LEVEL PLACEMENT TESTS

• 💡 Quick note: Level placement tests at Dame2Salsa are completely free of charge with zero commitment!

People often ask us how our level placement tests work here at Dame2Salsa. Many of you tell us that these sessions can be a bit intimidating because you’re worried about “getting it right”—so to show you there’s absolutely nothing to fear, here is how we do things!

Why do we do level placement tests?

We’re a dance school where students have fun, yes, but also really learn! We offer several levels of rueda, ranging from absolute beginners who don’t even know what salsa is, to dancers with years of experience looking to level up. Placement tests allow us to put you in the right group so you keep challenging yourself without feeling overwhelmed. Think of it like an Spanish academy: if you’re already at a B2 level, it wouldn’t make any sense to spend class learning how to introduce yourself in Spanish.

How do level PLACEMENT tests work?

It depends slightly on whether you contact us before the salsacademic year starts or mid-term:

• Before the term starts: We’ll schedule a dedicated session just for the test. After brief introductions, we’ll start a basic rueda and gradually add key steps from different levels to see how you move. Both instructors will be there to check leaders and followers alike. It usually takes about 30 minutes. Afterwards—if schedule permits—we love to grab a drink with the group so you can get to know us a bit better!

• Mid-term: We’ll fit your test in right before or between classes. It’s a shorter 5-minute version, but since there are fewer people, everything balances out. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to grab a drink afterwards since we only have a short break between classes.

Regardless of when you test, we’ll message you that same evening or the following day with your assigned level. If we place you in Level 3, for instance, it means you can sign up for Levels 1, 2, or 3.

It’s a LEVEL placement TEST, not an exam: You can’t “fail”!

There will naturally be steps you don’t know, moves you do differently, or steps you know inside out. Every school has its own syllabus—a step we cover in Levels 1 and 2 might be taught at higher levels elsewhere, or vice versa.

While we check if you know basic steps, what we care about most is your technique and execution. There is no “getting it wrong”—this isn’t a pass/fail exam, just a tool to help us find the group where you’ll have the most fun and progress the fastest.

We hope to have answered your questions, but of course, feel free to contact us at loading... if you have any additional ones.