The following are some risks to consider (apologies for the obvious ones) and suggestions on how you can avoid the danger:
Risk of injury due to not assessing the potential risks before dancing
- Before dancing assess all the risks and if you have any concerns you should not dance until they have been rectified.
Risk of injury due to health problems
- If you have any doubts about your health, i.e. you have heart problems; your balance is poor; you have restricted movements in your limbs; you have joint problems etc., then consult a doctor to find out whether you are fit enough for dancing.
- If you develop problems while doing any of the moves or techniques in this book then immediately stop doing them and consult a doctor.
Risk of injury due to inadequate practice
- Always practise new moves and routines thoroughly. Every new move or routine you try should be done slowly at first. Only do a new move or routine faster as you become better at it. But, if you can't do a move or routine safely, then don't do it at all. This advice applies especially to moves using Arm Locks.
- If you could do a move or routine correctly once, but haven't used that move or routine for a long time, then practise it slowly at first.
- If the pace of a routine is too fast for you then insert into the routine a few basic steps, like the Mambo Step.
Risk of injury due to dancing 'from cold'
- Prepare/'warm your body up' before dancing with some light stretching or physical exercises.
Risk of injury due to unsuitable footwear
- Do not dance wearing shoes that are likely to come off, twist your ankle or trip you up, while you are dancing such as slip-on shoes, platform shoes, sandals, or shoes with very high heels.
- Do not wear shoes with soles that grip too much on the dance floor (like trainers) as you may injure your legs.
- Do not wear shoes that do not grip enough on the dance floor as you may slip over.
- Do not wear socks (without shoes) as you may slip over.
- Do not wear heels that would cause injury to someone if you stepped on their foot.
- Do not wear open-toed shoes, or no shoes at all, as your feet will be more vulnerable to injury. Toes can be seriously hurt or even broken if stood on.
Risk of injury due to collisions/accidents with other dancers
- Lead should frequently check where the other dancers are, should anticipate dangers, and should direct Follower into areas that are safe.
- On crowded dance floors Lead and Follower should restrict their area of movement, so they do not interfere with other dancers. Perhaps by only doing basic steps.
- On crowded dance floors Lead and Follower should step backwards on the balls of their feet and keep their heels off the floor to avoid stepping on other dancers toes.
Risk of injury due to Lead and Follower dancing too close
- Lead's knee/leg is at risk of colliding with Follower's knee/leg if Lead and Follower dance directly opposite each other and close together. A collision may cause injury.
- In some moves Lead's hands, elbows, or head are at risk of colliding with Follower's body and so Lead must be aware of where their limbs and head are and take care to keep them out of Follower's way.
- When Follower is turning Follower's hands and arms can hit and injure Lead, so Follower should keep their free hand and arm close to their body when turning.
Risk of injury due to unsafe dance/practice areas
- Only dance on floors that are flat and horizontal, sound, free of obstacles, free of broken glass, dry, and do not have any areas that are more slippery or 'grippy' than the rest of the dance floor surface.
- There should be no sharp edges on nearby furniture etc., that could cause injury in a fall.
- Do not dance on carpet as this may injure your legs.
Risk of injury due to jewellery/personal ornaments
- Do not wear anything that could damage you or anyone else such as: sharp rings; beads in your hair that could catch you or someone else in the eye when you are doing a spin; a watch that could get tangled in hair; ear-rings that could cause damage if accidentaly pulled out, etc.
Risk of injury due to sudden actions
- All movements should be done smoothly to avoid injury. For example, Lead should not suddenly pull Follower forward which could cause whiplash.
- Follower should never anticipate Lead and start a different move to the one Lead is actually trying to do.
- Follower should never anticipate Lead and throw themselves into a move where Lead is not ready to support their weight.
Risk of injury due to incompetent, awkward or indicisive leading
- Lead should decide what their next move will be a few beats before starting it.
- Follower should immediatly disengage from Lead if they suspect Lead is leading so poorly they feel they are at risk of injury.
Risk of injury due to alcohol/drugs
- Do not dance under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Immediatly disengage from your partner if you suspect they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Risk of injury due to Follower not informing Lead of health problems they have with specific moves.
- Follower must tell Lead of any types of moves that would cause them health problems, and Lead should then not do these moves. For example, a dip can cause some followers back pain.
Risk of injury due to falling over while turning
- Some moves, like Hook Turns and Spins, require good balance. Do not do them if your balance is poor.
- Never rely on your partner for balance while doing Spins, Walks, Travelling Turns, etc. Lead and Follower may be holding hands while turning but, regarding balance, all turns are effectively done unaided. So, if Lead got a hand hold wrong, or let go while spinning, or gave a bad signal, then it would not cause Follower to fall.
Risk of injury due to Lead over-challenging Follower
- If Follower does not feel confident because they are a beginner then Follower should inform Lead of their concerns, and Lead should not use difficult moves.
- If Lead has not danced with someone before they should start using simple moves first and raise the level of difficulty until they find Follower's level of proficiency.
- To do some moves safely, like lifts and dips, requires Lead and Follower to both know how to do them. Also, Lead should get Follower's permission before doing these moves.
Risk of injury from unsuitable clothes
- Do not wear clothes that restrict your movements.
- Do not wear over length trousers or skirts which can cause trip hazards.
Risk of injury to undeveloped/infirm people
- Do not dance with, or encourage to dance, people who are not mentally and/or physically able to dance Salsa. These could be very young children, very old people and people with learning difficulties.
Risk of injury from not understanding the information in this book
- If, for whatever reason, you do not fully understand a chart's instructions for a move in this book, then do not do that move.
- If, for whatever reason, you do not fully understand the explanation of a technique, then do not use moves that require that technique.