The history of salsa dance is rich and complex. This style developed with the mingling of several cultural influences, culminating in the Cuban dance style that has now swept the world.
The History of Salsa Dance
Salsa is the direct result of colonization. When the English and French colonized the Caribbean, they brought with them European country dance techniques and African laborers. These laborers in turn brought African rhumbas, such as the Guaguanco and Colombia. These two dance styles influenced the local Latin dance Són, merging to become what we now know as salsa.
In the beginning, the term "salsa" was used to describe a whole range of Latin/African/Caribbean dances. The term was first used in New York as many dances were introduced to the East Coast all at once. Rhumba, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Són and Cumbia were all labeled as "salsa dancing" for a while. Eventually, the individual dances were separated and labeled as such, but modern-day salsa dancers will learn a dance style that actually weaves a bit of Cumbia and Guaracha in with the original salsa music. The history of salsa dance has led to a dance that is known and cherished today.
Salsa Today
If you are interested in learning how to dance the salsa, you may wish to take a set of salsa dance lessons. Many bars and clubs offer dance lessons, and some bars designate specific nights as Latin nights or salsa nights. You can go to most of these lessons with or without a dance partner, but you will need to register as a single person and check with the instructor to make sure there is an allowance for singles. On salsa nights at bars, you will easily find dance partners throughout the night, even if you go by yourself. By practicing with many different partners, you will learn new techniques and improve your dance moves.
Fitness clubs have taken inspiration from the salsa and other Latin, African and Caribbean dances. A new dance exercise trend is to use basic steps and some music from these dance styles to create an exercise program called "Zumba." Given its continued popularity, it's likely that the salsa dance style will incorporate even more influences over time. The history of salsa dance is rich and lasting.
 | Which salsa dance steps you perform depends on which type of salsa you prefer. Latin America offers many different types of salsa dancing. |
 | Salsa dance history represents a blend of Latin American and Afro-Caribbean dances. Salsa is most closely related to another Latin dance, the Mambo. They are similar in terms of steps and the beats, but Mambo tends to have more front-to-back motions, with salsa going side-to-side. |
 | Find out who invented salsa and then cut a rug on the dance floor to impress your fellow partygoers. |
The definition of Salsa music is hard to pin down. It is basically a mixture of different Spanish influences, but it is most similar to the Cuban big-band music you will find in nightclubs and in concert halls. |
Find articles about salsa dance steps, history of salsa dance, salsa dance history, definition of salsa music and salsa steps. |
