The elegant outfits. The fabulous dresses. The incredible class that salsa dancers exude!
We know what you’re probably thinking: how can you look just as incredible while dancing salsa as the dancers you admire?
Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. From what to consider before picking an outfit, to what to (and what not to) wear.
What to Wear for Salsa Dancing
What to Consider First and Foremost
Ideal Attire for Salseras (Ladies)
Ideal Attire for Salseros (Men)
What You Should Avoid Wearing on the Dance Floor
What to Consider First and Foremost
When you want to dance salsa, you have to keep in mind that your body will move around a lot. You, therefore, want to wear outfits that take the following into careful consideration:
- Safety: You don’t want to dance and then suddenly trip on your gorgeous dress or lose balance because of your shoes.
- Form and Comfort: Salsa is a dance style that involves plenty of turns, fast footwork, lifts, and hip movement. You want to make sure you’re comfortable moving around the dance floor.
- Style: A big part of salsa dancing involves oozing confidence and your attire can speak volumes for you. You also don’t want to wear something too provocative and make people uncomfortable.
What You Should Wear
Now that we know what to consider, here are options for what outfits are perfect.
Ideal Attire for Salseras (Ladies)
- Flat dance shoes or, at most, 3-inch heels
- A short dress or a knee-length one
- Leggings or fitted jeans
- Short-sleeved tops
- Latin dance skirts
- A cardigan if it gets cold
Ideal Attire for Salseros (Men)
- Khakis or jeans
- Cotton t-shirts
- Button-up shirts, long-sleeved ones for formal events and short-sleeved ones for casual salsa dance nights
- Flat shoes that allow you to move smoothly
- A light vest if it gets cold
What You Should Avoid Wearing on the Dance Floor
Avoid wearing the following types of clothing:
- Wool and warm clothing: Regardless of how cold it is, salsa dancing will make you hot. Both figuratively and (definitely) literally. Keep your clothing light and breathable.
- Long dresses: As mentioned previously, you don’t want to risk falling over because you or your dance partner trips on a full-length dress.
- Messy, long, or obstructive hairdos: One of the last things you want to do is not see what’s in front of you. Even worse, you don’t want your hair to block someone else’s line of sight. Keep your hair tied.
- Tight, restrictive clothing: Again, salsa is all about movement. You don’t want to be that one person on the floor who can’t fully move around.
Dress Up and Dance
You now have different outfits in mind, but where are you going to get them from? Here are some online stores that sell salsa-appropriate outfits:
Once you’ve got your perfect outfit planned out, put on your salsa shoes and start learning how to dance like a pro.
Heart of Dance offers salsa dance classes by world-renowned dance instructors in Dubai.
