Practice step timing. This is the phrase used to refer to how Salsa steps fit into the music. Basic types of Salsa dancing are "on one," "on two" and "on three," named to describe the beat of the music the particular dance will highlight.
Use the four points of contact between partners in the basic step pattern. The man should take the woman's right hand with his left and place his right hand on his partner's back. The woman should place her left hand on the man's shoulders. The fourth point of contact is strong eye contact.
Pay attention to syncopation. Salsa music is written typically in a 4/4 time signature and there is usually one cycle of dance steps per two-beat, which means two full cycles of dance steps per measure. One measure of the music is for steps to the left or using the left side of the body, the next measure is a repetition of the basic steps on the right.
From the man's point of view, begin with both feet together and hold the first beat, step forward with your left foot on beat two, rock back on your right foot on beat three and step back on your left foot to hold beat four. Step back with the right foot, rock forward on your left foot, step forward with your right foot and put both feet together again to start the sequence again.
From the woman's point of view, begin with both feet together and hold the first beat. Step back with the right foot on beat two, rock forward on your left foot on beat three and step forward with your right foot to hold beat four. Step forward with the left foot, rock back on your right foot, step back with your left foot and put both feet together again to start the sequence again.
Let the man lead. Typically, in Salsa dancing, the man leads and his female partner follows. The man uses claves, which are tugs that make use of the momentum of the music and help the woman know when she is to turn, dip or make change steps within the dance. Partners who dance together for some time will find that they learn each others' cues and will move seamlessly.