Black Belt Salsa DenverMaster the Art of Teaching Salsa
BBS Apprentice Onboarding
Below is our comprehensive program designed to transform passionate dancers from beginner, to Apprentices, to professional Salsa instructors.
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There is no other
Instructor Training Program like this in the world.
The Black Belt Salsa Apprentice Program
Welcome to the Apprentice path at Black Belt Salsa. This is not a casual drop‑in class; it is a structured training journey designed to forge strong, confident, world‑class Salsa leaders.
The training style here is intense, disciplined, and very focused on detail. Corrections are direct and frequent, but they are never personal—they are about refining your timing, technique, and presence so you can dance and teach at a professional level.
Many Apprentices stay in this program for years, progressing through levels, assisting, teaching, and in some cases going on to travel and teach internationally. If you commit, show up consistently, and stay coachable, this path can transform not just your dancing, but your confidence and character.
If at any point something feels unclear or overly intense, you are encouraged to talk with Sensei or a team leader. Communication, respect, and mutual growth are at the heart of this journey—we are on the same side, working together to bring out your best.
Empower Your Dance Journey
Our Apprentice program equips you with the skills and knowledge to effectively teach Salsa to students of all levels. Learn the intricacies of Salsa, from basic steps to advanced techniques, and discover the joy of sharing this vibrant dance with others. Our program offers a structured curriculum, hands-on training, and continuous support to ensure your success as an instructor. By becoming a certified Salsa instructor, you open doors to new opportunities, enhance your dance repertoire, and join a community of passionate educators.
Read EVERY WORD Below
(We are NOT kidding)
You Get Out of This Program,
What You Put Into It.
WELCOME to the BBS Denver Apprentice Team!!
I've been called that name since 1994, why? Because I'm a NUTCASE over Salsa music and dancing!
The term "Salsa", when capitalized, refers to the dance. By capitalizing the word Salsa, when referring to the dance and music, we give honor to the musicians, instructors, and dancers who have supported and grown this incredible movement all of these years. From Tito Puente, to Willie Colon, to Celia Cruz and Ruben Blades.... we give our highest HONOR and RESPECT by capitalizing the word "Salsa" when referring to the dance.
When referring to the sauce, the word "salsa" is NOT capitalized.
Thank you.
- Edie, The Salsa FREAK!!
Since you will be joining us at any time during our training years, you will basically be "hopping on our merry-go-round" and catching up with everything and everyone going on around you.
Do not let this intimidate you.
ALL of your teammates started at different levels - and 90% of the time...
... as HARD CORE beginners!
Your teammates will be at different levels within the program. They all learn something new at each and every practice. How do we know this? During our ending huddle, we ask after every single practice what they learned that was new. 100% of the time, they ALWAYS say they learned something new!
You will see, that male instructors will have a LOT of female private lesson students. Female instructors will have a LOT of male private lesson students, so you'd BETTER get your act together FAST and figure out a way to practice with other Apprentices at ANY LEVEL just to start getting your feet wet!
Watch / listen to the Purple Belt online training ON YOUR OWN FIRST, and then watch all the physical belts white - through Black Belt with or without a partner.
PURPLE BELT ONLINE TRAINING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITHIN ONE WEEK OF YOUR FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE.
Important Notes
Welcome to your comprehensive guide on becoming a proficient Salsa instructor. Below is a checklist of essential readings, assignments, and to-do tasks to help you master the art of teaching Salsa:
Registration
- You will be required to learn how to check students in at the Registration table.
- Please Click Here to watch the following 7-minute instructional video on how to do registration.
Arriving Late:
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If you are even ONE MINUTE late to class, please inform us via Telegram - do not text your school Sensei.Reason: TIME SAVER. Knowing how long you will be, will allow your School Sensei to calculate what they will cover based on who is present, and to hold back teaching a subject until the late person arrives.
Uniforms:
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ALWAYS wear your current wristband (color) that you can lead / follow at, to practice.Reason: TIME SAVER. When your school Sensei sees your belt color, he/she will immediately know where you are at in the curriculum so he/she can be sure not to repeat anything you may already know.
Teaching Replacements:
- Finding your own teaching replacements: Teaching assignments are listed every week on our Private Telegram group. If you will not be able to teach your group class on any given group class night it is your responsibility to find your own replacement to substitute for you - it is NOT your school Sensei's responsibility. Please ask on our Social Media site (currently Telegram) at the "BBS Denver Apprentice Team" for someone to replace you in your absence. Please let them know where you are at in the curriculum with your group class so your replacement can pick up where you left off.
Our Apprentice Reference Site:
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Study PRIOR to practice: It is your responsibility to look up what you will teach at:https://www.blackbeltsalsa.com BEFORE TRAINING, and study what you will show the group during your training day.Your Sensei will simply advise and guide you through the moves you have already learned online.
Online Instructional Videos:
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Do not expect your school Sensei to always show you what you will teach, as their time is divided between all members of the team. If you need more help, ask for a private lesson. But you have to ASK, and not be shy about it!!ALL of Black Belt Salsa's training / teaching videos are detailed online, based by week, month, degree, belt color, etc. This way, you will always know where you are at and what you are to teach on any given date.
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Your teaching videos are located here:
- The Apprentice Process
BBS™ Apprentices in training no longer attend Group Classes as students. The material presented in the Tuesday Group Classes will already have been taught during Monday Apprentice Training, so Apprentices learn ahead of the students they will teach.
Teaching Requirement. Apprentices are required to master Fun Day 1, and then White 1 as both Lead and Follow, and to begin teaching those Classes as soon as reasonably possible (no later than two months of start date). Mastery is achieved when you can teach the very material you most need to learn.Progression (Mastery as Lead/Follow, DTB):
Fun Day 1
White 1
White 2
Orange 1
Orange 2, 3, 4
Yellow
Camo
GreenOngoing Development. During Apprentice Team Training or Private Training, Apprentices will continue to learn and master the higher belts while teaching the lower belts to Group Class Students on Tuesday nights.
Your Homework Assignments
DEADLINE: Due in One Week from NOW:
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If you have not yet completed the Apprentice Application form, that contain the Ten Tasks your Sensei had asked you to complete, please finish those tasks within the next 2 days.
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- "How to Teach" Videos: Please watch the Purple Belt Instructor Training Videos located here, as soon as HUMANLY possible
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- Online Instructional Videos: Please watch the Apprentice Training Videos located here, as soon as HUMANLY possible, within ONE WEEK of your start date: https://www.blackbeltsalsa.com
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Final Dance Homework: Please click this Link.(link will take you to a continuously updated Evernote sheet...)
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THERE IS A DEADLINE.
Communication
How We Communicate: 
Please ask your Sensei to add you to that list. You will need to "friend" the word "Sensei" to do so.
If you haven't done so already, please read the
"Respectful Disagreements" guidelines.
Direct URL: https://go.blackbeltdance.com/cms/respect/
No Explanations Needed:
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- If you cannot make a Group Class night, there is no need to explain, or give a reason(s) why on Telegram. What this does is force other's to make up excuses as well. Simply just inform us that you cannot make it - NO EXPLANATION necessary. However it is your responsibility to let the team know on Telegram, at least 24 hours in advance, or as soon as humanly possible. It is also your responsibility to let the team know what your assignment was to teach, and if someone can replace you. This agreement is also noted in your Apprentice Contract.
- If you cannot make a Group Class night, there is no need to explain, or give a reason(s) why on Telegram. What this does is force other's to make up excuses as well. Simply just inform us that you cannot make it - NO EXPLANATION necessary. However it is your responsibility to let the team know on Telegram, at least 24 hours in advance, or as soon as humanly possible. It is also your responsibility to let the team know what your assignment was to teach, and if someone can replace you. This agreement is also noted in your Apprentice Contract.
Stay in Your Assigned Circle:
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Unless you are desperately needed elsewhere, please do not deviate from your assigned teaching post. There is a reason why your Sensei put you there. If you are there for the first time, chances are you will teach that belt the following week. So BE ATTENTIVE and BE PREPARED.
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How You Smell and Act:
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- No Men's colgne, nor women's perfume. Use Oder Eaters Foot spray for body odor
- Never say anything bad about anyONE or anyTHING.
- Never put down other schools, or instructors
- Maintain a positive, uplifting attitude
- Try not to cuss (I now, it's tough sometimes - especially when you're learning to dance).
- Fake your smile until it becomes REAL. (helps others get happy)
- Always show up on time, if you can't let us know asap.
- Always let us know if you can't make any practices or Group Classes
- Always wear your uniform to Group Class.
Private Lessons
Business Cards and Private Lessons:
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- You will be given business cards once you start teaching White Belt. Normally, you should be ready and confident enough to start teaching private lessons once you reach Fun Day 1. You will never be pressured to teach, unless you want to, and feel you are ready. It is completely up to you.
. - You will get 50% off any private lessons you schedule with your school Sensei.
- You will be given business cards once you start teaching White Belt. Normally, you should be ready and confident enough to start teaching private lessons once you reach Fun Day 1. You will never be pressured to teach, unless you want to, and feel you are ready. It is completely up to you.
- You will learn the correct way of teaching a Private Lesson in your Instructor-Level Purple Belt Online Training videos mentioned above. This must be done on your own time, within one week of reading this page.
- You will also learn the nuances, tricks, tips, and professional techniques for teaching an effective Group Class. We have a very specific way of teaching, so that if one of you are absent, your substitute can seamlessly pick up where you left off the following week.
- If anyone asks you for private lessons or to teach a small group class elsewhere (as long as it does not interfere with training, nor our normal group class nights), be prepared to tell them your fee for individual hours vs package lessons you sell.
- You will earn and keep 100% of the income from all private lessons, performances and group class gigs you get outside of BBD Denver. .
You worked hard for it, they trust you, you deserve it.
Please remind your Sensei to give them to you, then free up 67 GB of space on your computer, or prepare an external hard drive for your free Instructional DVDs
Once you start teaching Private Lessons, your school Sensei will create a BBS Board for you.
Instructional DVDs
You Get Out of This Program,
What You Put Into It.
Join Our Salsa Apprentice Program!
Tell your friends! We are ALWAYS LOOKING for new Apprentices!!
Contract Addendum
Apprentice Contract Addendum page - Must Read and Comply