Feeling an urge to tango or to polish up your cha-cha-cha? The following article summarizes the basic Spanish vocabulary that will help you survive--and enjoy--your Spanish-speaking encounters on the dance floor. Don't forget to download the vocabulary sheet and to keep it handy for easy reference.
What Dance?
The social dances you're most likely to encounter Spanish speakers at---or to find in Spanish-speaking countries---include tango, salsa, merengue, cumbia and bachata. Go to the right places in Spanish-speaking countries, though, and you'll find every sort of dance, not just the "classics." And, this vocabulary will help you with more than those classic partner dances. Whether you're learning the foxtrot or getting down to reggaeton or classic rock, if you're dancing in a Spanish-speaking country, you will want to know these words.
Just the Basics
Dance is a form of communication in and of itself. Some would argue that where there is dance, words are superfluous. But, dance, of necessity, takes place in a social setting; understanding a few basic words will help you navigate the sometimes murky waters of intercultural social interaction to, from, during and between dances. Don't forget to download and print the vocabulary sheet for easy reference once you're done with this lesson.
You may be surprised at who does---or doesn't---speak English at a dance. You may even find yourself getting your salsa on in a country like Japan where you dance partner may speak neither Spanish nor English. In that case, sign language and patience go a long way toward building understanding. If you are dealing with a Spanish speaker, here are the bare essentials with which to supplement your sign language:
¿Quieres bailar? Would you like to dance?
Sí. Yes.
No. No.
él he/him
ella she/her (As in "Who? Oh--her, over there," not a possessive as in "Those are her shoes.")
tú you
baile dance; el baile is "the dance"
aquí here
allí there
Body Parts and Other Nouns
Here are the names of body parts you'll be moving--or not moving, depending on what kind of dancing you're doing. Memorizing this list will make interpreting the essentials of verbal instructions a lot easier.
la mano the hand
el pie the foot (Note that while this word looks just like the word "pie" as in dessert in English, it's pronounced differently in Spanish.)
la pierna the leg
el brazo the arm
los hombros the shoulders
la espalda the back
el pecho the chest
la/las cadera/caderas the hip/hips
la cintura the waist
el codo the elbow
la rodilla the knee
el tobillo the ankle
There are a few other nouns you're likely to encounter in the dance world. The two most critical are un paso which means "step" (as in a step forward, a step back, or additionally in this context, a dance step) and el ritmo, "rhythm", which is what drives all dance.
Movements and Other Verbs
If you're trying to follow spoken directions---or to communicate with your dance partner in Spanish---these verbs will come in handy. Note that the verbs are given in the infinitive.
girar/dar la vuelta to spin/turn (As in turning in place or "turn to the left/right.")
dar un paso to take a step
venir to come (As in "Come here.")
ir to go
relajar to relax
bailar to dance
And of course if you're going to be spinning, turning and dancing, you might want to know which way you're going:
adelante forward
atrás back
la izquierda the left
la derecha the right