Salsa
Salsa is a dance origins from Cuba, as the original meeting point of European and African cultures. Its movements originate in Cuban Son, with strong influences from Mambo, Guaguanco, and other Afro-Cuban music.
Salsa is popular throughout Latin America, and also in the United States, Spain, Japan, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany and Eastern Europe.
Salsa Dancing Origins
At the initial developmental stage, Salsa movements originated from the Cuban Son dancing of the 1920s, more specifically through the beat of Son Montuno with strong influences from the dance of Danzon, Mambo, Guaguanco, and other Afro-Cuban folkloric dancing.
Today’’s salsa dancing is a rich blend of Latin-American and Western influences, namely from Puerto Rico, Colombia, and other dances such as Western and Ballroom dancing. Salsa traces a 90 year history in which there are a multiple evolutionary paths, sometimes split due to political and social influences. As result, today, there are three major salsa styles, namely Cuban Salsa (Casino), New York Style (“Mambo on 2”), and Los Angeles Style (“On 1”). Other Salsa branches include Colombian Salsa (“Cali-Style”) and Miami-Style Salsa.
Salsa is normally a partner dance, although there are recognized solo forms, line dancing (suelta), and Rueda de Casino where groups of couples exchange partners in a circle. Salsa can be improvised or performed with a set routine, choreography, and freestyle.
Music Examples:
1. Caridad by Gloria Estefan
2. I Love Salsa by N’klabe
3. Ole Guitara by Ismael Miranda