Saturdays starting April 4, 2026
12pm – 1pm
All levels, singles and partners welcome
Sliding Scale $15 – $25 per person
Dance Station
salsa lessons
a quick definition of salsa…
Salsa is a fun partner dance, encouraging self-expression, socialization, laughter and health, and is danced to salsa music that carries an undercurrent of syncopated rhythms, often inspiring the dancer’s moves. There are many forms of salsa, and the most popular world-wide is Salsa-on-One (also known as LA Style, or Salsa in a Line).
what style do you teach?
Salsa-on-One as well as the Rueda Casino, an invigorating group dance where participants respond to a caller who is also dancing.
do I need a partner?
Nope. We rotate often (optional) so everyone has a variety of partners throughout the lesson. There are many benefits to participate in rotating, such as realizing everyone at the lesson is interpreting the instructions in a different way, in a different style, and with a different flare, which can create more acceptance and appreciation of oneself and others. Also, not having a partner at a Social dance is fine as well, as it’s a great place to meet others. Joining the introduction lessons at the dance is an excellent ice-breaker, highly encouraged for all dancers – beginners through advanced.
how do I register?
For first-time students, it would be good to arrive 10-15 minutes early to register. We have a sliding scale, and you can choose what amount best fits your budget. Payments are accepted in the studio or online.
I have never danced – do you think I can do this?
We start at the very beginning, from putting the weight on one foot, then the other – from beginners to more advanced dancers, all lessons are started with fun warmups to prepare for dancing.
After learning some of the basics within one lesson, you might arrive to the place where many do – that Salsa just feels good, and the social interaction is a blast. No need for perfection. Though, if you want perfection, there’s room for that, too!
In general, people are eager to help new dancers learn, as the more dancers there are, the more fun Salsa is! Also, one can dance the Basic Step and have a great time listening to the music and talking and laughing with their partner. Then, eventually they may get inspired to try more – and off they go, playing with emphasizing beats, creating with spins – and having a great time doing it.
what levels are taught?
Level 1 and Level 2 in both Salsa and Rueda Casino. This spring at Dance Station, Marie is introducing a new pedagogy in her approach to teaching Salsa – and that is to bring all levels together! When teaching for 7 months at La Fonda’s weekly live music event with Sol y Soul, Marie realized that the dancers were mostly interested learning tips to have fun social dancing – it was all about people being together and having a great time.
So, here it is! A program bringing together all levels, focused on the social dance floor experience. It will be a lot of fun – we will be mixing it up, depending on who is there, and bringing in new routines each week that can be approached from all levels. Through this flexibility, the undercurrent of Marie’s instruction will remain emphasizing foundations to support the ease of learning complex patterns, and developing combos and personal style through understanding the music.
should I take a private lesson?
Private lessons can be a good option for dancers to explore their development with a coach by their side. A dancer can have control over what they are taught, ask clarifying questions, dance with a professional, and have focused attention.
If desired, Marie has a systematic approach to bringing the individual dancers, couples, and groups from the very beginning foundations, through preparing for a choreographed performance.
what is the recommended path to become a good salsa dancer?
Participate in regular group lessons, explore dancing as both the Lead and the Follow, take some private lessons, attend social dances and live music events as often as possible – and if there is a Salsa Congress? Jump in and do it – these fabulous events are held all over the United States and world-wide, and usually feature a packed weekend of lessons, social dancing, and performances!
what to wear
what clothing is suggested for the sessions?
Wear something that is comfortable for you to move in.
what shoes to wear in the studio?
Most ideal is a suede-sole salsa or ballroom shoe. Some dancers prefer to use the suede-sole jazz or ballet shoe.
Next in line, would be any indoor shoe that allows you to rotate on the ball of your foot on a wood floor. An idea is a light tennis shoe with non-marking non-gripping soles, such as a simple canvas top with a light weight sole.
And, lastly, you are welcome to use shoes that are not dedicated to dancing, or indoor only. Though, realize that it is ideal for Dance Station’s dance floor to be as clean as possible to retain its excellent condition for all of the dancers who will use it for many years to come. If you go this route, ensure the soles are clean, and not wet.
Wait! What about socks? Yes, socks can work, though for some, there is a tendency for the toes to grip the floor as the socks can be slippery. Ideally, when dancing Salsa-on-One, the toes and heals are slightly lifted, which with socks, can be a little bit of a challenge, creating extra effort for the foot, and the sensation of imbalance.
It is recommended to change your shoes at the studio. At Dance Station, there are shelves for shoes under the bench at the front door, or you can keep them with your belongings in the seating area.
what are the best salsa shoes?
Shoes with suede soles are excellent for Salsa, as they allow the dancer to easily rotate on the ball of their foot while keeping traction – this includes both Lead and Follow. When choosing a style, there are a few points to pay close attention to:
- heel height – both Lead and Follow dance with the heel very slightly raised, so consider this when determining the height of the heel. There are a variety of choices in both Men and Ladies styles.
- strapping – in Ladies styles, the options in straps go from simple to crossing over multiple areas of the foot and having 3 buckles. It’s fun to see all the choices – yet keep in mind that this is not only a decorative choice – the straps have the important role of helping anchor the foot where needed. It is important to find something where the foot is not slipping around inside of the shoe. Consider you will be mostly dancing on the ball of your foot, so there is increased pressure on the toes. Thus, maybe you’d consider again about that closed-toe shoe and how it would feel. Or, for a narrow foot, perhaps more strapping across the center of the foot may help keep it anchored within the shoe.
- soles – make sure to get suede soles, and add a suede brush to your order! This small tool keeps your soles in excellent condition by brushing before and after dancing. Also, when going around the social dance floor, keep in mind that suede gets ruined when stepping in water. Thus, you might consider getting two pairs of shoes – one for the floors you know will always be a mess, and another for the dance studios.
- quality – there is a vast variety of choices on the internet, and with it, a variety of cost. I have only tried Very Fine Dancesport Shoes and they have been excellent! For a snug fit, it is recommended to order a half-size smaller. They carry some fun Men’s styles, too!
links to shoe styles mentioned above
All these links go to my favorite shoe website – Very Fine Dancesport Shoes. Their selection is vast, and most basic styles are readily available. They also have many special styles that are made to order, or maybe you want to design your own shoe?! Thus the delivery times vary, and are noted on the right side of the screen under Availability. Keep in mind, for a snug fit, it is recommended to order a half size smaller. Here are some links to get you started exploring:
ballet suede sole (pink only)
ladies cuban heel with strapping in the center
ladies salsa with strapping in the center
ladies salsa with options of build (including vegan suede)
what about the suede brush?
The suede brush is highly recommended to purchase, as brushing the suede before and after dancing keeps your sole in good gripping condition. If not cared for, the suede can easily become slick, especially when worn outside, or coming in contact with water. suede brush (links to Very Fine Shoes website)
studio map
where is Dance Station?
947 W. Alameda Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
The studio is tucked in the west corner of the Solana Shopping Center and there is plenty of free parking
Salsa Santa Fe 