5 Secrets to Better Salsa Spins (Especially in Heels)
If your salsa spins still feel wobbly, inconsistent, or totally out of control — you're not alone. Many dancers assume spins just take more practice. But in reality, clean, effortless turns come from a combination of body mechanics, strength, and intentional training.
Let’s break down the 5 essential elements that help dancers spin like pros:
1. Start from the ground up 🦶
Your feet and ankles are your foundation. Pain, weakness, or stiffness in this area makes spinning infinitely harder. Yet so many dancers ignore foot health until something starts hurting.
Ask yourself:
Do you use toe spacers to decompress your feet after a long rehearsal?
Do you incorporate toe yoga, arch strengthening, or ankle mobility into your routine?
Are your calves and feet strong enough to support fast, repetitive turns?
Without strong and mobile feet, you’ll always be compensating somewhere else in your body — and that usually shows up as instability in spins.
2. Train your balance — outside of heels ⚖️
Balance is not a magical gift you’re born with. It’s a trainable skill that needs to be challenged regularly.
Some questions to check in with:
✅ Can you dance effortlessly in a demi-pointe position without sickling or winging your ankles?
✅ Are you working on single-leg strength in the gym — think lunges, step-ups, RDLs?
✅ Can you balance on one leg for at least 30 seconds without locking your knee or wobbling? What about with eyes closed?
If the answer to any of these is no — start there. Improving your static and dynamic balance will immediately upgrade the control and fluidity of your spins.
3. Strength train at least 2x/week 💪
Dancers who spin with ease look like they’re floating — but what you don’t see is how much strength it takes to make that look effortless.
You need power and stability from:
Your core (especially obliques)
Your glutes, quads, and calves
Your back (especially the lats)
If you’re not doing consistent strength training (and no, dance class doesn’t count), you're likely relying too much on momentum or sheer willpower to get through spins — which often leads to injury or burnout.
Strength creates the stability that gives you freedom on the dance floor.
👉 Check out all the details for the Strong Dancer Coaching Program here — because the gym can (and should) be a dancer’s best friend.
4. Lower your center of mass ⬇️
This is one of the most common mistakes I see dancers make — and one I personally struggled with.
A lot of dancers “pop up” during turns — either in excitement, from habit, or to try and make the spin feel lighter. But this actually increases instability.
Instead, train yourself to stay low, grounded, and engaged throughout the entire rotation. This starts with awareness and strength in your legs and core. Work on maintaining that position under fatigue, during fast movements, and across the floor.
The lower and more stable you are, the more control you’ll have.
5. Give it time and reps ⏳
Spins are not something you master overnight. They’re a motor skill that your nervous system refines over time with repetition, feedback, and correction.
If you’re doing everything “right” and still feel like your spins are inconsistent — be patient. Your body might still be integrating all the work you’ve done.
Consistency + quality reps = long-term progress.
P.S. Spotting does matter… but it’s the icing on the cake 🍰
If your foundation is weak, no amount of spotting will save your spin. Think of spotting as a refinement, not the thing that fixes your turns.
Want to spin with strength, confidence, and control?
The Strong Dancer Coaching Program is for dancers of all genres who are ready to train smarter — not just harder. We combine strength, mobility, injury prevention, and personalized coaching to help you feel and dance your best.
✅ Strength & mobility programming
✅ Injury rehab & prevention
✅ Personalized coaching & feedback
✅ Virtual & San Diego spots available
📲 Check out all the details and apply here → Strong Dancer Coaching Program
Or DM me “STRONG” on Instagram to chat about which option is right for you.
