Zumba is a dance-party-style workout that can make exercising seem like less of a chore. Learning the basic Zumba steps before going to your first class can boost your confidence. The dance movements ...

“We always go over the basic salsa stuff every week, like the underarm turn for the ladies,” she said. “Then we usually add one or two more steps after that.

Our dance got more complicated, with some cumbias — a basic step that goes side to side — thrown in, different arm positions for the cross-body leads, and a spin to finish.

And so we begin with the basic step - the foundation of the entire dance. ••• Salsa is really an eight-count dance, but Rivera tells us to count 1, 2, 3, _ 5, 6, 7, _.

She then goes through the basic salsa dance steps, and soon, ten beginning students are maneuvering across the dance floor like old pros.

We were also able to dance with a partner, learning how to do salsa moves like the Enchufla, a basic turn, and Guapea, which are basic open steps, in pairs. “It’s street dance,” Moody said.

Salsa Des Moines, a local 501 (c) (3) non-profit offers unique opportunities to learn and practice Latin dance steps and rhythms at various venues around town.