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.
The Ingredients Of Salsa
When the dance became popular in the US, it was the people of New York who brought all the elements of the past together and named it "Salsa." Many use the term "Salsa" when referring to a variety of dances that have similar characteristics, such as the Rhumba, Mambo, the Cuban Són, the Cha Cha Cha and Merengue.
Salsa Variations
Although salsa is done mostly with a partner, variations of the dance can be done solo or in a group where different couples exchange partners. Salsa music is different all over the world. Musicians have taken to combining the different types of beats with parts of the different dances. You might walk into a salsa club in New York, and it could be completely different from the music and dancing you'd find in Puerto Rico, which makes sense since the dance has so many origins.
Learning Salsa
The best way to learn anything is to go out and do it. There are many ballroom and Latin dancing studios that offer salsa classes. If you live in a metropolitan city, chances are there are nightclubs that might feature Latin music night and many provide beginner's dance classes for the salsa. That way you can learn in a more informal setting, perhaps with some food and drink to go along with it. If you prefer more structure in your dancing, try private sessions where a professional teacher will teach you all the basics of the dance.
 | Which salsa dance steps you perform depends on which type of salsa you prefer. Latin America offers many different types of salsa dancing. |
 | Find out who invented salsa and then cut a rug on the dance floor to impress your fellow partygoers. |
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 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. |
