The Ultimate Communication Tools in Salsa Dancing!

Eighty percent of our communication during a “normal” conversation is non-verbal, but Salsa dancing is one hundred percent none-verbal. The proper use of our hands whilst dancing Salsa is not only imperative for good lead and follow, but they are also key for expressing our feelings and to add that extra dimension to our own unique brand of Salsa.

This article explores some of the most important aspects and possibilities on how to use your hands in Salsa.

The “Salsa Three”
Three of the basic and most important partnering (= leading and following whilst dancing together) techniques in Salsa dance are:

• The manner in which you use your hands,
• the forces you apply,
• and your intention, which is communicated by the way you look at your dance partner.

The use of your hands is the most important of the three, because you can dance Salsa blindfolded with your dance partner if both of you are using the proper hand connections and apply the proper forces (!). There are many Hand Holds or Hand Settings, each one especially designed with a clear purpose in mind. For example, there are so called “Pressure Hand Connections”, which implies that both the leader and the follower are putting an equal amount of pressure against each others fingers and hands. This technique is mostly applied in LA Style Salsa on1 and in New York Style Mambo on2 to indicate and execute turns without having to “grab hands”. “Pulling Hand Connections” are used by leaders to pull the followers towards them – e.g. after an Open Break or during Cuban Enchufes/Enchuflas – or to help the followers in generating more turning and spinning power. The leader will mostly “hook” one or more of his fingers onto the fingers of the follower depending on the size of her hands and the amount of power he wants to use.

Open Hands = 100% Possibilities!
One of the major differences between “western style” Salsa dancing – or “dance school Salsa” - and Cuban or Latino Salsa is the use of the hands whilst dancing. The first category will dance with “open  hands”, meaning that American Style Salsa dancers will not grab each others hands whilst dancing.  Dancing with open hands gives you 100 percent possibilities, as the grabbing of hands and wrists in Cuban and Latino style Salsa will only limit the amount of possibilities for (intricate) turns, and - especially - spins.

Secret: The follower has to always mimic the hand position of the leader, and the alternating from one Hand Hold or Hand Setting to another has to go fluently. Both the leader and follower have to be very flexible in their wrists, because the wrists guide the hands whilst changing positions.

Watch this video clip of Addicted2Salsa.com explaining some of these principles during a nice Salsa Hand Shine.

Hand Styling to Create your Unique Salsa Expression
Using your hands as vehicles for self expression is key for creating your unique Salsa style. Read this very interesting article on the true history of Arm and Hand Styling in Salsa. Hand Styling is becoming more and more standardized in modern Salsa dancing, so – in order to stay unique – it would be wise to start doing what many people in the Caribbean, Latin America and in many third world countries do: talk not only with your mouth, but also with your hands.

Final note: do not let the hand that you are not using just “drop dead” against your body.

Secret: Your hands are the “directors” of your moving body. And, both hands are used to maintain proper posture and to keep centrifugal forces at bay!