Salsa is an energetic, sexy, and fun partner dance originating from the Cuban Son and Afro-Cuban dance that is usually associated with the salsa music style. It is the most social dance to which you don’t need to know your partner personally. Instead, it helps build confidence and communication among the two individuals who dance to the beats with rhythmic tunes.
To perform salsa, one should have the correct posture and flexibility to move arms according to the music. Arms also play an essential role in guiding your partner to get into an open or closed position. Although it is a fun partner dance, salsa has different types.
Cross Body or L.A. Style
L.A. Style ranked as the number 1 in a slot. It got influenced by the Mambo, Swing, Argentine Tango, and Latin Ballroom dancing styles with a hint of easiness and adaptability attached to it. L.A. style substantially impacts sensuous, theatricality, aerobics, and musicality. The lifts, stunts, and aerial works of today’s salsa shows are taken from L.A. Style forms which, in turn, originate in Latin Ballroom and Ballet lifts.
New York Style
This style is ranked number 2. New York style focuses on timing, control, and technique, and dancers aim for smooth execution of the steps. On two-timing, dancers are encouraged to listen to the music elements and are told to be in the slot strictly.
Cuban Style
Cuban-style salsa is adapted from Afro-Cuban body movements, which include hip movements and body isolations. Unlike the other popular dance forms, the Cuban style requires more arm work than footwork. In addition, Cuban-style movement is circular rather than linear. Cuban-style dancers will technically tap on the pauses on the 4th and 8th beat.
Colombian Style
The Columbian style of salsa has slightly longer pauses than the other styles. These dancers dance to music called “Cumbia,” to which they move in circular motions. Partners are held close, with their entire bodies touching each other.
Miami Style
Miami salsa is a fusion of casinos and elements from American culture. It is a more advanced and challenging salsa style compared to others. Dancers need to be flexible enough to perform Miami-style salsa. In this style, dancers need more of their footwork than arm work. Most of the upper body stays still in this style.
There are four types of clave rhythms for salsa, the 3-2 and 2-3 Son claves being the most important, and the 3-2 and 2-3 Rumba claves. Most of the salsa music is played with one of the son claves.
Today, salsa is seen as a romantic dance that couples perform during their weddings or any social events. If your peers tell you that salsa is only a couple dancing, you can show this article or tell them that it is more than just a couple dancing.
