Salsa Dancing, you have no doubt seen people dancing it out in a club somewhere. The international salsa dancing scene has grown massively in the last decade. It is now without question the most popular social dance in the world.

So you have decided that you want to learn it. The first thing to keep in mind is that the best way to learn to dance salsa is in a dance school, with a teacher and a group of people. You will learn much faster with the feedback a teacher can give you, and the experience that comes with trying to do the moves with other people who are learning.

But,... we understand that you might be a bit shy about standing in front of a group of people and trying to move your legs and hips in unison for the first time. So we have written a quick guide that will get you dancing salsa straight away.

Not surprisingly the structure of salsa dancing is related to the structure of salsa music. Salsa music is based on a rythym that takes two bars of 4/4 to complete. If you don't know what this means you don't need to worry, it just means that the dance takes place over a pattern of 8 beats, and then it repeats.

In this guide we will explain to you exactly what you will be doing on each of those eight beats.

Start: The starting position is standing with your feet beside each other and you weight on your right foot.

One: Step forward with your left foot and count 'One', making sure your weight is transferred onto the left foot.

Two: Shift your weight back onto your right foot and count 'Two', your left foot will still be forward but carrying no weight.

Three: Bring your left foot back and place it beside your right foot as you count 'Three', making sure that your weight is shifted onto the left foot.

Four: Pause. As you count 'Four' you hold your position and do not step.

Five: Step back with your right foot as you count 'Five', make sure there is no weight on the left foot.

Six: Shift your weight back onto your left foot as you count 'Six.'

Seven: Bring your right foot back and place it beside your left foot as you count 'Seven.'

Eight: Pause. As you count 'Eight' you hold your position and do not step.

That will bring you back to the starting position, so you can begin the whole pattern again by stepping forward with your left foot on the 'One.'

Practise that pattern at home for a little while until you feel comfortable and then get out there and find a school in your local area.