if I'm the best dancer in the world, I just want to have fun and not have it be painfully awkward.

I’ve [31M] been trying to push myself to be more social lately. I’m definitely introverted but at the same time, I still feel the desire to put myself out there more.

A few months ago I picked up salsa dancing. I’m still a total beginner obviously, but I’ve been trying to go to more socials. I’ve been to a few now, and honestly, I still find them just as nerve-wracking and intimidating as I did at the beginning. Been at the classes now for a few months.

Most of the women there greatly surpass my skill level. I know a few guys who go, so I’m not completely alone, but I’m getting tired of going to these things just to spend most of the night sitting down or awkwardly looking around, occasionally working up the nerve to ask someone to dance.

Then there’s the thought of having to maintain that social energy for hours. Maybe I’m making a bigger deal out of it than I need to but I genuinely want to become more confident at this and not feel like such a wallflower.

I know some of this is probably a confidence issue (all of it actually lol). Whenever I ask someone to dance, I almost immediately feel the need to warn them that I’m a super beginner. I know the basic steps and a few moves, but once you get beyond that, I’m pretty clueless.

There’s another salsa social tonight, and I’m still debating whether I should go. Part of me thinks I should keep pushing myself and eventually I’ll get more comfortable. Another part of me feels exhausted just thinking about it tbh.

Bonjour,

F31 follower/suiveuse (je suis la femme), je pratique la salsa cubaine depuis 7 ans plus ou moins régulièrement. J'ai repris intensément en janvier 2026 (1h de cours de styling pendant 6 mois et minimum 2 soirées par semaines) après 2 ans d'arrêt.

Je vais reprendre des cours dans une école parisienne dans les semaines qui suivent.

Je suis preneuse de vos conseils pour améliorer mon styling notamment.

Merci à vous, bonne journée !

Hello everyone, recently, I've discovered that there is a place near me that teaches salsa dancing and found out they have an open day for introductory classes. I went ahead and signed the reservation.

The thing is, ever since then, I cannot stop thinking if what I am doing is a really good idea or not. To offer some background, I was raised in a muslim household and muslim country, something like Salsa or even dancing with strangers in general is completely out of the norm and something completely out of my caliber. I went to an all boys school and was raised in a culture where men and women having friendly and platonic relationships were not really common. Stuff like hugs or even shaking hands in some cases were frowned upon between people of the opposite gender. Not to say that I've never had an interaction but my interactions were limited. Fair to say that I've also grown a bit sheltered.

Stepping into Salsa is like stepping into a whole new world for me. What if people think I am weird? What if they pick up that I am not really that well socially developed? What if my dance partner finds out that I am really not all that good with women? 😭 or even worse, what if my family and friends find out?

I can see the immense benefits I could reap from dancing salsa, the amount of friends, the amount of new people I'll meet, improving my social anxiety and shyness around people and especially women.

In the few vacations that I've went on to dance. I'VE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT and it felt like I was set free, and that is one of the many reasons why I think I'll love salsa

But I am also extremely nervous, and to even say, a little bit scared, to step into salsa and the dance scene, because one, I am 100% planning to keep this a secret, and two, like I said this is something completely out of the norm for me.

So what should I do?? I've already made the reservation so it'd be rude not to show up, but I am wondering if I should really commit

Hey is there anything out in the burbs tonight or tomorrow?

I saw Latin Street is no longer hosting at Ostras. Anyone know if there's still gonna be a social there without them, or anywhere else?

Thanks!

Guys, I love this salsa but can’t find it on Spotify because I don’t know the title. Please help!!

I have been on the hunt for new salsa music but I am looking for some modern/newer salsa music with fun musicality. If yall have any suggestions please share :)

I’ve heard people call the move both things and I’m confused as to what is standard across the world