Slide
Intermediate Level
Going deeper — techniques and nuances for experienced dancers
A slide is a smooth foot glide across the floor that turns a regular step into liquid motion — the footwork equivalent of a whisper.
Intermediate focus
Incorporate slides into your basic patterns. Instead of stepping to the side on count 1, slide the foot to arrive smoothly. Use slides during cross-body leads — the follower sliding through the passing space creates an elegant line. Practice backward slides, which are harder because you can't see where you're going. The speed of the slide should match the music: slow song, slow slide.
Tips
- •The sole of your shoe matters enormously for slides. Suede soles slide perfectly on most dance floors. Rubber soles resist sliding. Know your shoes.
- •Practice slides in your socks at home. Kitchen floors and wooden hallways are perfect training grounds.
- •Use a slide to enter dramatic moments — the slower the slide, the more tension and anticipation it builds.
Common mistakes
- •Lifting the foot off the floor during the slide — it should maintain contact throughout
- •Sliding too fast without control, losing the smooth quality entirely
- •Attempting slides on sticky floors and straining the knee — know when the floor won't cooperate
Practice drill
Put on a slow bachata song. Dance the entire thing replacing every possible step with a slide. Your feet should barely leave the floor for the entire song. This extreme practice ingrains the sliding quality that you can then dial back to natural levels in social dancing.