Salsa Music
Salsa music is influenced by many different rhythms and music styles from different countries. It takes it origins from Africa and in the 1800's was influenced with Cuban "son" - a mix of Spanish music, the African drumbeat and the beat of the clave.
When many US citizens moved to Cuba in the early 1900's, the brass bands which followed contributed brass to the Cuban percussion enhancing the music further.
During the Cuban migration to America during the late 1950's Latin music developed out of Miami and New York where the influx of Cuban and Puerto Rican immigrants merged these Latin styles and sounds with American influences such as the 1940's Jazz.
'Salsa' is an umbrella term created in the 60's and 70's to describe this Latin music and becoming ever more in fashion Salsa has spread in popularity, the music now has worldwide influences.
Salsa Dance
Salsa dance uses many steps borrowed from different dances. The salsa rhythm is danced over 8 beats and is mainly a 'couple' dance incorporating basic steps and turn patterns where the man leads and the lady will follow. The dancing can be fast and intricate and knowledge of foot positioning as well as leading or following into a move is required to master the dance successfully.
Different styles of salsa include:
L.A Style or "Cross-body" Style
This is the style of salsa we teach in our classes in Kettering & Market Harborough although you may find that people will dance other styles to the music after the classes!
This style was developed in LA. Dancing occurs in a slot/line formation based around two moves - the "basic step", which is a forward and backward step and the "cross-body" where the man and lady exchange positioning by the man leading the lady across his path in a linear motion while he steps out of the way.
The dance begins on the first beat/count of the music which is known as "on-1" dancing. Therefore we would start our dance and counting on the one, two & three, pausing on the count four and dance on the counts five, six and seven and finally pause on the count eight.
New York Style or "Mambo"
The dance begins on the second beat rather than the first beat of the music. This is known as "on-2" dancing. The dancing occurs in a slot/line formation and involves less travelling that what can be seen in L.A. style salsa. There is greater emphasis on "shines" - this is where the couple will break the partner handhold to dance solo steps with fancy footwork for part of the dance.
Cuban
The leader & follower circle around each other.
La Rueda
Multiple couples form a circle, carrying out synchronized moves and swapping partners based on Cuban salsa.