There is always that one couple in the salsa dance club that you can’t help but watch and go “I wish I could dance like that!” They just look so smooth and almost like they can read each other’s mind as to what is coming next. They are both in tuned with the music and seem to land the right dance move at the right time.

Connection is the difference between two people dancing in the same space and two people dancing together as one entity. Salsa dancing, as well as most other types of partner dance, is a flow of energy between the couple. It is a give and take a catch and release of power in the moves. In fact, most often if a salsa dance couple has connection it doesn’t much matter what moves they are doing, they are impossible to keep your eyes off of.

Some people think that the only way to get this kind of connection with your dance partner is to only practice with them. That is not true. Once you master connection you can be connected to whoever you are dancing with (after a certain proficiency in salsa dancing that is).

There are a couple of exercises we do with our salsa classes that you can do as long as you have another person with you. I will share one of them with you now.

Exercise to increase connection:

Start facing your dance partner with squared off shoulders. Your hands and arms should be in open salsa dance position. Both of you keep a tight frame and begin to gently push against each other and then gently pull back against each other. Keep your bodies rigid for this exercise. You should go for a rubber band feel between you, going towards and against each other. Do this until you achieve elasticity.