Salsa is not easily defined. There is no perfect reply for who invented salsa. Some people say it's invented by Cubans,but it's bit arguable? Salsa is a distillation of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances. Each played a large part in its evolution.
Salsa is similar to Mambo in that both have a pattern of six steps danced over eight counts of music. The dances share many of the same moves. In Salsa, turns have become an important feature, so the overall look and feel are quite different form those of Mambo which moves generally forward and backward, whereas, Salsa has more of a side to side feel.
Step1
Get in position by facing your partner. If you are the leader, place your right hand on your partner's waist, slightly around the back. Extend your left arm diagonally to chest height with your elbow bent at a right angle and your palm raised. Grasp your partner's right hand in a loose grip; your partner's left hand should be on your right shoulder.
Step2
On the first beat, step forward with your left foot. Your partner will mirror each of your movements throughout the dance; for example, on the first beat she will step backward with her right foot.
Step3
Step in place with your right foot on the second beat.
Step4
Step back with your left foot on the third beat so that you are back in the starting position, and hold in place for the fourth beat.
Step5
Step back with your right foot on the fifth beat.
Step6
Step in place with your left foot on the sixth beat.
Step7
Step forward with your right foot on the seventh beat so that you are back in the starting position, and hold for the eighth beat.
Step8
Repeat, starting at step 2.
