Salsa Dance

The Salsa dance facts about the rhythm and routines are very interesting. Eight-beat music is the basis of Salsa dancing. Dancers move on three beats and make a pause for one beat. Then, they continue moving left-right-left first and then, right-left-right. The pause is usually used for some additional flourishing like foot stomps, kicks, and abrupt hand movements. In general, the style is stationary. You do not have to move much around the floor. The energy of the dance is expressed via leg and upper body movements.

The movements are partnered, though dancers may have solo breaks known as shines. These pauses serve for taking a breath if a dancer is exhausted or for catching the rhythm if they are out of it. Shines consist of various ornate movements and body demonstrations. Dancers can show their true talent via them. Moreover, shines provides a lot of opportunities for improvisation because initially, Salsa dance means many of them. Though, there are standard routine shines that you have to learn and perform to transfer the ingenuine Salsa dance meaning.

You can encounter different Salsa styles. The difference is in moving on the first beat (known as “on one”) or on the second beat (“on two”). Some Salsa dancers strongly believe that their choice of rhythm is better and more accurate. However, both rhythmic patterns are correct, and it is only a matter of individual preference that can be taken into account.

Apart from these stylistic patterns, there is a variety of schools worldwide. Salsa dance explained and practiced in them looks different. Some of them, like LA, Colombian, and Cuban styles, are based on an “on-one” pattern. Others, like ballroom Mamba, en clave, and palladium, are “on-two” styles. The style introduced by Eddie Torres combines the “on one” and “on two” rhythmic patterns. A dancer starts and pauses “on one” here but switches the body ‘on two.’

Salsa dancing has gained immense popularity worldwide, starting in Latin America and the United States and spreading far beyond it to Europe and elsewhere.

Canadian dance companies, clubs, and studios also experience a greater interest in Salsa dance acts for hire, so “Hips Don’t Lie” boasts the best Salsa dance troupe in Toronto and GTA, as well as Salsa classes with experienced and professional instructors.

This type is well-known on the West Coast of the USA and in many parts of Europe. This type of Salsa dance in Toronto also enjoys popularity. It started in the 1990s and is considered the most modern type among many Salsa forms. Albert Torres, Rogelio Moreno, and The Vaquez Brothers are the pioneers of it.

LA-style Salsa has elements from Latin Hustle, Latin ballroom, and Colombian Salsa. Hustle, Tango, and Swing have influenced the dance a lot. The emphasis is made on fast spins, shine steps, and complex footwork. It is danced in a line or slot. You should do the first steps on the first count, and flashiness is the main feature here. You can even combine hip-hop and jazz moves with ballroom dance and acrobatics to be entertaining and spectacular to the audience.

This style is also known as nightclub-style Salsa. Though, this type is not very popular worldwide. It originated in the 1960s in New York City. Eddie Torrez did a lot to popularize the ‘on two’ Salsa style. Since then, every Salsa dance company in New York has been practicing it.

For dancers Salsa on two is more compact than others, and they remain closer to each other. You will not see much moving in a sandbox area with all those spins and turns. Instead, dancers emphasize precision, footwork, timing, and body isolation. They can separate to do shines or individual footwork patterns. These movements are inspired by New York tap and swing.

The New York Salsa type seems smoother than the LA style, more controlled, graceful, and elegant, so it can create the best Salsa dance performance ever.

This type is popular in Latin America and Europe, as well as it is a part of Salsa dancing in Toronto and overall Canada. It started in Cuba in the 1950s. The local Salsa dance group could perform it barefoot on Cuban rhythms. It borrows many elements from Cha-Cha-Cha, Cuban Son, Guaracha, and Danzon.

The most common moves are hip and pulsing body actions that came from Mambo, Rumba, Afro-Cuban, and Reggaeton. The main characteristic of this type is a more relaxed and casual atmosphere without strict rules. The footwork is simple, while arm movements are complex. The moves are spontaneous and freestyle, so this type is perfect for social dancing if you are interested in Salsa dance near me.

Such Salsa dances are also called simply Salsa Rueda. It is a variation of the Cuban style, and “Rueda” is a Spanish word that means “a wheel” or “a circle.” It is a group dance version. So, two or more couples make a big circle and perform as Salsa dance groups. A caller is involved here who shouts out the names of moves to perform. Couples can switch partners while dancing. Dancers should be very accurate and speedy to ensure a smooth dance flow. This type is fast-paced and very energetic, and it is often performed in social gatherings. Salsa Rueda is considered a part of Cuban culture.

This variation evolved from Cuban Salsa. It started in the 1960s when the first Cuban immigrants came to Florida. They incorporated American-influenced moves into their dance, so the meaning of Salsa dance changed a bit. Though, the most essential elements of the Cuban style were preserved. This dance is also performed in a circle, though the style is more relaxed and flamboyant. It involves more interconnected arm movement patterns, with a flexible upper body, and more advanced steps. Footwork differentiates this type a lot. It is more complicated, with the characteristic diagonal back steps. Cross-body lead variations are also common here. They allow for longer movement sequences.

This type originated from the Cumbia dance. It is widely performed in Colombia, especially in Cali. They even have a dance festival there entirely dedicated to this dance - the Salsa al Parque. This version is also quite popular across the whole of Latin America. The dance is traditionally performed to Cumbia music with its distinctive sounds of the accordion. The Cumbia dance is a Colombian folk dance characterized by rapid and intricate footwork, with a rigid upper body and occasional athletic tricks and lifts. The dance floors are usually crowded, so dancers keep their partners very close. It also helps cope with the fast beats.

This style also comes from Colombia. It originated on its Pacific Coast, in Tumaco. The global fame of this variation began with the Colombian national soccer team who showcased this style in 2014. The Spanish word ‘choke’ means ‘to bump,’ so the overall meaning of it is ‘salsa bump.’ The standard bump and grind dancing is mixed here with traditional Salsa movements.

Salsa Choke is a form of group line dancing where performers dance solo. This Salsa dance performance is very interesting. One leader shows the steps and other people in a line follow them. The dance is performed to Salsa Choke music featuring a blend of reggeaton, salsa, and different urban beats like electronica and house.

This type originates from Danza. It is a kind of ballroom dance, popular in southern Puerto Rico. The Puerto Ricans who came to New York in the 1950s became the pioneers of this style. Felipe Polanco made this type of Salsa famous across the United States.

The style features clean lines and deliberate partner work. The focus is made on traveling combinations, styling, and elegance of every movement. Individual shines are also allowed with intricate footwork and shimmies as common parts of the technique. The routine also emphasizes the female Salsa dancer with her flamboyant arm movements.

What is Salsa dance for competitions? It derives from other Salsa types, using different elements depending on the events. Therefore, the overall timing, characteristics, and steps can differ a lot. It is not a social dance, so it is well-structured and more rigid. It also includes a lot of flashy moves like flips, dips, lifts, and various athletic tricks.

There are several well-known Salsa competitions held internationally. They are the World Salsa Open, the World Salsa Summit, the WSF World Salsa Championships, and many others where famous Salsa dance teams show their best skills and mastery.