So you've decided to go salsa dancing for the first time, what to wear?
The short answer is that it depends on what type of venue you're going to. If you're just going to a dance studio or classroom for a salsa lesson, you're probably not going to want to dress up too much, versus if you're going to a nightclub, where you might want to dress up more.
If you're dancing at a studio, casual to business casual attire will fit right in. Just be sure to wear something you can move comfortably in, and that you can use your full range of motion. If you can squat down and raise your hands over your head, you should be fine. Ladies should also be careful not to wear anything that has any chance of slipping off or coming undone, to avoid any accidents.
For shoes, the two things you want to avoid are sneakers and flip flops. Besides being a bit too casual, sneakers tend to grip the floor, which makes it hard to spin and can potentially cause knee and ankle injuries. Flip flops are not stable enough to dance in, and can also cause injury. If you find yourself wearing these, it may be best to just dance barefoot (socks are slippery, and can also result in injury).
For guys a good pair of dress shoes, or jazz shoes/ballroom shoes are good for dancing. For ladies, jazz shoes or flats are good for dancing in, as are ballroom heels. The thing to keep in mind with heels is that they need to be properly secured to your feet, otherwise they can cause injury while dancing. Beginning dancers may also find it easier to dance in flats than heels.
Beyond that, you should be free to wear anything that fits your personal style. Try to wear something cool because salsa clubs tend to heat up, and consider bringing a towel and an extra shirt if you tend to sweat a lot. And be sure to wear deodorant, your partner will thank you for it!
