The Basics of Salsa Dancing
by Brian Alcamo
Salsa! It’s a dance, it’s a sauce, it’s a saucy dance! But where did this popular dance come from, and how did it become a global phenomenon? Let’s investigate.
Origins of Salsa
The claim to salsa is contentious! The origins of the dance are hard to pin down, and many cultures vye to take pride in being its sole creator. However, we can say that salsa has many roots in the traditional Cuban dances of casino, mambo, and pachango, and mixes American jazz styles in as well. The style was brought to popularity in the US by Puerto Rican New Yorkers (or Nuyoricans). As for who started the style de verdad, that’s not our call to make. Art is collaborative, okay? Let’s just agree that it’s a super popular, iconic dance that evokes the music and dance of many Latin American cultures.
What we can say about Salsa’s origins is that it got its name from The Fania record label, the leading salsa music label of the 1960s, which described Salsa music as such because it was a blend of all of the different Latin music styles colliding in New York City. Salsa music, like the sauce, is a blend of multiple ingredients that are great on their own, and even better when brought together.
Styles of Salsa
Not only are there so many origin stories for salsa, there are also so many different types of salsa. That’s because it’s become a bit of an umbrella-term due to geographical variation.
Linear Styles: These styles feature the dancers always facing each other.
New York Style
Sometimes inaccurately referred to as Mambo, New York Style is identified through its “On 2” pattern. “On 2” means that the dancers move their legs forward and backward on the second beat.
Los Angeles Style
Contrary to most stereotypes about the differences between New York and LA, Los Angeles Salsa is characterized by its speed. It’s performed much faster than New York Salsa, and is danced “On 1.” LA Salsa also has more of a Swing infusion in its music and dance.
Puerto Rican Style
Puerto Rican style is similar to the New York style, but you can break On 1 or On 2 in this style. Puerto Rican salsa is thought to be the origin of “shines,” wherein you can have some solo time to show off your stuff.
Circular Styles: These styles feature the dance partners circling around each other.
Colombian Style Salsa (also known as Cumbia)
Originating in Cali, Colombia (the self-purported Salsa Capital of the World) Cumbia salsa is identified by a rigid upper body.
Cuban Style
Cuban salsa is identified by complex arm movements. Compared to other styles, the footwork is rather simple.
Miami Style (also known as Clasico Cubano or Casino)
Miami style is even more intricate than Cuba style, including what dance.us calls “cross body lead variations.”
Casino Rueda or Salsa Rueda
Originating in Havana, Casino Rueda is a group version of salsa where a person calls out to a group which moves to make. It originated in Havana, and the name Salsa Rueda directly translates to Salsa wheel.
Here’s some Spanish vocab you’ll need to
use when tackling your salsa dancing.
Claves - dowel-like instruments that are crucial for setting salsa’s rhythm
Izquierda - left (in salsa, this means “step left”)
Derecha - right (“step right”)
Lento - slow
Rápido - fast
Freno - brake or stop
Compás - the beat (of the music!)
Al costado - move sideways
Adelante - move forward
Patada - kick
Ready to Salsa on Your Own?
Here are a few basic steps for New York Style Salsa:
Feel the rhythm: Since New York style Salsa is counted “On 2,” you’re going to want to get a feel for the beat of the music. Count 1, 2, 3 - 5, 6, 7 -
Get into position: The Lead, will take the Follower’s right hand with their left and put their right hand on their back. The Follower places her left hand on the Lead’s shoulder.
Start Dancin’: Take a small step forward with your right foot on the first beat (1)
A bigger step: This part is called “Breaking Forward,” and in New York Style Salsa, you break forward by taking a large step with the left foot on the second beat (2). So, do that.
Keep going: Rock back on your right foot on three (3), and then hold for a beat (4).
Moving back now: Step back with your left foot on five (5).
Breaking Back: Break back (a big step) with your right foot on six (6).
Shift weight: Shift your weight onto your left foot on beat seven (7) and hold for a beat (8)
Repeat (See Step 3): Step your right foot forward again on one.
And that’s it! We will admit that reading about salsa is a lot easier than dancing salsa, so get up on your feet and try it out!
Practice the steps above with our
Salsa playlist on Spotify!
Did you see our Instagram Live Story in Collaboration
with TimeIn New York?
WATCH THE IG LIVE
See how to dance salsa and more
Here are some idiomatic expressions from some of the songs in the playlist and discussed during the workshop:
pasar el Niágara en bicicleta (Dominican Rep) - to overcome a difficult situation
estar muerto de la risa (Latinoamerica) - to crack up laughing/to laugh really hard.
(olividar las) penas - (to forget your) sorrows
buscarle la salida a algo (ven) - to find the solution to a problem.
pasársela (haciendo algo) - to be spend time doing something (usually something you enjoy).
Salsa is a beautiful dance that includes facets of so many different Latin American musical styles, and its variety is a key component of its popularity. What’s your favorite style of salsa dancing? Comment below and don’t forget to ‘heart’ this post and share with your friends. Ready to review what you’ve learned? Take our quick quiz!
Thumbnail Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash