If you want to learn Cuban salsa quickly and efficiently — without lengthy theory or complex footwork breakdowns — Master Salsa Basic in 5 Days is designed exactly for that. Created by Kentaro Yoneda and Gabriela Hinkova, this compact course delivers all the essential Cuban salsa basics in just five structured lessons.
This course is ideal for complete beginners who want a practical, no-nonsense introduction to Cuban salsa — including the authentic figures and partner work that make Cuban style so distinctive. If you have always wanted to learn salsa but never had the time to go to classes, this five-day format was built with you in mind.
Instructors: Kentaro Yoneda & Gabriela Hinkova — Cuban salsa dancers and teachers
Platform: Udemy
Level: Complete Beginner (zero experience needed)
Total Length: 1.5 hours of on-demand video
Lectures: 28 lessons across 5 structured days + 2 articles
Rating: ⭐ 4.7 out of 5.0
Students: 120 enrolled
Price: €19.99 at time of writing — check current price on Udemy
Certificate of Completion: Yes ✓
Access: Lifetime, on mobile and desktop
Language: English
Last Updated: 9/2020
💡 Price note: Udemy courses are frequently on sale. The price shown (€19.99) was valid at the time of writing — click the link to see the current price.
Kentaro Yoneda and Gabriela Hinkova are a Cuban salsa teaching couple who bring both technical precision and genuine passion to their instruction. Together they have crafted a course that feels less like watching a tutorial and more like taking a private lesson with two experienced dance partners.
Their teaching approach is clear and direct — they break down each move step by step, explain the lead and follow dynamic throughout, and ensure the student understands not just the mechanics but the feeling of Cuban salsa. The course description emphasises that even if you have never danced before, they will teach you step by step, slowly, right from the beginning.
The course is structured across five days, each building directly on the last. This progression is what makes the five-day format work — you are never overwhelmed, and every session has a clear goal.
Day 1 focuses entirely on the building blocks every beginner needs before attempting partner work or Cuban figures. You begin with the Cuban salsa basic step — the fundamental timing and footwork pattern that underpins the entire dance. From there you progress through:
Introduction to Salsa Basic Steps
Side Steps — learning to move laterally with proper weight transfer
Cumbia Steps — introducing the characteristic Cuban hip movement
Guapes Steps — the circular motion essential to Cuban style
Open position and close position — understanding the two fundamental partner holds
How to change steps from one to the other — the critical skill of transitioning fluidly
Summary lecture to consolidate Day 1 learning
This section alone is worth the price — correct basics prevent bad habits and make everything that follows much easier.
Day 2 is where Cuban salsa begins to feel like real dancing. You move into partnered movement and the first of the iconic Cuban figures:
Leading and Following Technics — the core communication between partners
Basic Right Turn — the most fundamental turn in Cuban salsa
Enchufla Turn — one of the most recognised Cuban salsa figures
La Prima — the classic figure for dancing with a female partner
La Prima con Hermana — a variation adding a second turn pattern
Familia — a group figure that introduces more complex partner interaction
Day 3 introduces the more advanced Cuban figures that give the dance its distinctive character. Each figure is a named move in the traditional Cuban casino repertoire:
Dile que no — the signature move of Cuban salsa, the cross-body equivalent in casino style
Hesitation — a pause and weight shift that creates tension and musicality
Enchufla to Dile que no — combining two figures into a fluid sequence
Enchufla doble — a double turn variation of the classic Enchufla
Enchufla with the other hand — adding variety through hand changes
Right Turn with different combinations — building flexibility in leading
Putting it all together into fluid, musical movement:
Chaining moves into combinations
Body styling for leaders and followers
Musicality — how to listen and respond to the music
Social dance etiquette
Day 4 makes the crucial transition from learning moves to actually being able to use them at a real social dance. This is where many online courses fall short — and where this one shines:
Going to social dance — what you should know for guys and ladies — practical social etiquette and preparation
What to do if the partner is too close — handling real-world partner dynamics with confidence
El Uno — a classic Cuban figure using one hand
El Dos — the two-hand variation for added control
Exhibela — showcasing your partner with an elegant turn combination
Sacala — drawing your partner out into open position
The final day is about consolidation — taking everything learned across the previous four days and combining it into fluid, connected social dancing:
How to combine all the moves — sequencing figures naturally on the dance floor
Conclusion — final tips for continuing your practice
Thank you lecture — closing message from the instructors
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Dance Cuban salsa with a partner using authentic casino-style timing
Execute the essential Cuban figures: Enchufla, Dile que no, La Prima, Exhibela and more
Lead or follow confidently in both open and close position
Walk into a Cuban salsa social night and know how to start dancing
Understand the difference between Cuban style and New York/On1 salsa
Handle real social dance situations — including what to do when a partner is too close
Chain multiple figures together into smooth, musical combinations
Authentic Cuban salsa (casino style) — rare to find at this price point on Udemy
Taught by a real teaching couple — you see genuine lead and follow throughout
Five-day structure is brilliantly practical — each session has a clear, manageable goal
Social dance preparation is included — Day 4 specifically addresses real social situations
Named Cuban figures (Enchufla, Dile que no, La Prima, El Uno, Exhibela) — you learn the actual vocabulary of casino salsa
Very affordable at €19.99 with lifetime access
Available on mobile — practice anywhere, pause and rewind anytime
Certificate of completion included
Short runtime at 1.5 hours — this is a focused introduction, not a comprehensive course
Last updated 2020 — the material is solid but the production is not as polished as more recent courses
Smaller student base (120 enrolled) — fewer community reviews to draw on
Cuban style only — if you want On1 salsa (New York style), see Course 1 in our comparison (Edwin Aybar)
You will need a partner to practice the figures — solo practice is limited beyond the basics
No subtitles in other languages (English only)
This course is perfect for you if:
You are a complete beginner with zero salsa experience
You specifically want to learn Cuban salsa (casino style) — not New York/On1
You want a structured five-day plan rather than a long open-ended course
You want to learn the authentic named Cuban figures that you will encounter at any Cuban salsa social
You want to be ready to dance with a real partner at a social event, not just follow a solo routine
You might want a different course if you want a much longer, more comprehensive salsa programme — in that case, Course 1 in our comparison (Intro to Salsa Dancing by Edwin Aybar) offers 6+ hours with bachata included as a bonus. If you specifically want to learn salsa technique from a professional with competition background, see Course 3 in our comparison (Mihai Banu).
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5
Master Salsa Basic in 5 Days is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to learn authentic Cuban salsa quickly, practically and without fuss. In just 1.5 hours spread across five clear lessons, you will cover every essential figure and partner dynamic you need to walk into your first Cuban salsa social with confidence.
It is not the longest or most visually polished course on Udemy — but it delivers exactly what it promises. Five days, the basics of Cuban salsa, done. For €19.99 with lifetime access, that is outstanding value. We recommend it without hesitation to anyone who wants to learn the authentic casino style.
💡 Price note: Udemy courses are frequently on sale. The price shown (€19.99) was valid at the time of writing — click the link to see the current price.
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