DANCINGFLIX BLOG · WITH WALDO Y JACQUI

Your beginner-to-intermediate practice roadmap.

A confident salsa dancer builds skills one step at a time. This practice checklist brings together the beginner and intermediate topics in the Waldo y Jacqui Salsa Bootcamp and Intermediate syllabuses, from basic weight changes to partnerwork combinations.

Use it as a roadmap, not a race. Some entries are individual steps; others combine several movements. Solo and partner versions remain separate because practicing footwork independently and coordinating with another dancer are different learning tasks. Names can vary between instructors and dance communities.

The roadmap below groups 54 topics into four stages: 7 beginner solo, 8 beginner partnerwork, 20 intermediate solo and 19 intermediate partnerwork.

1. Basic Forward and Back - Beginner solo

2. Side Step - Beginner solo

3. Cumbia Step - Beginner solo

4. Forward-Forward Step - Beginner solo

5. Right Turn - Beginner solo

6. Left Turn - Beginner solo

7. Right and Left Turns - Beginner solo

8. Basic Forward and Back - Beginner partnerwork

9. Side Step - Beginner partnerwork

10. Cumbia Step - Beginner partnerwork

11. Forward-Forward Step - Beginner partnerwork

12. Right Turn - Beginner partnerwork

13. Regular Left Turn - Beginner partnerwork

14. Right and Left Turns - Beginner partnerwork

15. Paseala - Beginner partnerwork

16. Suzie Q and Spyro - Intermediate solo

17. Tres Tres and Left Turn - Level 2 - Intermediate solo

18. Traveling - Intermediate solo

19. Cuatro Cuatro and Cuban Mambo - Intermediate solo

20. Cross Over and Slow Cross Over - Intermediate solo

21. Tres Tres with the 4 - Intermediate solo

22. Cross and 3-3 in the Back - Intermediate solo

23. 3-3 Front and Back - Intermediate solo

24. Cross and Taps and Half Left Turn - Intermediate solo

25. Right Turn and In-Place Chest Rotation - Intermediate solo

26. 3-3 and Suzie Q - Intermediate solo

27. Left Turn and 4 Steps with Chest - Intermediate solo

28. Cocolo and Modern Cocolo - Intermediate solo

29. Half Box Step and Around the World - Intermediate solo

30. Taco Taco and Taco Taco 4 Walls - Intermediate solo

31. Advanced Basic Step - Intermediate solo

32. Body Movement in Place - Intermediate solo

33. Cubano and In-Place Body Movement - Intermediate solo

34. New York Step and Half Left Turn - Intermediate solo

35. Double Suzie Q and Left Turn with Caricia - Intermediate solo

36. Cross with Turn and Copa - Intermediate partnerwork

37. Enchufla and Enchufla Doble - Intermediate partnerwork

38. 35 - Intermediate partnerwork

39. 70 - Intermediate partnerwork

40. Sombrero - Intermediate partnerwork

41. Sombrero and Paseala - Intermediate partnerwork

42. Paracaidas - Intermediate partnerwork

43. Copa, Follow Me and Carise - Intermediate partnerwork

44. Paseala with Half Fly and Right Turn - Intermediate partnerwork

45. Paseala with Full Fly and Right Turn - Intermediate partnerwork

46. Cross with Turn, He Turn, She Turn, Half Fly with Her Right Turn and His Intermediate Left Turn - Intermediate partnerwork

47. Beginner Combo 1 - Intermediate partnerwork

48. Beginner Combo 2 - Intermediate partnerwork

49. Caricia Combo - Intermediate partnerwork

50. Combo Caricia - Intermediate partnerwork

51. Arm Throw Out Combo - Intermediate partnerwork

52. Pinguino Combo - Intermediate partnerwork

53. Mariposa Combo - Intermediate partnerwork

54. 360 - Intermediate partnerwork

This checklist combines the Waldo y Jacqui Salsa Bootcamp Syllabus and Salsa Intermediate Syllabus. We removed a repeated solo right-and-left-turn entry, a second Traveling entry, and the All Steps Combined review. We kept solo and partner versions as separate learning topics, along with the named combinations. The result is 54 curriculum topics rather than 54 distinct fundamental steps.

Some lesson names are specific to our syllabus. The list retains labels such as Spyro, Carise and the numbered combinations 35 and 70; use the corresponding class demonstration to identify the intended movement.

Start with the beginner solo topics. Practice comfortable weight changes and timing before adding speed or turns. Then work through beginner partnerwork with attention to balance and clear, comfortable connection.

For intermediate practice, choose one topic at a time. Replay a short section, practice slowly, and return to your basic between attempts. A longer combination is useful only when its individual parts feel manageable.

This is a curriculum checklist, not a ranking or a universal requirement for every salsa dancer. Lesson titles alone do not explain the full technique; learn each movement through a demonstration and instruction.

Start free beginner Salsa and Bachata lessons with Waldo y Jacqui at DancingFlix. Pause, replay and practice at your own pace. No credit card is needed to start; additional classes have paid memberships.