Which Salsa Level is Right for You?

There’s a moment in Salsa when you stop counting steps and start dancing. Everything we teach at Caramelo is built to get you there — and to keep you growing long after.

Salsa at Caramelo is a path, rather than a drop-in class. Our four-week progressive courses take you from your first steps to advanced turn patterns, building technique and confidence week by week. Six levels means strong foundations early and new challenges as your dancing grows — so you always know where you are and what comes next.

No partner needed — we rotate partners regularly, so it’s easy to meet people and practise with different dancers.

Explore the levels below to see what you’ll learn and find the right course for you.

Completely new to salsa? Start with Beginners 1.

Already have Salsa experience? Contact us for an evaluation and we’ll help place you at the right level.

What You’ll Learn at Each Level

SALSA – BEGINNERS 1 COURSE

Welcome to your first steps, literally, into Salsa dancing. Whether you have no experience at all or have taken a couple of Salsa classes, this beginner’s course is perfect for you. Taught with patience and encouragement, you will learn the timing & rhythm of Salsa, the core basic steps & turns in Salsa, the foundation of the cross-body in NY-Style Salsa and the basic principles of leading and following in partner dancing. For those who feel they have ‘two left feet’, you will discover that you do have a right foot after all!

Prerequisite: None – no dance experience necessary!
Combine this course with: Bachata, Cha Cha Cha.
At the end of the course your instructor will advise you when you are ready to move up to the next level

SALSA – IMPROVERS 1 COURSE

Now that we got you dancing, you will re-cap the basics in Salsa Beginners 1 classes. We will turn our attention to partner-work, focusing on the cross-body lead, right turn and cross-body turn variations with emphasis on creating various basic turn-pattern combinations and adding styling for the followers. Timing and rhythm will be built-up and encouraged.

Prerequisite: Completion of Salsa Beginners 1 or equivalent experience. Individual evaluations available upon request.
Recommendation: We advise you repeat this level 2 times.
Combine this course with: Bachata, Ladies Styling Improvers, Cha Cha Cha.
At the end of the course your instructor will advise you when you are ready to move up to the next level

SALSA – IMPROVERS 2 COURSE

Re-capping and expanding upon Salsa Improvers 1, we will re-visit cross-body turns, right turns and introduce you to more advanced variations of the cross-body turn to increase your repertoire of turn-pattern combinations. There will be a focus on spinning, wraps, footwork shines, as well as tips & styling for the follower in partner-work. By now, you will feel assured and confident when hitting the dance floor!

Prerequisite: Mastering of Salsa classes at Improver 1 level or equivalent experience. Individual evaluations available upon request.
Combine this course with: Bachata, Ladies Styling Improvers, Cha Cha Cha.
Recommendation: We advise you repeat this level 4 to 5 times.
At the end of the course your instructor will advise you when you are ready to move up to the next level

SALSA – INTERMEDIATE 1 COURSE

Re-capping and expanding upon Salsa Improvers 2, you will be reminded of the “dos & don’ts” of dance floor etiquette. We will cover intricate travelling-turns and the more advanced technique of ‘open-breaks’. We’ll also introduce you to double spins and incorporate multiple spins into partner-work combinations. Good leading and following techniques in partner-work are worked upon, with following and styling tips incorporated into every new turn-pattern combination. Precision in technique, footwork, posture and balance will be encouraged.

Prerequisite: Mastering of Salsa Improvers 2 or equivalent experience. Individual evaluations available upon request.
Combine this course with: Bachata, Ladies Styling Improvers, Cha Cha Cha.
Recommendation: We advise you repeat this level 6 to 8 times.
At the end of the course your instructor will advise you when you are ready to move up to the next level

SALSA – INTERMEDIATE 2 COURSE

Re-capping and expanding upon Salsa Intermediate 1, we will teach you how to build your own turn patterns using good technique, involving a light lead, clear signalling, speed and timing, as well using all 8 counts in footwork and partner-work. Followers will learn to respond quickly to more advanced techniques so as to remain light, mastering double spins, improving good posture and adding ladies arm-styling. By this stage, whether you are a leader or follower, you will be confident to dance with a variety of dancers!

Prerequisite: Mastering of Salsa Intermediate 1 or equivalent experience. Individual evaluations available upon request.
Combine this course with: Cha Cha Cha, Men’s Styling, Ladies Styling, Bachata, Mambo on2.
Recommendation: We advise you repeat this level 6 to 8 times.
At the end of the course your instructor will advise you when you are ready to move up to the next level

SALSA – ADVANCED COURSE

With all the techniques under your belt, in our weekly advanced classes we will encourage you to include elements such as musicality, body movement isolations, spinning variations, improvisation in partner-work and footwork. This level is tailored for you to master all the techniques needed to be considered “advanced”, such as syncopations, multiple-turns and intricate leading & following techniques and turn-patterns. We will also encourage you to create and improvise your own patterns and footwork. A high level of creative turn-pattern combinations, technique & speed, multiple spinning, arm-styling and partner connection will help you dance with confidence with an array of dancers, whether at your local salsa club or at salsa festivals in the world. All topped off with the most important aspect of this social dance… a smile!

Prerequisite: Mastering of Salsa Intermediate 3 classes or equivalent experience. This level has a compulsory evaluation to enter. Evaluations available upon request.
Combine this course with: Cha Cha Cha, Men’s Styling, Ladies Styling, Bachata, Mambo on2.
Recommendation: We advise you do this level 6 to 8 times.

If you have more questions please check our FAQ section or give us a call!