Salsa body movement exercises

Basico: upper body

Torso L/R isolation:
- torso L
- torso R
- repeat
Shoulders forward/back isolation:
- L shoulder forward and R shoulder back
- vice versa; repeat
Torso and shoulders isolation:
- L shoulder forward and R shoulder back
- torso L
- vice versa; repeat
Torso and shoulders suavified (figure eights):
- L shoulder comes forward and R shoulder goes back while torso moves L
- vice versa; repeat

Shoulders forward/back and up/down isolation:
- L shoulder up and R shoulder down
- L shoulder forward and R shoulder back
- vice versa; repeat
Shoulders forward/back with circles isolation:
- shoulder circle half cycle (backwards, L and R shoulder offset) to bring L shoulder up and R shoulder down
- L shoulder forward and R shoulder back
- shoulder circle half cycle to bring L shoulder down and R shoulder up
- L shoulder back and R shoulder forward
- repeat
Shoulders forward/back with circles suavified:
- shoulder half circle to bring L up and R down while L shoulder comes forward and R shoulder goes back
- shoulder half circle to bring L down and R up while L shoulder goes back and R shoulder comes forward
- vice versa; repeat

Torso, shoulders, and arms isolation:
- L shoulder forward and R shoulder back
- arms L
- torso L
- vice versa; repeat
Torso, shoulders, and arms suavified (figure eights):
- L shoulder comes forward and R shoulder goes back while arms and torso move L
- vice versa; repeat
Torso, shoulders, shoulder circles, and arms isolation:
- Shoulder circle half cycle to bring L shoulder up and R shoulder down
- L shoulder forward and R shoulder back
- arms L
- torso L
- Shoulder circle half cycle to bring L shoulder down and R shoulder up
- L shoulder back and R shoulder forward
- arms R
- torso R
- repeat
Torso, shoulders, shoulder circles, and arms suavified (figure eights):
- L shoulder circles up and R shoulder circles down while L shoulder comes forward and R shoulder goes back while arms and torso move L
- L shoulder circles down and R shoulder circles up while L shoulder goes back and R shoulder comes forward while arms and torso move R
- vice versa; repeat

Footwork
- L foot forward
- R foot in place
- L foot back
- rest
- R foot back
- L foot in place
- R foot forward
- rest
- repeat
Hips
- hips L
- hips R
- hips L
- rest
- vice versa; repeat
Footwork with hips, isolated
- L foot forward
- hips L
- R foot in place
- hips R
- Continue through full footwork pattern while repeating hips L/R
- repeat
Footwork with hips, suavified
- L foot forward, hips L
- R foot in place, hips R
- L foot back, hips L
- rest
- R foot back, hips R
- L foot in place, hips L
- R foot forward, hips R
- rest
- repeat

Torso, shoulders, and arms isolated
- L shoulder forward and R shoulder back
- arms L
- torso L
- L foot forward
- Hips L
- L shoulder back and R shoulder forward
- arms R
- torso R
- R foot in place
- Hips R
- Continue through full footwork pattern while repeating hips and upper body
Torso, shoulders, and arms suavified
- L foot forward and hips L while L shoulder comes forward, R shoulder goes back, and arms and torso move L
- R foot in place and hips R while L shoulder goes back, R shoulder comes forward, and arms and torso move R
- Continue through full footwork pattern while repeating hips and upper body
Torso, shoulders, shoulder circles, and arms: add hips and footwork to Torso, shoulders, shoulder circles, and arms isolation|suavified

Repeat hip and upper body movement with any of the following footworks:

Básico lateral
- L foot next to R
- R foot in place
- L foot L
- rest
- R foot next to L
- L foot in place
- R foot R
- rest
- repeat
Básico detrás
- L foot behind R, open hips to face L
- R foot in place
- L foot L, turn hips to face R
- rest
- R behind L, open hips to face R
- L foot in place
- R foot R, turn hips to face L
- rest
- repeat

Giro derecho (into ground):
- L forward; can point rightward 45 to 90ish degrees to prepare for turn
- R turn (into floor) 180-ish degrees to point behind you; hips face behind you.
- L wraps around R to complete turn and point forward; hips face forward; L can land behind R so as to shift body weight backward, like on 3 of regular linear básico.
Complete 360 degree turn on 3 count (open to interpretation). Keep split stance throughout for better balance.
Giro izquierdo: (out of ground)
- L forward as in standard básico
- R in place as in standard básico; can point leftward 45 to 90ish degrees to prepare for turn
- L turn (out of floor) 180-ish degrees to point behind you; hip face behind you;
- R wraps around L to complete turn and point forward; hips face forward; R can land behind L so as to shift body weight backward, like on 5 of regular linear básico.
Complete 360 degree turn on 5 count (open to interpretation).

Performed from lateral básico.

Giro derecho (into ground):
- L exaggerated lateral step L to open up body; can point 45ish degrees right to prepare for turn
- R pivots to face 3 o'clock; land in split lunge facing 3 o'clock
- L hooks around L to complete remaining 270 degrees of turn; weight should land on L foot, preparing you to step R into next half of lateral básico
Giro izquierdo (out of ground):
- Begin with LRL+rest of standard lateral básico
- R exaggerated lateral step R to open up body; can point 45ish degrees left to prepare for turn
- R pivots to face 9 o'clock; land in split lunge facing 9 o'clock
- R hooks around L to complete remaining 270 degrees of turn; weight should land on R foot, preparing you to step L into next half of lateral básico
Variation: giros laterales from linear básico: perform giros laterales from standard linear básico footwork.