Salsa (dance)

There are different styles that developed in different regions: New York style salsa, Puerto Rican salsa, Cuban style California style. One may also use the terms "salsa on one" and "salsa on two".

Salsa evolved from Mambo, but emphasizes different rhythms.

Basic Step

The Basic step is quite different for different styles, both in term of rhythm and footwork, however they are fairly similar.

Salsa patterns typically use 3 steps during each 4 beats, one beat being skipped. However this skipped beat is often marked by a tap, a kick, a flick, etc.

"Salsa on One"

Salsa is best grouped in pairs of 4-beat patterns counted "One-Two-Three-...-Five-Six-Seven-...". The (full) Basic step consists of two halves.

• Forward Basic: Starting from the left foot, step Forward-Replace-Backward, counting 1-2-3.
• Backward Basic: Starting from the right foot, step Backward-Replace-Forward, counting 5-6-7.

As a standard, every step must be taken with full weight transfer. Steps must not be large, especially when the music is fast.

When the leader dances the Forward Basic, the follower dances the Backward Basic and vice versa. In addition, the basic steps are parts of many other patterns. For example, the leader may dance the basic step while leading the follower to do an underarm turn.

The following variants of the Basic step may be used, often called breaks.

• Forward break: Starting from any foot, step Forward, Replace, In-place, counting 1,2,3 or 5,6,7.
• Back break: Starting from any foot, step Backward, Replace, In-place, counting 1,2,3 or 5,6,7.
• Side break: Starting from any foot, step Sideways, Replace, In-place, counting 1,2,3 or 5,6,7.

The following variant of the basic step is also called Time step.

• In-place basic: Starting from any foot, step In-place, In-place, In-place, counting 1,2,3 or 5,6,7.

Shines

Normally Salsa is a partner dance, danced in a handhold. However advanced dancers always incude shines, which are basically "show-offs" and involve fancy footwork and body actions, danced in separation. They are supposed to be improvisational breaks, but there is a huge number of "standard" shines. Also, they fit best during the mambo sections of the tune, but they may be danced whenever the dancers feel appropriate. They are a good recovery trick when the connection or beat is lost during a complicated move, or simply to catch the breath.

Salsa Rueda

In the 1950s Salsa Rueda (Rueda de Casino) was developed in Havana, Cuba. Pairs of dancers form a circle, with dance moves called out by one person. Many of the moves involve rapidly swapping partners.

See Also

• Dance
• Dance move
• Salsa music

External Link

Referenced By